I contend that the only choice would be a 30-06 bolt action with a 2-1/2--8 variable powered scope and backup iron sights.

Unless, of course, a lot of varmint hunting were contemplated. In that case, it would be a .270.

We don't hear much talk about the so-called "all-around rifle" any more because, as JB has pointed out, nowadays we have more money and can afford rifles for different purposes. While having one rifle might dictate a 30-06, many who have several don't need a 30-06 or a .270.

And if you could only use one bullet in your 30-06? I would pick the 180 grain Nosler Partition, again not considering varmints.

For what I hunt I would have to make a decision between a .243 Win and a .260 Rem.


If I had to pick one bullet it would probably be the 80 TTSX in 6mm and the 129 Hornady PSP in the 6.5mm.

Remington 700 bdl in 7mm Rem. Mag. I think that would cover all my bases but if I ever get to do Brown bears I may wish for more.

I agree with your scope and iron sight choice, but after watching the performance of a .338 Win. Mag. for over 25 years, it would be my pick. And now,with improved powders and bullets, it's better than ever. memtb

It would have to be a Rigby magazine rifle in .275



duh.....

Well, only one rifle would have to cover a host of needs, that being the question, mine would have to be my:

LWRC-REPR in 7.62/308
2.5-10 Nightforce compact in QD rings w/IHR illum reticle
Burris fast fire in a DD 1 O'Clock offset mount
Mag-Pul flip ups
Bullet for all recipients, vehicular, two or four legged would be the 150 gr TTSX.

I don't even own a 30-06 at the moment, but yeah, that's what I'd pick. My varminting these days pretty much consists of opportunistic shots at coyotes, hogs, and the occasional crow that hangs around and tempts me too long. So not too many rounds a year at really little critters. More at steel targets. I'd look first at the 175LRX/Hunter combo at about 2,800fps for hunting and then find a cheaper alternate bullet that jives with that trajectory for practice.

In my part of the world---and I am NOT a travelling hunter, a .30-06 would be more than sufficient but certainly not a mistake. Actually I think anything .257" and up based on the '06 case would do, all the way up to .35 Whelen. I could get by on a .25-06, but I have an attachment to the .280 Remington that just won't quit and that's probably what I'd choose assuming that components would always be available.

If component AND ammo availability were to become a problem, I'd probably opt for .308 Winchester with a bit of reluctance...but I'm sure I'd get by.

If I could only have one rifle but it was guaranteed that components would never be an issue I'd be tempted by .264 Win Mag also. There's just nothing in Texas it can't handle.

I would sure hate to have to make the choice.

Not a writer, but my opinion tells me that there is nothing I'm gonna hunt that couldn't be taken quite well with my 7mm-08 (with elk being the largest) with a proper bullet for the occasion. A 308 would be a very close second.

A bolt action chambered in 7x57, aka 275.

.25 caliber NULA's.

A Mossberg bolt action in .270 Win with a Sportsman's Guide brand 4X fixed power scope.

Winchester M 70 Featherweight .30/06,Leupold 6x36mm,using 180 gr NP's. Not much I cannot hunt here or the world with that setup.

I'd do this but in 308 Win. No practical field difference, but the 308 is miserly on powder and kicks less.

But I did build something about identical to your ideal some years back:

What a depressing scenario to contemplate.

Yes and personally I think the high degree of specialization isn't for everyone. It may help in some circumstances but handicap you severely in another.

Of course if you stay at home and hunt one micro-environmental niche every year,specialization may be the best answer.You know what to expect.

The 30/06 and 270 are traditional all rounders but truth is there are a bunch of them out there today. A lot of water has passed under the cartridge bridge since those two came out. With todays bullets there are lots of "all round " choices.

Yep. And I would rate the "platform" as more important than the cartridge, especially if planning to hunt in a lot of different terrain and weather.

I have a custom 7mm Remington Magnum made on a 1909 Argentine action, with the original military trigger converted to a nice single-stage pull. The stock is made of fancy walnut, but with a lightweight synthetic stock, a front sight and a detachable aperture sight to fit the rear base of detachable scope mounts, it would definitely serve.

