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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,548
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,548 |
Nice rifle okie john. Like that stock paint job. Just looked on B&C's website and don't even see a stock for Ruger 77's listed.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,925
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,925 |
I think they quit making them.
Okie John
If Montana had a standing army, a 270 Win with Federal Blue Box 130's would be the standard issue.
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,548
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,548 |
Bummer. It's hard to find a synthetic stock for Ruger MKII's and Hawkeyes without a cheekpiece on them. I also have a stainless MKII .30-06. It's a left hand bolt with factory gray laminate stock.
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,313
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,313 |
My choices would be:
257 Wby MkV 26 inch barrel Laminated stock Leupold 6.5X20
300 Win.
Model 70 Extreme Weather factory synthetic stock 4.5X14 Leupold
375 H&H Pre 64 model 70 with factory wood stock and a Leupold 6X
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 420
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 420 |
"Big game" is specified so I'm omitting the obvious rimfire(s). The first two below are in the safe after much thought.
243 Montana (twisted by PN for 105 hornys exclusively) under a 3-9x42 that tracks.
30-06 Hawkeye All-Weather under a Leupy 4x. (1:10 handles 220's).
Don't know on the third. Hard not to want a rattle canned 458 Win or 375 H&H Mauser with a receiver sight after reading Shoemaker's stuff. In reality, the '06 will likely handle what I need of the big stuff and I'd be better off going the other direction with a handy 223 bolt twisted for 75's.
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,170
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,170 |
22-250 set up for all around varmints.
Lightweight 7mm-08 for hikes, woods hunting, and most deer & piggy situations.
300 WBY for everything else.
So far, this has served me well from varmints through elk.
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,738 Likes: 14
Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,738 Likes: 14 |
Lot of different opinions on this.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,900
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,900 |
I could wrap it all up with a 30-06 or a 280. I have both and AI variants and can't say which I like best. If forced I could get along with just one of them and be content and quite confident hunting anything short of brown bear.
Keep your powder dry and stay frosty my friends.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,651
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,651 |
What worked for me 11-1/2 years ago when this thread was started still works.
That said, I enjoy using different rifles and have added quite a few to my collection since then, but none do anything I couldn't have done with what I had back then.
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 11,952
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 11,952 |
From what I already own ........
1. M700 sporter 223 / VXIII 3.5-10 / 22" Brux 1:8" / Bansner 2. M700 faux TI 257 Roberts / VXIII 2.5-8 / 22" King 1:10" / TI takeoff 3. M700 35 Whelen sporter / VXIII 2.5-8 / 23" Lilja 1:12" / Brown Precision
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,106 Likes: 9
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,106 Likes: 9 |
.470 NE for varmints.
.500 NE for deer,elk,moose etc....
.600 NE for the big stuff. All's I'm seeing there is your jackrabbit line-up...
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,106 Likes: 9
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,106 Likes: 9 |
Well, I got rid of my 375H&H. I found it way overkill for anything in NA, which this thread implies. A lot of guys seem to think they need a big 375 for NA game animals. More power I guess. The biggest rifle I now have is my 8 pound all up 338WM (top rifle in pic). Semi custom with gretan stainless barrel, midnight blue cerakote, brown poundR stock, built on 1954 H&H model 70, 5 round capacity when loaded up. Gets the job done on anything in NA. The next rifle in the picture is a 1957 model 70 270 fwt in Mcmillan hunters compact stock. Metal and finish all original: Along with my 1956 30-06 fwt. If these 3 won't get it done, it can't be done with anything else either...
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 11,049
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 11,049 |
"There's more to optics than meets the eye."--anon
"...most of us would be better off losing half a pound around the waist than half a pound on our rifle."--dhg
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,089
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,089 |
varmint's would call for a 222 Rem
predators I have a 243 for
deer and elk I'd trust to my 6.5x55. It's mod 70, modern one and handles heavy loads well. Have shot two elk with my 6.506, one shot and out. Deference between it and a 6.5x55 on a modern action isn't much!
