For a hunting rifle what would be your choice of only one hunting rifle?
- Thread starter wildchild2010
- Start date
- Status
cammogunner
Member
30 06 no if ands or buts about it rabbits to grizzlys thats the best in my mind.. and if i couldn't have that a 45-70 lever in a henry
Last edited:
blindhog1964
Member
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2009
- Messages
- 58
I think the 308 or 30-06 would work fine for all the animals you mentioned. I however like a 338 win mag, my shoulder doesn't. My new solution is a LR 260 from dpms.
Goju
Member
For anything that I would have the desire or opportunity to hunt, I will take the mighty Swedish Laser....6.5x55
Jcinnb
Member
Depends on what the hunting rifle is hunting. For me, it's a no brainer 25-06. I am never gonna hunt moose or bear, and at a minimum, I would hunt varmints 10,000:1 to big game.
You boys with the 06 and 308 are really loosing out on some varmint fun!
Of course I know I think different from most people.
You boys with the 06 and 308 are really loosing out on some varmint fun!
Of course I know I think different from most people.
Hardtarget
Member
Post #25 (from Willie Sutton)...all I can do is add " make mine a lefty, please!" 
Mark
My sister shoots a pre '64 in .270...beautiful rifle! She does well with it. I think she has harvested 58 deer so far.
Mark
My sister shoots a pre '64 in .270...beautiful rifle! She does well with it. I think she has harvested 58 deer so far.
Last edited:
biohazurd
Member
Ruger American 30-06. Simple, Inexpensive, Rugged. Can load heavy 180-200 gr for Larger stuff. 150-160 for lighter stuff.
In 1952 I got a Winchester Mdl 70 270 Winchester rifle. I shot unwonted critter, pronghorn, mule deer, and elk with my old rifle. Over the years I have gotten other varmint and big game rifles . With reloaded ammo and a replacement for a shot out barrel I could have gotten by with the one 270 hunting rifle.
savanahsdad
Member
yep it sure is
but Obama won twice , dose that make him the right choice :banghead:308win would work just fine 270win would be better then there is the 7mm Mag
Mohave-Tec
Member
No sense in going on after the second post. That's all the rest of the posts are going to say.
Mohave-Tec
Member
I have 270, 308, 30-06 and yep, a 7.62x54r. If I through each of these cartridges with my right arm they all land in pretty much the same place.
Went through this exact debate personally for the past while (hence my choice of current rifle) - Ruger Guide Gun in .30-06.
.30-06 over .308 because it'll do EVERYTHING a .308 can, and just that little bit more. It's got a hundred years of support, and has just that little bit extra case length for seating longer bullets. Going up or down from .30-06 gets either excessive (.300WM+) or self-limiting (Opinion - the .308 is arguable for this).
Much as I LOVE the 6.5 series, they're NOT terribly cast-shooting friendly, and support for them isn't nearly as good as the .30's. I ran through a few 6.5x55's (loved them all) before getting tired of all my reloading/shooting accessories being unavailable for the caliber or out-of-stock locally for a long time.
I went the Guide Gun because:
- Mauser action - reliable and easier to keep track of brass, 3-pos safety, and hinged floorplate is more reliable than a mag that can detach and get lost. Also, CRF/Bolt-action is much more tolerant of neck-sized reloads (such as those made by the Lee Loader "hammer-time" kits) and most handloads in general.
- Laminate stock/Stainless finish - all-weather, least affected by temp changes.
- Adjustable LOP - short for winter, mid-length for summer. NICE buttpad too.
- Multiple sling-mount points. In theory, I could even do up a demi-Scout configuration using the barrel mount, stock mount and buttstock. Or, seeing as the sling mount on my fore-end is the usual Uncle-mike's style, put the bi-pod on the stock and put the sling on the barrel band.
- Express-sights from factory. Most of the open-sights shooting I'll do is sub-100yds. Worst case, the front blade is replaceable and the rear mount is compatible with the stock Ruger open-sights - so I can trade out the Express for Adjustable.
- Likewise, the rear scope mount can take a screw-on NECG Peep/Aperature sight, giving me a nice good sight-radius on the rifle. Or, since the included rings would classify as QD (as they index on multiple slots in the Ruger receiver and have knurled knobs) I could attach a 4x or 6x scope for those longer-range shots.
- Threaded muzzle - Brake came with it (easier for LR shooting in open areas), and weighted cap that tends to knock down blast. 5/8x24 threading means ANYTHING from an LR-308/AR-10 muzzle goes on mine too. Suppressors, other muzzle brakes, flash-hiders, etc.
My other options were a Marlin 336 or Win94 in .30-30 (Marlin for stainless, Win94 for more cast-friendly rifling), or an AR-15 so with "one rifle" (the lower) I could run everything from .22LR to .50 Beowulf, and it'd be LIGHT. AR-10 for .308-class capability. Or a Rem700 in .308 Win.
Declined the Levers because the .30-30 DOES eventually cap out in power - and doesn't do as well with spitzers.
AR-15 needs mags, mags=extra things to carry, and a Semi-Auto platform is intolerant to neck-sizing and fussy about charge needed to work the action. Despite cool-factor of .50 Beowulf, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC, .300 AAC or the like, none of them are as common as .270, .308, .30-30 and .30-06.
AR-10 platforms get HEAVY. Heavier than fully loaded Bolt-action platforms.
The R700 was a close second to the G/G, but I LOVE CRF (and Mausers in general), and have no use for a short-action rifle. I can work the bolt almost as fast for LA as SA, and I am not concerned about the extra powder loaded per cartridge.