Then again, if I was going to do much more hunting of really big game (which I probably won't) either my very similar .338 on an FN Mauser action or my Mark X .375 H&H (which already has back-up irons) would also do.

A lot of it depends on what you plan to hunt. An all-around varmint/deer rifle isn't complicated. One centerfire for every kind of hunting on earth involves more compromises.

Here are my one rifle lists.

Texas: Kimber Montana in .223 shooting 64-grain Nosler BSBs

US: either custom FN .270 in Bansner stock or Remington 700 KS .280 either shooting 150 Partitions.

World: Kimber Talkeetna .375 shooting 270 TSXs

No Irons needed that's what extra scopes are for.

Since i own about thirty center fires I don't need another rifle to badly. But if I were to buy one,.. It would probably be a 35 Whelen and I wouldn't sell any either.

John I was going to address the "platform" issue but got lazy..... You make a good point.

That 7 RM with a #4 28" or bigger barrel and tactical LR type stock may be just the ticket for reaching to 1000 yards on elk and mule deer but a disaster in the lodgepole....assuming you want to carry up the mountain in the first place.


But the same cartridge in a 24" barrel, and a rifle /scope combo weighing 7-8.5 pounds will get you by in most places.

This will cut a big swath to reasonable distances in the open without breaking you down...I wouldn't worry at all about anything moose sized and smaller with it.

I'd like a 375 for brown bear but not sure it matters. The 375 is unique though.....another class of "all rounder". Worth having.

One for everything is fine but will vary depending on what your "everything" is..

My Lipseys Limited Run Ruger RSI Hawkeye S.S. 30-06
replaced front sight with larger 3/32 white bead.
Had our own Hired Gun to Cerakote and Micro Slick it.
Then got a Leupold FX-II 3x20 Big Bore scope that I
SENT to Leupold for Heavy Duplex Reticle.
It will do....
AMRA

Yeah. I wouldn't have thought that until fairly recently. Provided you handload for it, a .375 can be a VERY versatile rifle. Or a 9.3X64, for that matter.

I may have to rethink my earlier vote for a Mossberg 270...

Or a 9.3x62, for that matter--with brass and ammo a LOT more available that 9.3x64.

8x57is VZ-24 in a Micky with a good 4x scope 2 position swing safety and a DT Mk.II trigger....200gr@2600fps will do anything I need done.

My T/C Encore works. A 24" 7mm.08 and a 24" .45-70 both with open sights. A simple 4x on the 7mm-08 as well.

Smartazz.

A guy tries to type 9.3X62 while thinking 9.3X74R and look what it gets him. Sheesh.

I love how this thread started out common and then went totally snowflake.

I can only answer the question if I get a decent selection of handguns and smoothbores to go with it. But even then, when you try to come up with something that will get you by on anything, it ends up being far less than optimal on most things. The right tool for the job and all...

My 6.5x55 would do it all

Same for me.

If forced to pick 1 rifle considering all scenarios I'd lean towards a 7.62 NATO and second choice a 30-06. Both will kill anything needing killing with accurate bullet placement but the 308 is easier on powder reloading wise and easier on the shoulder shooting wise.

338 win mag or 375 H/H.

I might fudge that a bit with some outside of the box thinking RE pistol bullets and reduced loads but in that general max power range.

Nice good square front sight, good rear aperture sight.

Back up scope sight, actually would have 2 scopes just in case... not sure which scope though, something really good for just one rifle in life. Schmidt/Bender comes to mind... maybe then with a conquest for backup.

SS barrel, hoping I never had to use it on muskox. Well, hmm, lets just go match grade CM then, but UBC treated after salt bath nitrided.

Good Mc stock. Nice soft pad, decel type thick.

06 would work most places though, that has to be said, but I'd likely drop back to 308 if I was not dealing with big bears/moose and the like...

FN Mauser for almost any standard round from .270-.30/06.

For the worlds big game this....


Winchester M 70 .375 H&H. The only change would be a Leupold 1-4x on it instead of the Weaver 3x. Although the 3x would do for most big game hunting.

