Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters General Purpose Rifle, your recipe and why

For a do it all rifle, one man rifle, what action type, cartridge, stock style, and accessories would you have on it?

Bolt action. Most likely a M700 Mtn rifle, 6.5-7 lbs w/scope.
Classic or shadow line cheek piece style lightweight composite stock.
Lightweight, lowish profile variable scope with the low end no more than 3x.
A Safari Sling.
A STOUT hunting bullet in one of about a dozen or more chamberings. 270W would be a first choice.

Well I would say a Winchester Model 70 Classic Stainless in 30-06 with the tupperware stock replaced with a McMillian. I would most likely put a 2.5-10 scope of some variety, maybe a Tract Toric. I would carry it over my shoulder with a Butler Creek Mountain Sling.

I actually had one and turned it into a 35 Whelen.

8 twist 223 bolt gun.....

Sako or Tikka

That means drop mag.....w/Xtra mags

1K plus handloads of two bullet designs on hand

53 gr varmint.....69 gr HP

Decent glass

If we are talking a rifle primarily for hunting use, it would be an Echols LX-1 in 7mm Remington Mag.

If it’s a do-it-all life or death gun, it would be the same but in .308 Winchester.

A long time ago. Ruger offered the 77 rifle in stainless with a boat paddle stock called zytel and set of rings with open sights. One chambered in 308win together with a 4x fixed power scope and military sling would likely suffice for anything anywhere forever.

My go to rifle the last 6 years has been my JC Higgins 50 in 30-06. It shoots many loads well, the Leopold holds zero well and it fills the freezer

There is no answer. Impossible question without spelling out how the rifle would be used.

The General Purpose Rifle concept has been around for a long time and its use can be all possible uses in the spectrum a rifle could be used for. A jack of all trades. Some people think the Scout rifle fits this bill, and I think it is close without the forward mounted scope option, but the range of opinions is wide and it would be interesting to see what folks think for themselves for a do it all rifle.

So many good rifles would suffice. But if we are talking regular ol hunting rifle, make mine a Tikka with a Burris FFII 3-9x40 with ballistic plex reticle. Pick your cartridge, I'm not too finicky there, as long as it works well with that reticle. A model 70 featherweight would also suffice. But then again, "general purpose", could mean a 22lr??? A mini model 70, chambered for 22lr:



Got to have one that is cheap to practice with. Notice the same scope as what I suggest for my centerfire hunting rifles.


7 pound magnums^^^^

Old (1956) Winchester model 70 featherweight, doing its thing:





If you think that set up will not work out to 500 yards, you have another thing coming.

Tikka, doing its thing:




The Tikka's weigh in at 7.2 pounds all up (scoped), and the model 70's (even the magnums shown above), weigh in at 8 pounds all up.. That's all I need, in a good hunting rifle. No need to get all fancy, to get schidt done..

Kimber Classic Select in 30-06

The one I've been using for the past 7-8 years: Kimber Montana, 308 win, Nightforce SHV, Talley Lightweights, shooting 165 gr Accubonds.

My other is a Kimber Montana, 270 win, 150 Accubonds. I'm playing with scopes on that one. Right now it has a NF SHV sitting Talley Lightweights.

There isn't much in NA those 2 can't handle, maybe with a different bullet or 2.

Looking at some variations of this idea at the moment.

#1 is a Tikka T3X Compact in 308. LOP is 12”, barrel is 20”, empty weight is 6 pounds 13.75 ounces with a 4x Leupold FX-II in Weaver rings on a Mountain Tactical rail.

#2 is a stainless Model 70 Classic in 30-06, 22” McGowen barrel with factory Sporter taper. Bansner stock, 13” LOP, empty weight is 7 pounds 9.125 ounces with steel Burris tactical bases, 3x Leupold M-8 scope, and Weaver low rings.

Build for #3 is in progress. It will be a blued Model 70 Classic Featherweight in 308. Other specs will match #2.

Most of my shots are fairly close; if I expect a long shot then I'll put a NF SHV 3-10x42 on any of them.


