one do it all rifle caliber?

MCMXI said:

I know this isn't the real question asked by the OP but if you could only have one "do it all" rifle would it be a 6.5 CM?

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That's an interesting question, and much as I like the 6.5 CM, I think my answer would have to be "No."

I have just started playing (working?) with a custom Remington Model 7 in 7mm SAUM. I was looking for a Model 7 with a magnum bolt face, thinking that eventually I would re-barrel it in 6.5 SAUM. The barrel on the 7mm SAUM has the same twist rate as a Model 7 in 7mm-08, so I should be able to download the 7mm SAUM to 7mm-08 velocities. By that same reasoning, one should be able to download a 6.5 SAUM to 6.5 Creedmoor velocities. But the upside of the SAUM cartridges is that they can drive the heavier bullets to higher velocities for hunting larger game. 6.5 caliber bullets have great ballistics, but I'm really liking what I'm reading about the ballistics of 7mm (.284) bullets.

So just like I like .357 and .44 magnum handgun cartridges, that I reload across a wide spectrum from mild "special" to heavy magnum loads, I'm thinking I like the potential for the 6.5 or 7mm Short Action Ultra Magnums to be loaded across the spectrum from mild to wild. So if I could have only one "do it all" rifle, I think mine would be a 6.5 or 7mm SAUM.

MCMXI said:

I know this isn't the real question asked by the OP but if you could only have one "do it all" rifle would it be a 6.5 CM?

Click to expand...

That is an excellent question! To which I will reply, no. A twenty two Creedmoor however, now we are talking! I don't large-game or long-range hunt, so this would be perfect for me. A great long range target rifle and perfection in varmint eradication. With mono-metal bullets and an ability to actually hunt and stalk, I don't see it as incapable to anything in the largish game class.(No, not moose and polar bear, but really, head shots man.)

That, and just one? Everyone knows "Once you pop, you can't stop!"

Suppose it depends on where you live and what you hunt. I only hunt whitetail with my centerfire rifles. Based on that, my do all choice is the .308 Win.

Excellent on whitetail and its also my target plinker when I feel like having some medium/long range fun. And if I ever feel like hunting something bigger than whitetail, I'm confident the .308 win with some heavier bullets will do the job.

223rem. small enough to not obliterate small game but large enough only if only option to take a deer.

No such thing as a "do all." It's either under powered for the big stuff, or over powered for the small stuff.

Why I've mostly been a .30-'06 guy: I can load a single ball of 00 Buck ahead of about five grains of pistol powder for a squirrel load. Run an 80-grain pistol or .32-20 flat-nose bullet through a swage for a devastating varmint load; or, the standby 110-grain bullet. 150s for Bambi; 165s or 180s for elk, moose or black bear.

Saves a lot of, "Which rifle?" for a hunt.

Honestly, I'd probably opt for a 12 guage. The question could cause nightmares for some,lol

My do it all rifle cartridge would probably the 7mm08. Its my favorite cartridge and it just does everything I'd ever need it to do.

For me it's a 30-06.

6.5 SAUM for me.

Can't do it...go golfing with one club; fishing with one lure. Buddies put a foot in my ax for shooting coyotes with a 243. Works fine for deer. I shot a watusi bull this fall, didn't even flinch with the first shot through the lungs with the 458 WM....

I think it depends on how good of a hunter you are. But I’m going to back Art on this one. From varmints to moose, the ole ‘06 does it all. As does the 308. With only the slightest edge going to the ‘06 just for the extended range due to increased case capacity.

223 remington in a 22" bolt action. Though not my first choice, It would be my minimum caliber that I would be willing to hunt deer with, it has the ability to shoot any range available to me with the right bullets, and could be loaded down to very low velocity with light bullets to 22lr performance for small game hunting. If I had to survive the rest of my life in a cabin in the woods that's what I would want to have.

If I lived somewhere with brown bears and moose and such a 30-06. I bet a fmj 30 carbine bullet loaded to 1000 fps would be a good grouse and rabbit getter.

Just saw that this post got pulled out of the other thread and made into it's own thread, so I just cut and pasted my response from there:

As for the one rifle question, realistically it is erroneous as it will probably never actually apply to anyone interested enough in guns to read it here, much less post an answer.

That said, humoring the concept for a minute, if you are looking for one rifle for targets, prairie dogs, coyotes, antelope, hogs, deer and elk, I think the Creedmoor would be a pretty reasonable choice, especially since most folks are going to shoot much more of the first six than the last. If you just want a single rifle for hunting mostly elk with some deer, minimal varmints or targets, the .30-06 would probably edge the 6.5 out for me.

308 for me , it is just so well supported by ammo is everywhere, reloading components everywhere,

7mm-08 or 7x57 for me thanks.

This question gets asked over and over and over. In modern times .308 or 30-06 is simply it in the USA. Yes there are plenty of others similar. But if you want the most variation of loaded ammo and guns available its these two. If your primarily in Alaska or Canada where you may run into BIG bears you may want something heavier.

A man needs a .308 win, a 22LR and a 12 gauge. Everything else is just for fun. Nothing wrong with subbing a 30-06 for the 308 If you live where there is elk and stuff.

My grandpa figured all he needed was a 12 gauge, bird shot for birds and varmints, slugs for pigs.

My first rifle was an -06 for that reason, it could "do it all". So far its killed groundhogs, whitetail and mule deer, black bear, elk, and moose. I really don't plan on anything bigger than that, so for me my plan worked.

I bought a Hammonds game getter for it, and it shoots .311 round balls that I cast pretty accurately. I'm going to try to get a squirrel with it after Christmas when the season opens up again.

.270 or .30-06 with the 06 having to do "all" a little bit more

Ain't too much that a man can't fix, with $700 and a 30-06