After five years of conducting the bolt-action rifle category, specifically target bolt-action rifles, I think it’s safe to say that this category has plateaued. I’m not bothered by this, and in fact I think it’s good because we are able, if not forced, to go back and look at rifles that we’ve covered in the past and get a different take on them. Perhaps a new take from an entirely new perspective with former and new evaluators. I like the way this is shaping up.

Ballistic’s Best Target Bolt-Action Rifles

The goal with this years Ballistic’s Best was to stay within and certain price point as well as limit chambering. While the intention is there, the execution is always a challenge. Some rifles from particular manufacturers just aren’t available, and if they are, chambering choices can be tricky. Regardless, my goal was to keep the price at (or around) $3,000 and under and caliber at .243 regardless of the chambering, although I wanted to use exclusively 6mm Creedmoor. Why? Because it’s a readily available off-the-shelf cartridge that has several applications but overall is a great target/ general shooting cartridge for the masses who have’t decided how they want to specialize their precision rifle shooting. In the end we got three rifles in 6mm Creedmoor, two in 6 GT, and two in 6.5 Creedmoor.

Rifle chambering has never been a factor in our overall opinions on rifles in the past and it’s still not. A good rifle shines no matter what it’s chambered in, and that’s evident this year. While 6 GT is a pussycat for the most part, the entire rifle still needs to be right in order to maximize the benefits of such a chambering.

Lastly, while it’s tempting to assume that every rifle like this will be acquired for a foray into precision rifle competition, that’s the wrong assumption. There is plenty of precision shooting outside the dynamic rifle competition space. Prone may be the beginning and end for many people who buy these rifles. These rifles offer the user flexibility in their overall use, while mostly avoiding that tactical/sniper rifle look and layout from years past— instead blending sport with tactical use. These are not rifles for hunting, although a couple may be just barely light enough for the task.

The Rifles

We will start with the returning contenders, then list the newcomers. This initial listing is random and reveals nothing about where that particular rifle placed.

Tikka T3x Tac A1

The Tikka represents the epitome of longstanding affordability, accuracy, and reliability.

Sig Sauer Cross PRS

Sig’s Cross is a popular platform, more so in a their hunting trim. The PRS is beefed up to conquer target and competition space.

Daniel Defense Delta 5 Pro

DD’s Delta 5 has grown into a formidable bolt-action rifle. The Pro version represents a proper target rifle with chambering and barrel length options from the factory.

Bergara Premier Competition

Bergara is a well known name for those looking to get into their initial bolt-action rifle. The Premiere competition name doesn’t mix their intentions with this model.

Aero Precision Solus

The American Tikka is back, fresh off winning last years BB. The competition field was different then. Can the Solus maintain its place at the top of value and capability for the dollar?

Savage 110 Elite Competition

Like the Bergara, the name signifies Savage’s goal with this rifle. Competition is in the components, and this Savage is a bit pricier than other versions from the company.

GA Precision Pinnacle Production Rifle

The GA Precision is new to Ballistic’s Best. GA is known for making insanely accurate rides, but this model is meant to appeal to a new shooter trying to get into the space while not breaking the bank. This rifle represents a more affordable option from the otherwise custom rifle maker. Does this affordability mean less performance?

Results

Savage

Savage’s 110 Elite Competition is likable. It sits in a MDT ACC chassis, which universally it one of the best you can get, even for general shooting purposes. It also shoots well off and on. We couldn’t get the consistency that I’ve come to expect from Savage. But this wasn’t the real issue. The action was rough and every evaluator said that. It was in fact rougher than usual. That’s fine for someone who understands that over time it will likely smooth out. But not comforting for others.

The other issue was the trigger, especially with our new shooters. The Accutrigger raised questions in its feel. It was a bit distracting for them. While I don’t mind the trigger at all, as it’s two stage-like in feel, the others did mind. Savage would have a solid competitor with a receiver redesign to address feel and aesthetics. (savagearms.com)

Bergara

The Premier Competition is a likable rifle. It’s got all the right parts for success with an older but widely adopted MPA chassis. Because of this, it fits the aesthetic piece well. The action is smooth too, if not surprisingly smooth.

