Ramblin’ Mans Rifle

[Barbaroja]

7 mag would be my choice from your on hand options. Single load of a hard-ish (probably monometal) 160 weight class bullet at about 3000-3100fps.

From your choices and buying new, id go with the 7-08 and 140-150 monometals.
2900 with a 140 is plenty enough oomph for most things.

I do think the 6.5s hit a sweet spot for this type of use. The creed to PRC performance range being the most practical.
If i wanted to shoot a less common round ds go with the 6.5-284, or x55 in a tikka t3x or similar.
Either of those should be able to drive a 140 grain glass projectile at about 2900-3,000 feet per second. That will actually duplicate the trajectory and, in my experience, penetration of a similar 160 grain class 7 mm bullet at the same speed.... Kinda like a 7 mm Remington Magnum light.
Again, if you shoot monos, you should have less substantial damage done to smaller targets.

As others have said tho, you can have your cake and eat it too with a swap barrel. Im assembling another on a savage 111 action thats ostensibly going to be my dads long, long range rifle, as well as his hunting rifle.
In your case is probably do a 6mm CM and a 300wm or something similar....Encore makes it alot easier, and probably what i should have done
....cept im not an encore fan.

Thanks for the response. I’m leaning to a 7mm-08 if I get a new rifle.

 

[LoonWulf]

Thanks for the response. I’m leaning to a 7mm-08 if I get a new rifle.

Its a great general purpose round.

 

[js8588]

OP, I read your post & immediately thought 7.92x57

 

[chicharrones]

Deleted. Misunderstood focus on hunting.

 

[Mosin77]

Yes I’m also of them type to bring some extras on a trip lol. This rifle would be in addition to a scoped Rimfire rifle, a 12ga shotgun, magnum revolver and concealed carry weapon

A man after my own heart. “I’m scaling down, packing for a trip, space is at a premium. So I can’t possibly take less than 5 guns.”

 

[Hokkmike]

Fills all your niches - good for groundhogs to moose, nor a run of the mill caliber, extremely accurate, available in a lot of rifles - the 6.5 x 55 SWEDE. She will keep you warm at night anywhere in the country.

 

[Bazoo]

I do things a mite different. I’d run a Marlin 336 in 30-30. Or, if ya must, 35-30. And if price isn’t an object. Send it to turnbull first.

Honestly, it doesn’t take up that much room for an extra gun, I’d run 2. Maybe a pistol caliber lever gun like a Marlin 1894, or Winchester 92. And then something like a classy bolt gun. Something like an older Ruger M77 maybe, but it’s hard to beat a Winchester 1886. Maybe a classic model 71. Mmmm

 

[Russ57]

The simple answer is to take both rifles. .243 and 7mm RM have you covered from varmint/predator to pronghorn/deer to bear/elk. The other possibility is to bump the .22 LR to .22 wmr for varmint/predator (100 yard limit) and bring the 7mm RM.

If it has to be only one rifle, without extra barrels and such, it shouldn't be lost on you that few cartridges will do as well with a variety of bullet weights as the 30-06. Very few rounds have the versatility to shoot 110 to 220 grain bullets with good accuracy. The 30-06 has been, and was used, as a varmint rifle in the past. Nothing needs to be said about its capabilities on any American game short of brown bear. Find something the gun likes in the 110/125 grain range for varmint/predator, another in the 150/165 range for general purpose, and a 180 grain for that occasional bear/elk.

Since you only go round once might I recommend a Sako 85 Synthetic Stainless (Tikka if price matters)? Could get damp and rainy if you get the ramblin itch to hit Alaska

 

[Russ57]

Considering the 12 gauge and the magnum revolver, I'd agree with marksman on the 25-06.

 

[H&Hhunter]

7 mag would be my choice from your on hand options. Single load of a hard-ish (probably monometal) 160 weight class bullet at about 3000-3100fps.

From your choices and buying new, id go with the 7-08 and 140-150 monometals.
2900 with a 140 is plenty enough oomph for most things.

I do think the 6.5s hit a sweet spot for this type of use. The creed to PRC performance range being the most practical.
If i wanted to shoot a less common round ds go with the 6.5-284, or x55 in a tikka t3x or similar.
Either of those should be able to drive a 140 grain glass projectile at about 2900-3,000 feet per second. That will actually duplicate the trajectory and, in my experience, penetration of a similar 160 grain class 7 mm bullet at the same speed.... Kinda like a 7 mm Remington Magnum light.
Again, if you shoot monos, you should have less substantial damage done to smaller targets.

As others have said tho, you can have your cake and eat it too with a swap barrel. Im assembling another on a savage 111 action thats ostensibly going to be my dads long, long range rifle, as well as his hunting rifle.
In your case is probably do a 6mm CM and a 300wm or something similar....Encore makes it alot easier, and probably what i should have done
....cept im not an encore fan.

