Bushmaster V Radicator in .22 ARC. (Photo by Greg Duncan)
January 22, 2025
By Alan Clemons
New guns are introduced every year at the annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas, some for hunting big game and others for small game, plinking or competition. Whatever your interests, the best new rifles for 2025 are sure to whet a range of appetites.
With the myriad competitions throughout the country, shooters can find seemingly everything to scratch an itch. Some opt for the .22-caliber events, which are just as intense as the long-range matches with the Creeds & Co. Everything’s relative, too; that 800- or 1,000-yard shot with the PRC round is akin to a 100-yarder with a .22 rifle.
Here are some of the best new rifles that will grab attention this year among hunters and shooters.
CVA Scout CVA Scout TD The new CVA Scout series builds on CVA’s trusted single-shot rifle platform, adding modern upgrades for more versatility and performance. The suppressor-ready rifles are designed for comfort and adaptability, with improved ergonomics and customizable adjustments. A Picatinny rail simplifies optics mounting. All have an adjustable length of pull with a 1-inch removable spacer, and an adjustable comb height with two included cheek risers of a quarter- and half-inch. Fourteen calibers are available, from .223 Rem to the popular 360 Buckhammer and 400 Legend straight-wall cartridges. A turkey gun also is in the line, the Scout Spur in .410 bore, coming with a Jeb’s XX-Full choke. The Scout TD (Take-Down) can be broken down for packing, has all the features of the Scout series and comes in eight calibers. MSRP: $425-$495 | cva.com
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Bushmaster V-Radicator Bushmaster V-Radicator 24” .223 Wylde. Bushmaster Firearms is back in the varmint game with its new V-Radicator semi-automatic AR-15 rifle. The V-Radicator in .223 Wylde has a 24-inch barrel with 1:9 twist and handles a range of 5.56 NATO or .223 Remington loads. If you head west for varmints or chase hogs, coyotes and fox, this might get your motor running. It’s shipped with a stainless-steel thread protector and is ready to accept a muzzle device or direct-thread suppressor. The V-Radicator has a Magpul MOE K2-XL grip, PR Carbine Stock and 17-inch Bravo Zulu MLOK handguard. It’s quite customizable, of course. MSRP: $992-$1,015 | bushmaster.com
Ruger 10/22 Rifles Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber. Ruger’s new lightweight 10/22 rifle is chambered in .22 LR and weighs just 3.5 pounds, thanks to its 16.1-inch cold hammer-forged tensioned barrel fitted with a carbon fiber sleeve. The rifle’s tough, lightweight Magpul MOE X-22 stock is painted black and features a textured splatter paint for an improved grip in terrible weather conditions. The stock features M-LOK attachment slots at the 6 o’clock position and integral sling loops for use with locking sling swivels. The length of pull is 13.5 inches. The rifle has the Ruger BX-Trigger with approximate pull weight of 2.75 pounds.
Ruger's Custom Shop is also offers a pair of 10/22 rifles on a Grey Birch chassis, featuring a tensioned barrel with carbon fiber sleeve and BX-Trigger. The chassis is adjustable for length of pull and comb height and also folds for easy transport. The 10-inch forend has M-LOK slots and an Arca-Swiss rail.
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Ruger also has a handful of solid offerings of its legendary 10/22 rifle, which turned 75 years old in 2024. The company introduced two 75th anniversary models with stain black alloy steel barrel or satin stainless steel barrel. Both have stained or unstained hardwood stocks, polished bolt engraved with a 75th Annversary logo and more. Another solid consideration introduced last October is the 10/22 Magpul, which has a MOE X-22 stock. This stock has M-LOK slots and Magpul TSP texture on the pistol grip, in black and stainless. MSRP: Starting at $379 | ruger.com
Savage 110 Magpul Scout Savage 110 Magpul Scout. With a late-autumn introduction, Savage added a handful of new calibers to the popular 110 Magpul Scout lineup . This series is seven years old but continues to resonate with hunters and shooters. The rifles have 16.5-inch carbon steel barrels with a muzzle brake, AICS-style detachable box mags, a Picatinny rail for optics, adjustable iron sights and the legendary Savage AccuTrigger. and options for black or Flat Dark Earth colorways. New calibers added last autumn included the 5.56 NATO, 6mm ARC, .300 Blackout and .350 Legend, joining the existing 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win and 450 Bushmaster. MSRP: $1,099 | savagearms.com
Savage Revel DLX Savage Revel DLX Lever-action aficionados may want to look at the new Savage Revel DLX . This hot rimfire features a contoured walnut stock with intricate stippling for better grip and more comfort. As a take-down model, which is easy to do, it loads up quickly in a pack for easy movement when you’re on foot. It’s a handsome rifle with Savage’s top features. It sports an 18-inch barrel and tube magazine, with the .22 LR holding 12 rounds and the .22 WMR and .17 HMR holding nine rounds. The Revel Classic rifle is a smidge less expensive but still retains most of the top features of the DLX. MSRP: $539 | savagearms.com
Bergara BMR-X Carbon or Steel Bergara BMR-X Carbon Bergara’s new BMR-X Carbon rifle weighs 5.7 pounds and sports a tough 18-inch carbon-fiber barrel that effortlessly flings .22 LR, .22 WMR or .17 HMR rounds. It has an adjustable length-of-pull, and a vertical grip, 30 MOA rail, and flat forend. It has a 5- and 10-round slim-line magazine.
