The annual Safari Club International (SCI) Convention convention was hosted in Nashville, Tennessee from January 31 through February 3. It draws thousands of hunters, conservationists, outfitters, and industry professionals from across the globe for a combination trade show, educational forum, and social gathering and fund-raising event, which helps fund the promotion of world-wide hunting and wildlife conservation.
In addition to renewing acquaintances and visiting old friends in the outdoors industry, I was able to go “hands on” with several new rifles and suppressors. Here’s what’s on tap for 2024.
Silencer Central’s New Cans
BANISH SPEED K
The newest addition to the BANISH line of suppressors is the BANISH Speed K, a silencer designed in partnership with Federal Ammunition for those in uniform. The Speed K is a 4-inch 5.56 suppressor built from 100 percent Inconel, allowing it to be durable, maneuverable, and precise.
This writer’s experience with the Speed K goes back to an editorial event in Idaho last October. It was impressive on the range, and you can bet that I will have one on my coyote rig ASAP. The MSRP is $1,199.
Banish Buck 30
Another new-for-2024 can in the Silencer Central lineup is the Buck 30 by BANISH. This is a 30-caliber suppressor designed for rifle calibers up to .300 Win Mag. It handled multiple calibers well during initial testing at the Idaho event mentioned previously.
This suppressor features a tubeless and laser-welded stainless-steel design, incorporating eight baffles to lower decibel levels to below 132 dB.
It is multi-caliber, measures 6.9 inches long and offers an industry-standard attachment hub. All this comes at an affordable price of $699.
Banish Backcountry
New last year, the Banish Backcountry offers some of the best features for a hunting suppressor.
This writer put it to the ultimate test this past hunting season mounted on a Pure Precision bolt gun chambered in 7mm PRC. This rig produced the desired results for both elk and muleys.
Rated for calibers up to the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum (RUM), the Banish Backcountry utilizes six baffles that drop the decibel level down to 135 dB. What I like most about it is the weight… or lack thereof. It weighs a mere 7.8 ounces, and retails for $1,099.
Benelli Lupo HPR
Bucking conventional expectations that a precision, long-range rifle must necessarily be too heavy and cumbersome for practical hunting use, Benelli introduces the all-new Lupo HPR long-range rifle chambered in popular long-range calibers.
Building on the tack-driving tradition of Benelli’s Lupo series bolt-action rifles, the Lupo HPR takes precision long-range shooting to new heights — and accuracy guarantees — in a platform that is comfortably suited for the big-game hunting fields. How accurate? Benelli guarantees the Lupo HPR to deliver 5-shot, ¾ MOA point-of-aim/point-of-impact performance.
To achieve this level of accuracy, the Lupo HPR addresses both the “hard” and the “soft” mechanics. The hard mechanics centers on the rifle’s free-floating, heavy-contour, straight-fluted Crio barrel. The Crio treatment, which molecularly stabilizes the barrel to relieve stress and promote uniform harmonics, applied to the heavy-contour barrel maximizes the gun’s accuracy potential across all shooting conditions.
Assisting the barrel’s accuracy enhancements is a robust receiver fitted with a stout, three-lug sculpted bolt featuring a quick, 60-degree bolt throw for fast cycling action. Of course, a short and crisp trigger is an essential ingredient to minimize shot disturbance, and that is exactly what the Lupo HPR delivers, with 2.2- to 4.4-lb. adjustability to match the shooter’s pull weight preference.
As for the soft mechanics, the Lupo HPR is designed around adaptability to the shooter. An all-new stock system developed specifically for the Lupo HPR takes many of the features typically found in a long-range precision chassis rifle system and translates them to a platform more suited to the hunter. These include an 8-position, push-button adjustable comb for precise head/eye alignment behind the scope, interchangeable target and hunting grips to provide a comfortable trigger reach with bare or gloved hands, a removeable bag rider for transitioning between the field and the bench, drop and cast shims plus stock spacers to further refine shooter fitment, and Benelli’s Progressive Comfort system to soften the recoil of today’s extended-range loads.
To facilitate field carry, the Lupo HPR boasts side-mounted QD attachment points on the buttstock and the forend for diverse sling positioning along with M-LOK attachment points integrated into the left and right sides of the forend.
MSRP for all Lupo HPR models is $2,949, and the Lupo HPR is conveniently fed via a double-stack, removable box magazine and comes in the following chamber/barrel length/twist/weight configurations:
- 6.5 Creedmoor, 24-in., 1:8, 9.5 lbs.
- .308 Win., 24-in., 1:11, 9.4 lbs.
- .300 Win. Mag., 26-in., 1:11, 10.4 lbs.
- .338 Lapua Mag., 26-in., 1:9.4, 9.7 lbs.
- .300 PRC, 26-in., 1:8.5, 9.8 lbs.
- 6.5 PRC, 24-in., 1:7.5, 9.6 lbs.
For more information on the new Benelli Lupo HPR bolt-action rifle or to learn more about Benelli USA’s full line of premium shotguns and centerfire hunting rifles, visit BenelliUSA.com.