Okie John

I have a Tikka in 308 with the barrel chopped at 19" with a Burris FF-II 3-9X40 on it. I give up some velocity, but it sure is handy in the woods where most of my hunting is. And it's enough for any range I have the skills to shoot. Weighs 7 lbs even with the scope it.

Have had one forever they are called a bubbaed 1903 Springfields some with.just irons, some with scopes and some with both. Ball, ap and 180 soft pts do it all .anywhere anytime for over 100 years..mb

One rifle, one world?

My Tikka T3 Lite in 9.3 x 62. The most accurate BG rifle I've ever owned right out of the box! 250 ABs at 2700 fps is the most accurate at +2700 fps and sub 1/2 MOA. The 286 Partition at +2600 isn't far behind, and the 320 PP Woodleigh at +2400 isn't far behind those two in accuracy.

On the other hand my Ruger No.1H in .458 can do whatever I want done anywhere on anything using bullets from 250gr to 600gr.

Scopes are necessary and critical: a Nikon 2 - 7 x 32 on my .458 (before that it was on my Ruger No.1 in .45-70 LT) has taken a beating but keeps on ticking. For the 9.3 x 62 I like a 3 - 9 x 40mm - I have several, but perhaps what BSA 1917 hunter has chosen: Burris 11 with hash marks in 3 - 9 x 40. Plus a bipod when needed. It also has a brake and holds 8 rounds: one in chamber, 3 in clip and 4 in a stock cartridge holder. All up weight = 8 lbs. Carbon fibre stock.
Sako match grade 22.44" barrel.

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

Yeah but Bob 30-06 was good enough for teddy r and Stewart Edward white and a host of others the 9.3 just a bunch of German farmers huh? Only proves a guy can make a case for anything. Mb

Some fine choices here so far. I have to go along with the Tikka guys. It would be a toss up for me. My Tikka T3x Lite laminate stock in 270. It has a Leupold VX5 HD 3-15x44 fire dot on top.

Or my Tikka T3x Lite hunter wood stock in 308. It has been chopped to 20" and threaded for a can. That one has a Leupold VX3 6-18x40 on it now. I also have a Trijicon and a Burris that I swap out on that one depending on what and where I'm hunting.

I didn't say it (they) were the "best", just my choice (s) in answer to "what would you choose?" Yeah, I started out with a Brit .303, a 7 x 57 and a couple of .30-06s . . . ho hum....

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

i have 2 general purpose rifles #1 is my critter killer rifle Ruger 77 K-Hornet 33 gr. Hammer bullets ,11 1/2 grs. h110 powder , 2nd is my Deer rifle Ruger #1 257 Weatherby mag . Brux barrel using 103 gr. Hammer Hunter bullets ,Reloader 25 powder velocity is 3680 FPS average.

Did this in the mid 80's. M700 30-06 in a Brown Precision with a Leupy 2-7 Compact. Just over 7lb all up. Was my only BG rifle for nearly 20 years. It's one I'll never sell.

I’m a simple guy, I just ordered a Howa stainless 6.5 creedmore, going in a Stockys carbon fiber stock with a S&B 6x on top, Rugged Alaska 360 ti can when it gets out of jail. Not a huge stretch for elk and moose and not crazy over gunned for varmints….95 percent of my hunting is with a bow but figure the shoulders will go someday and I want to be ready.

Why? Offhand, I'd say...


And it weighs 7#3oz

My first general purpose rifle was a Ruger 77 tang safety model in 30-06. I bought it used from a neighbor who used it for target shooting. He showed me some amazingly small groups!

Over the years, I replaced the clunky target stock with a Bell and Carlson synthetic, full-length bedded. I put on a Decelerator recoil pad and had the stock cut to my length. soon after. When I could afford it, I had the metal duracoated matte black. Eventually, it ended up with my favorite scope, a Leupold M8 6x. It has 2 elk to it's credit.

