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2022 was an excellent yr for the Outdoor Life capturing squad. We reviewed extra firearms than ever in Outdoor Life’s 124-year historical past. And whereas getting to tug that many triggers is a blessing in itself, the truth that so most of the weapons have been excellent shooters added to our collective pleasure.
Along with myself, Outdoor Life Editor-in-Chief Alex Robinson, OL Staff Writer Tyler Freel, and OL Gear Editor Scott Einsmann contributed to this roundup of the rifles, shotguns, handguns and air rifles that impressed us most in 2022.
This rifle is correct in our wheelhouse. It is a superb creation that melds top-notch elements—Shilen barrel, Mack Brothers motion, a carbon-fiber inventory of Nosler’s personal design, and Triggertech set off—into an efficient, correct and rugged searching instrument.
We took an early model of the rifle to Africa on Safari, we’ve used them on deer and antelope hunts within the U.S., and put one by means of the wringer throughout our 2022 gun check.
It excelled in every venue and received a coveted Editor’s Choice because the yr’s finest all-around searching rifle within the course of. —John B. Snow
Hybrid rifles are all of the craze, particularly these trying to bridge the hole between searching rifles and heavy precision long-range rigs. Among all these efforts, the Seekins Havak HIT is probably the most clever and attention-grabbing to return alongside.
This is as a result of the function set on this 11.5-pound rifle is in contrast to another available on the market. With little or no effort, the consumer can change between normal and short-action cartridges because of the flexibility to swap barrels and alter out bolt faces on the bolt physique add magnums to the combination.
My HIT is chambered in 6.5 PRC and 6 GT at present and shoots lights out with each. But I can add the 6.5 Creed, 6mm Creed, and .308 Win. to my battery by ordering extra barrels.
This diploma of customization wouldn’t depend for a lot if the rifle didn’t carry out. But it does. And at $2,400 it’s a tremendous worth for what you get. That earned it a Great Buy award on the gun check, however it is usually probably the most intriguing new rifle to debut within the final yr too. —JBS
The CZ TS 2 Racing Green made a stellar exhibiting at our 2022 Gun Test, successful an Editor’s Choice award, and a agency place as our favourite full-sized pistol of 2022. In this pistol, CZ has introduced a competition-ready bundle that’s a smile-producing bullet hose. It inherits the snug ergonomics and low bore-axis of a lot of CZ’s different race weapons and comes with an ultra-crisp set off that you simply’ll solely discover in hammer-fired single-action pistols.
The TS 2 Racing Green has inexperienced, knurl-textured, aluminum grip scales, outsized controls and magwell, a flat set off shoe, and comes with three 20-round magazines. It additionally comes with a Gas Pedal-like thumb relaxation that makes the heavy pistol even simpler to manage. You can discover this pistol for underneath $2,000, and the one unfavourable is that though the security is ambidextrous, the over-sized controls are arrange for right-handed shooters solely. You can learn our full overview right here. —Tyler Freel
The Super Black Eagle has develop into an iconic duck searching shotgun for its dependable motion, gentle weight, and marvelous shootability. Put an SBE in nearly any waterfowler’s arms and so they’ll crush geese with it. The 28-gauge model of the shotgun has all the identical options as its huge brother — carbon fiber rib, Comfort Tech 3 inventory, included shim equipment — it’s simply a lot lighter and slimmer.
With a 28-inch barrel, the shotgun weighs simply 5.5 kilos. I shot the SBE 3 28-gauge on a number of hunts all through the autumn, and even at its minimal weight, recoil from 3-inch duck hundreds was mild. This made the gun infinitely enjoyable to shoot. It got here to my shoulder shortly and swung by means of birds easily (in contrast to some sub-gauge shotguns which really feel whippy). I feel this is without doubt one of the causes that some hunters speak concerning the 28-gauge being by some means deadlier than it ought to be. There’s no actual magic to the 28-gauge, it’s simply that the minimal recoil lets you keep your fundamentals and focus in your goal. You find yourself hitting birds with the core of your sample, which drops them lifeless. After killing a number of greenheads in a row with this little gun, it may well start to really feel like magic. But in actuality, it’s simply good capturing.
