Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Could your "first" rifle, have been a "ONE rifle"?

Trying to merge 2 eternal threads.

My first was a 788 in .243, when I was 12. According to the internet, mine was the ONLY one that ever left the factory that wasn't a one-hole, tack-driving suminabitch. 3 or 4 MOA was more like it. Anyway, it killed deer as well as I could shoot it, but I wouldn't have been comfortable going for elk or moose with it.

How about the rest of you? Have you chased the rainbow in rifles &/or cartridges, when your first rifle realistically would have carried you through all your hunting?

FC

Sure it could have. Ruger Tang Safety 77 in 30-06.

But really what fun would that be?

twofish

Ironically, that too was my first rifle. It shot well enough, but it only lasted about a year. My second rifle was a tang safety M77 in 270.

That rifle could have served the purpose of "one rifle".

I've been through over 100 since....

I'm just assuaging my guilt over all the $/time I've spent on rifles, by saying, "well, that 1st rifle wouldn't have worked for those hunts, anyway." The problem comes after my next rifle, which was a .30-06�

FC

No, my first was a Savage 110 300 Win. Mag. Biggest POS ever. Kept it for a year and then sold it for more than I bought for it when it was NIB.

Yep. M77 in 25-06.



Travis

M77 mk2 in .270, stainless/boatpaddle. clearly it could not have been a good general purpose big game rifle.

My first was a 30-06 so, yes, the cartridge could definitely have served the "one rifle" purpose. The problem was the delivery mechanism, a Rem 710 . Who knows? Using it to fire a few shots each season, it might have lasted all my life. I didn't keep it long enough to find out. I've also figured out that I enjoy shooting WAY more than just a few times each season!

Since several folks have mentioned their second, my second could easily have been the "one'. Ruger M77 MarkII in 280Rem. Won it at a RMEF banquet.

Now that is spooky. My first as well with the mid-weight sporter barrel. Killed everything from fox to elk with that rifle and still one of my go-to rifles.

Nope, my first rifle was a 30 carbine. Great for a 6 year old. Not to good for an all-arounder though.
My 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th rifles would all have been good 'one' rifles - Rem. 600 243, Savage 99c 243, 700 ADL 25-06 and Blaser R-93 300 WM.

After those there have been too many to remember (some that I don't WANT to remember)

Sure. My first rifle was a Ruger M77 in 250 Sav. Certainly more than adequate for the deer and bear hunting that I do.

Then? Yes. Now? No.

yes, my first was a Sako forester pre garcia 308 win....given to me by a relative. could have stopped there easily.

Definitely. The first rifle I "used" was my father's Savage 99 in .308. This rifle is still in use annually by my baby brother.

The first rifle I ever bought could have been used forever for the purpose I bought it for....close range brush hunting. That Marlin 336 in .35 Remington was long ago traded....but not because it didn't "work" for me.

My first "real" deer rifle was a 98 FN Mauser in .30-06. It is still in my gunroom and at the top of my "go-to" list. That rifle alone has taken some 100+ head of big game over the years.

Nope. My first rifle was a Remington 700 in .270 Win. I got tired of the bullets bouncing off jackrabbits so replaced it with a 30-06 and a 7mm Rem Mag.

A Savage 99 in .300 Savage. Yes, it would do the job.

Sure could - my first rifle I bought myself is a Remington KS Mtn Rifle in .280Rem that I still have but never use.

No.

Pre 64 Standard Weight 243. Was unnecessarily heavy and bulky for what it was.

For big game? yes; my first was a .270, a well-proven cartridge. If you mean for all shooting, definitely not, I shoot a lot at prairie dogs.

Tanger? Iron sights?

Maybe we're destined to be totally BFF.


Travis