I agree. I can use mine for everything:



A close second would be my 30-06 though..

Interesting so far, I don't think anyone has picked a caliber newer than 60 years old and, except for the 104-year old .375 H&H, I believe only one poster has picked a "magnum."

The odd thing about that one poster who picked a magnum is I've never hunted big game a day in my life with a magnum. Even though I've owned them in the past.Why I chose one in this thread over the 30-06 I can't say other than I'm just quirky today.

Since this is fantasyland and we're waxing nostalgic, I could live with this one, considering what I've been hunting lately and what I intend to hunt.
Bob

Ruger 77 .30-06 rebarreled (24" factory contour) with some custom touches. No back-up iron sights, but I have lots of spare scopes.

A light weight ,say 7.5 or less lb. 7mm mag would serve me well for everything. Elk being the top priority. I have a .300 win Tikka now but it would be a bit much for antelope and such with a lot of prone shooting. 6x scope and forearm stiff enough for bipod use.

The 375 H&H would definitely work. However, it's overkill for most things. The 338 probably is too, but I wouldn't consider it a non "magnum"... It's one of my favorite cartridges and works well...

IMHO....

270 MT(140 AB's), 6x36 LR
(or a heavier contoured barrel and lose the bipod)




Pretty much anything 243-270 would be fine for me.

A .223 chambered Howa.

Maybe an AR.

I'd have to flip a coin.




Dave

If I could only have one? Forever, for everything?

A 16", fast twisted, flat top AR15, without a doubt...

Varmint hunter...

After watching hunters kill Brown Bears in Russia with a SKS in 7.62X39. I would say a 30/30 could probably kill everything on planet earth if you put the bullet in the right place.

Mehh...sometimes. If I am stuck with one rifle for every occasion, I would much rather have an effective fighting rifle that can kill anything on the continent (albeit not ideally) than a hunting rifle.

270 would work for me. 90 gr HPs for groundhogs and up to 160 Partitions for everything else.

Yeah great....but would you really want to?

I'd quit hunting first....

Who'd hunt the world with that?

That's where I'm at liliysdad, the OP did say ONE rifle.

Thats how I took it...

Either a M70 Classic stainless or Ruger Mark II stainless, aftermarket stock, iron sights, a 1.5-6x42 with additional 2.2-10x42 or 50mm and 1.1-4x24 or 1-6x24 (or 1.7-10x 42 and 1-6x24) in 338 Win Mag.

I would have more indecision on the scopes than the rifle or cartridge. I would definitely want a higher and low powered scopes though. For my hunting a moderate velocity .308 -.338 would work fine. No hesitation on the 338 Win mag with 225 TSX and/or TTSX.

I wouldn't want to. And I've taken a moose with the 30-30.

For what I hunt and look to shoot, I am liking one of my 8 twist Swifts topped with a 3.5-10 Leupold....

Travis,

A .223 would certainly insure that .22-250 ammo wouldn't chamber on an elk hunt.

ouch......

The question was: "If you could buy one center fire rifle?" not if you could only have one rifle.

I have the bases covered so I would want something I don't have.

Is "buying only one center fire rifle" a new Democrat platform item?

In the US, my Browning Safari Grade in 3006 topped with a Leupold 2.5X8X36 B&C reticle.

World: Model 70 375 H&H Swaro PH 1.75X6X42

I am just saying that you do not need a 500 Mangler to kill animals.My cousin married Inuit.Their big gun is 223 which they seem to kill a moose with every year.

Old Remington 700 BDL in 30-06 , Leupold VarX 3-9x40 , backup iron sights big green put on the rifle.

280 Remington with 150 gr Accubond

I could get along very nicely with one of those myself.

I'm finally down to a 223 & 7RM. Also have a hand me down 270 tucked away that I can't part with. Factory ammo from here on out and somehow I found time and money I didn't realize I had for other cool schit.

No one said you had to fill the gas tank to full everytime...

