If you could only have one...

[justwannano]

If you could only have one rifle for all your rifle hunting needs what would it be?
We won't take your shotguns away for this question. Just interested in what your thoughts are for the best all around rifle.
Also what do you hunt and your reasoning behind your decision please.

Thanks for the help muledeer
just

[gd357]

Just one? I'll take a 30-06 bolt-action. It isn't the best gun for varmints, and it isn't the best choice for big bears. There are a lot of calibers that will do basically the same thing it will or better. But it will do all these things if needed, and you can always find ammo for it.

gd357

[Lycanthrope]

Yeah, it's not my favorite, but it's my most versatile. I'll take my Remmy '06.

[VinVega]

If I had to pick one I already owned, I'd say my Savage .270. It'll kill anything in KY's woods (except maybe a stray polar bear) so I'll do fine with it.
If you were gonna give me my choice of one, I'd probably let you give me a .50BMG. Fine for reaching out, and still has plenty of OOMPH up close, to put it lightly.

[bigbrother]

338 RUM
Shoots flat enough for prairie dogs but with solids will kill anything on earth.

[Andy L]

and I dont even own one.....

But, they will do about anything you could think of effectively. They can be loaded from 110 to 220 gr, maybe more with specialty bullets. Ammo is everywhere.

I have never owned a 30-06. I killed several deer with my dads when I was younger. But, if I could only have one. I dont know of anything more versitle or easier to get ammo/components for.

Andy

[ringneck 1]

7mm win. mag Can do it all

[gregarat]

6.5x55mm, I would be screwed If I ever had a chance to go to Africa.

[skeet]

I guess I would have to go with the majority here. My Pre War Winchester Model 70 in...you guessed it ...the great 30-06. It even shoots pretty good for a gun that is (a lot) older than me!!


By the way...I even have some early 60's 06 ammo on belts with the 173 gr AP bullets. I'd even try an elephant with that bullet...if I could stand back a ways. Stuff even shoots pretty good....for machine gun ammo:D

[Steverino]

My pick would be a pre-64 Winchester Model 70 in 30.06.

[Cal Sibley]

I purchased a Remington Classic in 6.5x55 about 5 years ago and it rapidly became my go to gun. Got a moose with it last year using the Sierra 160gr SPSP (round nose to me). There's nothing any bigger in N. American so I'll stay with it and avoid the western bears. It'll handle bullets from 85gr. to 160gr. and shoot them all accurately without turning me into a spastic cripple. I can't ask for much more than that. Best wishes.

Cal - Monreal

[toxic111]

For me, a good ol .30-06 in a bolt action will work. from deer to the biggest bears can be taken with it. It might not be the best for anything, but it will do it all, and there is a great selection of factory loads out there for it.

[Skinny Shooter]

22-250 or 223
I hunt mostly varmints/predators. They are both good enough for deer with the right Matchking bullet. ;)
No desire for bear but if I have to, I'll hunt them with a knife like one of our former members does. :D

But then again, there's something special about a 50BMG. :cool:

Allen

[woodchuckchucker]

I'm going to have to go with Skinny on this one. If I was only allowed ONE, it would have to be the 223. With the correct fodder inserted into that chamber, I would not feel undergunned going after anything short of bear in the north/eastern US. I'd be comfortable taking shots on gray squirrels, bunnies, coon, fox, turkey, woodchuck, opossum, crow, pigeon, pheasant, deer and most importantly, the 2 legged scum that wanted the before mentioned tablefare from my table. Now understand, the 223 would be the choice if I could only have 1 rifle. Hope it never comes to that! Bill..........

[razmuz]

Twenty Two

[skeet]

Y'all know...Raz may just have a point. You can always feed yourself with a 22 and as for personal protection it'll work ok too. Might have to rethink this one a bit:confused: :cool:

[VinVega]

Soon enough we'll get taunted with the .30-06/12 Gauge/.22 Hortnet (I think?) we always do in these threads by our friend in Germany...:rolleyes:
Not to say I wouldn't have one too if I could...:D

[Evan03]

2506 nothing more and nothing less.

ifn i had only one rifle this would do me for all my varmiting and bigame needs, while being much freendlyr on the shoulder than any 270 or 3006 and being way more varmitable. hows that for a word.

Evan

[fabsroman]

I think I would have to go with my .300 Win Mag since it is probably the one I shoot the most out of the gang (i.e., .22, .222, .220 Swift, .270, .30-06). Haven't had the chance to purchase a .25-06 yet, but that should be coming soon. Maybe I'd pick the .25-06 over the .300 Win Mag, but I doubt it.

