Things change, but they also stay the same. One of the new trends in hunting firearms in 2007 is semi-automatic military-origin rifles being used in ever-greater numbers in ever-wider areas of hunting. At the same time, we are seeing a continuation of the trend toward ever-lighter, ever-quicker, and ever-more-comfortable tools. Centerfire rifles with more compact actions, and with the most crisp, user-friendly trigger pull available, continue to surge. In the rimfire world, new compact and premium-grade rifles are emerging. Shotguns are lighter every year, with continuing advances in recoil-management features. Even muzzleloaders have jumped on the convenience and speed wagon, with recoil-compensating stocks and easy-maintenance systems. Here are some top hunting gun picks for 2007.

ARMALITE AR-10(T) ULTRA .300 RSAUM
All sporting and hunting rifle designs in the world had their beginnings as military weapons. The proven AR platform is now rapidly moving into the same arena, as semiautomatic AR-type rifles become increasingly popular in the hunting fields, from varmint shooting to predator hunting to trophy game. ArmaLite is now offering a true big-game version of the classic AR design, the Model AR-10(T) Ultra. It's chambered in .300 Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum (RSAUM), with ballistics equivalent to a long-action .300 Winchester Magnum. The 24-inch match grade barrel and two-stage match trigger make this a superb long-range elk rifle. Minute-of-angle accuracy is guaranteed. The AR-10(T) comes with one five-round magazine, owner's manual and limited lifetime warranty, and is available with black or green stock and forend.

BENELLI SUPER BLACK EAGLE II
As the original 3 1/2-inch semiautomatic shotgun, the Super Black Eagle was on the cutting edge of shotgun development. Now, Benelli has followed it with the newly designed Super Black Eagle II featuring the innovative recoil-reducing ComforTech stock. The Super Black Eagle II uses the Benelli Inertia Driven bolt mechanism that allows it to shoot 2 3/4-inch, 3-inch and even 3 1/2-inch magnum ammunition without adjustments. In addition, it incorporates some basic improvements, such as a drilled and tapped receiver.

The new ComforTech system reduces recoil up to 48 percent when compared with the competition, without adding any moving parts or weight. Next to competing brands, the Benelli weighs 13 to 15 percent less -- on average, that's more than a pound less! The ComforTech system also reduces muzzle climb by 15 percent, allowing for fast follow-up shots. The buttpad, made of a shock-absorbing gel originally developed for the medical industry, works with the ComforTech system to soak up recoil. Benelli engineers created an ergonomic design so refined that left- and right-handers have entirely different recoil pads.

BERETTA AL391 URIKA 2
Beretta is introducing an enhanced version of the award-winning AL391 Urika shotgun that has sold over 1.5 million units worldwide since its introduction.

The Beretta gas system is faster than any other operating system, and it's been improved by the addition of a spinning and self-cleaning action. As gas pressure is fed into the gas cylinder, a series of expandable fingers on the piston expand outwardly to clean the gas cylinder as the action cycles.

Additionally, the gas piston is imparted with a spinning motion and "scraper teeth" to ensure carbon deposits are thoroughly dislodged and removed from the gas system. This improved cleaning action greatly contributes to enhanced reliability.

In addition, selected models of the Urika 2 are available with Beretta's "Kick Off" technology, a Beretta patent that far exceeds the claimed performance of the competition in similar systems of recoil reduction. This technology has been carried over from the success of the Xtrema2. It is a true hydraulic recoil reduction borrowed from proven automotive technology.

BROWNING BLR TAKEDOWN LEVER-ACTION
Since Bruce Browning designed the Browning Lever-Action Rifle, better known as the BLR, this workhorse has gone through numerous configuration changes. Now you can add a new configuration to the impressive list of Browning BLRs. For 2007, the BLR will be offered in two takedown models, one with a pistol grip and one with a straight grip stock. With the flip of a lever, storage and travel now becomes a non-issue. A scout-style scope mount is available as an accessory, which puts the scope directly on the barrel, where it is not affected by any variations caused by taking the gun apart or putting it back together.

The timeless Browning BLR is available in all the popular short- and long-action calibers from .22-250 to .300 Winchester Magnum, including the tough .450 Marlin, .358 Win. and the entire WSM family.