(From top) Browning Citori CX shotgun, Savage 93 Minimalist rimfire and CZ Upland Ultralight All-Terrain shogun are among the 12 new rimfires and shotguns featured below.
October 28, 2020
By Game & Fish Staff
Hunters have lots of options for fall hunting that don’t include members of the deer family.
Upland birds, early migrating waterfowl and small game are all on the table—or they will be with the right setup and some luck.
The new shotguns and rimfires now available to hunt these species are as varied as the birds and animals themselves. Be it a weather-proof workhorse 12-gauge or a super accurate .22 LR, each firearm in this roundup offers features that hunters will appreciate. The hardest decision may be choosing what to hunt with them, but luckily the best part of the year is only about to start.
SHOTGUNS Shotguns (from top): Savage Renegauge Field; Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 BEST; Browning Citori CX Micro with Adjustable LOP. Savage Renegauge Field The American-made Renegauge is the first semi-automatic shotgun to wear the Savage name, and the company’s engineers spent nearly eight years fine-tuning a gas system that will reliably cycle 12-gauge, 1-ounce target loads to 3-inch magnum hunting ammunition without the need for adjustment. Upon firing, two valves in the Renegauge’s Dual Regulating Inline Valve (DRIV) system open simultaneously to control gas pressure. While excess pressure is vented through the front of the fore-end, the DRIV system directs the optimal volume of gas needed for cycling to the shotgun’s chrome-plated, one-piece action bar. The result is a semi-auto that can handle ammo meant for everything from doves to ducks, with turkeys thrown in for good measure. Designers also paid attention to fit, and the Renegauge’s synthetic stock is adjustable for length of pull, comb height and drop. The shotgun’s Melonite-finished barrel is fluted, and three choke tubes (IC, M and F) are included. savagearms.com
Gauge, Chamber: 12, 3-inchBarrel Length: 28 inchesCapacity: 4+1 rounds (2 3/4-inch shells)Sights: red fiber-optic frontStock : gray syntheticLength of Pull: 14 1/4 to 15 inches, adj.Overall Length: 49 1/2 inchesWeight: 7.9 poundsMSRP: $1,449 Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 BEST The third generation of the Super Black Eagle has been busting birds in nasty weather for three years now, but the latest version comes even better prepared for the worst. Its barrel, bolt, bolt handle, extended choke tube, safety, trigger and other parts are finished with the Benelli Surface Treatment (BEST) to provide the utmost resistance to corrosion and abrasion. Carbon particles with properties similar to diamonds are applied to the components using a multi-layered hybrid vapor-deposition process, which permanently adheres them to the surface but does not require high temperatures that could weaken the parts. The BEST finish is not only corrosion-proof (Benelli dunked a BEST barrel in saltwater for three months with no signs of rust), but it also has lubricating properties to reduce the amount of oil and maintenance required. Benelli is so confident in the treatment that it backs BEST components with a 25-year warranty. benelliusa.com
Gauge, Chamber: 12, 3 1/2-inchBarrel Length: 28 inchesCapacity : 3+1 rounds (2 3/4-inch shells)Sights: red fiber-optic frontStock: black synthetic Comfort Tech 3Length of Pull : 14 3/8 inchesOverall Length : 49.6 inchesvWeight : 7 poundsMSRP: $2,199 Browning Citori CX Micro with Adjustable LOP Young upland hunters or those who need a shorter-than-standard length of pull can now have a Citori CX built just for them. The Graco buttplate on the CX Micro permits length-of-pull adjustment from 13 1/8 to 14 1/4 inches, and it also allows toe in/out and up/down alterations. Browning’s Three Position Trigger has a moveable shoe that provides more adjustability in reach to its face. Like the standard CX, the Micro throws a pattern with a slightly high point of impact (60/40 distribution), making it a versatile “crossover” gun for the coverts and clays courses. It also has an Inflex 2 recoil pad and comes with three Invector-Plus Midas extended choke tubes (IC, M and F). The CX Micro is included in Browning’s Growth Insurance Program, which allows the owner to purchase a full-size stock at 50 percent of the retail price to adapt to a growing shooter. browning.com
