2017’s black guns & gear for hunters, not just for tacticians anymore

While the color black in the firearms world has long been associated with tactical firearms and operator accessories, that’s no longer the case.  As modern sporting rifles gain popularity with hunters as practical options for taking deer and even bigger game, black guns and gear are booming.  Here are five noir options from 2017 that perk the ears of hunters.

Savage MSR Hunter

Modern sporting rifles may not be new to hunters; Savage MSR’s are, however—that’s Modern Savage Rifles.  The company debuted a line of four MSR’s, which included a pair of .223’s, a Long Range big bore, and of course, the Hunter.  Though we tested the Hunter in .308, it’s the 6.5 Creedmoor and .338 Federal chamberings that really drive interest from hunters.  With an adjustable gas system ideal for suppressed hunting, Blackhawk! furniture, and a quality trigger, the MSR is a pleasure to shoot.

Accuracy was exceptional with our .308 out to our max 500-yard target.  At a hair under eight pounds empty, these AR-10 platform designs are lighter than many others on the market, making the MSR Hunter a ready hunting companion. Though I’m a more traditional bolt gun hunter, the MSR-10 Hunter was hard to put down, especially when paired with a suppressor.   The MSRP of $1481 seems steep, but with real world prices lower, it’s actually quite fair for what you get, especially considering the general AR-10 market.

SOG Seal Strike

The SOG Seal Strike knife in both name and immediate appearance seems much more tactical than hunting-oriented.  Until you get it out in the field, that is.  The lifetime-warrantied black-tini stainless steel serrated 4.9” AUS-8 blade comes razor sharp and stays sharp longer than most other knives we’ve skun, gutted, deboned, hacked wood, and did camp chores with. The glass reinforced nylon and stainless handles are perfectly aggressive. The deluxe model sheath nearly steals the show with an integral paracord cutter, sharpener, and firestarter.  MSRP on the Seal Strike is $134, but the design prowess gained from military deployments on this knife pay huge dividends in the hunting woods.

Hornady BLACK

Semiautomatic AR-platform black guns are, by their nature, more fussy to run dirty than levers or bolts.  While many standard cleaners will work, Hoppe’s saw an opening in the market and now we have Hoppe’s Black.  This is a line that includes: Gun Cleaner pump spray, Copper Cleaner, Precision Oil, Gun Grease, and Lubricating Cloths.  While all the products really excel on traditionally black guns like the Savage MSR above, they work equally well on all firearms, including our hunting guns. Semi-autos often operate at higher temperatures and seem to generate more fouling,  as a result their cleaners must be up to the task.  Thus, Hoppe’s Gun Cleaner goes after aggressive carbon buildup, and does indeed seem to melt it better than others.  Both the Precision Oil and Gun Grease shine with its temperature range from -65 to 540 degrees. While we wouldn’t advise hunting in those extremes of conditions, it’s nice to know your gun should be ready to perform in more reasonably adverse weather. Plus, the smaller 2.5oz Cleaner and 2oz Oil, available for $6.99 and $5.27 respectively, are the perfect size to throw in your hunting pack for a quick spray down after a day afield.