#SundayGunday: Our Top 5 Guns of 2020

by
posted on January 3, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
sundaygunday-logo.jpg
This Sunday, as everyone recovers from the holiday festivities, we here at American Hunter thought it would be the perfect opportunity for a look back, at five of our top #SundayGunday guns of 2020. We'd like to say the list is well rounded, but it would appear that lever-actions were far and away the most popular type of firearm this year, taking up three of the five most popular slots. Read on to see if any of your personal favorites made the cut. 

#1: #SundayGunday: Ruger AR-556 MPR in .450 Bushmaster

On this episode, we took a look at the AR-556 MPR (Multi-Purpose Rifle) from Ruger, chambered in .450 Bushmaster. Perfect for big hogs and deer alike, the .450 Bushmaster has endeared itself to shooters since its Jeff Cooper-inspired inception, and to hunters in particular since the rise of the straight-wall-only states. Centered around this beefy chambering, our test rifle boasted a detachable five-shot magazine, an 18.63-inch barrel and a free-floating handguard with M-LOK slots.

#2: #SundayGunday: Marlin Model 1895CB

This week we went Western, real Western, with theMarlin Model 1895CB. A big-bore lever-action chambered in classic .45-70 Government, the 1895CB not only packs a punch, but holds nine whole rounds of it in its tubular magazine. This combines with its 26-inch tapered octagonal barrel for superb accuracy, even at range. 

#3: #SundayGunday: Marlin Model 1894 Dark

Spot number three on our list is occupied by another traditional action, albeit with a more modern twist. Despite its classic levered action, the .357 Magnum-chambered 1894 Dark, from Marlin, comes with black-webbed hardwood furniture, a paracord-wrapped lever and a stretch of XS Lever Rail topside, for the mounting of an optic. Perfect for the hunter who wants some modern functionality, alongside that classic form.

#4: #SundayGunday: Winchester Model 1895 125th Anniversary Edition

In the fourth most popular slot we have—surprise!—another lever gun. Far and away the fanciest piece on this list, this is the Winchester Model 1895 125th Anniversary Edition. A lever-action chambered in Teddy Roosevelt's favorite caliber, .405 Winchester, the rifle is a beautiful specimen, with hand-chased engravings on both sides. Were it not such a pretty piece, it would almost make a great truck-rack gun. As it stands however, one would absolutely hate to see it scratched. 

#5: #SundayGunday: Thompson/Center Venture II

Finally, to round out our list, we diverge from the Cowboy-action craze with the Venture II from Thompson/Center—the company's flagship bolt-action hunting rifle. With a crisp, user-adjustable trigger and a 5R-rifled, threaded barrel, the Venture II is sure to put a clean shot on target when it counts. To back this up, Thompson/Center even has a 100-yard MOA guarantee on these rifles, a guarantee which our test model well outshot. 

We hope you've enjoyed this end of season roundup, and look forward to your joining us next week, for the beginning of another season of #SundayGunday.

Latest

W H2026 02 F SABLE Sable17.1
W H2026 02 F SABLE Sable17.1

Hunting Adventure: Pursuing the Prince of the Plains

A veteran of many safaris finally hunts the game atop his wish list. Follow along with Scott Haugen as he stalks sable through South Africa.

New for 2026: Armageddon Gear Turkey Chest Rig

Always scrambling to find the right call in one of a thousand pockets? The Armageddon Gear Turkey Chest Rig eliminates that problem by putting everything front and center, exactly where it should be.

First Look: Mossberg Special Edition 590 Bliksem

Mossberg has released its 590 Bliksem, a Special Edition pump-action firearm created in collaboration with Christian Craighead and his brand, Ministry of Defence (MOD). 

What Your Favorite Cartridge Says About You: Part III

Somehow, more than ten years has gone by since we had the second installment in this series. With a multitude of requests for another go-round, I am more than happy to oblige. We’ve had some interesting new developments in the cartridges world in the last decade, and there are some classic which are still being championed. So, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, I present Part III of What Your Favorite Cartridge Says About You.

First Look: Stoeger P3000 Bone Collector Nevado Edition

TrueTimber has announced a collaboration with Stoeger and Bone Collector's Michael Waddell on the Stoeger P3000 Bone Collector Nevado Edition, sold exclusively at Wal Mart.

First Look: Redding Reloading Master Hunter and Master Hunter Deluxe Die Sets

Redding Reloading Equipment has introduced a significant expansion to the Master Hunter Die Set and Master Hunter Deluxe Die Set product lines for (45) of the most popular cartridges in the industry today.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.