A straightforward hunting rifle with a flat-shooting cartridge is hard to beat. The Browning X-Bolt 2 Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor has a matte blued finish and the refined action Browning built into the second generation of the X-Bolt.

The 6.5 Creedmoor has become a favorite for whitetail hunters and target shooters because it shoots flat and recoils gently. For deer in North Carolina, whether in the Piedmont's pines or across a soybean field, it has plenty of power and reach. A newer hunter can handle it without much flinching. A little practice every month beats a long session once a year. Spend an afternoon at the range before the season so you know exactly where it shoots.

Browning's X-Bolt design has a reputation for a smooth bolt, a crisp trigger and a good fit in the shoulder. The Hunter model is the classic version, with a walnut or similar look and none of the extras that drive the price up.

Mount a scope, sight it in, and you have a rifle that will take deer for years. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer, where the background check is completed at pickup.