Christensen Arms MHR
Built on an aluminum mini-chassis with V-block bedding, Christensen’s Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR) provides the accuracy potential of a chassis rifle and the ergonomics of a hunting rifle all while offering exceptional modularity. Its FFT stock, forearm, and grips can be swapped out to create configurations that suit any shooter and situation.
A 416R stainless steel barrel wrapped in carbon fiber helps shed ounces, helping it achieve a trim weight of 7.4 pounds for the 7mm PRC model.
The Ridgeline FFT offers a match chamber, and the barrel’s hand lapped button rifled profile get the free-float treatment.
Some other pluses for this rifle include standard Rem 700 optics base compatibility, a skeletonized bolt handle, black Nitride finish, an enlarged ejection port and a superb Trigger Tech Trigger.
Christensen Arms MCR
The Modern Carbon Rifle, or MCR, is a masterpiece of innovation. Starting with a lightweight yet incredibly durable FFT carbon fiber stock, the MCR features an adjustable push-button FFT cheek riser, full-length M-LOK on the forearm, front and rear QD attachment points, adjustable length of pull via spacers, and an integrated forward Picatinny rail section. The Remington 700-style action is topped with an optic-ready 20-MOA Picatinny rail and features a skeletonized bolt handle with an FFT carbon fiber bolt knob.
Married to the action is a free-floating, hand lapped, button rifled Christensen Arms Aerograde carbon fiber barrel with a Match chamber and suppressor-ready threaded muzzle equipped with a premium side-baffle brake. Rounding out this powerhouse of a rifle is an ergonomically designed hybrid grip and a crisp, adjustable TriggerTech trigger. The MCR is the Future of Carbon Fiber. This carbon gem tips the scales at 6.7 pounds and sells for $2,400.
Sauer’s 505 Bolt-Action Rifle
J.P. Sauer and Sohn, Germany’s oldest manufacturer of hunting firearms, introduces the new Sauer 505. This bolt-action rifle is an engineering masterpiece, delivering timeless elegance, absolute accuracy, and exceptional versatility.
Hallmarks of this latest Sauer rifle include a robust, newly designed steel chassis, silky-smooth bolt cycling, and interchangeable, cold hammer forged precision barrels that allow for quick and easy caliber changes. Hunters can select between four pre-set trigger weights from 0.77 lbs. to up to 2.75 lbs.
The ergonomically perfected manual cocking system is safe, lightweight, quiet, and easy on the thumb. Once ready to shoot, simply apply slight pressure with your thumb to cock the rifle. Uncocking and unloading in the uncocked position is just as easy.
Sauer has adopted the proven Blaser saddle mount technology for easy and accurate optics mounting. This quick detach mount is designed to ensure the unit can be taken off the Sauer 505 and put back on while maintaining the precise point of aim without having to re-zero the scope. This is a significant advantage for those who travel frequently.
“The Sauer 505 represents the finest in German craftsmanship and engineering, and it’s precision, beauty, and timeless elegance ensures it will be cherished by generations to come,” said Jason Evans, CEO, Blaser Group. “This German rifle is a meticulously designed platform with the smoothest, 60-degree action available, and Sauer offers various stocks for specific purposes from lightweight carbon fiber options for mountain hunting to heavier stocks and barrels for dangerous game hunts in the African savanna.“
Available in four stock options – walnut (from wood grades 2 to 10), synthetic, synthetic thumbhole, or carbon fiber. The flush mounted detachable magazine features an integrated MagLock safety which prevents unwanted triggering of the magazine button. Rifle weights range from around 6 pounds with the ultralight carbon fiber stock to heavier weight field options with magnum barrels.
MSRP starts at $3,500. Available in Summer 2024 in multiple calibers. For more information, visit: Sauer 505.
Beretta’s BRX-1
Beretta calls upon knowledge acquired over years of working with firearms for military and civilian markets led to the company’s first straight-pull bolt-action rifle, the BRX-1. Providing the best ballistic performances available today, the black opaque burnished steel BRX1 barrels are made free-floating, created entirely by cold-hammering and deep drilling. The rifling and chamber are created in a single step. The bolt is configured with an 8-lug rotating bolt head, complete with extraction claw and ejector derived directly from military technology. The bolt handle has a medium-sized spherical knob positioned close to the trigger for the best ergonomics and speed in reloading.
Interchangeable barrels of varying calibers, three trigger weight options, and fully ambidextrous bolt and extraction offer the ability to change from right to left hand without any tools.
The BRX1 is a versatile, modern, modular firearm, that’s sure to give the other straight-pull rifles a run for their money. This rifle’s $1,399 MSRP is a few hundred dollars cheaper than comparable entry-level rifles, and is as accurate and smooth handling as rifles of this type cost in the $5,000 range. This writer fired several sub-MOA 5-shot groups with an early BRX-1.
Hammer Time with Remington’s CuT Bullets
Last, but not least, the new and improved Remington is producing some exciting new products for 2024, and one of my favorites is their new CuT lineup of solid copper hunting bullets.
Loads for most popular hunting cartridges hit the ballistic sweet spot for each load. Last November the author used Big Green’s 160-grain 7mm PRC load to anchor a long-range muley. This bullet has a sick .594 G1 ballistic coefficient that starts fast and stays flat. Check out all of the other loads here.