On high of that, the gun patterns properly. I shot at 40 yards with Hevi-Shot’s Hevi XII 3-inch, No. 4, 1 oz. hundreds and the gun averaged 107 hits inside a 30-inch circle (83 p.c patterns). The patterns proved the little 28 was a 40-yard killer, and I noticed the identical leads to the sphere. Read my full overview of the Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 28-gauge right here. —Alex Robinson
As a sheep hunter, I all the time get enthusiastic about new ultra-light rifles, and the Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT Titanium is certainly one of my favourite new rifles of 2022. I examined and reviewed one chambered in .308 and packed it alongside on a 14-day sheep hunt right here in Alaska. The rifle is on the market in a number of calibers, however the brief motion weighs in at a mere 4 kilos, 14 ounces with out an optic. Its most vital options are its titanium M700-style ridgeline motion, 20-inch carbon-wrapped barrel, and foam-core FFT carbon fiber inventory. The FFT elements are made in a low-waste course of that bonds the carbon fiber collectively in an OSB board-looking sample. In addition to the inventory, the bolt knob and journal bottom-plate are FFT carbon fiber. The Ridgeline Titanium is gentle, helpful, and correct. —TF
This trendy tackle one of the iconic navy service/goal pistols received our hearts over after only a few pulls on its crisp single-action set off. The P210 is a design that dates to the late Thirties, however in Carry trim it received many upgrades to make it an interesting possibility for hid carry within the 2020s. Aluminum is used as an alternative of metal for the body to save lots of weight, and the barrel was minimize from 5 inches to 4.1 inches for a similar cause. It has an outsized security lever and grips machined from G10 that present a safe maintain on the gun and stay snug even after lengthy capturing periods. It received an Editor’s Choice award within the mid-sized handgun class throughout our annual check of the yr’s finest handguns and we did an in-depth overview of it as properly. —JBS
When I wrote my overview of the Kimber R7 Mako I discussed that it won’t catch your consideration out of the gate. That sentiment was prescient, because the Kimber didn’t wow the Outdoor Life handgun check staff throughout our annual roundup. At least initially.
But as soon as the scores have been tabulated and the mud settled, guess what—this little optics-ready striker-fired compact walked away with two of our coveted awards, taking an Editor’s Choice and a Great Buy within the very aggressive compact handgun class.
Turns out Kimber received the R7 proper. It handles properly, carries simply, comes with a CTS-1500 reflex sight put in if you’d like, and carries a pockets pleasant price ticket. I’m keen to wager should you received your arms on one, you’d be impressed too. —JBS
This Finnish sniper rifle turned certainly one of my favorites after only one vary session. Of all of the rifles I’ve ever shot—and there have been many dozens over time—the Sako TRG 22 A1 is probably the most correct of the lot, which is kind of an achievement. But there’s extra to the TRG 22 A1 than simply a capability to shoot teeny-tiny teams. The total design and execution of the rifle is a marvel, as I unpack on this overview.
The ergonomics on the chassis are pulled from the Sako M10, which is the most effective chassis at present made. The solely factor you’ll be able to fault it on is the shortage of an built-in ARCA rail on the handguard, which I hope Sako addresses within the close to future. With that repair, this rifle would qualify as perfection itself. —JBS
The FX Impact is nimble sufficient for a squirrel hunt, and correct sufficient to win the most important air rifle competitions. Part of what makes this air rifle so correct is its twin regulators and the short tuning options. While testing this air rifle tuning took mere minutes and the rifle produced ½-inch teams at 50 yards. Another cause why the FX Impact M3 was chosen as one of many finest air rifles is its spectacular shot depend. We get 56 photographs (two mags) per fill on a excessive energy tune. From the woods to the bench, the Impact M3 impressed us and is well our favourite air gun of 2023. —Scott Einsmann
Even although Fabarm has been making shotguns for greater than a century, the Italian firm has been ignored by most American duck hunters. The XLR5 Chesapeake very properly could change that. OL contributor and diehard duck hunter Joe Genzel area examined the gun this summer season and stated it was one of the succesful and well-made auto-loaders he’s shot in latest reminiscence.
This is a gas-driven, 3-inch, auto-loader with some distinctive options. The bolt-release button is positioned on the left aspect of the motion, which signifies that as you load the gun with the motion going through you, you’ve received to hit the button blind. That takes some getting used to. The receiver and barrel are completed in a bronze Cerakote and the checkering on the pistol grip and fore-end are abrasive and grippy. Waterfowlers will recognize each options. Last however not least, the Tribore HP barrel system is the pleasure of Fabarm. The firm drills their very own chrome molybdenum metal—a corrosion-resistant alloy that may stand as much as excessive pressures and temperatures—barrels from a strong block of metal.
In summation, the Fabarm XLR5 Chesapeake is a high-end duck gun that’s poised to tackle Beretta and Benelli. Read Genzel’s full overview on the Fabarm XLR5 Chesapeake right here. —AR
The area of 10mm pistols is getting extra aggressive, and we’ve seen a number of notable entries up to now couple of years. Our favourite new 10mm pistol of 2022 is Sig’s P320 XTen. The XTen is a line extension from Sig’s profitable P320 line, and it has the X-series grip module. Unlike different pistols which are wholly up sized from 9mm chamberings to 10mm, the XTen maintains basically the identical exterior measurement and ergonomics because the full-size 9mm P320 pistols. It’s received the slimmest and most snug grip of any 10mm I’ve shot. The 5-inch barrel has a well-supported chamber, and the body sports activities a 5-slot accent rail for mounting a light-weight. It’s received a great set off, crisp reset, and easy-to-reach controls. The Glock G20 nonetheless has a agency maintain on the 10mm double-stack market, but when pistols like this maintain chipping away at its shortcomings, it received’t be king for lengthy. Read the full overview right here. —TF
Accuracy International has constructed their status on sniper rifles for regulation enforcement and the navy that incorporate accuracy enhancing improvements in a battle-hardened format in order that their operators can get peak efficiency underneath even the worst situations.
