We sent hundreds of rounds downrange to see which rifles were the most accurate in our 2012 gun test.
The smoke has cleared, the numbers have been crunched, and the results are in. See which shotguns took home top honors.
 | How We Test OpticsEach year we run the toughest optic test in the industry. Here's how we do it. |
 | Rifle Test 2012We sent hundreds of rounds downrange to see which rifles were the most accurate in our... |
 | Shotgun Test 2012The smoke has cleared, the numbers have been crunched, and the results are in. See... |
 | 2012's Best Optics InnovationsThis year's most interesting optics marry sophisticated electronics with world-class... |
 | 2012's Best Gun InnovationsHere's a look at two of this year's most innovative guns. |
 | How We Test ShotgunsOnly a thorough battery of tests can reveal all a shotgun has to offer. |
A riflescope without a fancy ballistic reticle and multi-colored illumination seems almost quaint these days. But both award winners in the category this year are delightfully retro. They do one thing very well: They place bullets with repeatable precision without a lot of extraneous distractions. In the case of the remarkably bright Bushnell Legend, that job is aided by a class of glass that has never before been featured in the company's rifle-scopes. [ Read Full Post ]
As a utilitarian shotgun at a rock-bottom price, it’s hard to argue against the Weatherby PA-08 Slug Gun Combo. The combo comes with two barrels, one a standard smoothbore and the other a rifled slug barrel with a cantilever mount for attaching a scope or other optic. At $499, it is an excellent value. We found it difficult to load and cycle at times, and the accuracy with the slugs we shot was just so-so, with 3-inch groups at 50 yards. [ Read Full Post ]
The innovative Mossberg Flex is a shotgun that easily swaps out barrels, forends, stocks, and butt pads to quickly convert from one configuration to another. In particular, sportsmen with families will appreciate the ability to quickly change it from an adult-size gun to one sized for youths. This shotgun isn’t the most elegant gun on the market, but it ran very well, impressing the team with its durability and pointing. [ Read Full Post ]
This compact .223 bolt rifle is a solid predator gun that has the benefit of being able to use AR-style magazines to feed the action. Mossberg engineered a tab in the design of the bolt head that drops down to pick up rounds off the top of the magazine. The overall look and feel of the rifle didn’t wow the test team. The accuracy was adequate (1.081-inch average group size), but it was outclassed by the other .223s in the test. [ Read Full Post ]
Outdoor Life Editor Andrew McKean put it best when he said the Ruger American Rifle is a “screaming bargain.” Somehow the wizards at Ruger brewed up this innovative, accurate, and supremely functional rifle and are able to sell it at a profit at $449. How accurate is this .30/06? The 5-shot group average was just over 1 inch and it turned in two .840-inch groups, one with Federal’s 180-grain Trophy Copper hunting load—outstanding performance for a big-game caliber. The ergonomics of the rifle are as impressive as the accuracy. [ Read Full Post ]
We nicknamed this shotgun “the beast” because of the effortless (and merciless) way it tracked and shattered targets during the evaluation. The Velocity is designed for sporting clays competitors who prefer to start with a pre-mounted gun; as such, both the raised target rib and the comb on the stock adjust for a precise fit. The adjustable trigger reach is a nice addition on a semi-auto. It has handsome wood and engraving too. [ Read Full Post ]
It can be a trick to find a decent new over/under for less than $2,000, but Franchi has made one with the Instinct L, which goes for $1,149. This field gun is built on an attractive case-hardened receiver and comes with okay wood with functional checkering. The crisp mechanical triggers and tight lock-up are both indications of good workmanship. We would prefer to see a simple brass bead on the rib rather than the red fiber-optic bead. [ Read Full Post ]
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