A takedown built in London, a magazine action from Birmingham chambered up to .505 Gibbs, a Finnish target rifle in a modular chassis and an American workhorse for the roughest ground: Fieldsports Journal has picked ten of the most noteworthy bolt-action rifles from the world’s renowned gunmakers, whether you need a composite-stocked workhorse built to handle the harshest terrain or a finely crafted piece with hand engraving and exhibition-grade walnut fit to be passed down the generations.
For the show visitor the list doubles as a walking route. Holland & Holland, Westley Richards, Merkel, Tikka and its UK distributor GMK, Benelli, Sportsman Gun Centre and Ruger are all listed in the Great British Shooting Show’s rifles exhibitor directory, so seven of the ten makers here, or the firms that bring them to the UK, are names the show visitor already knows from the directory, and the ones to look for on the floor at the NEC Birmingham from 12 – 14 February 2027. The rest, from Purdey and Rigby in London to W.J. Jeffery and Karl Hauptmann, are the names the show’s gunmaking heritage conversations turn on.
Here are the ten, in the order Fieldsports Journal presented them, with each maker’s RRP as supplied.
Prices are RRP at the time of publication, as supplied by the makers and retailers, and may have changed.
Ten bolt-action rifles from the world’s gunmakers
Holland & Holland Takedown Magazine Rifle
RRP: From £68,000 exc. VAT
Westley Richards Magazine Rifle (up to .505 Gibbs)
RRP: POA
W.J. Jeffery & Co. .404
RRP: From £48,000 inc. VAT
Purdey bolt-action
RRP: From £37,000 exc. VAT
Karl Hauptmann Slim Line bolt-action
RRP: From €35,000 exc. VAT
John Rigby & Co. Highland Stalker Magnum
RRP: £13,406 inc. VAT
Merkel Helix Speedster
RRP: From £4,000 inc. VAT
Tikka T3X Ace Target
RRP: From £1,595 inc. VAT
Benelli Lupo Granite Moss
RRP: £999.99 inc. VAT
Ruger American Gen 2 Standard
RRP: £850 inc. VAT
Seven of the ten makers, or their UK distributors, are in the show’s rifles directory, so the shortlist above is one a visitor can go looking for in February: the London and Birmingham benches at one end of the hall, the Finnish chassis and the American and Italian workhorses at the other, and the whole spread of what a bolt-action can be in between.
Bolt-action rifle prices at a glance
| Rifle | Price (RRP) |
|---|---|
| Holland & Holland Takedown Magazine Rifle | From £68,000 exc. VAT |
| Westley Richards Magazine Rifle (up to .505 Gibbs) | POA |
| W.J. Jeffery & Co. .404 | From £48,000 inc. VAT |
| Purdey bolt-action | From £37,000 exc. VAT |
| Karl Hauptmann Slim Line bolt-action | From €35,000 exc. VAT |
| John Rigby & Co. Highland Stalker Magnum | £13,406 inc. VAT |
| Merkel Helix Speedster | From £4,000 inc. VAT |
| Tikka T3X Ace Target | From £1,595 inc. VAT |
| Benelli Lupo Granite Moss | £999.99 inc. VAT |
| Ruger American Gen 2 Standard | £850 inc. VAT |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bolt-action rifle cost?
Across this selection, prices run from £850 inc. VAT for the Ruger American Gen 2 Standard and £999.99 inc. VAT for the Benelli Lupo Granite Moss to £48,000 inc. VAT for the W.J. Jeffery & Co. .404 and from £68,000 exc. VAT for the Holland & Holland Takedown Magazine Rifle. Westley Richards prices its Magazine Rifle on application.
Which of these makers are in the show’s rifles directory?
Holland & Holland, Westley Richards, Merkel, Tikka with its UK distributor GMK, Benelli, Sportsman Gun Centre and Ruger are all listed in the Great British Shooting Show’s rifles exhibitor directory, so seven of the ten makers, or their distributors, are names to look for on the show floor at the NEC Birmingham.
Which British gunmakers build bolt-action rifles?
This list includes five: Holland & Holland (Takedown Magazine Rifle), Westley Richards (Magazine Rifle), W.J. Jeffery & Co. (.404), Purdey (bolt-action) and John Rigby & Co. (Highland Stalker Magnum).
When is the British Shooting Show 2027?
The Great British Shooting Show runs from 12 – 14 February 2027 at the NEC Birmingham.
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