Gauge, Chamber: 12, 3-inchBarrel Length: 28 inchesCapacity: 2 roundsSights : ivory bead front, steel bead midStock: grade II black walnutLength of Pull: 13 1/8 to 14 1/4 inches, adj.Overall Length : 45 inchesWeight : 8 poundsMSRP: $2,469.99 Shotguns (from top): CZ Upland Ultralight All-Terrain; Franchi Instinct SLX; Mossberg SA-410 Field. CZ Upland Ultralight All-Terrain The sub-6-pound Upland Ultralight All-Terrain 20-gauge is a workingman’s gun made for long hikes through thick cover. The olive-drab green Cerakote finish on the barrels and receiver wards off the elements and scratches from brush. Rare earth magnets in the extractors retain shells while the gun is broken open, preventing them from falling out of the chambers when a hunter tips the muzzle up and bends over to receive a bird from a dog, adjust a collar or give water. Sling swivels provide another option for carry during extended treks to hidden hot spots. The All-Terrain series also includes 12- and 20-gauge versions of the Redhead Premier and Drake over-unders, Bobwhite G2 side-by-side and 1012 semi-automatic, as well as a 12-gauge Upland Ultralight. cz-usa.com
Gauge, Chamber : 20, 3-inchBarrel Length : 28 inchesCapacity: 2 roundsSights: bead frontStock: Turkish walnutLength of Pull: 14 1/2 inchesOverall Length: 45 3/4 inchesWeight : 5.9 poundsMSRP : $890 Franchi Instinct SLX The Instinct SLX is an aesthetically upgraded version of Franchi’s lightweight SL over-under. Think of it as the deluxe grade, though it retails for less than $2,000. The aluminum-alloy receiver is sculpted, engraved in a floral pattern and includes gold inlays. A cut-out opening lever adds another touch of class. The SLX’s vented barrels are finished in a high-gloss blue, and its Prince of Wales buttstock and schnabel fore-end are AA-grade walnut with a satin finish. Other features include ejectors and an automatic safety with a barrel-selector switch. The SLX comes with five extended choke tubes (C, IC, M, IM and F) and a fitted hard case, and it is available in 12, 16 and 20 gauge. franchiusa.com
Gauge, Chamber: 12, 3-inchBarrel Length : 28 inchesCapacity: 2 roundsSights: red fiber-optic frontStock: AA-grade walnutLength of Pull: 14 1/4 inchesOverall Length: 46 1/4 inchesWeight: 6.3 poundsMSRP: $1,999 Mossberg SA-410 Field Thanks to shells loaded with super-dense tungsten shot, .410-bore shotguns are enjoying a huge boost in popularity. And while turkey hunters have been the biggest proponents, small-game hunters are also discovering the fun of the .410. Mossberg’s SA-410 Field is an all-purpose .410-bore that can serve from the turkey blind to the squirrel woods and rabbit fields. The gun’s gas-operated action combined with its 6 1/2-pound weight make for a soft shooter that’s easy to carry all day long. With a trim receiver and 26-inch barrel, the SA-410 is quick to point, and its black synthetic stock shuns scratches from thorns and briars. Mossberg includes a set of five choke tubes (C, IC, M, IM and F) with the gun. mossberg.com
Bore, Chamber: .410, 3-inchBarrel Length: 26 inchesCapacity : 4+1 roundsSights: bead frontStock: black syntheticLength of Pull: 13 3/4 inchesOverall Length : 46 inchesWeight : 6.5 poundsMSRP: $636 RIMFIRES Rimfires (from top): Bergara B14-R, Christensen Arms Ranger 22, Marlin Model 60 150th Anniversary. Bergara B14-R Modeled after Bergara’s B14 centerfire rifle, the B14-R is a full-size rimfire that has many features of big-game and precision bolt guns. For example, the B14-R action, which has a footprint similar to the Remington Model 700, is set into the same HMR stock Bergara uses in its centerfire line. The stock is adjustable for length of pull and comb height, and its integral aluminum mini chassis provides stable bedding. A modified B14 bolt feeds .22 LR rounds from an AICS-style detachable box magazine, which has the same external dimensions as a short-action centerfire AICS magazine. The heavy-contour barrel is another feature normally reserved for centerfire precision rifles. Although the B14-R is designed as a complement to a centerfire for training and for rimfire competition, it’s also just the ticket for squirrel hunters who take nothing less than head shots. bergara.online
Caliber: .22 LRCapacity : 10 roundsBarrel: 18 inches, No. 6 contour; 1:16-inch twistStock : synthetic HMR, adjustable length of pull and comb heightSights: none; drilled and tapped for scope basesOverall Length: 38 inchesWeight: 9.2 poundsMSRP: $1,150 Christensen Arms Ranger 22 Christensen Arms applies its carbon-fiber technology to a rimfire to create the 5-pound Ranger 22. The rifle features the company’s carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel, as well as its carbon-fiber composite stock. Ending in a threaded muzzle, the barrel is hand-lapped and has a match chamber. The Ranger 22’s black-anodized aluminum receiver contains a bolt with dual lugs and extractors. It feeds rounds from a flush-fitting rotary magazine, and the action is compatible with Ruger 10/22 magazines. The rifle also has a Picatinny rail for mounting optics and a TriggerTech Remington Model 700-style trigger. Christensen Arms guarantees the Ranger 22 will shoot sub-MOA groups at 50 yards. christensenarms.com
