The best hunting rifle and ammunition can make or break your trip. The editors and hunters at Hunt Alaska have picked the gear they trust to get it done right.
Best Hunting Rifles, Firearms & Accessories
Henry Supreme Lever Action Rifle .223 Rem/5.56 NATO
This is one sweet-shooting and fun gun. We added a reflex sight and suppressor and spent many hours pounding targets. We are confident it would make a great gun for predator/varmint hunting. The rifle features an 18-inch, free-floated, round, blued-steel barrel threaded at 1/2×28, with a 1:8 twist rate. It weighs 6.65 pounds, has an American walnut stock, rubber recoil pad, match-grade adjustable trigger, and 10-round capacity. We added the Skinner Sights Picatinny Rail with Integrated Peep and that allowed us to add a Sightmark Ultra Shot M-Spec Pro MDS-LQD Reflex Sight. We also added an Aero Precision Lahar 30 Suppressor, direct-threaded to the barrel. The gun is a pleasure to shoot, and we enjoyed consistent 1 MOA groups at 100 yards.
Winchester Repeating Arms XPR Extreme Hunter
We tested the .243 Win in TrueTimber Midnight MB, and enjoyed pounding targets at the range. The rifle weighs 6 pounds, 12 ounces, has a Tungsten Cerakote finish on the barrel and receiver, and a sporter-contour composite stock with TrueTimber Midnight camouflage finish. It features a steel, button-rifled, free-floated barrel, an M.O.A. trigger system, 2-position thumb safety, detachable 3-round box magazine, Inflex Technology recoil pad, and sling-swivel studs. The 9/16×24 threaded muzzle comes standard with a muzzle brake. The rifle is available in the following barrel lengths and calibers: 22-inch barrel (.223 Rem, .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Rem, .308 Win, .350 Legend); 24-inch barrel (6.5 PRC, 6.8 Western, .270 Win, .270 WSM, .300 WSM, .30-06 Sprg); 26-inch barrel (.300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag).
Bergara Ridge Carbon in 7 PRC
This is a reliable, accurate, and good-looking rifle. It features a 22” Bergara CURE carbon-fiber, 5/8×24 threaded barrel, Bergara’s B-14 action, and a hinged floor plate. The gun weighs 6.4 pounds, and is finished in a sniper grey Cerakote. The Ridge Carbon is available in .308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 7 PRC, and 300 Win Mag. Publisher Marcus Weiner used this rifle to take a southeast Alaska moose in 2025. His son Charlie shot a Columbia blacktail deer with it in 2025 as well.
Dead Air Nomad LTi XC Black 7.62mm Silencer
Publisher Marcus Weiner direct-threaded this suppressor (5/8×24) to a Bergara Ridge Carbon 7 PRC and hunted moose and deer with it. He loves it! Made from titanium, it’s lighter than a comparable steel silencer, and comes in at 9.9 ounces for an 8.12” suppressor. It suppresses the sound dramatically, allowing us to safely shoot the 7 PRC rifle without hearing protection. It’s rated for .30-caliber rounds up to a .300 Remington Ultra Mag. Their Nomad XC series features an enhanced 2-stage coaxial baffle system with pressure-harnessing structures that regulate both low-pressure and high-pressure rounds.
Aero Precision Solus Lightweight Short Action
Editor George Krumm used the Solus Lightweight Short Action in 2 NRL Hunter matches in 2025 with a 24” Proof Research barrel and Grayboe Phoenix 2 stock. He also used the action on 2 successful deer hunts in 2025. George loves the integrated 20 MOA rail, 60-degree bolt throw, tool-less bolt disassembly, and changeable bolt heads. He also likes that this action used a trigger hanger, making it easy to install or change triggers. After the 2 matches, George re-barreled the action with a 6.5 PRC Carbon Six barrel (22”) and mounted it in an MDT CRBN stock.
Aero Precision Lahar-30 Suppressor
We direct-thread mounted (1/2×28) this suppressor on a Henry Supreme Lever Action Rifle .223 Rem/5.56 NATO and it made the shooting experience even more pleasurable by reducing noise levels and recoil. The Lahar-30 is constructed using a laser-welded combination of 17-4 stainless-steel blast chamber and secondary baffles with an Inconel blast baffle to provide increased performance under hard use. It is rated for centerfire cartridges ranging from .223 to .300 Win Mag. The suppressor weighs 15.4 ounces and is 5.9 inches long.
MeatEater by BANISH Suppressor
The MeatEater is an all-titanium suppressor with a built-in, adjustable Anchor Brake suitable for cartridges from .17 HMR to .300 RUM. It has an industry-standard HUB mount and interchangeable muzzle-cap inserts to optimize sound suppression and recoil reduction. After shooting this a few times at the range with the Anchor Brake open (for maximum recoil reduction), Editor George Krumm felt noise reduction was sufficient and he’s left it in that position. BANISH claims the Anchor Brake reduces recoil 40%.
