This Sunday, as everyone enjoys the nice holiday lull between Christmas and New Year’s Day, we here at American Hunter thought it would be the perfect opportunity for a rearward glance toward five of our top #SundayGunday guns of 2021. Unlike last year, the top five includes a fairly diverse bunch of firearms, with lever-actions, bolt guns and even an MSR-style shotgun on the list. Read on to see if any of your personal favorites made the cut.
1. #SundayGunday: Mossberg 464 Pistol Grip
While lever-guns may not have been the runaway favorite this year, they did still snag the two top slots. This week saw us test out the Mossberg 464, an interesting lever-action rifle that sports a pistol grip instead of the traditionally straight-gripped rifle stock. Chambered in .30-30 Winchester, this quick-handling rifle is perfect for rested or offhand shots in the thick Eastern deer woods.
2. #SundayGunday: Marlin Model 1894
The second lever-action in our lineup, the Marlin Model 1894 is a .44 Remington Magnum-chambered hunter, with a deep-blued receiver and a walnut stock. Atop a 20-inch barrel sits an adjustable, folding semi-buckhorn rear sight, and a hooded, brass-bead front. This traditional lever gun is another great option for hunter with an eye for classic lines, but a need for performance.
3. #SundayGunday: Winchester XPR Stealth SR
The first bolt gun on our list is the Winchester XPR Stealth SR. A new variation of the Winchester XPR, this model lives up to its stealthy moniker thanks to a suppressor-ready threaded barrel, and a Teflon coated bolt that runs smooth and silent. The barrel has also been cut to 16.5-inches, for maximum portability in the field.
4. #SundayGunday: Rock Island Armory VR80
The definite outlier on our list, the VR80, from Rock Island Armory Imports, is a semi-automatic, gas operated shotgun with ergonomics that will be familiar to any AR-15 aficionado. Decked out in Realtree Timber camo, the gun would make an excellent turkey slayer, particularly with a red-dot mounted atop its Picatinny rail.
5. #SundayGunday: Winchester Model 70 Long Range MB
A precision-minded variant of the rifleman's rifle, the Winchester Model 70 Long Range MB boasts a Bell and Carlson Extreme Weather stock, with attributes that make it both stable and capable of handling a drastic range of temperatures and weather conditions. A jeweled finish on the bolt keeps follow-up shots smooth, an MOA trigger system enhances accuracy, and the 24-inch fluted barrel keeps weight to a minimum, while still retaining rigidity. This is a true long-range hunting gun.
For more #SundayGunday, check out our playlist on YouTube, where all previous episodes are archived.