Another "best" rifle for everything thread

[jdh]

Thanks for all the replies.

The 600 yard thing is not a deal breaker. It is something that came about when one of the guys started bragging and was told to but up or shut up. After his performance on the range that day we had serious doubts about his claimed shot in the hunting field. But is was a fun day and we all had a good time.

W.E.G. is pretty close to one of the lost rifles. It was an R-25 Remington in 308, giving good consideration to going back to this. I was extremely surprised at how accurate it was.

303tom, Two bubbaed #4s with scope, a pristine #4 and a decent #5 were among the causualties. Good hunting ammo is scarce in these parts. Since the guns are higher on the replacement list and it will be some time before the reloading gear is pack in service the 303 will be in the future.

That also applies to some of the other suggestions. I should have added the condition that, for the immediate future, it needs to be limited to a caliber for which ammo is commonly available.

I prefer the looks of blue steel and wood but realize that for the purposes of this project composite and a more weather resistant metal/finish would be a better choice. Most of the hunting here is stand hunting so weight is not a major factor.

To give you some ideas of my taste and in no particular order here are some of the hunting type rifles that were lost.

CZ550 Varmint Laminate 308
Ruger 77 Stainless with laminated stock in 338 WM
Remington 742 30-06
The bubbaed #4 Brit with ugly scope mount.
Had almost finished the conversion of a Savage 110 to 458 WM
The Marlin levers in 30-30, 35 Rem, 45-70, 41 mag, 357 mag.
Ar-14 in 6.8spc with laminated wood "furniture".
And the aforementioned R-25 308.

 

[scramasax]

One thing I haven't seen is how much can you spend. If you can buy whatever you want, get a custom bolt rifle. If you are not wedded to any particular caliber you should look a the 6.5s. The newest being the 6.5 Creedmore. I suggest you call Hornady and pick thier brains. Saying that I presently own three hunting rifles My first choice for the long range was a .300 WM (not the short one) it is a Colt lw. The second is a Winchester MD70 sslw old style in 30-06 Most versital caliber there is. The third one is a savage 99 in .308. Yes they are all 30s it just worked out that way. If I had the money I would get a 6.5 boltgun. Might anyway, looking to sell the 300.

Whatever you choose I wish you good luck and easy targets.

Cheers,

ts

 

[P.B.Walsh]

One of the new Winchester 70s in .308, thats what I would rebuild on.

 

[BrocLuno]

To rebuild efficiently and economically, I'd find a good second hand Remington 700 BDL in .30-06, and then buy a single-stage reloading press and dies. Tailoring the many available bullet weights and styles into the different loads you need, you can handle everything from plinking rounds to high power hunting loads for everything shy of grizzly. And the ought-six will make 600 yards easily; with match ammo it'll go past 1000.

I agree. No point in eating the first shot depreciation. You can get into "fancy" guns later. Work on a nice used grocery getter just like our folks would. The reason is different (sorry for your losses ), but the outcome is the same - times are tough for you, go for value.

If it were me and you can't find that lightly used 06 (?), I'd be looking for a Savage 99 in 308. Either will do the job and both will have good resale value should you decide to sell to get something else later on

 

[HankB]

Sorry about your loss . . . saw the smoke from the Bastrop fire in the distance a couple of weeks ago when I was driving along SW Parkway . . . even from that far away, it looked bad. (I live about midway between the Spicewood Springs and Steiner Ranch fires.)

As to your need . . . I suggest a Winchester M70 in .30/06 with a Leupold 'scope, something like a 3x9 or 3.5x10. I've used this basic rig (post '70 push-feed action, B&C stock, Leupold Vari-X II 3x9) on everything from varmints on the small side to kudu, leopard, and zebra on the larger side with excellent results for the past several decades.

 

[jmr40]

Winchester EW in either 300 WSM or 30-06. Had a minor emergency and had to log off briefly. Here is why I chose the gun and calibers.

I have been EXTREMELY impressed with the new Winchesters. I own an EW in 308 and it is by far the best rifle I've owned or shot. I did replace the factory stock with a very lightweight McMillan Edge which made it even better.

Been looking at the 300 WSM for a long time, but didn't take the plunge until this summer when I found a stainless classic Winchester used for dirt cheap. I put it in the factory stock from the 308 and have essentially the same gun without the flutes on the barrel. The 300WSM and rifle combination is very versatile and far better than the older belted 300 Win mag. It dosen't offer any more power or velocity, but it does equal it in a smaller, lighter 308 size package. The short fat rounds are more efficient, giving equal velocity with less powder. This means you can achieve those velocities from shorter barrels and with less recoil. If you hand load you can load it down to 308 levels for even more recoil reduction. Yes, you can also load down the 300 win mag, but are stuck with a rifle 1/2 lb heavier and 4" or so longer.

If you don't handload the WSM rounds are quite pricey, but by handloading are no more expensive than a 308. If you don't handload I'd go 30-06 only because of the price of ammo.