Though we have no instruments to measure this, the Anchor Brake definitely reduces felt recoil. Since George uses this can on multiple rifles of different cartridges, he opted to use just the .30 caliber end cap. This direct-thread suppressor is 5.85” long, 1.73” in diameter, and weighs 10.3 ounces. Threads are 5/8×24. The suppressor comes with a universal 5/8×24 hub mount and both .30- and 6.5-caliber muzzle cap inserts. This suppressor is user-serviceable. George used this suppressor on a custom 6.5 PRC and harvested a Baranof Island Sitka blacktail last summer while using it.
Dead Air Silencers Nomad Ti XC Suppressor
The XC stands for cross country. This 100% titanium 7.62 (.30-caliber) suppressor is designed to be lightweight. It is rated for bolt-action and semi-auto rifles up to .300 RUM. The exterior design is really stylish. It’s a shame we often have to put a cover on suppressors while at the range to minimize mirage. The Ti XC is available in bead-blasted titanium, black, or FDE high-temp Cerakote. The suppressor body is quite light at just 7.4 ounces. We tested the direct-thread version and with the direct-thread hub, the total weight is 9.6 ounces. You can also buy this suppressor with a Xeno adaptor if you don’t want to use direct-thread. Although sound suppression is outstanding and recoil reduction is significant, you can further reduce recoil by adding the accessory Enhanced Brake (E-Brake) for Nomad suppressors.
Grayboe M5 DBM—Remington 700 Bottom Metal Short Action
This bottom metal works great with the Phoenix 2 stock, the Aero Precision Solus Lightweight Short Action, and Amend2 poly mags in the 6.5 PRC Editor George Krumm built. Note that this bottom metal is made to Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) specifications. So far, this bottom metal has proved functional and durable.
Grayboe Phoenix 2 Rifle Stock, Gap Splash
This modern rifle stock utilizes proprietary composite construction. The stock shape is excellent, with a high comb and adjustable comb height, plus a barrel channel that is wide enough for Sendero-contour barrels. The action inlay features 2 aluminum pillars for rock-solid lock-up. Though it is not absolutely necessary to bed your action, you can if you want to. We tested one with a Remington 700 footprint and it fit the Aero Precision Solus Lightweight Short Action and Proof Research Sendero-contour carbon-fiber barrel well. We used Grayboe M5 DBM bottom metal which allows for AICS magazines to be used.
This stock comes with one of the better recoil pads on the market. It also has 7 flush cups (2 on each side, and 3 on the bottom) for sling swivel attachment, and M-Lok slots along the bottom to attach a Picatinny rail, ARCA rail, or both. This grip is nearly vertical with a comfortable palm swell, and the stock weight is about 40 ounces. Length of pull is adjustable from 12.5” to 13.5” with the use of ¼” spacers. This is a great stock for hunting. Editor George Krumm used this build during the Alaska Wilderness Hunter NRL Hunter match in 2025, and on a successful Montana deer hunt.
Aero Precision Chassis NVG Mount – Black Ano
The Solus Competition Chassis Night Vision Bridge provides a solid foundation for clip-on night-vision devices. When installed onto the Aero Precision Competition Chassis, an unexpected benefit is increased rigidity of the fore-end, which is generally conducive to better accuracy. This night-vision bridge is only compatible with the Aero Precision Solus Competition Chassis.
MDT CRBN Hunter Kit
Editor George Krumm first saw a prototype of the CRBN at the 2024 Leupold Relentless Rifleman NRL Hunter Match in Oregon. Jon Pynch used the CRBN to win the match and showed it to George afterwards. In 2025, George tested the short-action, Veil Cumbre camo-pattern CRBN with MDT’s Hunting bottom metal. The CRBN weighs 27 ounces. With the Hunting bottom metal, it weighs 30 ounces. The one George tested was inlaid for a Remington 700 short action, right-hand version. This carbon-fiber stock combines the best features of a traditional hunting stock with those of a chassis, in a very light package. George dropped an Aero Precision Solus Lightweight Short Action paired with a 22” Carbon Six carbon-fiber barrel chambered in 6.5 PRC and used it on a successful alpine Sitka blacktail hunt.