Caliber: .22 LRCapacity: 10 roundsBarrel: 18 inches, carbon-fiber-wrapped; 1:16-inch twistStock: carbon-fiber compositeSights : none; Picatinny rail for scope ringsOverall Length: 38 1/4 inchesWeight: 5.1 poundsMSRP: $795 Marlin Model 60 150th Anniversary Commemorative guns are usually too fancy for the field, but this Model 60, celebrating Marlin’s 150th anniversary, is an exception. Its black walnut stock is checkered in a classic and practical diamond pattern, and includes a modest anniversary medallion inlay. The 19-inch stainless steel barrel has Marlin’s Micro-Groove rifling and wears a good set of adjustable iron sights. Grooves in the receiver accept scope rings. The Model 60’s hallmark full-length tubular magazine holds 14 rounds, and the bolt locks back when the last one is fired. Although its special serial number range will make this version of the Model 60 attractive to collectors, it’s still a solid rimfire for hunters. marlinfirearms.com
Caliber: .22 LRCapacity : 14 roundsBarrel: 19 inches, stainless steel; 1:16-inch twistStock: black walnutSights: fully adjustable rear notch, front bladeOverall Length: 37 1/2 inchesWeight: 5 1/2 poundsMSRP: $399 Rimfire (from top): Savage 93 Minimalist, Performance Center T/CR22, Ruger American Rimfire Long-Range Target. Savage 93 Minimalist The laminate Minimalist stock keeps the weight of this .22 WMR at less than 5 1/2 pounds while providing great ergonomics in the form of a heightened comb, pronounced pistol grip and widened fore-end belly. Savage gives the Minimalist the heralded AccuTrigger, which is user-adjustable from 2 1/2 to 6 pounds, and includes two-piece Weaver scope bases with the rifle. Like many new rimfires, the Minimalist’s barrel has a threaded muzzle for suppressor attachment. Savage also offers a Minimalist version of the 93R17 in .17 HMR and the Mark II in .22 LR, as well as a brown laminate stock option. savagearms.com
Caliber : .22 WMRCapacity : 10 roundsBarrel : 18 inches, button-rifled; 1:16-inch twistStock : laminateSights : none; Weaver scope bases includedOverall Length : 37 inchesWeight : 5.48 poundsMSRP : $359 Performance Center T/CR22 The Performance Center, an offshoot of Thompson/Center that builds upgraded versions of the company’s standard firearms, offers several new variations of the semi-auto T/CR22. Some feature carbon-fiber-wrapped barrels and laminate stocks, but the one with a Hogue OverMolded thumbhole stock and stainless steel, fluted barrel is the most affordable and may be the best of the bunch for hunting. The durable Hogue stock is comfortable to settle into for a shot, and the weight provided by the heavy contour barrel gives the rimfire a steady, muzzle-heavy balance. A detachable, flush-fitting, rotary magazine feeds the action, and the rifle is compatible with most aftermarket Ruger 10/22 accessories. The integral Picatinny rail on the T/CR22’s aluminum receiver makes mounting a scope simple. tcarms.com
Caliber : .22 LRCapacity : 10 roundsBarrel : 20 inches, stainless steel; 1:15-inch twistStock : Hogue OverMolded thumbholeSights : none; Picatinny rail for scope ringsOverall Length : 38 1/2 inchesWeight : 6.95 poundsMSRP : $497 Ruger American Rimfire Long-Range Target Here’s a rimfire with reach, one built for precision at distances beyond 100 yards. The Long-Range Target mates a 22-inch, cold-hammer-forged, bull barrel to Ruger’s American Rimfire action, which has a bolt with a 60-degree throw, tang safety and Marksman Adjustable trigger. It feeds from a Ruger’s BX-1 10-round rotary magazine, accepts all 10/22 magazines and has an extended magazine release for easy removal. An integral bedding-block system in the stock anchors the receiver and free-floats the barrel. The stock has an adjustable comb and length of pull, and includes cups for quick-detachable sling mounts as well as a flush-mounted Magpul M-Lok rail on the bottom of the fore-end. Ruger provides a factory-installed one-piece aluminum scope rail with the Long-Range Target. ruger.com
Caliber : .22 LRCapacity : 10 roundsBarrel : 22 inches, cold-hammer-forged; 1:16-inch twistStock : painted laminate; adjustable length of pull and comb heightSights : none; factory-mounted one-piece rail for scope ringsOverall Length: 40 1/2 inchesWeight : 8 poundsMSRP : $599