I have a 308 and 30-06 but limit them to shooting cast bullet's. I think most would agree that for North America, lower 48 anyway, that a whole bunch of different cartridge's would be more than adequate.
Funny thing about elk cartridges, lot's of people go with the 300 mag and 180gr bullet's. Lot of other's thing they need their 338 mag. In the state of Oregon, the smallest cal allowed for elk is a 243! Boy, lot of wiggle room there! :-)
Last edited by DonFischer; 02/27/17.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,092
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,092 |
7mm Rem mag: Ruger stainless steel, 1.7-10x42mm 325 WSM: Kimber Montana stainless steel, 1.5-6x42mm 375 Ruger: Ruger stainless steel, 1.1-4x24mm These would be my picks for big game. I like overlap, and I Really like medium bores. If I had another 1.7-10x42, it would go on the 325 WSM. If only one rifle to do all NA big game: 338 Win mag, Ruger stainless steel, 1.7-10x42mm & 1.1-4x24mm It currently has a 1.5-6x42 which would work. Ok you guys. Pick up to three rifle calibers for your ideal North American big game battery. From Alaska to Florida. State your rifles' finish and scope size also. Justify your choices. Let's see what is popular and practical by this group of "average" hunters.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,158 Likes: 3
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,158 Likes: 3 |
.470 NE for varmints.
.500 NE for deer,elk,moose etc....
.600 NE for the big stuff. All's I'm seeing there is your jackrabbit line-up...
Life Member SCI Life Member DSC Member New Mexico Shooting Sports Association
Take your responsibilities seriously, never yourself-Ken Howell Proper bullet placement + sufficient penetration = quick, clean kill. Finn Aagard
Ken
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,249
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,249 |
I actually did that a long time ago, without trying. My old beat-up Ruger in 7x57, and my .338WM will pretty much cover it all, and while I have a lot of rifles in the safe, these are the ones I grab when something needs killed. The .338 is an FN commercial action in a McMillan stock, M70 style safety, etc.
Last edited by jstevens; 03/01/17.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 10,499
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 10,499 |
Ok you guys. Pick up to three rifle calibers for your ideal North American big game battery. From Alaska to Florida. State your rifles' finish and scope size also. Justify your choices. Let's see what is popular and practical by this group of "average" hunters. .. Only three? That's not fair! I can't decide which three of about eight that qualify for big game (small game & varmint stuff isn't included). But if it were down to three calibers I guess I'd say .25, 26, & .30. A .25-06 Ruger Mod. 77 VTMKII with a 6-18x Leupold... A Kimber sporterized Mod. 96 Swedish Mauser, 6.5x55 in a Bell & Carlson stock with a 3.5-10x Leupold. At .30 cal. it depends on where I am and what I'm hunting; either a Marlin 30AS .30-30 with a 1-4x Leupold or a Savage Mod. 10 in 300 WSM with a 3.5-10x Leupold. That battery will cover just about anything I would hope to go after in N. America. Chalked up lots of deer, a few pronghorn and one nice mule deer, and someday would love to fill an elk tag with that aforementioned 300 WSM.
Last edited by 22250rem; 03/02/17.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,916
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,916 |
Ok you guys. Pick up to three rifle calibers for your ideal North American big game battery. From Alaska to Florida. State your rifles' finish and scope size also. Justify your choices. Let's see what is popular and practical by this group of "average" hunters. Don't need three. .308 will handle everything in NA. I have s Steyr Scout with a Schmidt and Bender 1.5-6x42 mm scope on mine.
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 159
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 159 |
For NA BG, I subscribe to the late Allen Day's school of thought. Two identically set up .30/06's (although Allen preferred the .300 win mag). Cause stuff breaks and a .30/06 is all you need for NA big game.
If you really want two different calibres then I am with bsa, a .270win and a .338win and you are set.
Last edited by p3t3rsn; 03/26/17.
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