If you’re not into carbon (and the extra sawbucks for it), the Bergara BMR-X Steel weighs about 6.6 pounds but may be to your liking. The heavy profile steel barrel is designed for target and competition shooting. It has a 30 MOA rail, match chamber, adjustable trigger and more. Both rifles are easily customizable. The BMR-X Steel also flings .22 LR, .22 WMR and .17 HMR rounds. MSRP: $719 (Steel); $819 (Carbon) | bergarausa.com
Retay Gordion Rifled Slug Retay Gordion Rifled Slug Hey, what’s a slug gun doing in here? If you’re a hog or deer hunter, it may be worth checking the new Retay Gordion Rifled Slug shotgun . It’s available in 12-gauge 3-inch or 20-gauge 3-inch models with precision-engineered, deep bore drilled barrels. The deep bore drilling process produces an exceptionally “dead straight” barrel, eliminating stress and integrity issues often caused by traditional hammer forging. The gun works off Retay’s patented Inertia Plus Bolt System. This actively rotates the bolt head into battery and locks it in place, ensuring reliable operation under all conditions. The gun features an aerospace-grade 7075 aluminum alloy receiver, providing strength without added weight. It comes equipped with an integrated cantilevered Picatinny rail mount and iron rifle sights, offering versatility and precision for a range of shooting scenarios. Oversized controls allow for quick, intuitive operation, even in challenging environments, and it has integrated sling mounts along with plastic-free components, including its receiver, trigger and trigger guard, to ensure a seamless and reliable operation in the field. It comes in black or camo. MSRP: NA | retayusa.com
Umarex Komplete Umarex Komplete NCR .22 pellet rifle The new Umarex Komplete NCR .22 caliber pellet rifle features a revolutionary, disposable high-pressure nitrogen (N2) cartridge system. The Komplete NCR uses a NitroAir cartridge, a unique single-use N2 cartridge filled with nitrogen at an impressive 3,600 psi. It boasts a patent-pending cartridge piercing mechanism and a sophisticated internal air pressure regulator that smoothly releases a volume of nitrogen at 1,800 psi. This gives you about 45 steady, consistent, accurate shots or more per cartridge. It does this without the need of an expensive airgun air compressor, big air tank, or strenuous-to-use airgun hand pump.
This N2 compatible .22 caliber PCP rifle sends 11.9 grain airgun pellets downrange from the muzzle at 975 feet per second. This generates energy of 25 foot-pounds, enough for small game hunting . The Komplete comes with two 10-round removable magazines and a 4x32 scope and rings ready to mount to the rifle’s Picatinny rail. It also has M-LOK slots on the bottom of the forearm for accessories, a bipod or aftermarket shooting accessories. The Komplete operates at extremely reduced noise levels compared to traditional rifles like the .22 long rifle. MSRP: $199.99 | umarexusa.com
Savage Southpaws Savage 110 Trail Hunter Left Hand Savage has added left-handed models to its popular 110 Trail Hunter and 110 Trail Hunter Lite rifles, which were introduced in the last two years as a collaboration with Hogue. They quickly became popular, with the Hogue Overmolded stocks long a favorite among hunters and shooters. The rifles include a Cerakote ceramic coating on the action, among other features, and also are now chambered in Federal’s new 7mm Backcountry along with being available for southpaws. MSRP: $639-$669 | savagearms.com
Rock River Arms .17 HMR Rock River Arms .17 HMR Rock River Arms is shipping its RRA .17 HMR rifle, introduced last year as its first in the caliber for rimfire enthusiasts seeking precision and versatility. Constructed with an RRA A4 billet upper and forged A2 lower, it boasts an 18-inch 41V50 CMV barrel, gas impingement system with delayed blowback operation, and a 1:9 twist for consistent performance with 15.5- to 20-grain cartridges. Enhancements include the RRA NM Ultra Match 2-stage trigger, rear charging handle, and a winter trigger guard. Additionally, it features a Magpul MOE grip, Magpul SL-K stock, and a 15-inch free-float handguard with M-LOK, making it adaptable for accessories. The package is completed with a 10-round magazine. MSRP: $1,190 | rockriverarms.com