Although chambered in the lightest recoiling of the calibers, 6 GT, this rifle felt the most lively under recoil. The rifle does not come with a muzzle brake, so we added one (like with did with all the others), and it still feels like a lot is going on when you press the trigger. It’s likely due to the older, lighter chassis. Chassis design has improved vastly since the original MPA was released. And while that may not be the reason for its manners, it’s the one that makes sense as an evaluator.

A couple of solid groups were accomplished though with Eagle Eye ammunition. Eleanor liked the flat blade of the Trigger Tech Trigger but struggled to get solid groups, and she’s one of the best when it comes to that. (bergara.online/us/)

Tikka

Eleanor laid down a .32-incher with the Tikka early in the testing. I managed a .47 with the rifle. Thing is, we both shot four rounds into one hole. I think the Tikka is capable of .1’s if the shooter is up to the task. But this is no surprise to me nor anyone else with time behind a T3x Tac A1. These rifles are notorious shooters.

Austin stated what was on my mind and our new shooters picked up on it as well; the Tikka needs a refresh. Don’t change the stupidly smooth action, don’t add a heavier barrel, just chuck that old chassis and give us something fresh with an easier to change LOP (instead of spacers). Think modern and a little more streamline. The muzzle device could be revised as well, as it’s got a noticeable recoil impulse compared to even other 6.5 Creedmoors.

The Tikka is so good and so good for the price it’s pretty much a no-brainer choice for someone looking to get into precision shooting. That said, it’s not up to the times in the way of conveniences, and it needs to be in this group therefore it’s fallen a spot in this year’s test. (tikka.fi/usa)

Sig Sauer

The Cross PRS surprised me. The action is really good. Austin and I have tested this rifle before, and we both agreed that Sig has made some refinements on the rifle, as it’s better than it has historically been.

Accuracy was solid out of the gate with .6-inch groups readily available without really trying. Eleanor printed a .44-inch group with 123-grain Lapua ammunition. So the Sig clearly has what it takes to deliver rounds.

The trigger is good toom and the only real gripes anyone had with the Cross is the folding stock, which while adjustable and seems fragile compared to the rest of an otherwise robust rifle. From the bolt handle forward this rifle is top notch. The back end leaves us scratching our heads just a bit with parts that are obviously meant to cut costs.

While the rile is a bit different and proprietary in some ways, it’s not far from becoming a great rifle. This middle of the pack finish is nothing to scoff at. (sigsauer.com)

Daniel Defense

No mixing words here, the Delta 5 Pro has historically been a disappointment in only one area—the action. Yes, that’s a big area when we are talking about bolt actions. This year it’s different. Yes the action still lacks comparatively, but Austin and I have enough history with this rifle that we know this version is better, smoother, and maybe has been refined in some way. It’s just less problematic than past versions, and that means it moves up in its placement.

DD barrels have always needed some time to come in, but this version was less so. My first group after 15 rounds on the barrel was .7 inches. Several days later after about 60 rounds I shot a .31 with ease using Berger’s 105-grain 6mm Creedmoor. Other groups were sub-1/2 moa. The Delta 5 Pro in 6mm Creed shoots!

The chassis is one of the best in the business with great adjustability and ease of use, and it delivers the most anticlimactic, linear, deadened recoil impulse. I love it. And everyone else did too. Becca fell in love with the wide blade of the Timey Hunter trigger, commenting on how good it feels compared to thinner versions. My three fellow evaluators all liked the barrel with its visible hammer forging lines. They all felt it added some visual appeal—something I completely overlooked.

If DD upgrades that action, they’ll have a low to no complaint ratio with the Delta 5 Pro and will likely sell more of them. (danieldefense.com)

GA Precision

I want to say thank you to George Gardner for sending out one of the PPR’s for this test. Upfront, the Pinnacle is the most expensive of the rifles by roughly $500. This isn’t completely out of hand, as the standard Pinnacle is $2,999.99 to meet PRS Production class guidelines. A few additional parts like the RRS Standard Dovetail rail and Area 419 Fat Bastard tip the scales just a bit. That said, we added muzzle devices to three of the rifles, and the Bergara needed a top rail— something not included with the Premier competition.

The Pinnacle is the least racy of the bunch and shockingly more toward that old school tactical look and feel I mentioned at the beginning of this piece. But, this combo of great barreled action in the Manners stock works well. Very well, making us all wonder what is truly necessary for a great rifle.