I can’t argue with anything in this post. I’ll just add on that my go to rifle has become a 22” steyr scout with 2.5x10 conventional mounted scope in .308. With 165 Gr Nosler Accubonds at about 2750 FPS I’ve killed three big cow elk at 500 ish + or - yards, a pile of deer and hogs galore plus a couple of pronghorn and a smattering of coyotes. With the integrated bipod, 3 position Ching sling, extra mag well in the butt sock and excellent accuracy and shootability. It’s real tough for me to not pick it up when it’s time to go on an armed walkabout with critter killing on the menu.

And the rifle is so ugly that it repels evil spirits, so there’s that.

 

[Eagle103]

I think you answered your own question with the first caliber option in the initial post. 7mm-08. Very good choice. Low recoil and will get the job done. Wouldn't be my first choice for elk but you say that's probably not happening anyway. It's just off the wall enough to make it interesting yet in normal times ammo is easily available. Safe travels.

 

[Rodfac]

"There a few things in this world,
That a man can't fix,
With $700 or a .30-06."

YMMv, Rod

 

[Riomouse911]

No reason to overthink anything, I’ll opine with @LoonWulf That you have it covered with the 7-Mag for a one-gun North American vagabond safari.

Load up some lighter bullets for lighter game like coyote, 140’s for deer-pronghorn, 175’s for elk and away you go. Nothing you may run into will not fall to the 7-Mag if you put a bullet where it counts.

If you want to buy another gun. I’d get a varmint center fire (a nice bolt or single-shot) .223 up to a .22-250 to pair with the 7-Mag, 12 ga and .22 rimfire you have.

Stay safe.

 

[IlikeSA]

Single shot 12 gauge with some inserts in different calibers. The inserts run about 150 bucks each for an 8 inch barrel but convert that 12 gauge to a different caliber: ex. 9mm, 223, 22 lr etc. You keep the sight radius of the shotgun while shooting a different caliber. You keep the 12 gauges' ability to shoot shot or slug too. This will save you a lot of space. If you look hard and with the right shotgun, you can also get a full length barrel conversion to a rifle caliber.

 

[tarosean]

I keep a AR pistol in my RV (under-bed safe). Hunting I’ll bring my 5R 300WM.

 

[LoonWulf]

Single shot 12 gauge with some inserts in different calibers. The inserts run about 150 bucks each for an 8 inch barrel but convert that 12 gauge to a different caliber: ex. 9mm, 223, 22 lr etc. You keep the sight radius of the shotgun while shooting a different caliber. You keep the 12 gauges' ability to shoot shot or slug too. This will save you a lot of space. If you look hard and with the right shotgun, you can also get a full length barrel conversion to a rifle caliber.

Ive messed with those inserts some, and they are a great short range option. None of mine would hold much better than 5-6" at 100yds tho. I may buy a cheap 20ga and epoxy the 30-30 insert i have in just to see how well they can do when fixed in place.

 

[jmr40]

For what you're talking about ammo availability is paramount. I understand you'd prefer something out of the ordinary, but I'd have to go 308.

 

[Armored farmer]

Under the given set of circumstances, Something just big enough to hunt elk, any smaller game will just be overkill.

If it were me, which it isn't, i would choose a caliber that i really like, in a rifle that I really like, and stock up on ammo for it.
Hunting styles can be changed and altered according to your choice of weapon, even if it is a bow.
? What would I choose?

Something like this. 45-70

 

[defjon]

Never know when you'll encounter a T Rex!

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

25-06 is the route I would go if I honestly wanted a right down the middle cartridge and didn’t want something super common. You could also step up to 257 Weatherby Magnum. A 6.5x55 would also do what you are asking and still be off-the-beaten-path.

Or a 270 Winchester! Or you could get a 16in 308 AR10 which would have no issue at ethical hunting distances and would let you target shoot just fine at most ranges. And M80 ball is cheap and reasonably accurate for the price.

 

[Legionnaire]

If I were pulling something from my safe, it would be the Model 7 in 7mm-08, sans the bipod.

ETA: I'd load up some 123 grain SSTs for prairie goats and some 162 grain ELD-X or Interlocks for heavier game.

 

[BreechFace]

While I would love to recommend a 280 or 280ai; based on your criteria i think 7mm08 would be perfect and fit your needs better.

I love 7mm’s

 

[md7]

If buying new, I’d personally lean 7-08 or 308, though I read you’re not too keen on 308. Either of those should be fine for hunting and target shooting. I like my 308, and would feel fine with the 7-08 too.

If rolling with what you have, I’d go with the 7mag. It would do everything you said. Great cartridge for North American game in my opinion.

 

[tmd16556]

I’d go with a 257 Roberts. Just odd enough, but not too hard to supply. With 75 gr loads you have a good coyote rifle and with 100-120s you can handle a mule deer or black bear. It’s a bit light for elk at a distance or bad angle, but within its limits you could fill a tag if you lucked into one.

 

[d2wing]

Years ago I did roam various Western States in a camper during winters. Sometimes with a Toy hauler with a motorcycle. I often packed an AR and a 357. I didn't intend to hunt but once I did bring a deer rifle along just in case. Not sure but I think my favorite then was a 7 RM. For hunting I prefer flat shooting accurate rifles. If I were to do it again I would bring my Tikka in 7-08 and plan some hog hunts.