Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters If you could Start ALL over - and ONLY own 1 Rifle + Scope ???

Thanks. I'm 2 for 2 in the Kimber lottery. Have a .308 and they both shoot better than they look. I fully understand the benefits of stainless synthetic, but rarely encounter the conditions that require them.

For everything in North America:
Montana 84L in 270/280/30-06
Talleys
Leupold 2.5-8 or 3.5-10 maybe a 6x.

If you included Africa I guess it would have to be a 375. I likely will never know.

Kimber 84M 7-08
Leupold 2.5-8
Warn bases Leupold rings

Whitworth 7mm RM
Leupold 2.5-8
Leupold bases and rings

They are similar in use and function the final choice would probably go too the Whitworth.

If I could only afford one rifle & scope, I wouldn't be hunting all of North America.

A 223 works fine for the big game that needs killing locally, and would work better than most for the 90% of the time that I'm not hunting big game and instead shooting coyotes, p-dogs, and the like. Another plus is long barrel life, which will help if I'm poor and cannot afford another rifle (let alone a barrel). Cheap cost of 223 ammo is a bonus, as well.

The choice for me would be a 300 win mag in a mcmillan stock. I handload that one to shoot 150s at 2600 fps up to 180s at 3100 fps. All of them shoot under an inch. Should handle all big game I want.

I would just keep the sporterized 03 Springfield that my Grandfather left to me. It took me way too long to appreciate the do it all qualities of a mid weight 30/06. With the Leupold 2.5 x 8 that it is wearing now in Redfield rings and bases it is about all I'll ever really need. But what fun is that?

Interesting question, if I did, I'd probably stick with my first deer rifle, a pre-64 model 70 FWT in .308, with the current Burris signature 1.5-6x. Found a lot of different rifles, but not one better for the hunting I do.

Could not say it any better and true for me also. Back to the OP's question probably the same M700 ADL 7 mm Remington Magnum I bought when I was 15 and have used ever since, it wears a Redfield 1 pc base and rings holding my favorite scope a Leupold V3 2.5 x 8. Magnum Man

Let me re-word that to fit my case�

If I hadn't spent so much on so many guns, I could afford to be hunting all of North America�..

Haha. I don't even want to know how many places I could have went and things I could have shot if I had simply bought a cheap 30-06 and used the rest on hunts.

I've been trying to change that, of late.

One thing I've done for years is buy rifles with money I could have spent on hunting. Then when I decided to go hunting somewhere I sold some rifles! However I do try to buy at prices I know they can be sold for, which usually means not paying retail for new rifles--though not always.

If pressed I would follow the advice of the late Finn Aagard. A former PH from Kenya, relocated to Texas. And a terrific writer on many aspects of hunting.

A synthetic stocked 98 Mauser action chambered in .30/06 with a good fixed power scope. Period...

But I really would hate to be limited to only owning one big game rifle.

Sound thinking. I'm currently in the rifle sale for a hunt phase!

This one:
- Remington 700 stainless ADL .30-06 with 24'' barrel
- McMillan Classic Edge @ 13 3/8'' lop bedded in Marine-Tex
- Shilen trigger @ 2 pounds with Rifle Basix safety
- Talley lightweight lows
- Leupold VX-II 3x9x40 with LR Duplex
- Uncle Mike's Mountain Sling
- If just 1 load, Hornady 165 Interlocks over IMR 4350



I've narrowed my centerfire battery down to this one and could happily have used it from the beginning and may well for the rest of my hunting (maybe ). The only change I may make at some point is to shorten the barrel to 22'' and have it cerekoted.

I have been a rifle competitor and hunter all my life.

Yesterday I shot my .22 LR 40X with it's 15X Unertl. I would want that rifle for the matches.

I shot centerfire @ 200 yds. I use my 40X 6mm Rem. Intl. with Redfield irons

If the woodchucks were still here I would want my High Wall .219I Zipper with it's 10X Supertargetspot.

For big game my woods rifle and sentimental favorite is my 99F in .358 Win. The scope on it now is a 2-7 Leu in Weavers.

For all around big game I suppose I might want something with more range. A mauser in 30-06 has become a favorite. There is a Swaro. 3-9 on it now but if limited to one scope I might go with the 2-7 Kahles that's on another rifle.

Rem 700 LA Mtn rifle, 6.5x57, 22" bbl, talley low lw, Leupold 6x36

Not practical, but if only one, might as well be a cool one.

Sycamore

Winchester M70, 25-06, 6x Leupold scope.

Kimber Montana, 280AI, M8 6x42, LW's. Can't seem to part with what I've got though, so it ain't happening.....


Actually, it'd be an '06. If I'm down to one rig, I sure as hell won't be hand loading.

You can't play golf with just one club and if you try, you will lose against the guys with 2 clubs.

I really like the Savage 99. So an R or even an EG in .308 would be about perfect. Though the .300 Savage is almost a .308 and I would be very happy using it as well. With probably a fixed 4X.

For most of my hunting the above in .358 would sure be fun.

Though if push came to shove, I would just use my grandfathers old Mauser .30-06 with a fixed 4X and never look back.