Winchester Repeating Arms’ Six Best Deer Rifles

North America is a fantastic place to hunt. With so many game animals to pursue — from elk to bear to moose to sheep — your next adventure is always right around the corner.

Still, with 29 species of big game animals recognized by the Grand Slam Club/Ovis, one reigns supreme. Renowned for its adaptability, the white-tailed deer is huntable in 44 states. No doubt the species’ wide range and ability to thrive in diverse environments make the whitetail widely available to the hunting masses.

However, even if whitetail were like elk and huntable in far fewer states, Odocoileus virginianus would remain one of the most popular game animals in the woods. They’re just so unique and extraordinary.

Winchester Repeating Arms and whitetail hunting go together like bees and honey; you don’t have one without the other. With rifle seasons right around the corner, now is an excellent time to pick up a new Winchester whitetail rifle.

Here are six that we really love.

As good as this bolt-action rifle looks, it shoots even better. Available in a slug of whitetail-killing calibers, including straight-wall calibers like the 350 Legend, 400 Legend, and 450 Bushmaster, this bolt-action features Winchester’s XPR barrel. Each XPR barrel begins as a piece of solid chromoly steel before being button-rifled to ensure maximum accuracy.

The M.O.A. Trigger System promises zero creep and clean trigger breaks. The advanced polymer stock keeps weight down while providing a solid grip no matter how nasty Mother Nature gets. The XPR Extreme SR - Mossy Oak Bottomland FDE features a detachable box magazine, and you’ll appreciate the Mossy Oak Bottomland camouflage finish in the deep woods.

Winchester’s Model 70 is deeply rooted in rifle lore, and this tack-driving bolt-action with a Mauser-style controlled-feed action is enhanced by a AAAA maple Super Grade profile stock with gloss finish and an ebony fore-end tip.

We love the three-position safety, free-floating barrel, recessed target crown, and the blade-type ejector. The knurled bolt handle ensures a secure, quick throw when a follow-up shot is needed, and the rifle comes in a smattering of cheered whitetail calibers. Consider the 24-inch barrel 6.8 Western or 308 Win. Not only will the Model 70 Super Grade Maple make an excellent deer rifle, but it will also become a treasured family heirloom.

My dad didn’t hunt, nor did his dad. Thank God for great mentors. I vividly remember watching the man who taught me to deer hunt slip slowly through the dark timber, evaluating every track, rub, and scrape. In his right hand was a Winchester Model 94.

Introduced by Winchester in 1894, this tried-and-true lever gun is favored by many. The modern-day 94 Trails End Takedown highlights John M. Browning’s original takedown design, enabling the end-user to disassemble the rifle quickly for easy transportation and cleaning.

Ideal for hunting white-tailed deer in thick brush, this lever-action rifle features a triple-checked button-rifled barrel, ensuring excellent accuracy. The radiused lever edges are easier on the hands when loading a second shot.

The Model 94 breaks down into two ultra-compact components: The barrel assembly and the stocked receiver assembly. Broken down, this drilled-and-tapped for an optic rifle slides into a backpack or behind the seat of your truck. It’s also a fantastic scabbard rifle.

The steel loading gate makes loading easy, and if you prefer the challenge of iron sights, you’ll love the Marble Arms® front sight and adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight.

The Model 94 Trails End Takedown has a walnut stock with a satin finish and is available in calibers of 30-30 Win., 38-55 Win., and 450 Marlin.

A banger of a bolt-action for under $780, this green synthetic stock rifle with Picatinny-style scope rail and precision rifled button barrel will make an excellent in-the-woods deer hunting companion. Now available in 400 Legend and 450 Bushmaster for those who chase big bucks in straight-wall states, the XPR Stealth has a barrel length of 16-1/2 inches for all calibers. This way, if you add a suppressor, which we highly recommend, you won’t be toting a telephone pole around the woods. And if you prefer not to add a suppressor, you get a highly maneuverable rifle that is ideal for cramped treestands, tight ground blinds, and shooting houses.

The receiver is machined from through-hardened steel, and the bolt is crafted from chrome-moly steel bar stock with a slick nickel Teflon® coating. As with most Winchester bolt-action rifles, the Inflex Technology recoil pad soaks up shoulder abuse.

Hot on the heels of Winchester Repeating Arms’ Model 1886 was “The 92.” The Model 92 Carbine sports a classic round barrel configuration in both classic and modern calibers, making it uber-popular with spot-and-stalk and sit-and-wait whitetail hunters, especially those who prefer to hunt heavy timber and brush.

Just like the original 1892, the 1892 Carbine features a carbine strap buttplate and barrel band, which add a touch of nostalgia. And, like the originals, the marble gold bead front sight adds a touch of class you won’t find on lesser lever-action rifles.

This rifle features a convenient rear tang safety, but don’t despair, companies (like Marble Arms) offer a tang sight made to fit should you desire to improve your sight picture. The walnut straight-grip stock with a satin finish feels great in the hand, and this rifle shoots as well as it looks.

Have your cake and eat it too with Winchester's XPR Compact Scope Combo. Under $910, this field-ready XPR is available in a variety of whitetail-ready calibers, and the composite stock with a shorter 13-inch length of pull makes it an excellent choice for smaller-framed hunters.

The Vortex Crossfire II scope is durable and clear for repeatable accuracy. The Perma-Coat black finish on the steel receiver and barrel reduces game-spooking shine. Just meat and potatoes, this rifle comes with Weaver-style rings and bases, the proven M.O.A. Trigger System, and an innovative Bolt Unlock Button.

Six great whitetail rifles you can depend on to make your 2025 and beyond deer dreams come true. The real question now is: Which one will you choose?