Plus, I'm a NH native. I like having a weapon that's born and raised in the same state I was.
.30-06 over .308 because it'll do EVERYTHING a .308 can, and just that little bit more. It's got a hundred years of support, and has just that little bit extra case length for seating longer bullets. Going up or down from .30-06 gets either excessive (.300WM+) or self-limiting (Opinion - the .308 is arguable for this).
Much as I LOVE the 6.5 series, they're NOT terribly cast-shooting friendly, and support for them isn't nearly as good as the .30's. I ran through a few 6.5x55's (loved them all) before getting tired of all my reloading/shooting accessories being unavailable for the caliber or out-of-stock locally for a long time.
I went the Guide Gun because:
- Mauser action - reliable and easier to keep track of brass, 3-pos safety, and hinged floorplate is more reliable than a mag that can detach and get lost. Also, CRF/Bolt-action is much more tolerant of neck-sized reloads (such as those made by the Lee Loader "hammer-time" kits) and most handloads in general.
- Laminate stock/Stainless finish - all-weather, least affected by temp changes.
- Adjustable LOP - short for winter, mid-length for summer. NICE buttpad too.
- Multiple sling-mount points. In theory, I could even do up a demi-Scout configuration using the barrel mount, stock mount and buttstock. Or, seeing as the sling mount on my fore-end is the usual Uncle-mike's style, put the bi-pod on the stock and put the sling on the barrel band.
- Express-sights from factory. Most of the open-sights shooting I'll do is sub-100yds. Worst case, the front blade is replaceable and the rear mount is compatible with the stock Ruger open-sights - so I can trade out the Express for Adjustable.
- Likewise, the rear scope mount can take a screw-on NECG Peep/Aperature sight, giving me a nice good sight-radius on the rifle. Or, since the included rings would classify as QD (as they index on multiple slots in the Ruger receiver and have knurled knobs) I could attach a 4x or 6x scope for those longer-range shots.
- Threaded muzzle - Brake came with it (easier for LR shooting in open areas), and weighted cap that tends to knock down blast. 5/8x24 threading means ANYTHING from an LR-308/AR-10 muzzle goes on mine too. Suppressors, other muzzle brakes, flash-hiders, etc.
My other options were a Marlin 336 or Win94 in .30-30 (Marlin for stainless, Win94 for more cast-friendly rifling), or an AR-15 so with "one rifle" (the lower) I could run everything from .22LR to .50 Beowulf, and it'd be LIGHT. AR-10 for .308-class capability. Or a Rem700 in .308 Win.
Declined the Levers because the .30-30 DOES eventually cap out in power - and doesn't do as well with spitzers.
AR-15 needs mags, mags=extra things to carry, and a Semi-Auto platform is intolerant to neck-sizing and fussy about charge needed to work the action. Despite cool-factor of .50 Beowulf, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC, .300 AAC or the like, none of them are as common as .270, .308, .30-30 and .30-06.
AR-10 platforms get HEAVY. Heavier than fully loaded Bolt-action platforms.
The R700 was a close second to the G/G, but I LOVE CRF (and Mausers in general), and have no use for a short-action rifle. I can work the bolt almost as fast for LA as SA, and I am not concerned about the extra powder loaded per cartridge.
Plus, I'm a NH native. I like having a weapon that's born and raised in the same state I was.
1948CJ2A
Member
7x57 Mauser
bobvonb
Member
Rem 700 ADL 30-06... oh, wait, that what I did have for 40 years. Why change? Cause I thought lower recoil after shoulder surgery was in order, so I got a 7x57. Then I shot my son's Marlin X gun 30-06 and wondered why I was worried. Still the 7x57 is a hoot to shoot.
But if price isn't a factor, Blaser R8 with barrels for 6mm Rem, 257 Roberts, 7x57, 8x57 and one of the 9x57s. Can only have one barrel?? OK, 30-06.
But if price isn't a factor, Blaser R8 with barrels for 6mm Rem, 257 Roberts, 7x57, 8x57 and one of the 9x57s. Can only have one barrel?? OK, 30-06.
caribou
Member
Finnish M-39
I shot a 30-06 A bolt for years, went to a Savage 308 bull barrel I aquired cheap, and now I am shooting a Savage 12 LRP 6.5 Creedmoor.
For availability I would go with the 30-06. No doubt its deadly. It put alot of meat in the freezer.
I bought the savage 308 cheap and as far as cheap shooting it is a little better. It also put alot of meat in the freezer.
I bought my 6.5 Creedmoor at the end of last year and found I was more accurate with it, especially at long range. It has put a few dogs down already and it is deadly also.
Availability is not its strong point but I have found it is well worth it. I have gotten plenty of reloading supplies for it so thats not a problem. It has become my favorite go to rifle even thiugh it weighs 14 pounds. I mostly field hunt within a couple hundred yards from the truck so that doesnt hurt a thing.
For availability I would go with the 30-06. No doubt its deadly. It put alot of meat in the freezer.
I bought the savage 308 cheap and as far as cheap shooting it is a little better. It also put alot of meat in the freezer.
I bought my 6.5 Creedmoor at the end of last year and found I was more accurate with it, especially at long range. It has put a few dogs down already and it is deadly also.
Availability is not its strong point but I have found it is well worth it. I have gotten plenty of reloading supplies for it so thats not a problem. It has become my favorite go to rifle even thiugh it weighs 14 pounds. I mostly field hunt within a couple hundred yards from the truck so that doesnt hurt a thing.
Deog
Member
I would pick my BLR takedown in 308
wildchild2010
Member
Shhhh, that's our secret!
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked