The Nucleus bolt head is easily interchangeable. Headspace is pre-set and the Nucleus is compatible with many off-the-shelf barrels such as Savage small-shank pre-fits, so you can replace barrels yourself when they burn out or you want to change calibers. Conventionally threaded and shouldered barrels can also be used with the Nucleus. Super cool stuff.

*AMERICAN RIFLE COMPANY NUCLEUS photo credit American Rifle Company
Tikka
Manufactured by the Finnish rifle powerhouse Sako, Tikka produces some excellent choices in this arena, including the T3x Compact Tactical Rifle and the Tact A1. Both rifles are near best-in-class for quality and features for the money. The CTR (street price around $1,100) has a more “traditional” stock, while the Tact A1 (around $1,900) gets the full tactical Monty, with an interchangeable, free-float 13.5” M-LOK forend, aluminum-bedded chassis, threaded barrel, adjustable stock, and crisp, adjustable 2-stage trigger. Pretty much the only thing we have to complain about is the lack of a 20 MOA rail, but your local smith should be able to sort that out for a few bucks. Bonus: It’s also available left-handed.
*TIKKA T3X TACT A1 photo credit Tikka
Good Hunting Rifles
In the western US, “hunting” often is shorthand for “hiking with a gun.” And in the South and East, you may be climbing into and out of tree stands or walking lumber or power-line access roads. So a 15-plus pound PRS rifle isn’t going to cut it, unless you have a good friend willing to lug your rifle around for you.
There are a lot of great hunting rifles that are light enough and rugged enough, with accuracy suitable for long-range shooting. We’ll list just a few of our favorites.
Seekins Precision Havak Pro Hunter 2
At 6.9lbs (short action) or 7.2lbs (long action), the Seekins Havak PH2 features a carbon-composite stock (in several available colors and patterns), carbon magazine, distinctive fluted 5R 416 stainless barrel with a 5/8x24 threaded muzzle, hand-pillar-bedded action, and 20 MOA rail so you don’t run out of elevation adjustment on your long-range scope.
Starting at around $1,800 plus optics, the Seekins is not cheap for a hunting rifle, but the quality is undeniable and the accuracy can be jaw-dropping.
*SEEKINS HAVAK PH2, Photo credit Seekins Precision
Bergara
The Spanish maker Bergara has been tearing up the pages of virtual and physical gun rags for several years, primarily due to their popularization of the “hunting and match rifle.” The 9.5-ish pound Bergara B-14 HMR helped pioneer the “mini-chassis” stock configuration that allows ergonomic adjustability while not offending traditionalists with a too-radical appearance, and at a still-manageable weight for hunting.
Or, if “match” shooting isn’t on the menu, the B-14 Hunter, with its glass-fiber-reinforced polymer, traditional-looking stock, is a couple of pounds lighter still, and has the same silky-smooth B-14 action.
All B-14 rifles are guaranteed to produce groups of 1.0 MOA or less at 100 yards with quality factory match grade ammunition. There was a time when 1” groups at 100 yards were considered more than accurate enough for hunting, but with today’s shooters stretching their shots out farther and farther, a 1/2 MOA-capable rifle is better. Fortunately, many shooters have found their B-14s to be capable of stellar accuracy with hand loads.
One reason the Bergara has been such a hit is its long list of desirable features and high level of accuracy at a reasonable price. MSRP for the HMR is around $1,200, but several retailers have been selling them for a bit over 9 bills. The B-14 Hunter sits around $700 street price.
*BERGARA HMR, Photo credit Bergara
Savage
For a long time, the Savage 110 was sort of the “sleeper” in the long-range shooting and hunting world. Those who knew how good Savage’s rifles were, and how little they cost (relatively speaking), often kept this info to themselves. But now the secret is out, and Savage is reveling in its well-deserved reputation for almost unbelievable accuracy, and many of its offerings are astoundingly inexpensive.
Particularly for hunting, where a 1/4 MOA group isn’t going to make a practical difference, the Savage Axis line, with many models selling for under $400 street price, is a no-brainer. Many shooters find their Savage Axis rifles to print groups well under 1” at 100 yards with the right loads.
*SAVAGE AXIS II, photo credit Savage
Christensen
Christensen Arms has been pioneering the use of carbon-fiber-wrapped barrels and lightweight stocks on hunting rifles since the mid-90s. With roots in the aerospace industry, Christensen saw early on the benefit of space-age materials and manufacturing techniques, and the company has a lot of dedicated fans among high-elevation hunters who know that every ounce equals pain over a long mountain hunt.
We like the new Ridgeline FFT Titanium, starting at a nearly unbelievable 4.8 lbs. Featuring a carbon stock, carbon-wrapped barrel, precision-machined titanium action, titanium brake, and spiral-fluted bolt, the Ridgeline FFT is as handsome as it is lightweight. Plus it’s available in left-handed models and comes with Christensen’s sub-MOA guarantee.
Caveat: bring money. Your wallet will be even lighter than your rifle after you pay the Ridgeline’s $3,300 entry fee. But that once-in-a-lifetime-draw, trophy mountain goat isn’t going to shoot itself, is it?
*CHRISTENSEN RIDGELINE FFT TITANIUM, photo credit Christensen Arms
Long Range Pistols
It really depends on what you’re planning to do here. Pretty much any pistol or handgun can double as a long-range plinking gun if you’re motivated enough. This gentleman shoots his CZ P09 9mm pistol with dovetail mounted red dot on paper targets at 100 yards, and it may sound incredible but he gets around 3” 5 shot groups fairly regularly.