Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Pondering one rifle for big game

I've got to admit I value my personal experience with the many rifles I have owned more than anything else. Heck I litterally went through just about every automatic shotgun until I found what I like and stuck with it.

I'm too young to stop buy'n rifles, meaning a couple things.

Like MD said, it's a sheer please being behind the wheel.. so if I can aford it why deny myself.

Heck now I'm realizing another dimension to this in that there are both rifles and cartridges to own and learn.. .or feel out so to speak.

I'm going to have to think a bit on this one, I'm gonna get a nice rifle in 7-08 I like the 7x57 but the 08's a bit more flexible and it's easy to make brass.

6.5's sound interesting, so does a 280, after that I'm stumped. I think the ruger 375 is too heavy for what I need, unless I get wired and go for bear (got my 358 for now).

Spot

Transitioning between firearms has never been a problem. I don't even think about it. Maybe that's why it's not a problem.

I'ved trimmed down my rifles to just 3 that I use for big game:
Rem 600 in 7mm-08
Rem 600 in 338Fed
Rem 700 in 338WM
I went from 9 to 4 then decided to go down one more. I guess I could get rid of one of the 600s but I won't be going any lower though. I take at least one backup on each trip and I can't imagine going without a spare.

Good luck!
RH

If one can get into a rental vehicle and NOT drive it into a tree around the first corner, running a different rifle should be a turkey shoot....

The safety could be in a different spot too...............

.30-06, fer shur!

My second choice: Winchester or Browning model 71 in .348 WCF

If I had to do it all again with one rifle it would be a .300 Win Mag. I DID do it all for 20 years with a 7mm Rem Mag. (Up to elk.)

Nice thing about the .300WM is you can load it down to .308 Win levels if you like or you can run it full bore. I have developed both types of loads, and .30-06 equivalent loads as well. Haven't seen a .30-06 that will keep pace at the upper end.

Well, I've a Win 70 SS Fwt in a Fwt McMillan in 270 Win that shoots TSX's quite well.

Than there's the same rifle only sporter with the same stock (classic) in 300Win that also shoots TSX's quite well.

Both have vx-III Leupies. How could one be forced to choose.

Hard to argue with that.

Magnums have their place... if a guy enjoys a little extra it's hard to beat a 300 Mag.

Don't say that...............!

I'll be in the saddle of some rental starting tomorrow night. Gonna hit the Keys for a few days before a cruise to see 'ole Anna Nicole's grave sight...................NOT.

You do have a way with words..........LOL

Take care SH.

Ah, the Keys. I could handle a week there right now.

Sorry....happily married.

My fourth trip there and 3rd cruise. I'm not really the cruisin' type, but what a guy will do to get.......................some fishin' in........grin.

Last time we left the port in the Bahamas, I was watching this boat, about a 30 footer, just driftin' easy ahead of us, not under power. As we picked up speed, it looked to me that a collision was in the works. No Chit! The pleasure boat drifts into the side of our cruise ship, all sorts of horns go off and I see the guy and this gal come out from their cuddy below deck. Talk about panick. Both barely dressed, but this the Bahamas, he fires up his boat and backs away from the cruise ship. Best part of the trip....by far.

Having seen that.......I guess there are a few guys out there that shouldn't try to get familiar with more than one rifle or try to do 2 things at once......although I sure couldn't blame him for trying.......grin.

Wife's still packin'. Heck, I threw a few pairs of short and jeans in the suitcase, some t-shirts and flip-flops....I'm good to go. Formal to me is wearin' my nicest pair of jeans......hehe.

.308 & 45-70 now. I figure the right load in a 45-70 will handle anything on earth out to about 150 - 200 yds. The .308 is for normal animals that are not bullet proof.

Why the 308 instead of my old '06? It was a matter of accuracy in the particular rifle. I remember seeing Steelhead's targets with his '06. Mine could'nt have come close. The 308 does. If I could find an '06 with such accuracy, that would be my choice.

That's exactly my feeling on it.

I�ve been giving just that question a lot of thought lately. IMHO if your only use for a rifle is to hunt with it then I would say that, for the lower 48, and excluding a rimfire for practice, squirrels and whatnots, two rifles are all you need. I would get the same model and scope for each so that they are as familiar as an old shoe every time you bring them up. As to caliber, I would go 25-06 and 30-06, if I had to pick one then it would be the 30-06. Of course none of this applies if you buy rifles just to shoot them at the range or if you just like to collect them for fun.

The 340 weatherby mag, gets it done..From deer to kodiak

I have to have one or two 30-06's. The only other cartridges that I dearly love are the 7X57 and the 338 Win mag. I have owned many others,but, I keep happily returning to this trio of big game cartridges and life is just right!!

I have been using a Winchester Model 70 FWT in 30-06 for over a decade. It is mounted in a blind mag older HS stock. It weighs 6 1/4 empty, about 7 1/4 with mounts, scope, sling. I have no need for anything more, or less.

I have been tinkering with a bunch of other rifles over the years (lighter, smaller caliber, heavier, etc.), but when it really comes time to kill Ol' Reliable goes for the ride. I am currently giving/selling/trading my other big game rifles away to my kids or in exchange for better gear.

Money is not the driving constraint here; familiarity/dependability/workability is. I can do more with less, and that's a good feeling.