A strong advantage of carbon-fiber stocks like the CRBN is that they are relatively warm to the touch, even in cold weather. But the advantages of the CRBN don’t stop there. This is a very refined carbon-fiber stock, with a built-in, full-length ARCA rail, M-Lok slots on the bottom of the fore-end, front and back QD sling cups, integrated thumb shelves, adjustable length of pull, adjustable comb height, and with the magnesium v-block, glass bedding is not necessary for excellent, repeatable accuracy. The barrel channel is wide enough for Sendero-contour barrels. The grip is angled at 20 degrees, which is more vertical than most traditional hunting stocks. One very strong advantage of the Hunting bottom metal is it has a magazine safety that prevents the magazine from accidentally falling out of the magazine well. This is a great feature to have for navigating through alder jungles or other thick vegetation, or steep country.
This stock is compatible with a long list of Remington 700 clones in short action. New for 2026 are Remington 700 long-action versions. The CRBN is available in 4 colors. If you are shooting a magnum cartridge, you may want to invest in a more robust recoil pad. The one that comes with it is designed to be light, and as such, there’s not a lot of material there to soak up recoil from bigger cartridges. George put a Backstop recoil pad on this stock.
Carbon Six Barrels 22” Carbon-Fiber Prefit for 6.5 PRC
Carbon Six barrels are built on McGowen Precision Rifle Barrel blanks. The one we tested was 22” long, chambered in 6.5 PRC, with a 1:8” twist rate. It was threaded 5/8×24 and we shot this barrel with several suppressors and several types of ammo. We spun this barrel onto an Aero Precision Solus Lightweight Short Action, added a TriggerTech Special trigger set to 2 pounds, dropped it into an MDT CRBN stock, and began shooting.
It took a while to find the ammo this barrel liked best. Our tester settled on Hornady Precision Hunter 143-grain ammo. After 140 rounds through the barrel, average velocity is 2,935 fps; not bad for a 22” barrel. Carbon Six barrels can be made in a variety of chamberings and lengths, threading, twist rates, and contours, either as blanks or prefits. George harvested a Sitka blacktail buck in southeast Alaska using this barrel. There are beginning to be a lot of barrel manufacturers out there. Carbon Six is one of the bigger names right now.
Proof Research 24” Carbon-Fiber Barrel, 6.5 PRC
We tested a 24” barrel with a 1:7.5” twist rate chambered in 6.5 PRC. We spun it into an Aero Precision Solus Lightweight Short Action and bolted it to a Grayboe Phoenix 2 stock. The first 5-shot group we shot through this barrel with Hornady 143-grain Precision Hunter ammo after initial zero was .40” at 100 yards. Velocity through this barrel averages 2,940 fps with Hornady Precision Hunter 143-grain ELD-X ammo after approximately 350 shots. We have used several Proof Research barrels over the past few years, and they have all routinely shot sub-MOA 5-shot groups.
Dead Air Silencers KA180 Enhanced Brake (E-Brake) for Nomad Suppressors
This handy device further reduces recoil when added to a Nomad-series suppressor, such as the Ti XC mentioned above. It’s simple to install. Editor George Krumm first used it while preparing for an NRL Hunter match and it definitely helps reduce recoil more than the can alone. Be sure to get the DA 208 R-series Front Cap Tool to remove the end cap prior to screwing in the E-Brake. You’ll need the tool to install the end cap in the end of the E-Brake, too. During a 2-day range session, George fired 80 rounds of Hornady Precision Hunter 212-grain ELD-X ammo through his 300 PRC while using the Dead Air Nomad Ti XC suppressor with the E-Brake attached. 80 rounds of a .30 caliber magnum in 2 days…no sore shoulder! The E-Brake definitely works.
Bergara BXR-Carbon
The is a feature-rich, bolt-action rimfire available in .22LR, .22WMR, and .17 HMR. It’s designed to be a good base-class NRL22 rifle. It has the Bergara BMR synthetic stock, an 18” No. 6 carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel that’s threaded 1/2×28, and both 5- and 10-round magazines. This is an accurate .22. We put a Dead Air Mask can on it and fed it CCI Standard .22LR ammunition. Shooting a .22 at longer ranges is something we’d never tried before, but this rifle can do it, and Editor George Krumm looks forward to using this rifle in NRL22 base-class competition at his home range.
Dead Air Silencers Mask 22 Black
The Mask is a heavy-duty-use .22LR suppressor that weighs just 4 ounces and is fully user-serviceable. Since .22 ammo tends to burn dirty, user serviceable is a good thing in a .22 can. It’s 5.1” long, an inch in diameter, weighs 6.6 ounces, and is made of a combination of titanium and 17-4 PH stainless steel. It can be used with several cartridges: .22LR, 22MAG, 17HMR, 17WSM to 5.7×28. It is full-auto rated. If you’re in the market for a .22 can, this might be the best one on the market right now. We’ve only used this suppressor on a Bergara BXR-Carbon .22LR, but it has made shooting that great .22 even more joyful.