One rifle for all hunting in the US?

[Gewehr98]

I'm ready to go.

Although a .45-70 Ruger #1 could really make a mess of the cottontail rabbits before they end up in the stew pot.


JohnKSA's idea about the 6.5-06 bears merit, too. I haven't taken anything larger than an elk with mine, though. Works great on prairie dogs at 400 yards. 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tips also do a lot of damage to a whitetail when the MV is 3200fps.

 

[RatFink]

I bought a Winchester model 70 in .270 WSM just for this reason, but I think that a better choice might have been the .300 WSM it's ability to push the 200 and 220 grn bullets for larger game like Moose or dangerous game like bears, yet still being able to also be loaded with 110 grn bullets for use on deer or javalina makes them a pretty good all-arounder. I think I'm limeted to about 180 grain bullets for big stuff and 90 grn is as small as I can find.

 

[Brass Balls]

A .300 Win Mag. There's a good range of bullets available. The light weight 150 grainers will do well for pronghorn and deer. It would be overkill for varmints, but it would work. The extra punch of the Win Mag compared to '06 would do better for moose and elk using 180 or 200 grain bullets.

It's possible to hunt all game in the US with this, but don't tell the wife. Otherwise she'll wonder why I needed the .270 and .338.

 

[RatFink]

Brass Balls;

You can get 110 grn bullets for the .300 win mag, my brother used them making up javalina loads for his .300 WSM, and I believe there are also 220 grn bullets in that caliber also.

The .300 win mag is fantastic, the WSM version has just a bit more push to it.

 

[swifter]

Another vote for the .338. Bullets are available from 160gr to over 300 gr.
I've used the 180grBT on antelope and deer with good success. Keep a few 250 gr or better in the pocket just in case sum'pin big with claws & attitude shows up, and you're good.
Hate to shoot it all day after prairie dogs, tho...

Tom

 

[schromf]

With "big" bears in the equation, either my 30-338, or my 375 H&H.

If I were never going back to Alaska, and going to hunt the lower 48, first choice would be a 280 Remington, followed closely by a 30-338 mag or a 30-06. I could also live with a 6.5X55 Swede, a 7x57, a .308, a 270, 8x57, 7.65 Mauser, a 338-06. My lightest would be a 25 caliber ( 257 Roberts improved) and the heaviest would be a 35 caliber, 35 Whelen, 358 Winchester or a 9x57. If I could only have one it would all be about the rifle, how it was set up, and how accurate it was.

A good starting point assuming my first choice from above would be a Mauser or Sako action, 23 inch match grade barrel in a #4 to #5 Contour, with see through scope mounts and iron sights, a 2-7 power variable high dollar performance scope. Expedition grade wood very similar to the old Griffin and Howe stocks, pillar and glass bedded, blueprinted action, 2 1/2-3lb trigger, free float the barrel, English style butt pad, metal grip caps, swivel sling mounts, and a military style sling. From the bench I would expect .75"-1" groups with the right handloads and bullets, but would accept up to 1.5" groups with some of the premuim game bullets like 175 gr Noslers and such. With that rig I figure I can just about do it all, a tad light on the big stuff, a tad heavy on varmits with a 100 gr Sierras but I figure it would serve me well until something better came along. Besides that would keep me from horse trading guns every time I decided to hunt something different, which I would be very inclined to do if I could only own 1.

 

[trigger45]

well

how about 8x57js?

with open sights!!!!!!!

 

[M99M12]

Where I'm at, Vermont, my late '50s M-99 .308 is just fine. If I was out west or in Alaska where elk, etc. would be found then I'll go with Elmers ideas. .358 WCF or the .338-'06 OKH minimum.

 

[W Turner]

I would probably go with a .30-06/.308 right now, but if I am able to pick up the Steyr Scout in .376 steyr, that would probably be able to do anything I would need it to.


Mino

 

[Cosmoline]

Anything in the .30'06 range would work fine. That's more than enough power, if you choose the right bullet, for any brown bear. The limitation is RANGE. Witha boomer, you can maintain high power out to 300 yards. But if you limit your shots to 150 yards or so, a .30'06 would have more than enough power to blast through the largest brown bear's broadside. Indeed, lesser cartridges can do this just as well.

There's a huge difference between HUNTING a brownie and STOPPING one. You can hunt them with a bow and arrow.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'd like to point out that while more exotic cartridges have their appeal, you can find .30-06 anywhere -- and that can be a big advantage to a hunter in remote areas.

Also, when you team the modern loadings -- Hi-Energy or Lite Magnum -- with premium bullets, the .30-06 is not your father's (or grandfather's) .30-06.

A 180 grain Nosler Partition Jacket at around 3,000 fps is a whole 'nother ball game.

 

[TrapperReady]

.30-06

Specifically, I'd be leaning towards a Tikka (T3 or Whitetail Hunter) with a Zeiss Conquest scope.

 

[Black Majik]

Hmm...

Remington Sendero SF in .338 Remington Ultra Mag.

 

[Drue]

Like everyone else, I would rather have a rack full of rifles. Limited to one, I would choose an M70 in .30-06.

Drue

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Quote:
-------------------------------------------------
Like everyone else, I would rather have a rack full of rifles. Limited to one, I would choose an M70 in .30-06.
-------------------------------------------------

Another believer in the One, True Religion.

Welcome, brother. Let us work together to convert these heathens.

 

[xdoctor]

I grew up hunting with my Father in the mountains of Wyoming, where we live. Back then we always used a .270. It was just right for deer, mountain goats, mountain lions, maybe a little light for elk and we never drew a moose permit.

On my 21st birthday my Father gave me a Remington model 700 chambered in 7mm STW, stainless with a composite stock. I put a Leopold scope and rings on it. I've been using this rifle exclusively for a few years now and can honestly say I'd never go into the woods with anything else. The long range accuracy of the STW is amazing, and I consistantly get groups under 2" at 250 yards.

This would deffinently be the round I would select, may be a bit heavy for deer, but just right for the heavier game. I've never had such an easy time downing an elk.

Happy Hunting!

 

[twoblink]

I'd go 308 because it will kill just about anything and everything in north america...

alaskan bears? 375H&H..

 

[JOE MACK]

After some deep thought, I'd have to go with the .411/.416 Rem. Mag. I've got. It is a Winchester M70 SS with controlled feed, Pac Nor barrel, and a Kahles 1.5 to 6x scope. This is in Talley QD mount and rings so I can use the express sights if needed.

I can load this for plinking with pistol bullets or up to 400gr. jacketed rifle bullets. I can go with loads for bunnies to buff in seconds as I've already done the testing for scope adjustment. This is what I'd take for my only rifle.

 

[gulogulo1970]

Mark V .300 Weatherby magnum is what I bought for my do all hunting rifle. Close enough for me I guess.

.308 would probably do 99% of every thing asked of it, too.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I'm surprised no one has said this. If you really want the best all around cartridge it would be in a 12 gage shotgun. Properly loaded you can hunt anything from bunnies to bears.

My 0.02.

-NL