Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles What is your go to rifle ????

A Mauser i built years ago chambered in 7x57.

For deer hunting back up is a Mauser in 257Rob.AI.

Anything really large i get the 35 Whelen.

When I hunted Alaska regularly, it was a Model 70 SS Classic in 338 WM. Down here, it’s a Model 70 SS Classic in 30-06. Also have a pre-64 Model 70 Featherweight that I love in 30-06 but I’d rather beat up the SS Classics. I’m pretty simple. Both of those rounds just do what they need to do.

That’s the exact same rifle I grab, only a couple years back I slipped on the ice and cracked the stock. Wildcat composites makes an exact replica out of carbon fiber, it shaved a full pound off the weight and turn my 1” moa groups into sub 1/2” moa. I use 140gr accubonds.

I go through so many rifles I have never had a real "go to" BUT if I did have a "go to" Whitetail rifle it would be hard to beat a Kimber Montana .308 Win topped with a Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36 shooting a130gr TTSX bullet or the old brown paper bag Sierra Pro-Hunter 150gr ...Of the 50 to 60 deer rifles I have owned over the last 35 years I cant think of a rifle that I liked more than this.....Hb

I have a bunch of rifles but my go to is a NULA in .223 Rem. I use it for deer, pronghorns, exotics, hogs, predators, varmints and just shooting fun.

SS Tikka Superlite 6.5 PRC was my "go to" this year for deer in Michigan. In Virginia, I mostly carried my Tikka in 308 Win.

My go to rifle is a m70 FW 30-06 in a McM Edge shooting a 150 gr TTSX. Works well on antelope to elk.

VZ24 with genuine “Nazi” war eagle on the receiver serial 41xx . Shilen #1 barrel ,model 70 bolt handle. Two position model 70 safety, timney trigger, red field rings and bases. Leupold 1.75x6 in a Brown precision pounder. 30-06 shooting PMC Eldorado 165 gr.”x” bullets. NothingI have ever shot with it has walked away.
Weighs a tick over 7 lbs. loaded.
I have 41 of the Eldorados left. Be a sad day when they are gone. They are a sub moa shooter all day every day in this rifle.

For the past 8 years, I've been rather partial to this Ruger Hawkeye in 30-06

However, this is still my go-to rifle for The Opener:



It's a Savage 99 in 308 WIN.

My primary is win m70 EW in 308win. I use it for hogs, whitetails and elk every year.

A pre 64 model 70 of some sort, I hunt of bunch of them each year.

Depends on where I am hunting, chance of long shots, my 257 Wby, general hunting, 270 Winchester, and thick woods, Marlin 444

This year and last year a Vanguard 300 Wby.

Here in NC i hunt deer and coyotes and use a Rem CDL 25.06 with a Speer 120gr Hot-Cor .......... kills like a lighting strike !

Not to sound like a smart azz, my "go to" rifle depends on where I'm going. I deer hunted this past season with 2 different 6.5 CM's, 2 different 243's, and a 6.5 Grendel. I coyote hunt with about 3 or 4 different 223's, a 22-250, and a couple of 243's.

Actually, my go-to might be the 10-22 that rides along in the UTV with me. I probably shoot more stuff with it than all the others combined.

For deer, I’ve got a bunch that I like to use. This year was the 6.5 PRC and 270





For elk my Mashburn and 338 tend to get the most use, along with a P64 30-06 that I’m fairly fond of.







I’ll never make it down to just one.

Took my 28" PacNor barreled 30-06

When I think of the phase "go to" I think versatile, always ready to go, and I'm not afraid to hurt it. My go to is a push feed model 70 in .30-'06 with a tupperware stock. It has a VX-II 3-9x40. Nothing experimental or iffy about this. Perfect go to.

Last few years it's been cow elk. Lots of cow elk. Been using a CA Mesa in 6.5 CM and the 143 gr. ELD-X.

This season may be pronghorn in a couple of states. I'll use the same Mesa, but drop down to a 120 gr. mono bullet.

The plan for '23 is Canadian Moose. For that it'll be my 'ol reliable '06 with the 180 gr. Partition.

257 Weatherby Vanguard, using 80 grain ttsx. Took 11 deer this year and average 10 to 20 per year. Rifle and bullet work fine. Due to shaky hands, do not take shots over 350 yards.