The 5 Best New Rifles for Whitetail Hunting

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When it comes to North America's kingpin big-game animal, the numbers don't lie. The popularity of the white-tailed deer is unparalleled. Why? Distribution, mostly. Whitetails are huntable in 45 states from north to south and east to west. Whitetails are incredible at adapting to almost any environment and terrain, and as a species, they thrive. States like Alabama, Georgia, and Texas have populations that eclipse over one million animals. Whitetails are plentiful.

Plus, tags are affordable, and in many states, even for non-residents, entering a tag drawing isn't necessary. Some states have an annual draw, others have caps, and some allow whitetail rifle tags in unlimited numbers. If you want to go whitetail crazy, you can hunt a litany of states yearly. Whitetails are also fun to hunt. From tree stands and ground blind to spot-and-stalk ventures, hunters can utilize multiple strategies to put a trophy buck on the ground.

Since whitetails rule the big-game roost, many gun makers craft top-end rifles in whitetail-killing calibers, and there's no shortage of excellent whitetail ammo offerings. It's critical to note that not every rifle in this list of five is a new-for-2025 build. Most are, but others are tried-and-true winners that legions of whitetail hunters put their trust in every fall. It's also essential to point out there are lots of other rifles that will punch a deer's lungs as effectively as those in the ink to come. Let's dive in!

Benelli LUPO HPR Bolt-Action Rifle

This isn't a rifle you'd want to lug around on a spot-and-stalk mission, but if a sit-and-wait whitetail hunt is in your fall game plan, this blot-action beauty is a tack driver. It sports Benelli's heavy-contour straight-fluted CRIO barrel and ideally situated 60-degree bolt. The three large locking lugs engage with the recesses in the receiver to firmly lock the bolt in place. The one-piece Picatinny rail ensures easy, multi-position optic mounting, and the trigger is adjustable between 2.2 and 4.4 pounds.

The HPR's big story, though, is its customization. A five-piece shim kit allows for cast and drop, and the hybrid stock system utilizes an eight-position, push-button adjustable comb. The comb is comfortable, ensures positive cheek weld, and promotes exact eye-to-optic alignment. Benelli includes a pair of Target and Hunting grips and a removable bag rider on the stock's bottom. A single Torx screw at the grip's base lets you remove the grip and, while doing so, enables you to install or remove the included bag rider. This chore can be accomplished in the field in seconds.

The magazine is detachable, and QD and Magpul M-Lok attachment points are found on the stock and forend. The forend is wide and flat. It balances well on sticks, from a shooting window, etc. All metal parts are coated in Benelli's BE.S.T. Surface Treatment to stop rust and corrosion; this rifle will withstand Mother Nature's worst moods.

I like the .308 Win, 6.5 PRC, and 6.5 Creedmoor models for deer. Using the .308 Win. paired with Fiocchi's Hyperformance Hunt 180-Grain SST, I put the hammer down on a stud of an Oklahoma buck from 300-plus yards. The next day, my good friend Ashely Sanderford experienced a rifle malfunction (not with the HPR) on the range the night before her hunt. I grabbed my HPR from the truck, adjusted the comb height, and changed the grip from Hunter to Target, which she liked better. The next day, she hammered a solid buck of her own.

Christensen Arms Evoke

New from the innovative minds at Christensen Arms is the Evoke. Branded with a bare weight of 7.7 pounds, this bolt-action will surely be an excellent buck whacker. I love the streamlined look—the 416R stainless steel suppressor-ready barrel with an RFR-style brake melds with the stock, giving the two-lug bolt-action rifle a clean look. Though I haven't sent lead from the Evoke yet, I have run the smooth bolt and noticed Christensen's attention to detail. The ergonomic Evoke has much going for it for a rifle in the under $1K price range.

The hybrid grip angle promotes positive contact, and the adjustable Trigger Tech trigger breaks smoothly and is clean, with no creep or travel. I also praise the stock's design. I love the deeper V-shaped swell that dips from the stock to the grip. The recoil pad is thick and spongy, and, combined with the rifle's weight and brake, it should soak up recoil from top deer calibers like .243 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, and straight-wall .450 Bushmaster, which the Evoke is chambered in.

The rifle's footprint is that of a Remington 700. This means a plunger ejector and a bolt-release tab on the action. The polymer magazine is detachable and Evoke went the extra mile by adding multiple color finish options and Cerakote coatings. The Evoke is available in four models: Evoke, Evoke Mossy Oak, Evoke Hunter, and Evoke Precision. The Precision is the alpha of the line and showcases an adjustable FFT carbon fiber cheek riser, 0-MOA Picatinny scope base, and forward ARCA rail section.

