Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters If You Could Only Buy One Center Fire Rifle...

My Lipseys Limited Run Ruger RSI Hawkeye S.S. 30-06
replaced front sight with larger 3/32 white bead.
Had our own Hired Gun to Cerakote and Micro Slick it.
Then got a Leupold FX-II 3x20 Big Bore scope that I
SENT to Leupold for Heavy Duplex Reticle.
It will do....
AMRA

Yeah. I wouldn't have thought that until fairly recently. Provided you handload for it, a .375 can be a VERY versatile rifle. Or a 9.3X64, for that matter.

I may have to rethink my earlier vote for a Mossberg 270...

Or a 9.3x62, for that matter--with brass and ammo a LOT more available that 9.3x64.

8x57is VZ-24 in a Micky with a good 4x scope 2 position swing safety and a DT Mk.II trigger....200gr2600fps will do anything I need done.

My T/C Encore works. A 24" 7mm.08 and a 24" .45-70 both with open sights. A simple 4x on the 7mm-08 as well.

Smartazz.

A guy tries to type 9.3X62 while thinking 9.3X74R and look what it gets him. Sheesh.

I love how this thread started out common and then went totally snowflake.

I can only answer the question if I get a decent selection of handguns and smoothbores to go with it. But even then, when you try to come up with something that will get you by on anything, it ends up being far less than optimal on most things. The right tool for the job and all...

My 6.5x55 would do it all

Same for me.

If forced to pick 1 rifle considering all scenarios I'd lean towards a 7.62 NATO and second choice a 30-06. Both will kill anything needing killing with accurate bullet placement but the 308 is easier on powder reloading wise and easier on the shoulder shooting wise.

338 win mag or 375 H/H.

I might fudge that a bit with some outside of the box thinking RE pistol bullets and reduced loads but in that general max power range.

Nice good square front sight, good rear aperture sight.

Back up scope sight, actually would have 2 scopes just in case... not sure which scope though, something really good for just one rifle in life. Schmidt/Bender comes to mind... maybe then with a conquest for backup.

SS barrel, hoping I never had to use it on muskox. Well, hmm, lets just go match grade CM then, but UBC treated after salt bath nitrided.

Good Mc stock. Nice soft pad, decel type thick.

06 would work most places though, that has to be said, but I'd likely drop back to 308 if I was not dealing with big bears/moose and the like...

FN Mauser for almost any standard round from .270-.30/06.

For the worlds big game this....


Winchester M 70 .375 H&H. The only change would be a Leupold 1-4x on it instead of the Weaver 3x. Although the 3x would do for most big game hunting.

I agree. I can use mine for everything:



A close second would be my 30-06 though..

Interesting so far, I don't think anyone has picked a caliber newer than 60 years old and, except for the 104-year old .375 H&H, I believe only one poster has picked a "magnum."

The odd thing about that one poster who picked a magnum is I've never hunted big game a day in my life with a magnum. Even though I've owned them in the past.Why I chose one in this thread over the 30-06 I can't say other than I'm just quirky today.

Since this is fantasyland and we're waxing nostalgic, I could live with this one, considering what I've been hunting lately and what I intend to hunt.
Bob

Ruger 77 .30-06 rebarreled (24" factory contour) with some custom touches. No back-up iron sights, but I have lots of spare scopes.

A light weight ,say 7.5 or less lb. 7mm mag would serve me well for everything. Elk being the top priority. I have a .300 win Tikka now but it would be a bit much for antelope and such with a lot of prone shooting. 6x scope and forearm stiff enough for bipod use.

The 375 H&H would definitely work. However, it's overkill for most things. The 338 probably is too, but I wouldn't consider it a non "magnum"... It's one of my favorite cartridges and works well...

IMHO....

270 MT(140 AB's), 6x36 LR
(or a heavier contoured barrel and lose the bipod)




Pretty much anything 243-270 would be fine for me.