A .30-06 in a Mauser action, double-set triggers, Lyman 48 rear sight and sourdough front sight, and a Griffin&Howe QD scope mount w/1½-5x premium scope as backup. Stock and barrel whittled down to make for 8 pounds all-up. Enough gun for Alaska? Probably, according to a lot of guys with more experience than me. Enough gun for Africa? Who cares, I'm never going there anyway.

I'd say a 250 or 350 would work just fine! (F, that is)





Jerry

Smart azz!

Tell me I'm wrong!

Jerry

You're wrong!

I don't think Nosler makes a 150 gr Accubond in 7mm. They do make 140 and 160 AB's and I use the 140's in my .280 Rem. The 150 gr BT seems pretty stout though, and would work for most things.

I see Nosler does make a 150 gr long range accubond. I've heard they're a bit soft at closer ranges but I have no personal experience with them.

This is sort of silly, but only one rifle. It would be a long action Remington BDL switch barrel. The barrels would include all calibers between22-250 and 400 Whelen.

I'm more of a bird hunter than a big game hunter. If I could have only one center fire rifle I'd take an AR in 5.56 mm. I can hunt deer and varmints with it, shoot 3 gun matches, protect the house, it's verstile, fun and cheap to shoot

Better.

30-06 w/ 165 grain Accubonds or Partitions in a Remington 700 or Winchester M70(only if it's push fed).

If it had truly come down to being allowed only one rifle, then I assume something else has gone wrong as well.

So, an AR 15 would probably be useful.


If we are talking just normal hunting scenarios, I would consider 30-06, 338, or 375 in a solid bolt action. For me, it would be the 30-06. Most likely in a Winchester or Ruger.

I've already got the "one" My Model 70 Featherweight in 7 X 57. Mine wears a Leupold VXIII 2.5 X 8. It will do anything I need to do and would be the last rifle I would ever get rid of

My second choice would be my Remington 700 Classic in .264 Win Mag.
It has an old Leupold VXII 4 X 12 mounted on it.

Like most here on the Fire, I've probably got way too many rifles. But if I had to sell all of them and just choose one, I wouldn't have any problem going with either one of the above.

This one rifle business is mostly an intellectual circle jerk(I assume we're talking one rifle for BG hunting....not competition,banging gongs,shooting three shot groups at 100 yards, repelling the next zombie invasion etc.).

I don't know, nor have I ever met, any serious BG hunters who only own one BG rifle. Most of them are more experienced or smarter than that.

Yup,minimum 6 to start with.

Oh Bob, haven't you ever heard the old saying, "Watch out for the guy that owns one gun". The rest of us are too stupid to figure out how to use multiple rifles... .. It's just too damn complicated..

I'm leaning an a pair of 7x57 Model 70 BACO Supergrades, a Montana .270 WCF and soon will be torture testing a Browning X Bolt in 375 H&H.
But waaaaay in the back of the safe is a 300Win Mag. but I forget the model............

It's hard to not pick a 30-06 for an "all arounder". It can do damn near anything. Not real classy, not real fast, not a lot of cool factor, but it damn sure gets the job done with boring regularity.

I like the way you think, as gay as that sounds. You're probably used to that though being the 270 shooter you are... If I ever come out of the closet, I plan on using this rifle:

No problem with either. Carried 30-30 where the grizz roam for years in AK... never felt the need to say I was not safe. Could and did carry bigger at times, and do currently, but nothing huge...

SKS are some great rifles, generally a better choice than an AK, a decent round power wise, and with good bullets and accuracy, you can do a LOT with the round.

Hell I kill stuff out to 200 all the time with a 300/221 subsonic 194s.... only running around 1000 fps...

98 Mauser chambered in 6.5x55

Granzel Fitz?

My exact and one of my favorite setups -- exactly save the iron b/u sights

I have that rifle.

Left hand stainless Model 70 .30-06 in a McMillan Remington BDL pattern stock (McMillan won't do that inletting any more) wearing an older but dependable Leupold Vari-X III 2.5-8x36 in Talley one piece mounts.

