If I had to focus on one rifle...

[keithcandler]

6.5x47 Lapua

7 Remington mag

 

[nvschütze]

60.5 grains of Reloader 15 . . .

RL-15 is one of the powders my .358 can use. It's the first one I tried when the rifle was fresh out of the gunsmith's shop in July 2013. I'll try your load. I'll start at 60.0 grains and go up by 1.5 grains to a maximum of 66.0 grains. That should take it to the maximum charge that's safe and smart.

I can also use IMR-4320 and AA-4064. I'm sure there are a few others a little up or down the burn-rate chart, but I've yet to try them.

 

[Coyote_Hunter]

For 20+ years all I had was a Ruger M77 in 7mm Rem Mag. It got used for everything from prairie dogs to coyotes to antelope, deer and elk. IT worked as good as anything else I've tried for elk to antelope. PRairie dogs and coytoes were good practice, but it isn't well suited for a day on dogtown.

 

[del2les]

God forbid that this should ever happen, but I've been wondering... like so many of you, I've been fortunate enough to accumulate a broad spectrum of rifles (and I hope I'm not thru yet). But if I had to really focus in on just one to put all my effort into - time, money, load development, shooting time, research - which rifle, or which caliber would it be?

That just isn't possible anymore. 22LR for small critters, 22/6mmCFs for varmints with varied AI's for LR varmints, larger bores for varied game animals at SR, MR, LR and ELR, then the dangerous game calibers, and not to forget the occasional BR, HPR and other shooting matches.

One wife I can understand, but one gun/caliber? I cannot live in that world.

 

[Schoe]

If I was hunting just in the contiguous United States, I would go for the 25-06. But if I could have a few calibers, they would be the: 25-06, 30-06, 338wm and maybe an AR-15 in case of other critters.

 

[bearcat2]

Interesting to see people's choices. I hunt varmints and coyotes way more than big game, at least when you look at total time and effort invested. I get out and chase deer and elk every year, but throw way more lead at the coyotes and varmints.

Total time hunting each year? That would by far go to either bear hunting with hounds or cat hunting. And since we are limited to two bear here and I hunt bobcats in three states each year, two of which are unlimited; the most common gun I use is my Rossi Circuit Judge with interchangeable 22lr/22mag cylinders. I made it a take down pack rifle and it by far gets the most use on game. I've got several 22 magnums and at modest ranges and with the right bullets I would be comfortable using them on any game in North America, up to and including moose and the big bears. It is a caliber that is much more deadly than any ballistics and statistical charts will indicate. I wouldn't hesitate to face a charging moose or brown bear with my old Winchester pump 22 mag or the Rossi in my hands as long as it was loaded with CCI 40 gr solids. They'll bust a skull every time.

But if you are limited to one rifle due to finances or something and you are wanting to be legal rimfires aren't legal for most big game in most states. Conversely if you are limited to one rifle due to apocolyptic circumstances I would want one that was reloadable, and good for moderately long ranges if I am going to have to use it to survive. And the 22 magnum is a rimfire, hence not reloadable.

 

[walleyerod]

30-06
Ammo easy to obtain and everywhere - in the world. Very versatile. Accurate cartridge. Loads from 110-220 grain bullets. Shoots well with a variety of powders. Fast and flat shooting at 110-150 grains. Thumpers for any animal in North America at 180-220 grains. Or, if the 06 wasn't a choice, the 270 for all the same reasons.

 

[Pulpwood]

I would be very unhappy!

 

[Rudolph Ferdinand]

The 30-06 is versatile

When it comes to a rifle cartridge to me there is no other like the 30-06...the recoil isn't bad and when it is loaded with a 180/200 projectile, the Barnes Bullet is the leader again to me, the best. Seven rifles chambered in the old '06 cartridge. Rifles from the Model 1917 30-06 to a Remington 24" barrel stainless steel SPS...some Whitetails and an Elk cow.

 

[Rudolph Ferdinand]

30-06
Ammo easy to obtain and everywhere - in the world. Very versatile. Accurate cartridge. Loads from 110-220 grain bullets. Shoots well with a variety of powders. Fast and flat shooting at 110-150 grains. Thumpers for any animal in North America at 180-220 grains. Or, if the 06 wasn't a choice, the 270 for all the same reasons.

The 30-06 is like no other cartridge. I load it mostly with a 165/180, the 180 grains in a Barnes Buller.

 

[Pulpwood]

If only one I guess it depends on where you live and hunt. I guess a 280ai or 30-06 or a 300 (whichever one you prefer) could get you by

 

[Rudolph Ferdinand]

If only one I guess it depends on where you live and hunt. I guess a 280ai or 30-06 or a 300 (whichever one you prefer) could get you by

Alaska.

 

[Pulpwood]

Better go 338wm then

 

[Deleted member 103481]

Right now it would be my BAR 30-06. I'm having a custom 300 win built to take its place as my #1.... maybe. No rifle yet has dethroned it.