My current GP rifle is a Tikka T3x stainless synthetic in 7mm-08. It came about after I tore my rotator cuff for the second time and just couldn't shoot the '06 without pain. Scope is a Leupold VX1 4-12 with LR dots. 120gr NBTs @ 3000fps or 140gr Hornady Interlocks / Nosler solid base at 2800+ fps for deer and antelope, 140gr TTSX for elk.

My self-imposed limit for shooting game is roughly 400 yards, and I like getting much closer - so either of these rifles is about perfect for me and my style of hunting.

This one comes as close as possible to the “general purpose” concept in a rifle.

Left handed KS Mountain in 300 H&H. Could be a 270, 280, 7RM, 30-06, 308, 300 WM etc for all of North America.

Light, accurate, dependable. Mine shoots everything from 130 grain to 220 grain with sub MOA accuracy. It has killed whitetails, mule deer, antelope, elk and caribou. It has been on sheep and goat camping trips. It even stopped my slide down a shale slope. Didn’t do the stock much good but spared me a nasty ride down a loose shale hillside.

If it were a worldwide GP rifle it would be the same rifle in 375 H&H.

I think the last one standing in the gun room for this would be my 721 in .270. 2nd year production rifle, nothing fancy, but crazy accurate. It still has a 4x on top of it.
We’re old friends, never anything but good times and success when we’re together. Hoping to figure out a way to take it with me on the other side.

Osky

Been following that philosophy for over 50 years…..24 years with this rifle/cartridge (loads have changed over the years) I feel that if a person uses one rifle exclusively, he will be as good with it as can be within his/her capabilities. I wanted a rifle that could be used worldwide on any big game animal, with the possible exception being a Pachyderm.


* Rifle: Model 70 Winchester, bolt action push feed, McMillan Classic Fiberglass stock, Pachmyar Decellerator recoil pad, Douglas SS Supreme Match Grade barrel with iron sights,

* Cartridge: .375 AI, 270 grain Barnes LRX bullet, mv just under 3100 mv, 3 shot groups under and around 1/2” @ 100 yards

* Scope : Leupold 3.5-10 CDX, mounted in Leupold QD base/rings. Have a 2.5-8 Leupold in Leupold QD base/rings zero’d and ready for back-up. Scopes are zero’d @ 300 yards

* Rifle Weight: 9lbs 1 ounce - scoped, loaded, and slung


memtb

For me its a Winchester Model 70 Classic Stainless in a walnut stock. 24” Douglas Premium barrel 1-10” twist, Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm scope with duplex reticle in Leupold PRW mounts and rings. Montana sling in QD swivels.

Load up some 165 grain Nosler Accubonds on top of enough IMR-4350 to get 2825-2850 fps at the muzzle. Load up, go hunting.

Where I hunt, and as I keep my shots inside of 400 yards (closer if possible), this combo is plenty enough for everything!

The .270 Winchester with 130 grain bullets on top of H4831 traveling north of 3000 fps at the myzzle would be my runner up.

I would pick one of the two .30-06's I have. One is a Rem 700 with a Benchmark barrel and a Pendleton stock. It has a Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x40 scope with a Boone and Crockett reticle. It weighs a bit over 7.5 lbs. The other is a M70 Classic Stainless made in the 90s with a Rimrock/Borden stock. It has a Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40 scope and weighs 8.5 lbs. The Model 70 is probably slightly more rugged, but the Remington700 is slightly more accurate and is lighter. Lately I've been using a load with a 168 grain TTSX at about 2900 fps. Either would do the job just about anywhere.

98 Mauser chambered in 7x57.

Built it a long time ago and have used it ever since,without problems,rain or shine.

I load 139-140 grain regular made bullets for deer and other critters but have some Barnes x bullets for those large special critters.

I don't feel under gunned.