For many years my only "big game" rifle was a LH Model 700 .30-06 with either a Leupold 4X or 3-9X40 scope in first Weaver and later Leupold mounts. Had a 10 year run of one shot kills on deer and elk with that rifle using standard Hornady 165 and 180 grain Interlocks, not to mention a slew of jackrabbits that blowed up real good with Sierra 125 Spitzers.

If I got in the way back machine and had to do it over again, I'd probably just stick with the LH Model 700 .30-06 in factory form. I'd run a couple screws through the bolt handle and maybe swap the trigger for a Timney but that's all I'd do to it. Would probably go with a fixed Leupold 6X in good ol' Weaver mounts as well until Talley started making their one piece bases, then switch to those.

375 Ruger Guide Gun. Alaskan Arms quick detach low rings with a Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x36mm duplex. Shooting a Nosler 300gr. Accubond traveling 2590fps out of a 20" barrel. If I need a sledge hammer will shoot a Woodleigh 350gr. PP traveling at 2391fps.

If for what ever reason I was limited to one centerfire rifle, it would likely be this Husqvarna in 30/06. It has the versatility to handle just about any situation I might find my self in where I need a rifle, it shoots very well, carries like a dream and I just like the way it looks.

Nice Husky.....

I didn't know Grantzel Fitz....

And I am not sure he ever hunted Africa/Asia etc.

Im talking about guys in real time, today and over the course of the years that I've been involved in hunting and shooting.....I can't think of a single guy who hunted extensively and relied on one cartridge and rifle for everything.

Bob, you were right the first time. Its mental masturbation. Which is why I went right to the Rigby.....as long as you're fantasizing it might as well be Elle McPherson as Rosie Odonnell!

That's a beauty, I'd vote for that one..

Ingwe can't argue with that choice. i almost bought one yesterday but got slow on the draw.

I seriously wonder if these kinds of threads are IQ tests. Who even ponders such absurdities?

Not many real "all around" hunters. On this continent likely you guys i Alaska or Canada qualify because you have bigger animals,some are gnarly.

If I were younger, traveled the world for BG animals on a few continents and never knew what I was going to encounter, my light rifle would probably be a 300 magnum of some sort.

I believe that for what I do and what I want to do, I could get along nicely with my Sako AII in 308.

Lack of Tikka fans?
Though if the question is:

If I could only buy one MORE rifle

I always found these type questions/post interesting as I get to see some insight on what people would chose.

"Joe average" I would think most likely hunts deer and perhaps hogs now days (dependent on his location)as their big game. More than likely, he's not a hand loader nor likely to travel to hunt different states for different big game.

From working at big box gun store for about a year while under employed, they're looking to buy the cheapest rifles they can find, eg Savage Axis, etc. but have several of these cheap(er) deer rifle. They'll buy the cheapest ammo they can find, usually Rem Core-lockts or Win power points but only when they're on sale right before hunting season. One box usually last them a few years.

Compared to most here on the 'Campfire, where I consider most here to rifle & firearm loonies on the opposite end of the spectrum. Meant in good way

It's interesting to see their difference and opinions.

Could be. Or it could be that some have a better grasp on diminishing returns than others. Or that lots of other things matter more than the choice of rifle. A fella with 20 rifles can justify everyone of them, just as the fella that only has one could.

The take away from 95% of the threads is that if you put a bunch of dicks in a room, they'll argue over anything.

Sometimes you just get lucky Over 30+ years the accuracy of my Rem 700 has always been top drawer.
I've never had any trouble with the rifle. Many men on the 24CF say the older Remington 700s are better
than the new ones. Maybe so.

Back in the 70's and 80's even up into the 90's the Remington 700 had a reputation as the most accurate out of the box factory rifle available (domestic). I forget which gun writer said this but his remark was that Remington made the best factory barrels in the business.

Either a model 70 or 700 SS in dirty ought six.

A stainless m70 classic FW in 30.06, drop it in an EDGE and top with a 6x36 with dotz. There isn't much I wouldn't hunt with that.

While not the only choice, it is the one I made.

Add to the description; Winchester Model 70 SS Classic FW in a synthetic stock, with a removable NECG peep sight and a spare 4x scope and you are where I choose to be.

