Howa M1500 Mini Fence Line 7.62x39mm 22" Bronze Scorched Earth Rifle

The Mini Fence Line is the compact member of the Fence Line family, and 7.62x39mm is the chambering that suits it best. Short, fat and mild, the cartridge does not need a long receiver to work with, and a bolt gun gives it better consistency than the gas guns most shooters associate with it. Barrel length is 22", which is plenty for a round that burns its powder early.

The finish is bronze over a Scorched Earth camo stock, a warm brown treatment that suits fall timber and dry ground far better than black synthetic. This is a practical deer rifle for close cover and an easy one to keep fed, since 7.62x39mm sits on nearly every ammunition shelf in the country. Recoil is light enough that a young or smaller framed shooter can run it without building a flinch, and the bolt keeps the manual of arms about as simple as it gets: load, lift, run it, safety on. For a first centerfire deer rifle, or a rifle that lives behind the truck seat during season, it is an easy call to make.