While the cheek pad rises, you need an Allen tool to do so, and spacers are needed to adjust LOP. The carbon-fiber Manner’s stock is light, and the rifle seems front heavy at first, but Becca was the first to marvel at how well it laid in a bag for positional shooting. stating “it just sits right there.” It was actually impressive.

Becca also liked the fullness of the buttstock. Its bigger dimensions and roundness made for more comfortable shooting than the chassis rifles. Eleanor commented on the same thing, stating how much she loved the feel of the carbon fiber while cursing the camo pattern. Both ladies would prefer it without.

The Pinnacle is a great shooter. The comfort coupled with the 6 GT was excellent. Having only two types of 6 GT, Hornady 109-grain and Eagle Eye 105 Berger Hybrid, (we also had 110-grain A-Tips on hand) meant limited choices to get great groups. The GA Precision delivered here with many sub-1/2 MOA groups and an astonishing and Ballistics Best best of .27 inch shot by newcomer Becca using the Eagle Eye 105-grain Bergers. Results like this can’t be argued with. I should say I did my best to best my friend’s groups, but I only made things worse.

The GA Precision lacks many of the things we feel we must have, such as quick adjustability and M-Lok handguards. It’s likely the most de-featured of these rifles, but the combination of parts and final execution shines bright. It’s got the perfect simplicity and lack of proprietary bits, meaning you have options to change things up should you out grow its current state.

While not the smoothest of the group, the action is smooth, and that was a consistent statement from everyone. Overall I think it looks good, reminiscent of the rifles I came up wanting when I was new to precision shooting. We all like the GA Precision. It made things easy in its own way. Even with its lack of fancy things, it was only down by one point from the winner, which says a lot about the GA Precision. (gaprecision.net)

Aero Precision

Long live the King. Last year’s winner comes back with just a couple differences: chambering in 6mm Creedmoor (we swapped out the 6.5 Creed barrel) and addition of their night vision rail. This latter change addressed the flex we could feel in the rifle last year.

The Solus is such a good rifle overall. It’s comfortable, adjustable and easily so; it looks good across the board even though it’s fairly simplistic. The action has to be the best part of the rifle, which is saying a lot. We still say it’s the American Tikka, with straight, drama free feeding from even a Magpul magazine. If the Tikka looked like the Solus, the Tikka might be in this position.

Precision/accuracy is good with he Solus, delivering 1/2-MOA groups consistently with several four-and-one groups. This is very frustrating when I feel that the rifle can likely shoot 1/4 MOA. Becca digs the Solus and has taken quite a liking to it. While Eleanor hates the furniture (grips), calling it cheap feeling. All in all, the Solus is hard to beat, period. It’s solidly good across the board, giving it a 1-point advantage over the GA Precision and honors, once again, as Ballistic’s Best Target Bolt-Action Rifle. (aeroprecisionusa.com)

Second Shot

I’m glad that I’m not a new shooter looking to get into my first precision rifle. The field is a tough one with several good options out there. We are convinced that if you chose any of these rifles, invested quality ammo and received proper training, that you can achieve your precision shooting goals. You’d likely be content for a number of years as well, but what we don’t know with any of these rifles is their longterm durability.

Our job is to objectively split hairs, but even then our personal biases such as aesthetics, or shooting a poor group, or even how we emotionally felt that day affect our decisions. I intentionally use different levels of experienced users to best emulate our vast array of readers and end users.

In the end, these are opinions and should be taken as such. The point spread between the top three rifles being 1.2 points total is a clear indicator of how close these rifles are and how much we have to dig. And like you, in the end, we like what we like because we like it, although it may not be the very best at any one thing. The Solus does a good job of showing that.

Precision shooting as a whole is an investment. And when it comes to long-term shooting satisfaction it’s an investment that is well worth it. My suggestion—get your hands and eyes on as many rifles as you can before you make your purchase decision. Once you decide and acquire, learn how to use it to its full potential and you likely won’t regret your purchase.

READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

For our 2024 Ballistic’s Best, our experts evaluated over 90 firearms, firing literally thousands of rounds downrange. They used our scoring system, drilling down on features such as accuracy, reliability, and more. Then the experts picked the very best performer from each and every group.
Our readers, that’s you, get to vote on the very same groups our pros tested out on the range.

Check out our poll and CLICK HERE to cast your vote.