“deer rifles”

Is the most popular military rifle in history worth a ruble in the woods?

Overall, in fit and finish you'll find the Sauer 100 Classic XT at or near the top of the budget bolt-rifle class. It’s atop the price ladder, too, but if you want Sauer precision, you won’t find it for any less.

There's never a bad time to add a new rifle to your gun case—especially if you're looking for a favorite new meat maker before the 2015 whitetail season kicks into high gear. Here are a few new-for-2015 offerings that deserve some consideration if you're looking to make an addition to the family before your season begins.

Other than the feral hog, the whitetail deer covers more diverse types of terrain than any other game animal, leading hunters to have a wide variety of favorite cartridges. Additionally, whitetail hunters are perhaps the most fervent defenders and proponents of their chosen cartridges, which can range from the .22 Hornet to the .45-70 Government—not to mention the shotgun crowd. How do you even begin a "Top 5?"

Always a leader in generational deer rifles—see the Model 94 lever-action, pre-’64 Model 70 “Rifleman’s Rifle” and the later, push-feed version of the Model 70—Winchester has jumped into the fray with its new XPR.

Red dot optics have steadily won over members of the hunting community in recent years, landing atop many a turkey gun and a growing number of deer rifles, among others. News from Trijicon indicates that there'll be another contender in the market very shortly in the form of the company's new Miniature Rifle Optic, or MRO.

Right now, there’s a guy on a stool in a gun shop arguing over what the “best home defense gun” is. Whether he’s right or wrong isn’t relevant—the best gun for home defense is the gun you have when you need it.

When it comes to selecting a rifle, there's almost no end to the options available. Which models are the best on the market today? Check out Keith Wood's Top 10.

The deer rifle remains the quintessential tool of the American deer hunter. Close your eyes and think about deer hunters and you’ll picture a figure cloaked in camo, with a bright orange hat and a rifle slung over his or her shoulder. Here are five rifles—a few classics, a few destined to be—that will serve their owners well when the time comes to take the venison from the field to the fridge.