If you could only have one.....

[Abel]

...rifle to hunt with for the rest of your earthly days, what would it be? I'd get a new M70 Featherweight in 30-06 and mount a Zeiss Conquest 4x-32mm on top. That's a setup that I could use to fill my freezer till I am to0 lame to shoot.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I guess it would have to be a common rifle in a common cartridge.

K98 mauser in 7.62x51.

 

[saturno_v]

A bolt action 30-06 (24" barrel minimum) for sure.

With the right ammo you can hunt anything on the planet....from 110 gr. ultrafast varmint whackers to 240-250 gr. elephant skull drillers.

Nothing comes even close for versatility.

 

[CZguy]

I guess that I'll stick with the same old Remington 700 in 30-06 that I've used for the last forty years. It's done alright for me.

 

[UnTainted]

my sako finnbear 30-06 that I've used since I was 16 when my old man gave me his hunting rifle.

I'll use it until I give it to my son/daughter. Then I'll get another Sako, probably in .308

 

[MCMXI]

First choice: A Thomspon/Center ICON Weather Shield in .30-06 (my next rifle) with a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40mm with an RZ-600 reticle.

Second choice: A Savage 116 FCSS in .30-06 with the same scope above. I currently have that particular Zeiss scope mounted on a Savage 16 FCSS in 7mm-08. It's an excellent hunting scope.

 

[Utah_Jay]

If I had to stick with one rifle and one rifle only, I would stick with my Savage in .308. The round is common and good enough to take anything I care to hunt in the lower 48.

 

[christcorp]

Why such simple questions? My 7mm magnum. For those who live in the easter part of the country, a 308 or 30-06 definitely makes sense. But where I'm from, you learn what a 7mm magnum or for some a 300 mag can do. There isn't a thing in all of North America that a 7mm magnum can't take down. But even though I like my 30-06, there is no way that I'm going to go after a sheep or antelope at 300+ yards with one. And yes, we do shoot at those distances. But I also admit that I've been fortunate enough to be within 50 yards of a 400-500 lb elk too. But it is not uncommon to shoot across a mountain ridge or across the prairie. I can buy ammo as light as 110 grains all the way up to 175. I can shoot coyote, varmints, antelope, sheep, deer, elk, moose, and anything else imaginable. Just can't imagine doing that with my 30-06 in this part of the country.

 

[Big Bill]

Sako 85 Classic in 300 Win Mag. with a Leupold VX-7L 4.5-18x56mm Long Range Scope.

 

[52grain]

I don't hunt, but it would be a Sako 85 Varmint in .308 Win with a Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x50 scope.

 

[Legionnaire]

Toss up between a Remington 700 BDL in .30-06 with a Leupold VariX-III 3.5-10X40 and a Remington Model Seven in .308 in an H.S. Precision stock with a Leupold Compact 2-7X. Think I could be happy with either one.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Aside from elk or bear for me it would be my .243. Considering I haven't elk hunted yet, but plan to next year, I would go with a 6.5-284 as it would be sufficient for elk at slightly shorter ranges than a 7 mag yet still won't be major overkill on a whitetail or long range coyotes.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

That's a tough one. Probably a T/C Icon - either the Classic or Weather Shield, in .280 Rem - hey you didn't say it had to be an *existing* rifle/chambering combo - I can dream!

Although, the Rem 700 Alaskan Ti in .280 (which DOES exist) would be a very very strong contender. In fact, yes, I choose it over the Icon, and it's a better answer for the hypo since it does exist now.

Scope would probably be a Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x42mm, a Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40mm, or even the 'lowly' Nikon Omega 3-9x40mm. Maybe a Swaro or Zeiss, but I wouldn't know which - I don't research them since I don't feel as though I can afford them.

Man, come to think of it, the Alaskan Ti with Accupoint 3-9x40mm would be a light, light, LIGHT combo, and could take down anything on any continent with a properly placed shot.

If you could only have one....rifle to hunt with for the rest of your earthly days

Why such simple questions? My 7mm magnum. For those who live in the easter part of the country, a 308 or 30-06 definitely makes sense. But where I'm from, you learn what a 7mm magnum or for some a 300 mag can do. There isn't a thing in all of North America that a 7mm magnum can't take down. But even though I like my 30-06, there is no way that I'm going to go after a sheep or antelope at 300+ yards with one. And yes, we do shoot at those distances. But I also admit that I've been fortunate enough to be within 50 yards of a 400-500 lb elk too. But it is not uncommon to shoot across a mountain ridge or across the prairie. I can buy ammo as light as 110 grains all the way up to 175. I can shoot coyote, varmints, antelope, sheep, deer, elk, moose, and anything else imaginable. Just can't imagine doing that with my 30-06 in this part of the country.

Hmmm, it would seem the question is not that simple after all - there is no mention of a rifle in that whole answer. The 7mm is a chambering, not a rifle. No, I take that back - 7mm is neither a chambering/cartridge nor a rifle - it's a caliber. Which "Seb'n Mag" chambering did you mean, anyway? Weatherby, RUM, WSM, RSAUM, Dakota, Lazzeroni, STW, or one of many wildcats?

 

[wlewisiii]

If I had the money, a Blazer R8 with three barrels - .257 Roberts, 7x57 & 9.3x62.

If I had my real budget, I'd keep my Mauser in 7x57.

William

 

[skiking]

I would pick a Borden Timberline action, Jewel trigger, with a 26" Lilja SS #5 contour barrel in .300 Win Mag, and a H-S Precision stock, action and bottom metal coated with Falcon finish, topped off with a Nikon Monarch 3-12x42.

 

[Abel]

Maybe a Swaro or Zeiss, but I wouldn't know which - I don't research them since I don't feel as though I can afford them.

That Zeiss Conquest 4x-32mm is $299.99.

 

[lgbloader]

30-06 here.

LGB

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Again, not a rifle.

 

[GPWASR10]

To hunt with?

Hmmm...



Marlin 1895CB in .45-70... 'cause you can always load down...

 

[Uncle Mike]

I would pick a Borden Timberline action, Jewel trigger, with a 26" Lilja SS #5 contour barrel in .300 Win Mag, and a H-S Precision stock, action and bottom metal coated with Falcon finish, topped off with a Nikon Monarch 3-12x42.

With the exception of the Nikon scope, This would be the rig! Top that with Swaro., Kahles or Ziess glass and done!

 

[Water-Man]

I'd continue to use my Tikka T3 Hunter in 6.5x55 Swede.

 

[lgbloader]

Again, not a rifle.

Feel better?? lighten up, Doc. take your pick... REM 700, weatherby V lazermark, hell... even a vanguard.

LGB

 

[blackops]

Montana professional long action, H-S stock, pillared, glassed, floated krieger sporter, talley mounts, swaro 4x12.

 

[blackops]

oh yeah 7mag

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Feel better??

No, not yet, because you still didn't answer.

take your pick... REM 700, weatherby V lazermark, hell... even a vanguard.

I DID take my pick of rifle - I posted it above. YOU are supposed to take YOUR pick - that's the question posed by the thread. So which one is it?

This would be the rig!

Sure it is, if you're Hercules. Let's see you hump it up and down a couple canyons in some thin mountain air.

oh yeah 7mag

Oh good gawd have mercy on my soul... hey blackops, which "Seb'n Mag" would that be - a Weatherby, RUM, WSM, RSAUM, Dakota, Lazzeroni, STW, or one of many wildcats?