Buying one CF at a time is the obvious way to deal with this hypothetical.

years ago my wife bought me the only rifle I would ever "need"; Ruger #1 in 7 mag. Put on a Redfield 2-7 as that suits my style. There are lots more that I want and have obtained. A bud has a Browning hiwall in 30-06. It is hard to fault that, except maybe the long barrel in certain brush situations. I have to admit that when I had only the one rifle I could hit what I wanted at any reasonable range. What I really want is at least one of each caliber and style rifle, but I can't carry them all.

IQ tests are a lot about patterns. How's this for a pattern?:

270 FWT:


30-06 FWT:


338 Win mag:



375 H&H magnum:



My only problem with this type of thread, is deciding which one I'm going to say I would pick.......this time...

This Springfield 30/06 with 2.5-8X scope fits the bill pretty well.

This Ruger 308 will do just as well in a little lighter package.

My P64 338 Win Mag....



Nothing much else I'd need or want for anything, anywhere.

My 700 Classic 35 Whelen is the only rifle that never needed to be glass bedded. Just a slight trigger adjustment and I can hunt anything except African Big Five. I think it would work on lion.
It can work on varmints by shooting pistol bullets.
I think it is perfect for North America.
whelennut

If I had to have one, it might be a 7mm-08 700 mtn rifle, with floorplate, and a leupold 4 or 6x fixed in talley lw low rings.

308 would make more sense, because I could buy a case of ammo for $600 (fmj)

I would probably go for the 7mm-08.

Sycamore

Well, like some others here, I may already own it:



SigArms, SHR-970 30-06 (also have a 6.5 x 55 bbl for it). Pretty sure it's set up with a Burris FFII 3-9 with the Ballistic Plex. Then again, it might have the Zeiss 3-9 (Early Conquest?) but I think that's set up for the Swede bbl. Leupold QR mounts.

Shoots good too, even with "cheap" factory stuff.

Sight in target for that hunt:



Now, if only Sig had not discontinued it and sold the remaining stock of barrels and such to some French firm who's website I can't understand. I'd love to get some other calibers.

Interesting choices all, very interesting as Sgt. Schultz used to say.

Ge

I'll chime in . . . .

Blaser - R93 or R8, take your choice. One rifle; many barrels.

The only one rifle discussion isn't that interesting.

The one more rifle is compelling.

.275 Rigby.

Do you mean this time or the other 500 times its been discussed?

What "model" Ruger 308 is this? I like it, a lot!

Good point

I just read the thread, I should have said Rigby 7x57.

Well my M70 30-06 gets most of my attention for big game. In fact the plastic stocked 700 may just go down the road so the old '06 is once again my only rifle. I don't feel handicapped at all.

Only one?

9.3 x 62 built on a 1909 Argentine Mauser

If I could only buy one, then SHTF.

I'd take an AR and deal from there.

Sako 85 in 6.5 x 55

It would suck to settle on just one.

Think I'd go 1-8" twist .223AI for the versatility.

Top one.

I'd have a medium weight .308 put together. If forced to go with a production rifle, I'd try to find a MRC XWR and I'd top it with a 3-9 SWFA SS.

John

HVA 640 action
6,5x55
Hightech Stock
22" Modified Win 70 Featherweight profile barrel ( slightly heavier towards the front )
Alaska Arms Trigger
BRNO ZG-47 safety
S&K mounts
6x42 Kahles
Cerakoted
Treaded for silencer


Just like I am having built right now.

Pre 64 winchester model 70 in 300 magnum.

For me the last one I would give up would be my LH Rem 700 in 243. Bullets from 55 to 105 gr would cover anything I'm going to shoot. A 5.56 AR would be a close second but I would get more versatility out of the 243.

The thought of one rifle is depressing.

Maybe some are getting ready for Madame President.

Let me change the response a bit. I have twenty some odd rifles. If I could only keep one, it would be a toss up between my Browning Safari .308, built on a small ring Mauser and an early commercial FN custom stocked .30-06. Both are plenty accurate, the .308 scary accurate. And throw my advanced age into the equation, the .243 that matches the .308 might not be a bad choice.

