Guns Illustrated 2011. Dan Shideler
pistols. Included with that vast array of noteworthy firearms today is the T-Bolt™ .22 rifle. After dropping this innovative straight-pull design years ago, Browning decided to bring it back recently and now offers several different stock variations and finishes, including composites, sporters and target/varmint styles. The short-throw action makes the T-Bolt quick to load from the unique 10-round “Double Helix” magazine. MSRP for the T-Bolts range from $705 to $789.
Another Browning rifle that has experienced a great deal of success has been the A-Bolt. Like the T-Bolt, this rifle is offered in many different variations and styles including the recent TCT Varmint. (Sad to say, the “TCT” has nothing to do with the author’s own initials.) This particular A-Bolt comes with a glass bedded receiver that is matte blued and drilled and tapped for a scope. The barrel is free-floating, 22 inches long and fluted and is also matt blued with a target crown. The composite stock is a hand-laid fiberglass Bell and Carlson that is specifically designed for shooting from the prone position and comes with aluminum bedded block for improved accuracy. Currently the TCT Varmint is available chambered for .223, .22-250 and .308 and weighs 10 lbs., 6 oz. MSRP is $1,299.
COOPER FIREARMS OF MONTANA
When compared to many other rifle manufacturers, Cooper Firearms of Montana isn’t a large company, but over the last two decades they have earned a reputation for making rifles of exceptional high quality that possess unsurpassed tact-driving accuracy. their attention on better customer relations, improved products and a shorter order turnaround time. Cooper changed ownership in 2009 and since that time the company has focused
In the past the company has concentrated primarily on rimfire and the smaller centerfire chamberings that lend themselves for use by varmint hunters and predator hunters and for moderate-range target shooting. This has included both the normal production cartridges as well as a broad array of wildcats. This year the company entered a new era of production by offering a short-action repeater called the Model 54. This totally newly-designed rifle was specifically developed for the classic .243-.308 family of cartridges. Currently it is available in .22-250 Remington, .243 Winchester, .250 Savage, 7mm-08 Remington, .308 Winchester and .260 Remington, but the company plans to add to those choices in the near future. The Model 54 comes in a wide variety of stock configurations including several classic styles and varmint designs. All of the Model 54s come with fully adjustable single stage triggers of the Cooper design, Sako style machined extractors, plunger style ejectors machined from solid bar stock and the three front bolt locking lugs that Cooper has become known for. The basic MSRP for the Classic and Varmint Laminate is $1,695 and that of the Western Classic is $3,895. Because Coopers is essentially a custom shop, custom features can be added to any of their rifles. Prices for those are available upon request.
CZ-USA
The CZ 455 is a new generation of rim-fire bolt-action rifles that will eventually consolidate all of the receivers currently used in the Model 452 line into a single platform. This combination, with CZ’s new interchangeable barrel system, will allow the user to easily change the stock configuration as well as the caliber. The American Model is the first to see the benefits of this change, but other configurations will soon follow. The Model 455 comes with an adjustable trigger, hammer forged barrel and billet machined receiver and is available in .22 LR, .22 WMR and .17HMR. The MSRP for the American CZ 455 is $463 to $504.
EUROPEAN AMERICAN ARMORY - SABATTI
Quality double rifles often come with five-figure price tags. On the other hand, European American Armory (EAA) is importing a high-quality, Italian-made double that not only carries an attractive price tag but it is chambered in a wide variety of cartridges, ranging from the tried-and-true .45-70 all the way up to the big .500 Nitro Express. [Editor’s Note: Yes, but is it desmodromic? –DMS] The Sabatti SAB92SF comes with all the quality features and characteristics that are common in doubles today including a beavertail forend, European styled checkpiece, deep cut checkering, high grade walnut stock, tang mounted safety, chrome-moly barrels, very attractive full engraving and a chrome-steel receiver. For quick target acquisition, modern fiber optic sights have been added. MSRP on the Sabatti SAB92SF is just over $6,000. For more information you can visit http://www.ussginc.com/index.html, or contact EAA Corp. at 411 Hawk St., Rockledge, FL 32955 or at (321) 639-4842.
Elegance, accuracy and quality are what Cooper’s new, first short action repeater, the Model 84, is all about.
HI-POINT
Hi-Point Carbines may not be exactly what all shooters are looking for, but these lightweight, low-cost, very versatile rifles fills a nice niche in the firearm field that few others seem to be filling at this time. Currently the Hi-Point Carbine comes chambered in 9mm Luger or .40 S&W, which allows the shooters the benefits associated with using the same ammunition for both their rifle and sidearm. This makes these rifles an excellent choice for either law enforcement or for home defense applications. The robust all-weather black molded polymer skeletonized stock is both tough and lightweight. The forearm has a grabby surface that permits the shooter to wear gloves or shoot bare handed in all types of weather. The simple blow back design feeds the cartridges from the compact single stack 10-round magazine, which is interchangeable with those of the Hi-Point series semi-auto pistols of same caliber. The metal finish is a special high-durability black powder coat and the stock is a black molded polymer construction. The carbine comes equipped with both an upper and lower Picatinny rail, so you can hang no end of stuff off it if you want. Depending on caliber, the barrel length varies from 16-1/2 to 17 inches and the weight runs about 7 lbs. The Hi-Point Carbine’s MSRP is remarkably low at only $249 to $299.
HOWA
Howa has extended its Howa/Hogue Model lineup recently to include the newly developed .375 Ruger powerhouse cartridge. It includes a Hogue Over-molded ™ stock in either black or OD green color, a 20-inch #2 contour barrel, Hi-Vis #3 front and rear sights and is available in either blued or stainless.
KIMBER
Kimber has now added to their line of fine Model 84s with a brand new long action Rifle, appropriately called the Model 84L. It comes in two styles: the Classic Select Grade and the Classic. The Classic Select Grade Model is available in .25-06 Remington, .270 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield. The stock is French walnut with an ebony forend tip. The Classic Model 84L is available in .270 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield and comes with a Claro walnut stock. The weight is the same for both the Classic Select and Select Grade at a mere 6 lbs., 2 oz. Both come with 24-inch barrels and are equipped with all-steel trigger guards and floorplates. MSRP for the Classic Select is $1,359 and $1,179 for the Classic.
MOSSBERG
Mossberg has recently released two new centerfire bolt action rifles in the company’s Maverick Series: a Long-Action Rifle and a Super Bantam Short-Action Rifle. The standard features include such niceties as a free-floating button-rifled barrel, a recessed muzzle crown, factory installed Weaver-style two-piece scope bases and a 4+1 cartridge capacity. They are offered in four popular calibers. The long action model comes in either .30-06 Springfield or .270 Winchester and the short action Super Bantam comes in either .243 Winchester or .308 Winchester. Both come with a matte blued finish and a black synthetic stock, but in the case of the Super Bantam the stock is adjustable in order for it to grow as the youngster grows. Adding or removing inserts at the butt permits the stock to be lengthened or shortened as needed to fit the shooter.
NOSLER
Nosler has made a significant addition to their current Model 48 line of rifles with the introduction of the Model 48 Trophy Grade Rifle (TGR). The new TGR features a free-floating 24-inch chrome-moly barrel and a crisp 3-lb. Basix trigger. Targeting those hunters who face wet and inhospitable conditions, the TGR includes a custom aluminum bedded Bell & Carlson composite stock and the exterior metal surfaces are protected by a special application of Cerakote. The interior working parts have a corrosion-resistant coating of Micro-Slick, too. Nosler officials indicate that hunters can expect sub-MOA performance at 100 yards with the TGR. It is available in nine big game calibers, with the addition of two new choices