straightshooter
Well-Known Member
If you could own only one rifle and caliber what would it be?
A one rifle life
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SBruce
Well-Known Member
If I could only have one rifle it would be in 25-06 Caliber.
From prarie dogs to elk/moose....................75-85 grn bullets for varmints/predators and 115 or heavier premium bullets for Elk/Moose.
It would be a heavy sporter or light varmint contour barrel (just heavy enough to be free-floated). I do way more prarie dog and predator shooting than elk or moose hunting, If I didn't have to include the small varmints, perhaps it would be a larger caliber to reach out further on the bigger game.
It wouldn't be a heavy barrel/heavy stock however (I've had one like this). It worked great for the prarie dogs on windy days, but got really heavy for walking the rough country after mule deer. I've currently got a sporter weight 25-06 and it's perfect for walking and shooting quickly or unsupported, but too much recoil for alot of shooting in the dog towns, not as accurate as the heavy one was either (hope to have Nesika Chad remedy that part soon though).
Remington action or custom action, either one...as long as it can be fitted w/ a jewel trigger. Good Recoil pad too, because 100 rounds a day at pasture pooches can be a little hard on the collar bone (85 grn. bullets at 3600' / sec.)
Some of the fast 6mm's would qualify for the "only one rifle" too, but in order to shoot 115 grn bullets through them; they need a fast twist barrel.......may not shoot the really light bullets as good?
From prarie dogs to elk/moose....................75-85 grn bullets for varmints/predators and 115 or heavier premium bullets for Elk/Moose.
It would be a heavy sporter or light varmint contour barrel (just heavy enough to be free-floated). I do way more prarie dog and predator shooting than elk or moose hunting, If I didn't have to include the small varmints, perhaps it would be a larger caliber to reach out further on the bigger game.
It wouldn't be a heavy barrel/heavy stock however (I've had one like this). It worked great for the prarie dogs on windy days, but got really heavy for walking the rough country after mule deer. I've currently got a sporter weight 25-06 and it's perfect for walking and shooting quickly or unsupported, but too much recoil for alot of shooting in the dog towns, not as accurate as the heavy one was either (hope to have Nesika Chad remedy that part soon though).
Remington action or custom action, either one...as long as it can be fitted w/ a jewel trigger. Good Recoil pad too, because 100 rounds a day at pasture pooches can be a little hard on the collar bone (85 grn. bullets at 3600' / sec.)
Some of the fast 6mm's would qualify for the "only one rifle" too, but in order to shoot 115 grn bullets through them; they need a fast twist barrel.......may not shoot the really light bullets as good?
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Since you didn't specify the purpose, I'll pick mine, for wilderness survival, I'll have a Brno 802 rifle/shotgun combo in 12 ga, 3" with Improved Modified choke and .30-06 Springfield. 
Ed
Ed
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straightshooter
Well-Known Member
The purpose I guess would have to be everything since you can only have one rifle. For myself, I would probably pick a 26" varmint barrel 308. I could shoot everything from mice to moose, it could reach out quite a ways on large game, but most of all it is cheap to shoot, so I could still get out to practice quite a bit. This caliber is excepted in most competition shooting events, so you could also compete if you were into that type of thing. Just to many pluses. I would chose a Remington or Savage action for the after market support, that is becoming more and more important to me as my shooting advances.
winmag
Well-Known Member
A Winchester Model-70, 300wsm. Not too big for anything, not too small for anything, and very eficient. Also great for near or far on most anything, and the 30 cal has the biggest selection of bullets from big to small.
Next would be an -06, followed by a 338 win mag/ They would make exelent do all rifles as well.
But I do like FEENIX's answer too Good call
Next would be an -06, followed by a 338 win mag/ They would make exelent do all rifles as well.
But I do like FEENIX's answer too
Good callJamie6.5
Well-Known Member
M700 in .270 or -06. Reliable, reasonably accurate, rugged, and you can find ammo almost anywhere.
Unless I lived in AK, then it would be -06, 300WM or .338WM. Still in M700 though.
