#SundayGunday: Our Top 5 Guns of 2021

by
posted on December 26, 2021
SG Top 5 Guns Of 2021 Lead

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. 

Mossberg 464 Pistol Grip

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. 

Marlin Model 1894 Lever Action Rifle

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.

Winchester XPR Stealth SR Bolt Action Rifle

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.

Rock Island Armory VR80 Shotgun

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.

Winchester Model 70 Long Range MB Bolt Action Rifle

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. 

Latest

LEDE Henry Handguard On White
LEDE Henry Handguard On White

XS Sights Introduces Handguard for Henry Lever-Action Rifles

Designed for modern lever-action enthusiast who want to upgrade their Henry rifle, this highly customizable handguard is equipped with six M-LOK slots on each side and seven on the bottom to accommodate a wide array of accessories.

Montana FWP Announces 2025 Migratory Bird Stamp

A trio of tundra swans winging their way through a gray sky in the shadows of Rocky Mountain peaks is captured brilliantly in the 2025 Montana Migratory Bird Stamp.

Tested: EAA Witness2311 10mm Auto Hunter Pistol

This 2011 double-stack pistol is available with a six-inch barrel and an optics-ready slide for less than you might expect.

New for 2025: Escort Shotguns WS Youth 20-Gauge Shotgun

Youth shotguns are often the first introduction to hunting for many individuals, and Escort Shotguns is looking to help continue that tradition with its WS Youth shotgun.

Busting the Roost Myth: Why You Shouldn't Tree Talk to Toms

Should you call to a roosted tom? Mike Roux fills his readers in on why this popular strategy may be the reason they don't fill all their tags this spring.

Pennsylvania Antlered Deer Harvest Best in Four Decades

Pennsylvania hunters harvested about 11-percent more deer in the 2024-25 hunting seasons than they did the year before, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission estimates released late last month.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.