[Evan03]

im almost certain youd pick the 2506 over the 300win as your all around do everything anywhere caliber.

heck i have a 300win that ive never fired. and probly wont be fired anytime real soon.

[fabsroman]

I don't know Evan, the .300 Win can do a lot of things and it can be loaded with some pretty light bullets. I hunt deer, fox, and groundhogs with my rifles for the most part, but I use a .220 Swift for the smaller game. Of course, I am one day hoping to hunt elk, moose, caribou, and other game bigger than whitetails and I think the .300 Win will do a better job than the .25-06.

I am sure we could argue about this all day regarding recoil, length of staulks, flattest shooting, etc. At the end of the day, I would still take my .300 Win because it is what I am familiar with and what I have killed the most game with.

[Lycanthrope]

With bullets, like the Barnes X (that are almost armor piercing) almost any centerfire rifle can take much larger game that it could just two decades ago. I saw an old poaching video on PBS one time where it showed poachers shooting elephants with AP 5.56 rounds. They folded up to head shots. It comes down to what you're comfortable with.


My favorite gun is my customized 7STW, but I opted for the '06 in this post just for the availability of over the counter ammo and the longer barrel life.

[LoneWolf]

Originally, I would have had to go with the ol '06 also, but the 22lr got me thinking a little. So in my mind, (no comments please:rolleyes: ), I'm going with my 30-30 Lever Action. Cheap and easy to get bullets, dependable as all get out, quick follow up shots, and reall can take anything down outhere, just needs to be a little closer than some other calibers.:D

[polo]

Been there, done that for about 18 years. 1969 Remington 760 in '06, reloaded from the 110 half jacket to the 210 solid lead with gas checks. Had the most bullet weight and shape variations and cheap mil spec canister powder was everywhere.

That and an old Ithaca 37 pump in 16 gauge was all there was in the closet for a long long time. Then the kids grew up and the budget loosened tremendously. now I can't find enough corners in the house for all the newer additions!

[gregarat]

but the 22lr got me thinking a little. Me too, but I would go with the .17 HMR.
While using good shot placement on Treerats.
I found that head, and upper torso shots over 50y doesnt destroy alot of meat. Keep in mind shot placement is key!

[.243hunter]

The 22mag will take any thing i hunt at about 100 yards or under.
I'd take a marlin botl action. With it i could take rabbits, squirrels, raccoons deer foxes bobcat nutria coyotes gators birds pests and well whatever may roam Louisiana Mississippi or Alabama. And as greg says shot placement is key

[Evan03]

the reason i like the 2506 is it walks right into 22/250 and swift territory kicks theyre buts and still comnes out to big game hunt with me.

though i do have two 22/250s and have had a 220 and 204 id almost rather grab the 2506 at any given time

its just all opion based, and were lucky to have more than one rifle.

if i hunted elk and could have only one rifle the 300win would do my jus fine for all my needs.


Evan

[ONEBADAPPLE]

ok not takin my shotgun away!!! and only one rifle to have i'd have to keep my model 88 in 358 win caliber..its a collecter but that rifle has a leupold 1.5-5 on it and will take down anything i'll hunt with it!!!
i agree with the 30-06 but have never owned one so i can't pick it to keep.
OBA
ps dad is the actual owner of "our":D 30-06 model 70

[smacarac]

My 99 savage in 300 can do any thing needed .cira 1926:D

[gd357]

LoneWolf,

I would have said something about the 30-30.... Until I used one I recently acquired (everybody should have one right???) to shoot a deer this past fall. Wow. Points like an extension of my arm, and I was pretty impressed with the results. Knocked a runnning deer flat at about 100 yards. Won't win any accuracy contests, but for handling and quick shot opportunities, it's hard to beat.

gd357

[Cariboo]

Up until 2 years I would have went with the majority and said 30-06 in a heartbeat.


Now however after shooting the 338-06 for a couple of years I feel it is a better all-round cartridge than it's parent for the country I hunt and the beasts I chase. On any given day I might be shooting 350 yards across a logging slash or hunting black timber where a 30 yard shot may be the maximum possible.

For long range shooting it throws a 200 grain bullet as flat as the 30-06 launches a 165 grain slug using about the same amount of powder. If even more speed is needed a 24" barreled 338-06 will chuck a 180 grain X-bullet at close to 3100 fps!

With 225 grain bullets it is only 100 fps slower than my 338 Win Mag with the same bullets. I hunt large animals a lot, moose, elk and occasionally griz, and while the .338 diameter bullets are not "needed" they do give an added measure of confidence.