Single Cartridge Choice

[cratz2]

OK... A poll version of a similar thread - easier to tabulate results.

If you could only have one rifle in one cartridge for the rest of your days, what would it be? This would have to cover recreation, target shooting, varminting and whatever big game hunting you may or may not forsee.

 

[cratz2]

Guess I'll go first... I chose the 270 Winchester. It covers most North American game as is and can do coyotes just as well as the 243 or 25-06 usually with less damage. It's capable of excellent accuracy and is useful both close up and capable 'way out there' with a nice 1.5-6x or 2-7x variable scope and I don't really see myself hunting Kodiak anytime soon.

 

[priv8ter]

My favorite

While I have to admit that for Deer and Elk, my favorite is the 7mm Rem Mag, I voted for 30-06...it is just more versatile. Like the ability to use 200gr bullets if I need it.

 

[Redlg155]

.308 Winchester.

Good SHooting
RED

 

[jacks308]

.308 is a easy choice for me , if it wasn't for that M1A I'd be 30-06 and a M1 ! Gosh I love 'em

Jack

 

[nsf003]

30-06.

nsf

 

[Preacherman]

It would HAVE to be the .30-'06. I love the .308, so much in fact that I don't have anything chambered for the .30-'06 at the moment! However, the criterion was that this round would have to be used for anything and everything for the rest of my life. Well, the .30-'06 can take heavier bullets than the .308 (up to 220 grains), which takes care of bigger, heavier animals; can go down as light as 55gr. .223 rounds in a sabot (Remington Accelerator); and can handle medium-weight bullets of 150-180 gr. in various velocities to handle all routine hunting tasks in North America. In terms of sheer versatility, there's nothing to touch it.

As a second choice, my current favorite bolt-action round, the .308, would do it for me: same low-weight and medium-weight bullets, but the high-weight stuff isn't really suitable, due to the lower case capacity. Probably 180gr. is about as high as I'd want to go, with 200gr. a possibility with careful handloading.

 

[Marshall]

.30-06 or .308

You want short or long action? That's about what it comes down to.


Marshall

 

[Gordon]

This was hard didnt say for what. I'd vote for .375H&H for allaround(the world) big game. 30-06 is real good but .308 is current military which is just too big a factor if SHTF. .308win is also in my ultra light hunting rifle (6lbs all up) which is what I can carry all day now. I think .308 is more accurate than 06 (very slightly)

 

[HSMITH]

7mm Mag. If you need to do it, the 7mm will get it done.

 

[PATH]

.308 without hesitation.

 

[*8*]

.308WIN. a decent cartridge and the wide availability of ammo.

 

[Schuey2002]

Hmmmmmm,

This sounds familiar. *shrug*

I'm always willing to play along.

My single choice as the cartridge that will follow me to my grave is going to be 7.62 NATO ..

 

[voilsb]

Originally posted by cratz2
Guess I'll go first... I chose the 270 Winchester. It covers most North American game as is and can do coyotes just as well as the 243 or 25-06 usually with less damage. It's capable of excellent accuracy and is useful both close up and capable 'way out there' with a nice 1.5-6x or 2-7x variable scope and I don't really see myself hunting Kodiak anytime soon.

umm, ditto. I guess I don't have to say anything to justify my choice

 

[Mike Irwin]

Of the choices given I'd go .30-06.

My heart is really with the .300 Savage, though.

 

[RustyHammer]

30-30 ... because I collect lever action guns.

 

[Drifter]

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspI had to vote for the .308 because of the possibility of a SHTF scenaro arising in my lifetime. Otherwise I would go with the 30-06 because of its already noted versatility.

 

[Marko Kloos]

I vote for the .308 Winchester, aka 7.62x51mm NATO. The jack-of-all-trades of the rifle calibers...does everything well. Lots of surplus ammo out there. Does everything the .30-06 does, but in a shorter action and more efficient case.

 

[AZTOY]

.308

 

[Southla1]

Hard choice. If this was by law then any caliber would do...........stick that one caliber in the ear of the one signing or enforceing that law and pop the cap, then take what you need. If it would be from say an economic necessity even though I voted for the venerable old "ought six" I really think that a 12 gauge would be the best choice.

