Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles One rifle... one scope...one caliber...one load... which one?

I am just a big chicken in bear country

Jeff, I've got around 3.5 days of clapboard siding left and then need 3 days for paint where the temps don't dip below freezing... we'll probably get that at some point.

Me, I'm pooped. over 25 days without a day off what with racing winter. I elk hunted one day, the opener, did 10+ miles, tracked two different bulls and found a nice six point as I was hiking out in the evening that was a 45 minute horrendous/vertical hike to get to... probably could have killed him but was too tired to give a flip!

Trust me, if I'm too tired to go kill a wide six point I'm tired!

I'm taking tomorrow off (going to turn my hat around and oversee plumber, ordering tile, working on cabinets... normal General Contractor stuff). Will hunt Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday-Sunday.

We'll see if I can get into elk like I did opening day...

Weather is turning with snow coming... should turn into dandy elk conditions even if it sucks for building... Dober gets his now, I'll get 60's in December

BTW, I own TWO centerfires... a 308 and 30-06.

My "One and Only" is the 30-06... SS M70 Fwt with Williams Extractor and Oberndorf Bottom Metal, McEdge, Talley LWT's, 6x36 Leupold LR, Uncle Mike's Mountain Sling. Comes in around 7.5 lbs all-up.

I have 7 lbs of the same lot of H4350, 1000 Federal 210's of the same lot, and 500 Nosler 180 Partitions of the same lot... they go 2,800 fps at 57.5 gr's H4350.

I think I've got the bases covered (grin).

Are you carrying your .308 this year? I forget, did you get rid of the '06 or just add to it with the .308? 165-gn TSX?

Building in bad weather is noooo fun. When I built my studio, which is just a 1100 ft/2 box on the outside, 10" ceilings, T-111 siding, etc... on a perimeter foundation that I also (over)built myself... I ALMOST got the roof on it before the rains came. Almost. Turns out almost only counts in hand grenades and horseshoes or some such; it was no fun from there out. At least the rain and cold kept the mosquitos down a little. That was a sick mosquito year.

I slimed the side of my finger off, with a framing hammer, trying to get a Tico nail through a joist hanger that was the wrong size nail for the hole. It's still numb 15 years later. That was in January, about 35 degrees out, and I wanted to bawl like a baby because I knew how much it was about to hurt!

My other career-worst experience in the building trades was working in finish carpentry on a McMansion in Houston in the summer. We had no AC yet as the home was not finished. I thought I was going to die a few times. The humidity was just brutal.

Anyway... presumably you'll be done with the outside stuff soon, at least, right?

-jeff

Damn Brad....You need a break buddy.

You're making me feel lazy. 5 days in a row and I'm wore out. The rush is certainly on though isn't it.

We're supposed to get a mild douching tomorrow so I might go on a one day strike and actually go hunting...

Jeff, one and only would be my trusty pre-64 264 westener with the V-7 weaver and 140 grn. I am lucky to say, it has never failed me and it has killed its fair share of deer, elk and bear in 40+ years.

Boy, this is almost exactly what I would have to say. The model 70, preferably a pre-64, would be first choice but I could live with a M77 also. I have seen the 180 gr Partition at 2700 kill a pile of critters over the years. Ditto the Hornady.

Jeff, the 308 is an addition to the 30-06... it runs a 150 TSX at 2,875.

Sam, I DO need a break!

Screw it... the house and the bank can wait. I'm going to do a little hunting this week.

Will you be carrying the .308 or '06?

Be curious how a 150 TSX performs on elk. No doubt it'll kill 'em; I wonder if you'll see an exit wound from a steep angle...

So it's up to you to find out for us! If you get a broadside shot, in the name of SCIENCE I implore you to hold off for a worse shot! :-)

Go get 'em...

-jeff

I will say, those damn Montana's sure mess with a guy's head! My .325 and a .308 and... wait! Stop! Don't go there!

-jeff

give me a 700 Ti in 308, Mcmillan Edge stock, Talley rings, Leupold VXII 2-7x33

Barnes 165 gr TSX @ 2700 fps

How come some of ya'll choose a Vx-II instead of VX-III?

-jeff

For me and one rifle (ain't never going to happen) omitting brown bear/griz.

REM 700 Mountain Rifle LSS
280 or 30-06
150gr or 165gr Partition respectively.
Leupy 2.5-8x36

RH

Well, my boredom didn't kick-in 'til tonight, so here goes: I think yours is hard to beat. I'll just add my Ed Brown Savanna in 30-06 and maybe the Barnes 165gr MRX because it has the cool plastic blue tip!

There's just too much good sense in that configuration. Game over!

For me it's due to the fact that one is cheaper than the other and they do the same thing for my know-how.

Makes sense. When I was putting my brother's "one rifle" together for him (M700 30-06) I put a VX-1 2x7 on it. I have to admit, it was a perfectly good scope, and I also have to admit that I was trying to spend as little as possible while still getting him set up with a reliable package...

-jeff

Brno ZKK602, Nightforce NSX 2.5-10x24 FC-2, 375 H&H, 300gr Partition.

For me it's a M700 .300 Winmag, 25" barrel in LW contour, McEdge stock and a V-II 3-9 LR reticle. Could want for nothing more, though practicing that is another story.

Whip-add a Jewell and a Gentry 3 posi and I could love that rig. Fact is I do, that is about what my old 7 Mashburn is.

Dober