Of the numerous and varied duties of American Rifleman’s editors, few are as challenging as reviewing the past year’s issues and selecting the firearms, ammunition product and accessory most deserving of a much-coveted American Rifleman Golden Bullseye Award.

“The Golden Bullseye Award honors our winners for bringing to market products remarkable in their utility to shooters and hunters,” said Joe H. Graham, executive director of NRA Publications. “The award is a symbol of excellence and innovation in firearms, accessories and related equipment. We congratulate the winners, and we are confident shooters and hunters will receive this year’s winning products with enthusiasm.”

NRA Publications will present its annual Golden Bullseye Awards and Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award at an invitation-only breakfast during the 2010 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, May 13-16, in Charlotte, N.C. The following products, and their representative manufacturers, received this year’s American Rifleman Golden Bullseye Awards.

Rifle of the Year: Barrett Model 98 Bravo

“The bolt-action Model 98 in .338 Lapua Mag. is one of the most innovative rifles we’ve ever seen,” reads the subhead to the article “Innovation With A Purpose: Barrett’s Model 98 Bravo” (April 2009, p. 44). “But the advances weren’t made just for the sake of being new and different—they were made with a practical purpose in mind.”

“According to [Chris] Barrett, the Model 98B was purpose-built to withstand adverse conditions, to be easily adaptable to any mission using the appropriate accessories, and to take advantage of the ergonomic interfaces … familiar to contemporary soldiers,” wrote Field Editor Stanton L. Wormley, Jr. The author then detailed each of the rifle’s many noteworthy characteristics, including: aluminum upper and lower receivers that are hinged at the front; the use of Teflon-infused polymer to smooth bolt travel; a trigger assembly that is easily removed as a unit; a detachable, 10-round polymer box magazine; extensive use of Picatinny rail; a fluted, 27" medium-heavy barrel with two-port muzzle brake; a full-diameter bolt with a separate, nine-lug head; and a single-stage trigger, among other attributes.

“Every departure of the new Barrett design from the standard bolt-action pattern was made with a functional objective in mind,” wrote Wormley. Perhaps he expressed our sentiment best when he wrote, “The M98B will influence bolt-action designs for years to come.”

It’s easy to see why it won the American Rifleman Golden Bullseye Award for “Rifle of the Year.”

Shotgun of the Year: Benelli Vinci

“The new gun, radical in appearance and completely modular in design … has done nothing less than change how shotguns are made,” penned Editor-In-Chief Mark A. Keefe, IV in the feature titled “Welcome To The Revolution” (June 2009, p. 42). To this, Keefe added, “And the gun does have modern—even artistic—lines, but they are coupled with extremely innovative engineering. The latter is the true beauty of the Vinci.”

The Benelli Vinci is a 12-ga., 3"-chambered semi-automatic shotgun that operates via the company’s new In-Line Inertia Driven system, which not only enables versatility in replacement of the buttstock but also makes possible the shotgun’s modular design. Modularity enables the Vinci to quickly break down into three assemblies: Barrel/Receiver; Quadrafit Buttstock; and Trigger Group/Forearm.

“Any procedure needed to operate, load or fire the gun was taken into consideration in the design,” wrote Keefe. “The ejection port, for example, may also be used for loading, is as large and extended as possible, and still gives the receiver the strength it needs. For ease in loading the under-barrel tubular magazine, the port in the bottom of the Trigger Group/Forearm Module has no sharp edge, and its surfaces have scalloped recesses that help guide the shell into the magazine tube.”

In the end, Keefe scribed, “The Vinci is, hands down, the quickest and easiest autoloading shotgun to disassemble I’ve ever seen.” Further, “The construction of the Vinci is a true landmark in shotgun design and manufacture.” With fellow editors agreeing, Benelli earned the Golden Bullseye Award for “Shotgun of the Year.”

Handgun of the Year: Ruger LCR

“Ruger has dubbed its latest revolver the LCR, for Lightweight Compact Revolver—a name that is certainly appropriate, as it possesses all the features one would want in a snub-nose wheelgun,” wrote Shooting Editor Glenn M. Gilbert in the article entitled “Innovation With A Purpose” (August 2009, p. 68).

But, what truly differentiates this personal defense revolver from other U.S.-produced variants, and certainly caught our attention, was the use of polymer in an atypical manner. “The LCR’s polymer lower frame assembly or, as Ruger calls it, the fire-control housing, is what makes it a real breakthrough in revolver development,” explained Gilbert. “The LCR’s fire-control housing is molded from long-strand, glass-filled nylon polymer.” This certainly contributes to the LCR’s light, 13.5-oz. weight, and makes it very carry friendly.a

Attention to detail, however, didn’t stop there. The LCR was fitted with a 17⁄8", 1714 stainless steel barrel and, according to Gilbert, “Hard anodizing is fused with a baked-on polymer surface filler to produce the black finish on the cylinder frame. Ruger claims this creates a rugged finish with a C60 Rockwell harness comparable to the durability of a metal file.” Further, Gilbert reported the deeply fluted 400-series stainless steel cylinder “measures just 1.280" in diameter, making it the smallest .38-cal. revolver cylinder on the market.” Better yet, the revolver is rated for .38 Spl.+P ammunition.

In the end, Gilbert reported, “It has to be said that a polymer revolver is a development that immediately inspires curiosity, but also disbelief, especially given the troubled history of aluminum-frame guns. But if the proof of the pudding is in the tasting, shooting the LCR shows that Ruger has done its homework.” For its innovation and numerous attributes, the LCR earned Ruger the American Rifleman Golden Bullseye Award for “Handgun of the Year.”

Tactical Gun of the Year: FN SCAR 16S

“In examining and shooting the SCAR 16S it’s clear that FNH-USA preserved the blessings of the M16, but washed away many of its sins,” penned Shooting Editor Glenn M. Gilbert in the co-authored article “A Cut Above: FN’s SCAR” (July 2009, p. 40). “Those who shoot AR-style rifles for service or sport will find themselves right at home.” We found Gilbert’s assessment spot-on.

Like its selective-fire military counterparts, the semi-automatic-only SCAR 16S—also chambered in 5.56x45 mm NATO—has dimensions and controls similar to those of the AR-15; however, there are significant differences in the gun’s design. These dissimilarities include: gas piston operation; a reciprocating charging handle that can be reversed for right- and left-handed shooters; a shorter, 45-degree safety throw; the absence of a dust cover; a two-position adjustable gas port; a six-position, collapsible stock with two-position adjustable comb; detachable, flip-up iron sights; a 16¾", 1:7"-twist barrel; a single-stage trigger; and tool-less disassembly (unless removing the barrel).