gotboostvr
Member
I really wanted a 6 CM but the closest I could get in the model of rifle I wanted was 6.5 CM
Oh well, close enough.
Only 1 Hunting Rifle
- Thread starter Olympus
- Start date
I really wanted a 6 CM but the closest I could get in the model of rifle I wanted was 6.5 CM
Oh well, close enough.
DM~
Member
My ONE hunting rifle has been my "go to" gun since the early 80's,
It's very accurate with 200NP's,
and has worked for me on everything from moose on down,
Proofed in 1935, It just keeps on, keeping on!
DM
It's very accurate with 200NP's,
and has worked for me on everything from moose on down,
Proofed in 1935, It just keeps on, keeping on!
DM
BushMaster-15
member
That would be MY choice as well and having just finished assembly an AR platform 6.5CM ,I suspect it's gonna be sub moa ,so what's NOT to like about 7 lb. 22.5" door knob trimmer at 500 yd. ?. Which packs enough wallop out to 275 yd. for Elk at 2700 Fps muzzle velocity and virtually NO recoil especially from a gas gun . With today's bullet BC accuracy and energy it's almost like shopping in the meat dept. aisle of the supermarket , Pick and Choose at will .
Old Hobo
Member
The proverbial one gun question = "What'cha gonna hunt?"
Center-fire, right?
Brown bears? Coyote? Moose? Groundhogs?
.
Center-fire, right?
Brown bears? Coyote? Moose? Groundhogs?
.
My deer hunting rifle is a Browning BAR in .270 Winchester and I like it very much, but if only one rifle is to be owned, wrong choice.
I prefer bolt guns for target shooting. Easier to keep clean in the perspective of some volume shooting.
In OP's situation, I would take a good look at a Tikka Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor or a X-bolt Hunter in the same caliber. It is modern (efficient), sufficient for deer, available, and both target and hunting ammunitions are commercially available. Looks like it is here to stay. Recoil seems soft from what I read.
If recoil was not that much of a concern, I would maintain my usual recommandation for the venerable 30-06 in the lonely rifle scenario, just because I like it and it can do so much.
I used to think one rifle is enough, but I changed my mind as my taste in firearms developed and money became a tad more available to me. If I had more, I would buy more guns, I am pretty sure. Not because I need more, but I enjoy different weapons for specific or specialized uses. A long range hunting rifle is not the same as a battue rifle, a hunting shotgun not the same as a trap shotgun, and so on. Some models are generalists, some are more specialized.
I prefer bolt guns for target shooting. Easier to keep clean in the perspective of some volume shooting.
In OP's situation, I would take a good look at a Tikka Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor or a X-bolt Hunter in the same caliber. It is modern (efficient), sufficient for deer, available, and both target and hunting ammunitions are commercially available. Looks like it is here to stay. Recoil seems soft from what I read.
If recoil was not that much of a concern, I would maintain my usual recommandation for the venerable 30-06 in the lonely rifle scenario, just because I like it and it can do so much.
I used to think one rifle is enough, but I changed my mind as my taste in firearms developed and money became a tad more available to me. If I had more, I would buy more guns, I am pretty sure. Not because I need more, but I enjoy different weapons for specific or specialized uses. A long range hunting rifle is not the same as a battue rifle, a hunting shotgun not the same as a trap shotgun, and so on. Some models are generalists, some are more specialized.
borrowedtime69
Member
My rifle brand is Savage. Great affordable guns and a great record of customer service. If they can build a tack-driver rifle for $300 - $400, imagine what they do with the more expensive models.
Rpod86
Member
I have a browning bbr in 25-06 That I sometimes shoot it has taken deer out to 363, 2 black bear both was under 200 yards. Don’t carry it much but would take it out any day if needed
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
The OP said "one."
Buckeye63
Member
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2018
- Messages
- 2,255
The OP said "one."
30-30’s are like Lays Potato Chips
I have owned boltguns in a bunch of different calibers… a couple in 9.3x62 ,7X57 ,6.5X55 , 9X57
358win ,350 Mag, 35 Whelen and most regular more popular calibers , Standout calibers are 308win , 6.5 Creedmoor , 270 win ..
But if .. I had only one Boltgun caliber it would be 308 Winchester… most likely in a Savage 111 with Accu- trigger
Last edited:
Probably the "one box" wonders out there who buy a new box of 30-06 ammo each year, whether or not they fired a shot from the box they bought last year. They "know" that last year's ammo isn't any good for hunting this year!!! Yeah, right.