With the introduction of the AT-X, AI has taken that profitable blueprint and created a switch-barrel system for civilian competitors shooters and precision rifle lovers. The AT-X is astounding correct, delivering 5-shot teams in 6.5 Creedmoor that averaged .456 inches throughout our annual gun check. The rifle’s ergonomics present glorious suggestions to the shooter making this one of the pleasurable rifles we’ve ever shot. It was the Editor’s Choice winner within the precision rifle class final yr.
For a switch-barrel system the value isn’t loopy although it’s nonetheless steep. AI is constructing the AT-X in quite a lot of cartridges along with the 6.5 Creed, together with the 6mm Creedmoor, .308 Win., and 6 BR. —JBS
The Polymer-frame, striker-fired pistol class is a tricky one to face out in, however at underneath $300, the Stoeger STR9-F did simply that. This pistol is half the value of many different full-size pistols in its class, however we beloved it. Reliability and shootability are what matter most for any budget-priced pistol, and this one hits outdoors its price-class.
The STR9-F is one thing of a Glock clone with ergonomics like Smith & Wesson’s M&P pistols. It’s received a cushty grip, a flat set off shoe, and 3-slot accent rail. The rounded slide has aggressive cocking serrations on each back and front and comes with good manufacturing facility 3-dot sights. It solely consists of one 17-round journal, and is available in lackluster packaging, however we merely couldn’t discover a cause to not prefer it. Read our full overview right here. —TF
Mossberg’s newest, and maybe finest, turkey gun is the 940 Pro Turkey, which is an extension of the JM 940 Pro line that the corporate launched in 2020 with the assistance of iconic competitors shooter Jerry Miculek. The most attention-grabbing function on this gun is the minimize within the receiver to mount a pink dot sight with a Shield RMSc-pattern footprint. This sample makes use of simply two screws and the minimize retains the sight low on the gun for a glossy profile. The low mount prevents the shooter from needing to take their cheek off the inventory to see by means of the sight. You can see the identical intelligent design within the 940 Pro Tactical.
Gear Editor Scott Einsmann and I each killed spring gobblers with this shotgun (24-inch barrel model) and located that it carried and dealt with identical to a turkey gun ought to. The fuel system soaked up a number of the ache, however there was nonetheless loads of recoil from the 3-inch magnum hundreds we hunted with. We additionally patterned the gun with Federal Heavyweight TSS 1¾-ounce No. 9 hundreds at 40 and 60 yards. All patterns have been shot with the X Factor, XX-Full .670 turkey choke that got here with the gun. At 40 yards the Pro Turkey produced a median sample of 161 pellets inside a 10-inch circle. At 60 yards it averaged 68 pellets inside a 10-inch circle. This is strong efficiency confirming that the 940 is well a 60-yard gobbler gun. Coming in underneath $1,000, the 940 Turkey Pro is without doubt one of the higher bargains within the semi-auto turkey gun area. Read my full overview of the Mossberg 940 Pro Turkey right here.—AR
The Taurus G3X was an surprising and nice shock in our 2022 gun check. It’s a budget-priced pistol that falls into the compact polymer-framed class—and underneath the shadow of the Glock G19. The G3X is comparable in measurement to the G19, however with a extra vertical grip angle and high-quality stippling texture that gives glorious traction. Every member of our check staff famous that the G3X was correct and really snug to shoot.
The G3X has some sensible options, together with beveled corners of its slide, entrance and rear cocking serrations, and a 3.2-inch barrel (which is shorter than the G19). It won’t be the best-looking pistol, however so far as function-for-price goes, it’s a winner. It comes with two high-quality magazines as properly. If there’s something a budget-priced handgun can’t get away with, it’s reliability points. Fortunately, we didn’t have a single malfunction with this pistol whereas capturing a wide range of ammo. You can learn the total overview of the Taurus G3X right here. —TF
In states with straight-wall deer rifle restrictions, the .350 Legend has develop into extremely popular since its introduction a number of brief years in the past. This yr I examined a number of .350 Legend rifles and Winchester’s XPR Stealth is my favourite. The XPR stealth isn’t a magnificence queen, however it’s a properly made, useful, and really correct deer rifle. It has a 16.5-inch barrel and an 11/16-inch x 24 threaded muzzle that’s suppressor-ready. The XPR’s motion is clean with a brief bolt throw and it’s appropriately sized for the little .350 Legend cartridge (in contrast to another .350 Legend rifles). The set off is crisp, and it delivered gorgeous accuracy for its class and cartridge. —TF