Not sure - but who said anything about scope and mounts? Figure $50 for a good set of rings - maybe a little more and decent hunting scopes can be had for $200 - all the way up to a couple thousand for long range aficonados.
Not sure - but who said anything about scope and mounts? Figure $50 for a good set of rings - maybe a little more and decent hunting scopes can be had for $200 - all the way up to a couple thousand for long range aficonados.
There are a lot of opinions stated here, and I have many of the calibers listed in this thread. I have four 6.5 calibers and my 6.5 RemMag is one deer killing S.O.B., but I'd take my .26 Nosler for elk. My Creedmoor, I'd rank below my RemMag and I'd use the Grendal in a pinch for deer. My .300 and 338 RUMs and .338WM are way too much to be considered for everything. I'd rank my .243w with the 6.5CM. The .26 Nosler, 7mm RM, .257 Roberts, 8mm-06, .30 Gibbs, .300 SAUM, 280AI, .350 RemMag, 35 Whelen, and 25-06AI .45-70, and 40-65 are candidates. I'm sure I could kill an elk with my .17 Rem, 32-20, .204 Ruger, .22 hornet, .223, .22 Valkyre, .220 Swift, or 22-250 if I had to. But what stands out is the good old 30-06. I can shoot bullets 100 to 220 grain factory bullets and lighter if want to try some .311s. I cast bullets for my .30 Carbine that I can use, loaded down for potting rabbits or grouse. I also cast 176 and 190 grain bullets that duplicate the good old 30-30W which has killed many elk. Also if you need a heavy solid, in a pinch, you can seat a 220 gr. round nose backwards. The same argument could be made for the .308W, but I prefer the 30-06 because of its larger capacity and faster twist. Yep, if I could only have one rifle, it would be a 30-06! Could I also keep a .22LR pistol. Holy Crap, I just started another argument!!!
I love these questions because sometimes they genuinely seek information but mostly, under careful consideration, don't make sense. If you can afford the time and money to hunt both antelope and elk you can purchase guns to do both. How many readers on this site own only one gun? Why limit yourself? 6.5 CM is great for antelope, something larger for elk, maybe even larger for brown bear and if you're going to Africa, certainly a .375. Then there's prairie dogs and coyotes. Not to mention LR targets at 1000 plus yards. I started 50 years ago shooting jackrabbits with a .300 Wby Mag, and also shot moose, caribou, elk, deer and coyotes; but couldn't recommend this to everyone. 30/06 is a great all-around cartridge but recoil may be too strong for some. I enjoy a 338 Lapua Mag now but it is also too much for small game. Pick something relevant to most of your shooting then buy/build something for the rest of your shooting interests.If you had to choose one rifle to hunt everything from antelope to elk, what would it be? This rifle must use components that are readily available. It must also be a caliber that is inherently accurate. No need to waste 600 rounds of 1000 round barrel life doing load development. I want to build a rifle but can't decide what to build.
Paper & steel to 1200What shooting range are you looking for 0-600 yards are longer? I have been looking at all the replies on this and have not seen this one caliber mentioned so I was just thinking I'd ask