If you live in a straight-wall state, pair the Evoke in .450 Bushmaster with Remington's legendary Core-Lokt 450 Bushmaster 260-Grain Pointed Soft Point Core Lokt. If you're looking for a bottleneck cartridge and want a premium deer killer at an excellent price point, I like Federal's Fusion Tipped 140 Grain in 6.5 PRC and Barne's all-new Harvest Collection 90-grain .243 Win.

Winchester XPR Compact

Winchester's XPR Compact isn't new for 2025. However, it's a must-mention for the whitetail goer looking for solid performance in compact and economical bolt-action available in popular deer calibers like .243 Win., 7MM-08 Rem, .308 Win., and .350 Legend. Ideal for small-framed shooters, any hunter looking for increased maneuverability in a tree stand/ground blind, or those wanting to still hunt the timber, the XPR Compact is small, fast, and under 7 pounds, reasonably light.

Sporting many concepts of the tried-and-true Model 70, the XPR Compact is an accurate bolt-action with a built-for-the-wild black polymer stock with a matte blue no-shine finish. The Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad reduces shoulder abuse, and Winchester's M.O.A. trigger system offers a 2:1 mechanical advantage that results in clean trigger breaks, which leads to increased shooting confidence.

The receiver is machined from solid steel, and the button-rifled barrel is free-floating and features a recessed target crown. The XPR Compact is an excellent choice for those who typically hit whitetail paydirt between 50 and 250 yards. It's fantastic for timber hunts and equally effective hunting kill plots where the hunter must stretch the barrel a bit.

Winchester's .308 deserves much praise, and when whitetail is on the menu, and a rifle chambered in .308 Win. is available, I opt for it. Pair the XPR Compact with Winchester's Deer Season XP 150 Grain Extreme Point, and you'll be grilling backstrap before you know it.

Henry Lever Action SPD Hush Series

Whitetail and lever-action rifles go together like peanut butter and jelly. Toting a lever-action afield ushers in a sense of nostalgia; plus, they're just so damn fun to shoot. Enter Henry's new-for-2025 SPD Hush Series. A lever-action with an uber-accurate match-grade 416R stainless steel barrel wrapped in a tension-loaded carbon fiber roll with a suppressor-ready muzzle, this rifle has a lot going for it.

Whether you hunt private or public property, stealth is paramount. Many outfitters now require suppressed rifles to prevent spooking game off properties. With Henry's SPD Hush Series, you can dominate the hardwoods. Not grandad's Henry, the Hush Series features an advanced ARRIS Technology Picatinny rail with forged carbon fiber rail atop the receiver. The forend resembles an AR-style rifle via the skeletonized design created in concert with TAPCO. Henry went to great lengths to shave weight from this rifle.

The lever-action boasts a slim, sleek, and light profile. Every component in front of the receiver was purposefully engineered to reduce weight while not affecting the rifles’ natural center of gravity, so the SPD Hush maintains that balanced, natural feel that lever-action shooters crave.

Released from Henry's Special Products Division, the SPD Hush Series is available in calibers of .357 magnum/.38 Spl., .44 Magnum/.44 Spl, .45 Colot, 30-30 Win., and .45-70 Gov't. As badly as I want to see tines up resulting from impact with a .44 or .357 magnum, I'd lean toward the 16.5-inch barrel (without suppressor) .30-30 Win. Load four Hornady 160 gr FTX LEVERevolution rounds into the internal magazine, toss on some hunter orange, and go walkabout with visions of a tan hide and chocolate rack dancing in your brain.

Savage Axis 2

Inspired by the original Savage Axis, the Axis 2 is an updated version of an entry-level bolt action renowned for its sub-MOA accuracy. It also has an eye-pleasing price tag and excellent eye appeal. I'm in love with the OD Green, Gray, and FDE color offerings, and like the Evoke, I appreciate the deeper valley between the comb and the grip. The deep V-shape promotes a consistent cheek weld, making it more comfortable. Without an adjustable comb, a well-designed V-shape also promotes improved eye-to-optic alignment.

To make the Axis 2 more ergonomic, Savage boosted stock rigidity, especially in the forend. Palm swells are also found on the grip. The Savage Axis bolt handle offers a pyramid-like shape for increased immediate hand contact. The bolt handle is more extended and is further away from the stock, improving working speed while allowing optic clearance.

The Axis 2 is available in four models: the Axis 2, Axis 2 XP, Axis 2 PRO, and Axis XP. All models are available in right- and left-handed versions. It's hard to beat the under $500 Axis 2 with a user-adjustable AccuTrigger and detachable box magazine. Available in a host of calibers, whitetail hunters can't ignore the .30-06 Sprg. paired with Nosler's 165GR Solid Base Whitetail Country ammunition.

Final Thoughts

There are many excellent rifles on the market, and almost all of them will meet the demands of most deer missions. These are a few models that have caught my eye and ones I have hunted with or look forward to taking afield in search of North America's favorite big-game animal very soon. 

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