Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting One Planet One Rifle (non dangerous game)

I need the collective wisdom of you guys to decide on a pee shooter for me.
Ok here�s the question;
I want a rifle to take to any place on the planet and be able to take small to large non dangerous game with.
The boundaries are, the action is a Win WSM, the rifle has to be light, the scope has to have a min of 2.5 zoom and max ocular of 44 and be able to take game out to 400yards/meters.
Considerations; I live in Australia and mainly hunt Sambar and Fallow deer with a yearly visit to N.Z to hunt the full bag. Currently this rifle is set up as a 7WSM shooting 140/160 Woodliegh�s. Am due for a new barrel hence the questions. I like the 7mm and the338RSM????? But don�t let them get in the way.
Cheers

Unless you WANT something different I would rebarrel in the same chambering. I'm a huge fan of 7mm's and the WSM is a good one. Leupold's 2.5-8x36mm is one of my favorite sights. With that combo there is no reason you could not have a light rifle, easily capable of 400m hits. And there isn't much a reasonable person could ask that a 160gr/7mm bullet at 2900fps can't accomplish with ease.

I would go 300WSM personally . . . oh yeah, I did!

Seems to me, for a genuine "world" rifle, that rifle should be chambered for a cartridge widely available. Since that's my criteria, the only round that will work on an M70 WSM action that's available from Alaska to Africa is the 300 WSM.

It's an easy cartridge to work with and works great on big game.

MIDWAY-USA will not have 7mm wsm brass back in stock until Feb of 2010.

OUCH!

Agreed. And with all the constraining parameters removed, I'd vote 30-06 and a fixed 4x Leupold.

I'll go along with Brad as to ammo. If you intend to go all over the world, the ammo needs to be availiable widely.
I'd go for one of the small Leupold variables or, better yet, a 6X. E

Ok guys for a 7 mm Rem is available just about everywhere. You can build one light (7 1/4 lbs. all up) and get a 160 out the door at 3100 +/-.

What is not to like. Of course it isn't NEW!

I'd pawn off the WSM action, purchase another action and go 30/06, if a S/A then 308Win. Both of those are world class cartridges, and can be built light using a number of actions. The WSMs are nice but if looking for ammo in a Joe's General Store the 30/06 wins hands down.

MtnHtr

I would get a old style Remington 700 Ti in 30-06 with a Leupold. I am borring, cause I already have it!

1 John Bolliger - Mountain Riflery - 30/06 with express sights and custom rib. French Marble Cake Walnut.
Sure it is expensive.
We are talking about a rifle that would be like the Old rifles of the 18th Century. One perfect rifle for one's whole life.

Sincerely,
Thomas

Yea, me too.

MtnHtr

One rifle one planet count me in as 06 guy as well, especially a light weight rig.

Something like Mtn Hunters rifle would do me just fine.

Dober

Definitely... a 30-06 is the way to go and Mtn's fits the concept about perfectly.

I plan on having a Kimber 84L Montana when they appear.

But my 300 WSM is staying

Me thinks I'll get a Middle Sky and AI the bastid... then I'll have a 300 wsm without the big bones...

Dober

While it might not be as practical as my Ti '06, I can't help but get a little lathered up about the new Middle Sky in .280AI. Saves a trip to the 'smith for the punch, and hopefully feeds well while under warranty.

I'd go with a Kimber Montana in 7mm WSM and a Leupy 3.5x10x40, that round will kill anything in Alaska and pretty much anywhere else.

Then you'll have a "basterdized" 270 Improved!

.30-06.

I only gave 5 of them now, having sold one of my pre-'64's recently to pay for other fun things. But I have hunted with the .30-06 on three continents, plus New Zealand, and it has worked every darn time.

The original question was what would be a "one rifle" to build on a WSM action... 300 WSM is the logical choice given the parameters.

Barring the WSM action, 30-06 is the no-brainer, hand's-down winner, and would be my first choice.