The best replacement for rifles is shotguns.

The best alternatives to rifles are rated as following:
★★★★★  shotguns
★★★  carbines
★★★  handguns
★  centerfire
★  rimfire rifles
★  bolt action
★  browning rifles
★  muskets
★  short action rifles
★  remington
★  rimfire
★  winchester rifles
★  other ar15 rifles
★  bb guns
★  centerfire rifles
★  machine guns
  paras
  sako
  guns
  pellet guns
  noveske
  remington rifles
  assault rifles
  marlin rifles
  military sniper rifles
  pistols
  kimber rifles
  hammers
  center fire rifles

Your alternative for rifles is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about rifles, one probably shouldn't forget about bayonets.

Other search terms related to rifles and their ratings are:
★★★★★ bayonets
You have in mind a companion for rifles and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of rifles in all years. Click on graph for more.
rifles
shotguns
carbines