Top 3 of the Newest Hunting Rifles in 2021

There are few topics that I truly enjoy writing about more than hunting, so I hope you enjoy this blog as much as I did writing it. With the pandemic showing its incredible staying power, guns and ammo have been very difficult to find. With these 3 new rifles hitting the shelves at a higher rate in 2021, I have no doubt these 3 rifles will last long. Without further ado, they are the CZ 557 American, the Sauer 404 Synchro XTC, and the Impulse Big Game rifle from Savage Arms. I haven’t shot these guns, so I won’t be giving a review of the guns. This blog will serve as a guide to help with your research as you look for a new hunting rifle. 

Which Caliber Should I Use?

This is one of the hardest questions to answer from people because there are so many variables to consider. For example, if you’re hunting elk, a .270 is not going to work, whereas, a .270 will do just fine for a whitetail or blacktail deer. My favorite hunting calibers are the 7mm Remington Magnum and the .308 Winchester because of their versatility and performance. I also like the staying power of the 30-06 because I know it works and brings down deer quickly and there is some nostalgia with the 30-06 rifle.

You can use a .308 or 7mm Rem Mag on just about any animal bigger than a coyote without sacrificing meat and unnecessary suffering. I also don’t like tracking deer all around the woods after it’s been shot. This happened when I used a .243 on a mule deer and didn’t get a perfect shot. I tracked the deer for hours before finding it half-eaten by a coyote or bear. The shame and embarrassment were a little overwhelming at the moment and I made sure it will never happen again with my 7mm Rem Mag. 

CZ 557 American

CZ is normally thought of as a handgun (CZ 75) due to its tremendous reputation. However, the CZ 557 American rifle is one of the most affordable rifles I’ve seen enter the market within the past year. If you’ve read any of my hunting rifle blogs, you know how I feel about a 24"-26" barrel for hunting any animal at a distance longer than 400 yards. The CZ 557 American is a 24" cold hammer-forged and lapped barrel for better accuracy due to the increased velocity of the extra length of the barrel. They chamber this rifle in 30-06, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Winchester, and 6.5×5.5mm for multiple purposes and game. 

The 557 is built with a higher comb than most rifles to make it more ergonomic as you look through a scope. Since the scope sits higher than iron sights would, the added height to the comb makes it easier to find a comfortable firing position. The built-in dovetails make it easier to install the scope because there are no bases required, which also means less money spent. I love the scope being mounted to the rifle because the rifle provides more stability with a direct connection. I do worry about how often you might have to zero your scope in. If you shoot a high-caliber rifle round the vibration will get to the scope quicker than if you had a base attachment. I do believe a high-end scope from Leupold or Vortex would prevent most of the vibration from causing any issues though. 

Specs

• 44" Overall Length
• 24" Barrel Length
• 7.05 lbs. Overall Weight
• 13.75" LOP
• 19mm Dovetails Instead of Sights
• 5 Round Mag Capacity
• Hinged Floorplate
• Two-position Safety, Push to Fire Mechanism
• Chambered in 30-06 
• $909.00 MSRP

Savage Arms Impulse Big Game Rifle

I’ve been a fan of Savage Arms since I first shot the Savage Axis XP a few years ago at a friend’s ranch in Oklahoma. Savage Arms is not only a cool name for a gun company, but they provide affordable, accurate, and durable rifles for the most rugged hunts. The Savage Arms Impulse Big Game Rifle looks like it’s going to offer similar characteristics to the Axis II XP, but with a new straight-pull bolt for improved ergonomics, safety, and most importantly consistency. The Impulse features a 22" carbon steel, fluted barrel, threaded (5/8-24") for the .308 and 30-06. As with most Savage Arms rifles, it also features the user-adjustable AccuTrigger® with a trigger pull as low as 1.2 lbs of force. 

The Impulse Big Game rifle will allow you to not only adjust your trigger pull but will also allow you to adjust your length of pull (LOP) and comb height. This allows the shooter to customize the feel of the gun to accommodate their size, arm length, cheek rest, and view through your scope. At 8.8 lbs, the Impulse isn’t overly heavy, even if it’s a little more than CZ listed above. This rifle is a little more expensive at $1,447.00 MSRP, but the features and ease of the rifle make it worth the price. I’d never buy a 22" barrel hunting rifle for that much money, but there’s no way it’s not a great rifle. The aesthetics are incredible with a Hazel Green Cerakote finish on the barrel and receiver. 

Specs

• 43.5" Overall Length
• 22" Barrel Length
• 8.8 lbs. Overall Weight
• 12.75 – 13.75" LOP
• Dovetails Instead of Sights
• 4 Round Mag Capacity
• Detachable Box Mag
• AccuTrigger® built-in Safety
• Chambered in .308
• Expected to be Released March 2021
• $1,447.00. MSRP

Sauer Synchro 404 XTC

The name Sauer might sound familiar to most of us due to the famous Sig Sauer pistols. Sauer is owned by half of the company that started Sig Sauer and produces some of the market’s high-end rifles. The 404 XTC hasn’t hit the shelves yet, but it’s slowly being released to major manufacturers. With most hunting rifles in short supply, I expect this rifle to sell quickly, but not nearly as fast as the Impulse or 557 American rifles. The reason is this rifle is going to be well over $2,000.00 (I believe) and that should limit the market for the gun.

On the flip side of that, this rifle is loaded with more features than you’ll ever notice. The 404 Synchro XTC is the lightest of the hunting rifles and one of the lightest rifles on the market with a weight of only 6.1 pounds. The entire stock is made from a carbon fiber composite to cut down on the weight and improve rigidity in the stock. The comb is adjustable with infinite adjustment capabilities. The stock is sealed in a synthetic resin to further improve durability and help with absorbing the recoil of the action. Sauer hasn’t released the full specs for this rifle so I don’t know the barrel length or overall length, but it will be between 22"-26" for various chamber options.

Specs

• Unknown Overall Length
• 22"-26" Barrel Length
• 6.1 lbs. Overall Weight
• 12.75 – 13.75" LOP
• Dovetails Instead of Sights
• 4 Round Mag Capacity
• Detachable Box Mag
• Chambered in .308
• Expected to be Released 2021
• Unknown MSRP