Mine would be my Husqvarna light weight 30/06 with a Bushnell scope. It doesn't weigh much, it's as accurate as I could want it to be, and it fits me very well. It isn't hard for me to look at since I've always like a stock of fiddleback walnut and it's a 30/06.

for hunting deer and black bear in swPW and WV, i'd say a post '64 Winchester m94 with a Williams aperture sight in 35/30-30 (JES Reboring). i use 200gr RCBS FN GC with 2400/tuft of Dacron that goes 1726fps. you can get to almost 35 Remington velocities using cast and jacketed bullets. it can do up to 275-280gr cast/jacketed bullets.



i've killed alot of deer when it was 30-30 and factory open sights, but about 40 years later, my eyes ain't what they once were.

the runner up is my Husqvarna m46 in 9.3x57 with a 2-7x Leopold with a replacement striker spring and cocking piece (cock on opening) and a 275gr WFN GC under IMR4895 that goes about 1800-1900fps. the Husky sure puts a smackdown on deer.

Ten years ago, I decided to buy myself the last 30-06 I was ever going to buy. My youngest was going to be hunting on his own, and I gave him my Win 670, and put in an order for a Ruger Hawkeye Stainless in '06. I had been planning this move for some time and had already acquired a walnut stock. When the Hawkeye arrived, I mated the two and that was that. It carries a 3-9X40 Bushnell Elite.



About the only reason I have not had it out the past couple of years is that I had other projects impinging. For several years, it has been the backup rifle that comes to deer camp and never gets used. I pulled it out in '22 after chemo and managed to nail a nice buck at 200 yards, breaking my own distance record.

I went 20 years with a load of 165-grain Hornady SPs over H4895. I'm fairly confident I could nail anything I wanted to hunt with this load. I've recently switched to 150-grain Hornady SP for whitetail just because I got a lifetime supply of those bullets handed to me for free.

Why was this my last 30-06? When I made the decision, I had just retired my 35 Whelen from regular use. It had done well, but I realized it was too much rifle for whitetails. 30-06 did the job faster, better, and cheaper. Given that, I decided to strike a line, and spend the rest of my hunting career investigating chamberings of smaller caliber, roads less traveled, and black powder.

This thread reminds me of a chapter in Jim Carmichael’s book “Book Of The Rifle”. The chapter is called interestingly enough The All-Purpose Rifle - Hits and Myths.

He ends with this statement:

“There is no shortage of all-purpose rifles - Where are the all-purpose hunters?”

Some form of 30-06

JC Higgins model 50, 30-06, Timney trigger, B&C stock, Leupold 2 1/2 - 8 scope and a bunch of 150, 180 Partition handloads

Ruger No.1A, 6.5x55, vintage Leupold 1.5-5 that just simply works. 129 Hornady Interlock and/or 139 Scenar & 47 grains IMR-4831. A lifetime spent selecting and rejecting various platforms and cartridges led me finally to this, and the search ended abruptly.

Why a single shot? If you get it, you get it. If you don't get it, well....

This one, if I had to thin them back to one, this would be what's left. It's just the absolute most natural carrying and shouldering rifle I've ever owned.

It's a shooter with bullets from 110-190gr. I'm not anything remotely approaching a long distance shooter, so the old 303S cartridge has sufficient pop for anything I'd ever want to plug at the kind ranges I can shoot at game.

1909 Savage 1899A SR with a Marble folding tang sight.

Model 700 30-06 w/6x Leupold or a 4x and it would be suppressed.

One load, ha

For elk, moose, caribou, 180 grain partition
For deer and pronghorn 165 grain various bullets

You don't play golf with one club.

Likewise there is no reason in the U.S., other than if you have personal financial challenges, to limit yourself to owning one rifle.

[
Agree! I love my 270 Win. If Alaska is included then it would have to be my 7.5 lb (with scope) Rem XCR II in 375 Weatherby. It's light, shoots flat and hits hard enough for the big bears and has the TriNyte very weather resistant treatment over stainless steel.

Mine is my 7 Mashburn Super.

P64 70 action, Trijicon 3-18, McM handle..



Works decent for what I want.

I can’t tell for certain whether this is intended to be a hunting-only thread. If so, disregard the below.

