Braxton Taylor
The breadth and depth of the modern defensive rifle continues to expand. The popularity of lever-action rifles blossomed in 2024, with new models from a host of manufacturers. Interest in pistol caliber carbines continued to be strong, with new guns coming out in both the classic AR-pattern style as well as other proprietary firearms. On top of all this, new calibers like Hornady’s 22 ARC round fueled a growing interest in the long-range AR-15. Here are the top Rifle Roundup posts for 2024, and we’ll see you again in 2025.
5. PWS MK114 Mod 2 With A Burris RT-6 Tactical Kit
There was a time when gas-piston guns were thought to be the future of AR-pattern rifles, but direct-impingement guns proved to be the winner in that battle. The usefulness of a piston gun, especially when using a suppressor, however, are hard to overlook. As a result, manufacturers like Primary Weapons and others continue to thrive and producing outstanding rifles.
We’ve topped this rifle with an “all in one” optics kit from Burris which has a 1-6X low-power, variable optic (LPVO) topped with a Fast Fire red dot, giving you an optics setup that can quickly switch between close-range and long-distance encounters.
4. Military Armament Corporation MAC-5 Pistol With A Sightmark Optic
Okay, so it’s a large format pistol and not a rifle, but we just can’t resist a chance to get our hands on a version of the classic MP5 SMG, especially when it retails for under $1000. The Military Armament Corporation MAC-5 slaps just like the original, and because it’s a true pistol without a brace, there’s no need to worry about the byzantine rules of the NFA.
The age of the original MP5 means it’s not optics-ready out of the box, which means we needed to add a Shield Optics sight mount to our gun so we could top it off with a Sightmark red dot. Look for an article detailing the other upgrades in the near future.
3. Rossi R92 Triple Black With A Bushnell RXM-300 Optic
A lever-action rifle chambered in .357 needs no other reason to exist other than itself. However, there are a bunch of other good reasons to own a gun like the Rossi R92, such as the easy recoil despite the punch of the .357 Mag round and ability to be used in every state in the nation. Add in a Picatinny rail on top of the receiver so you can mount just about any optic you desire, and you have a proven performer than hearkens back to a different day and age.
John Wayne may have used a lever gun in his movies, but he certainly did not use a red dot. The fast sight acquisition and precision shooting that’s possible with a 1x red dot like the Bushnell RXM-300 takes an already formidable rifle to another level.
2. Mossberg MVP Scout With A Burris Scout Optic
The scout rifle can be a misunderstood concept. It’s not a lightweight precision rifle. Rather, it’s a “do it all” gun that’s meant to handle almost any situation, without the weight and legal restrictions of a modern sporting rifle or the specialization of a dedicated precision rifle. The Mossberg MVP Scout adds in the utility of using standard AR-10 pattern magazines, making it a gun for all reasons.
The traditional optic for a scout rifle is a long eye relief low power optic that’s mounted towards the front for fast shooting and better situational awareness. The Burris 2-7x32mm optic on our rifle certainly fulfills that mission, but modern red dot or low power variable optics might be an alternative for this sort of rifle.
1. Smith & Wesson FPC Carbine With A Leupold Delta Point Pro
Raise your hand if you had “Smith & Wesson comes out with a foldable pistol caliber carbine” on your 2024 bingo card. With features like the ability to fold into a compact, easy-to-store package and hide away two 23 round magazines on the stock, the FPC Carbine is a fresh new look at the defensive pistol caliber carbine.
A gun like the FPC is not meant for long-range engagements, so a 1X red dot like the Leupold Delta Point Pro gives you a precise aiming point for close-range encounters and fast target acquisition in confined spaces. Add in Leupold’s reputation for rock-solid reliability, and you have an optic that’s ready to go when you need it most.
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