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

I've already got it in my opinion. My CZ 550 American in 7x57mm. The load is 48.3 grains of H414 in a Remington Case, fired by a Federal 210 primer, pushing a 160 grain Nosler Partition along at 2,800 fps out of the 23.6 inch barrel. The scope would be the Leupold 4x12x40. I might break down and get an accurate innovations stock for it, but that would be the only change. Tom Purdom

Id go with the same caliber (30.06) same 165gr bullet weight, but with Hornady Interbond bullets. Your rifle choice is hard to beat but make mine a Sako Mod 85 Finnlight with a Leupold 3.5x10x40 Matte finish scope...............547

Browning A-Bolt, .270 Winchester, 140gr Accubonds, Leupold Varible Scope.

Jeff,
I can understand why you might wonder about my mount choice. In truth, virtually all of my customers opt for something with a little more class but, for myself, practicality is the big thing.
I like Weaver bases (in steel)because they are a simple and effective mounting system. They have a good, broad base for plenty of contact. In addition, they are low; yet the rear base for the Mauser is sufficiently high to allow me to install my little aperture.
I like Weaver rings because they are low and, although a little homely, they are strong. I've never had any trouble with a scope slipping in them. They are easily detachable and the scope returns to zero if removed and replaced. They are also light. I was just thinking of this as an emminently practical outfit and they fit the bill. I do like to mount the scope as low as possible.
If I want a mount which is a bit more attractive (OK, a lot more attractive!), I can use Talleys or I can stick with the Weaver bases and use Leupold QRW rings. Neither mount the scope quite as low though. The Weaver system has been around for a long, long time and is still with us for good reason; it works.
I figure the 1 rifle has to be just nice enough to instill some pride of ownership but it has to be a totally reliable and rugged performer and do this without breaking the bank.GD

GD, here's a One-Rifle-Rifle I built a few years back... like you, I like the all-steel Weaver base, went with Zee rings even though I think the Weaver's are actually better. I did mine with an NECG rear sight and XS Sights front. Bansner stock. 30-06 of course, 21" bbl.

For now, I'll have to say a Remington 700 Stainless, a Leupold 3-9 or 3.5-10, in 308 Win, 165 gr. Accubonds. It should work for everthing I can afford to hunt right now.

Brad,
I kind of like that. I think I would tend toward a short action in 308 and add an inch to the barrel but that's just me. I don't bother with an open sight because I can no longer see them anyway! Even with an aperture sight, the front sight is bluury if the barrel is too short.
Is the forend on that Bansner shortened? Looks pretty good.
I just made up a short MRC with a McMillan Edge and it's a nicely configured stock though a bit spendy. Since I don't actually LIKE any synthetic stock, the easy availability and much lower cost of the Bansner makes it my first choice.
I brought forth my reasons for liking the Mauser for a hunting rifle but, in reality, more modern actions work fine too. Even a Remington is perfectly adequate! In fact, I have a short 700 which has been gathering dust for four years. I could use it in a pinch. GD

Kimber 8400 300 WSM, Zeiss 3-9 x 40 with a 168 gr Barnes TSX.

Mmmm... I like that!

-jeff

Sako AV, 300 win mag, nice oil finished wood stock for dry environments and a black mcmillan for moose and late season deer. The scope is a 3x9x40 Zeiss Conquest in Burris signature rings and bases. The load is 75 gr os re22 and a 168 gr TSX at 3150.

If I had to choose just one....

Winnie classic worked over. Lilja bbl at 23 inches. McMillan stock. Leupie 6X42. Cerakoted metal. Shooting a 180 gr. partition.

Thankfully, we don't have to have just one.

Thankfully, yes!

Would that be a 30-06 or 300 Winnie, Westman?

-jeff

Remington KS, 270 Win., 2.5x8 scope, 150 Gr. Nosler Partition over 58 gr. of Norma MRP = 2975 FPS.

Everything but the big bears.

MM

MM:+1.That works!

NULA in 308 Win, scope is a Leupold 2.5-8 with the B&C reticle. Load is 165 Partitions at about 2750 over 44 grains of RL 15.

GD, that's the standard Bansner forearm... I took a page from your playbook and recontoured the bottom metal.

I sold this rifle last year to a member here on 24hr and proceeded to recreate the rifle in a slightly different configuration. The new one keeps its 22" bbl, no sights and sits in a McMillan Edge. It has the Williams Oberndorf bottom metal and wears a 6x36 Leupold in Talley lightweights. Should come in around 7.5 lbs all-up. The McMillan comes this week... I bedded it and did some epoxy touch-up and sent it back for paint.

Like you, I prefer the Bansner best over-all but the Edge seems like a good stock.

Like you, I really like the 308 and my only other BG rifle is a Kimber MT in 308. Weighs just under 6.25 lbs all-up and is a joy to shoot and carry. Really can't find a need to build a 308 since Kimber got it right and at a price that'd be nearly impossible to beat!

Hawkeye:+2 to that selection! Except,I would sorta lose those corelokts for something better today.......

Brad: Your 06 and mine could be twins;same color stock,except my barrel and action are blued.I love mine;great shooter.

This thread is interesting because you would think that the 30/06 would win this hands down going away,and maybe it did. But as further evidence of the overlapping redundancy in rifle cartridges,and the "equalizing" effect of premium bullet designs today,I don't see a single "wrong" selection.They would all work on about any big game animal on this continent,short of the large bears.Some would do OK on them as well.Lots of choices...

Mando should start a thread entitled...THE 5 GREATEST BIG GAME CARTRIDGES OF ALL TIME...........between he and Jeff, they'd fill 40 pages..................... I'd chime in on that one.......