If you shoot enough, most rifles will start to show their age. Triggers get gritty, groups start to spread, and accuracy drops off faster than you’d expect. But some rifles shrug off thousands of rounds and keep drilling targets like they’re still fresh out of the box. These are the ones that don’t rattle loose, don’t throw flyers, and don’t lose zero even after long days at the range or years in the field. You don’t have to treat them like safe queens—they’re built to keep hitting.
Ruger American Rifle
The Ruger American might not look like much, but it’s known for staying tight and accurate through heavy use. The cold hammer-forged barrel holds its integrity longer than you’d expect for the price, and the bedding system actually works.
You can feed it cheap bulk ammo all day, and it’ll still hold respectable groups. The bolt might feel a little rough early on, but it smooths out with time. What matters is it keeps hitting where it should, even after you’ve burned through cases of rounds.
Savage 110
The Savage 110’s floating bolt head and AccuTrigger have earned it a long-standing reputation for precision. And the barrel life on these rifles is solid, even with regular shooting. They tend to stay accurate well past the point you’d expect a factory rifle to give out.
You don’t have to baby it either. The synthetic stocks aren’t fragile, the action handles grime decently, and it stays zeroed through recoil and time. For the money, few rifles hang in as long while still punching paper or dropping game cleanly.
Tikka T3x
Tikka barrels are known for being consistent, and the T3x action is one of the smoothest you’ll find out of the box. It’s the kind of rifle that shoots well early on—and keeps doing it for thousands of rounds without any weird accuracy shift.
Even in rough field conditions, the bolt cycles reliably and the trigger stays crisp. You’ll see tight groups long past when other factory barrels start wandering. If you reload or shoot a lot of factory loads, the Tikka holds up without developing bad habits.
Remington 700 (Older Models)
The older Remington 700s—especially those made before the QC issues hit—were known for accuracy and barrel life. You’ll still find guys running their 700s after thousands of rounds with minimal drift off zero. The receivers were square, the barrels solid, and the triggers consistent.
If you’ve got one built before the cut corners, or you find a good used one, you’ve got a platform that stays accurate with regular use. Replace worn parts as needed and it’ll keep delivering tight groups for years.
CZ 457
The CZ 457 is a rimfire that acts like a precision centerfire when it comes to consistency. These rifles eat through bricks of .22 LR without wandering off target, and the machining on the bolt and chamber is tighter than most in its class.
Even after thousands of rounds, you’ll still see it stacking shots if you’re feeding it halfway decent ammo. The trigger’s adjustable, the action is slick, and it’s one of those rifles that doesn’t seem to wear out or loosen up with time.
FN SCAR 17S
If you’re running .308 in high volume, the SCAR 17S is one of the few semi-autos that stays accurate over time. It’s built to handle abuse, and the barrel doesn’t string or shift as quickly as many other .308 platforms.
The monolithic upper and short-stroke gas system reduce wear, and the barrel holds up even with high round counts. It’s pricey, but if you’re shooting .308 a lot and want a rifle that keeps hitting after thousands of rounds, it’s earned that spot.
Bergara B-14
The Bergara B-14 has some of the best barrel work you’ll find in its price range, and it holds accuracy through years of shooting. The action is clean and well-fitted, and the barrels handle heat and round count better than you’d expect.
Whether you’re using it for precision or hunting, these rifles don’t open up after a few hundred rounds like some budget builds. If you’re consistent with your cleaning and ammo, it’ll keep printing tight groups long-term.
Daniel Defense DDM4 V7
In the AR world, some rifles start keyholing or losing gas efficiency over time. The DDM4 V7 holds up. The cold hammer-forged barrel is built to outlast most others, and you’ll find plenty of owners still getting good accuracy deep into their round counts.
The upper and lower fit remains tight, and the gas system stays reliable through heat and dirt. If you’re running thousands of rounds through 5.56 and want something that won’t loosen up, this is one of the better options you can go with.
Howa 1500
The Howa 1500 has always been known for its solid barrel and consistent performance over time. It doesn’t get talked about as much, but it keeps shooting well through heavy use, especially when you’re loading your own rounds.
The trigger’s underrated, and the action stays snug without binding or developing slop. It’s not flashy, but it hangs in there with rifles that cost way more, especially in terms of long-term accuracy and reliability.
Steyr Scout
The Steyr Scout might be unconventional, but the barrel life and consistent performance are impressive. The cold hammer-forged barrel stays accurate far longer than most, even under hard use and rapid strings of fire.
You can mount it low or high, use backup irons, and beat it up in rough terrain. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but those who run one tend to keep it forever. And that’s because it keeps hitting targets long after most rifles start to open up.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
