The rifle has shaped hunting, warfare and the Second Amendment for more than three centuries. Here are the milestones that made today’s rifles possible.
The 1700s and 1800s
- 1700s: American gunsmiths build the long, accurate Kentucky long rifle, the rifle of frontiersmen and the Revolution.
- 1849: The Minie ball makes rifled muskets as fast to load as smoothbores.
- 1860: The Henry rifle brings lever action repeating fire.
- 1866: Winchester is founded, followed by the famous Model 1873.
- 1898: The Mauser 98 sets the pattern for modern bolt actions.
The 1900s to today
- 1903: The Springfield M1903 becomes the US service rifle.
- 1906: The .30-06 Springfield cartridge arrives and is still a hunting favorite.
- 1936: The M1 Garand becomes the first standard-issue semi-auto US service rifle.
- 1962: The Remington 700 begins its run as a hunting and precision legend.
- 1964: The Ruger 10/22 and the civilian AR-15 both reach the market.
- 2007: The 6.5 Creedmoor debuts and becomes a long range and hunting favorite.
Watch and Learn
Videos from the Gun Websites YouTube channel.
Meet the companies behind these rifles on Rifle Manufacturers.