I am through with the hard hunts likely involved with things larger than deer, hogs, and antelope. It was fun, but now memories. Even the mule deer spot and stalk two or three miles are history. I know where some easier hunting for them exists.

Best,

Jack

On that theme, if I could only buy one more rifle in life, I think I'd wait to see if Madame President got shot. I'd then go out and buy the exact rifle used so I could sit around and fondle it and imagine I was the one who did this country such a huge favor!

I have a Remington 760 game master in 30-06, for same reason.

Only one would be my first bolt action, a .30/06 commercial Mauser which has been treated to Roguard and NP3 and a MPI stock. Currently wears a 4x scope, but a 2-7 or 3-9 would be equally at home.

I only hunt varmints and deer .

Sako A1 6x45 3x9 Swavorski 7lbs 1 oz

58 gr Hornadys and 85 gr Nosler Partions





357

Every time is see this I have the urge to go buy another rifle

really most of us could go buy a 243 and factory ammo and be fine. we just love to make it more complicated lol

I have a job. I can buy more than one rifle.

Not a gunwriter, but, will offer my opinion. I have varmint rifles, deer rifles and a "medium bore" just in case a cape buffalo escapes from the local zoo. I have one "all-purpose" rifle that will be the last to go in the event of zombie apocalypse or democrat election victory. I could happily hunt, defend the homestead and plink with my faux-NULA CLR in 30-06 for the rest of my days. With JB's 165gr Partition load, I wouldn't feel undergunned on anything but the big 5, and the smaller stuff can't be too dead.

.270

280 Remington with 150 gr Accubond

If you could only buy one beer...

I know it's stretching the original post to include multiple barrels on a single receiver but the T/C Encore with a .17 Fireball barrel for varmints/ predators and a .260 Rem. barrel for big game fits all of my current centerfire needs even though I have other barrels that could sub in like a .223 for the Fireball and a 7mm-08 for the .260. The most versatile 2-barrel combo for game smaller than moose IMHO would be the .223 & .260 or, if bear or moose are a target, I'd replace the .260 with a .308 .
If restricted to one gun with one barrel it would be the .260 because of the wide choice of quality bullets from 100 gr to 160 gr. and the ability to reduce loads or max them.

I basically have one hunting rifle. I think the package comes first and the cartridge choice is second. This one has been fantastic in the mountains and the cartridge is good for anything I'll ever hunt which is everything from pigs to bears/elk/kudu.

Yep...

Hard concept to wrap one's hands around, must less come up with a logical answer...

DF

I'd rather consider, "If You Could Only Buy One Beer."

.223AI...??

DF

Is the 223 AI sufficient or big enough?

Now, that's the $64 Fire question, a real dilemma...

DF

Ha ha, no! Had to shoot M-16s in service. Not a fan of anything .223/5.56! This one is a 338 Fed.

It's the Fire, don't ya know.

A SA rifle, not otherwise specified, is automatically considered to be a .223AI until otherwise designated...

DF

It isn't to me.... I think it's a great idea!

If given my choice between a safe full of rifles or a big room loaded with trophy BG animals and one rifle, I'd take the trophies and one rifle every time.

Anybody can accumulate rifles. But getting the hunts in is infinitely more satisfying.

Now, don't start getting logical on us...



DF

DF:

Im trying to save these guys a bunch of money....or more specifically spend it in the right places....if a guy can do both, God Bless.


Rifles depreciate....but memories of great hunts never go down in value.

Just like this one in my safe...

That's a sweet rig prm.

Mine would be a Hartman & Weiss 7x57 built around a mod. 1909 Argentino action, or a Blaser K95 kipplauf in 7x57R.

Remington 700, 308 Winchester.

30/06 Improved, 6x42 Lupold and 140 gr NP. Good for everything that walks or crawls.

I have all the rifles I need and want. But if I were to buy one more rifle... Hmmm... I don't currently have a 22-250, so that would probably be it.