 

[DMK]

7.62x54R

Almost as powerful as a 30-06, very accurate and around 10 cents a round.

My second choice would be .308

 

[labgrade]

"Everything" huh?

That'd throw out everything but .22LR & the .30 cal stuff.

Much as I love my .243 & .22-250 (the .223 just isn't "there" considering the rest in the ball-park), all the "twixt-stuf"f is covered by any .30 cal & no need if going "down" to the LR.

& really, if you've a .243, what're ya giving up for a .25-06? Same-same for a .270

Be froggy if you like, I've calibers that span almost everything mentioned, but for a "one gun" thread? Only difference is more personal preference & a shade here 'n there regards trajectory - every one will do the job - some a hair "better," - if that.

Don't need a magnum as the other two .30s 'll do it fine enough.

-06 has a bit of an edge, but doesn't get me anything that a .308 really wouldn't - & zip for surplus these days in comparison.

Recreation wouldn't figure any longer as I'd feel we'd be in "the worst of times." Same for target shooting. Ditto varmits.

I'd have to have something to survive with.

(Should have asked that question to begin with. )

I'd hate to part with any of my .308s, but would have to go with a pretty bare-bones .22LR - the quieter the better.

Hunting skills - that of sneaking up, or staying away from - would be paramount. & likely any shots would be few & far between.

Did I mention quieter the better?

Choose whatever makes you feel fuzzy. I'd just as soon stay alive.

Actually, a firearm wouldn't figure much in that mix after all.

 

[Flatfender]

Just one?

That's hard.

"Recreation, target shooting, varminting and whatever big game hunting you may or may not forsee."

I'd maybe take an O/U 12ga with lots of different ammo. Slugs. Buckshot.

Maybe inserts for it that would let me shoot .223 or .308 in it.

I voted 22LR

My head hurts.

 

[chaim]

My first rifle was a Marlin 60 in .22lr (and of what I have now it would be competing with the Win 94 to be the last to go) and I now have 2 other .22 rifles (Ruger 10/22 and Remington 581). My second rifle was an SKS in 7.62x39 and my favorite rifle is my Winchester 94 in 30-30 (those are all my rifle calibers). So what did I vote for?

Other.

I don't hunt, but I do enjoy shooting. I mainly do target shooting just for fun (as opposed to "serious" target shooting). I do (sometimes) consider HD duties when picking a gun (not usually with rifles, but...). In picking this caliber I did keep in mind the needs of those of you who do hunt (though again I don't).

If I could only have one rifle in one caliber (the question posed) it would probably be a lever rifle (probably my favorite action type) in either .357mag or .44mag (probably .357, though if I hunted I'd possibly lean more towards the .44). I don't do serious target work, only for fun, so I wouldn't NEED (I just want) a more serious target caliber. Either of these (.44 or .357) are fine for the plinking I do and they'd be good to about 100yds. I don't hunt, though if I did either of these out of a long gun would be just fine against deer or even black bear and they would be acceptable against grizzlies (well, the .44 anyway, the .357 would be barely acceptable). A big consideration is that I don't get to the outdoor ranges much so something that could be fired at the indoor pistol ranges would be a plus. Either caliber is cheaper than most rifle calibers, and the .357 could be loaded with cheap .38s too. Being in my favorite action type and in a good and inexpensive (relatively) caliber and also since I could shoot these at an indoor range I'd get more fun and practice out of this gun than most of the other choices. Also, it could be pressed into HD duties if need be.

Runner up would be an M1 Carbine. The one I shot was just plain fun and again it is in a caliber that could be shot in indoor pistol ranges and it is also good to 100 yds. For hunters (again, I'm not) most game up to deer should be ok with the right loads. Cost is below average compared to most rifle calibers. It too could be used for HD if needed (about the max caliber for that). And, again, the fun level would be very high.

 

[rick458]

I picked the 7mm Rem Mag you can take it light for Varmints
take it medium for deer sized game and take it heavy for Big stuff
(but not dangerous game) if you include that then it would have to be .375 H&H.