When in my teens, I loved to hunt varmints, but only had a .30-06, so bought 125 or 150 grain factory ammo. It shot and killed reliably, but only had a 2.5X scope. Still, with youthful eyes, I managed to shoot reasonable groups at 100 yards and got more than a few woodchucks out to 200 yards. Later, I "graduated" to using a .22-250 Rem 700, started handloading, and became a real threat to the varmint population!
savagelover
Member
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2012
- Messages
- 590
My hunting rifle is my Rossi 92 in 357 cal. Love that little rifle..
sage5907
Member
Years ago I read articles by a noted hunting writer named John Wooters and he wrote articles about the perfect deer rifle and his point was that although some of the small calibers were adequate the best choice for deer hunting and larger animals was something in 27 caliber or larger. He was especially negative against the 25-06. Wooters hunted whitetail and mule deer with a 308 Winchester and at the time I was hunting whitetail deer in Oklahoma with a 25-06 and I was not happy with what he said. Each year I was also hunting in Colorado using both a 270 Winchester and 30-06 and after more experience I came to realized that the larger caliber rifles were more efficient in killing animals and the larger caliber bullets just worked better. This led me to doing most of my hunting with a 30-06 and for many years I was happy. But, an itchy curiosity kept me searching for the perfect open plains rifle that is efficient and user friendly and I finally settled on a 280 Remington. All of my current hunting rifles weigh a little over 8 pounds with a 22 inch barrels and 3-9 scopes. Recoil of a 280 Remington is light and the rifle is easy to hit with out to 300 yards. A hunting rifle needs to be like a best friend where you can spend a lot of time with it without finding faults.
Last edited:
.45Coltguy
Member
I realize what I said in post #18, but, when I hunted out West here, I almost always reached for my Sako Finnbear in .270 Win stoked with 150gr Hornady FB Interlock and H4831 powder.
That rifle NEVER let down. As I no longer hunt, most, not all, my deer/elk/pronghorn rifles now reside on a friends ranch in Idaho.
That rifle NEVER let down. As I no longer hunt, most, not all, my deer/elk/pronghorn rifles now reside on a friends ranch in Idaho.
Anchorite
Member
Everyone who knows, knows a 25-06 is just a 270 that took a week off from working out.
sage5907
Member
I have owned 3 different 25-06 rifles and they were a joy to use. Like Anchorite said, a 25-06 loaded with 117 grain bullets is really close to a 270 Winchester with 130 grain bullets. Slightly less recoil and easy to hit with.
Last edited:
The 30-06 originated as a military cartridge in WWI for the Springfield and Enfield rifles...and it carried into the Second World War, being chambered for the iconic M1 Garand.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Actually it originated before WWI, before the M1917 Enfield, or its predecessors the P13 and P14 existed. The M1903 Springfield was chambered for US Cartridge, Caliber .30, Model of 1903. That cartridge had a long neck and was loaded with a round nose 220 grain bullet.
Shortly after we got hold of some new 8X57 Mauser ammunition which had a streamlined, light weight bullet that achieved what was then unheard of velocities and -- because of its shape -- retained those velocities. We went back to the drawing board and designed our own streamlined, light weight bullet and slightly shortened the neck to produce US Cartridge, Caliber .30, Model of 1906 -- the .30-06.
Went thru similar thought process a while back and for what the OP mentions, if this is to be an heirloom type of gun, one you can be proud to own, if budget allows it, consider having a gun built to your specs. Forget about the bling priced into the rifles you mention and put the same money into stainless precision actions and stainless precision barrel.
The heart of these guns is a precision action, which is bedded to a stock style of your choice that fits you. The barrel (and caliber) is a consumable like tires. Want a new gun, get a new barrel. The action, stock and optics can stay with you. Love you long time.
There are a couple custom rifle builders near KC, in addition to GA Precision. Both worked there before going off on their own.
Last edited:
Glad you piped-up Vern. I'm not an expert in such details...just a "spurt".
daniel craig
Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2009
- Messages
- 2,815
Go to your local sporting goods store a few times a week over the next month and make a record of what ammo they seem to reliably have in stock. Buy that caliber. Chances are it's 308/06 or 6.5.
Literally any caliber that is legal to hunt with will be fine for deer. They aren't magical beings with armor plate or god like reflexes. Ergo, the caliber you can most reliably source ammo for, is the one to choose.
Literally any caliber that is legal to hunt with will be fine for deer. They aren't magical beings with armor plate or god like reflexes. Ergo, the caliber you can most reliably source ammo for, is the one to choose.
savagelover
Member
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2012
- Messages
- 590
Where I hunt my Rossi does everything I want it to do. My daughter in-law nailed a few deer with it as well. I have to say with all cast 158 gr bullets as well. Why spend the money on something not needed.