For years the M700/.270/Burris 2X7 was my only rifle. Three round zero check, and it killed everything I pulled the trigger on, out to 400 yds. Many deer, a couple of 'lopes and a few elk filled the freezer during those years.
Unless I lived in AK, then it would be -06, 300WM or .338WM. Still in M700 though.
For years the M700/.270/Burris 2X7 was my only rifle. Three round zero check, and it killed everything I pulled the trigger on, out to 400 yds. Many deer, a couple of 'lopes and a few elk filled the freezer during those years.
bigngreen
Well-Known Member
Right now I would go with the 270 WSM that I currently shoot but I would need a 12 pack of barrel to go with it, it's so dang fun to shoot that I kinda wear the barrels out. I shoot 110gr V-max and 110 TTSX and 140gr Bergers and Accubonds, varmints to long range elk. gun)It's almost painful to think about just having one!!
That's why I picked the rifle/shotgun combo because it makes a great companion for predator calling or mixed bag hunts (to include game birds and water fowls).
Ed
straightshooter
Well-Known Member
winmag,
What causes you to pick the Winchester M70. Not bashing your choice (I am a CRF guy myself), just curious. You actually make me feel ashamed to cave into the push feed actions just for the after market support.
What causes you to pick the Winchester M70. Not bashing your choice (I am a CRF guy myself), just curious. You actually make me feel ashamed to cave into the push feed actions just for the after market support.
Long Time Long Ranger
Well-Known Member
338 winchester
winmag
Well-Known Member
I have no problemb what so ever loading short fat cartriges with the Win. CRF where as alot of push feeds tend to ''pop'' the WSM brass up getting them temporarily hung up while loading. I chose the 300wsm for the best allround for many reasons including inexpensive to shoot, Decent barrel life, I can comfortably kill griz to gofer, and I have a HUGE selection of bullet wt's to choose from. So with all those bennifits, Id like a rifle that would reliably feed the WSM case. Reason 2, I like the claw for ease of extraction if something goes wrong, plus its longevity is better,=IMO. and for 3, I havent seen too many that were not accurate(within reason for factory rifles) out of the box, 4, I can adjust the trigger myself. Plus, Im a 5th generation Winchester guy, and 3rd generation Model-70 fan. My family has shot Winchester for years, so I guess it runs in our blood
.Shoot what you trust.
Im sure other folks could name some reasons that they like thier Brand better for thier chosen caliber, but those are my reasons since you asked.
straightshooter
Well-Known Member
winmag,
As I said not bashing your choice. I have a little Ruger Hawkeye 308 that calls to me every time I head to the range. A lot of people bash the Rugers more than the Winchester, but there is something about this little rifle that I love. It's not the most accurate rifle I own (right at about MOA), and I prefer longer, heavier barrels, so I don't know exactly what it is, but I just can't get rid of this one. If cost wasn't such an issue, I would actually take mine in a 300wm.
As I said not bashing your choice. I have a little Ruger Hawkeye 308 that calls to me every time I head to the range. A lot of people bash the Rugers more than the Winchester, but there is something about this little rifle that I love. It's not the most accurate rifle I own (right at about MOA), and I prefer longer, heavier barrels, so I don't know exactly what it is, but I just can't get rid of this one. If cost wasn't such an issue, I would actually take mine in a 300wm.
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OOOUUCH the thought of it. One Rifle........Don't laugh but I really believe it would have to be the Encore. I own one, I have 4 bbls. .280 for deer, .22 for squirrels, .50 cal Muzzle loader for black powder choice, and 12 gauge for the Turkeys. I like the fact I have the same 28" fluted bbl on 3 with the same mounts and same scope on all as well. I have done ALOT of tweaking to mine. The little .22 will almost shoot with my heavy benchrest sako. The .280 is .75 MOA all the time and believe it or not the .50 will shoot under an inch at 100 with variflame small rifle primer adapters. (just did it yesterday) The trigger is crisp and right at a pound. All this said I still go to my 6.5x.284 for longer range work. One rifle though it WOULD be the Encore.