If “do it all” involves hunting and also self-defense, I apologize in advance for not being old-school, but this would be mine for “a do it all rifle”:





My .308 DPMS GII Hunter with the 20” bbl is the most accurate semi rifle I ever have shot. I can get 0.3” – 0.4” groups with Nosler-loaded 168gr ABLR bullets when I do my part. It never has failed to fire or cycle properly.

With one shot in the right place, it will kill just about anything on the planet. And it can fire 21 rounds in seconds.

Weighs 7-lbs 12-oz before scoping.

This guy found similar accuracy:

“The GII Hunter I tested blew me away with its accuracy. I was primarily testing that rifle for our sister publication American Hunter and didn’t even plan to include it in this article, but the performance is too impressive to ignore. American Hunter uses three, three-shots groups with three different loads as a test protocol. With the Black Hills 168-gr. load, the first group measured 0.30”. That was the best, but the average of three groups was 0.47”. The average for all nine groups was 0.80”. From an out-of-the-box AR-L shooting factory ammunition, that is very impressive accuracy.”
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2020/2/6/review-dpms-gii-ar-308

Very similar. J C Higgins Model 50 in 30-06 with Timney trigger, side swing safety, treated with Birdsong’s Black-T coating, in a B&C Medalist stock with a Burris 3-9x40 scope in steel Talley rings. I figure the Mauser action and features I described make it about as versatile and disaster proof as is possible. Or I could easily put one of my fixed power scopes on it, and may do that. I’ve a Leupold 6x42 with heavy duplex reticle that is a candidate.

For quite a few years now it has been a Win model 70 classic in 7 mag.

Pac nor bbl, Mcmillan stock and lately a Burris fullfield 3X9. I have other choices but for some reason I seem to grab this one most times.

I'm also not a fan..

The caliber may have a lot of overlap, but how the rifle is set up for the conditions can be drastically different. My woods rifles used for still hunting, drives and stands feature mid-bores, shorter barrels with lower power variables. My open country rigs have longer barrels, higher MV cartridges and higher magnification optics. Neither is optimum outside of the conditions they're set up for.

Or in golf terms, I don't drive with a wedge.

Looks like it worked well.

But. . . you CAN play a challenging round of golf with a 3-iron or a 5-iron,

Many favor the ubiquitous 30-06 or 270. To each his/her own. When I started hunting big game + small critters, a 12ga was most practical where I hunted. Then a borrowed .303 Brit, a borrowed 30-30, etc, until I could afford something of my own: a 12ga bolt-action with a full choke. I didn't know anything about chokes re slugs, but it was a great bird gun. Later, I got a used military converted to a .30-06 - which I handloaded, then a real used .30-06 in M70 PF. Handloaded mostly 165s at ~2800 fps. Good deer rifle. BUT, being a "gun nut" (didn't know it until then), I wanted to try something different: 7 BAR, .300 Win 70 XTR, .338 WM in a Sako FS Carbine, etc, untill I hit gold dust in mediums and big bores.

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

Since I (like most) am not sure exactly what is meant by "General Purpose Rifle", I'll allow that this rifle seems to be the most frequently used tool in my toolbox these days. It'll work adequately on nearly anything I run into, so it gets carried around for general purposes like chores and such. It'll also work in a defensive role, a varmint role, or a practice/plinking role. Kills deer and hogs just fine when it happens to be in hand.

18" SS-barreled rifle-gassed AR15 with a can and whatever flavor of scope I might be trying out. Generally shooting 77TMK or 65SGKBT.

Already have that rifle and it is the core keeper rifle during a current, ruthless purge/downsizing.

Remington 700 stainless SPS sporter in 30-06. 24" bbl topped with a Leupold 2.5-8 with a spare Leupold M8 4x in cool QD Weaver rings. Stock is an old beater Brown Precision. Have a good batch each of 180gr NPs and 180gr Speer Grand Slams.

For me it is a Winchester M70 Extreme Weather in 300WSM with a Leupold VX3 3.5-10x. I can load down 150gr bullets for smaller game like Texas Hill Country deer, pigs and coyotes, 165gr for larger KS deer or maybe caribou, and full tilt 180gr for elk and bear.

There is a lot of truth in that. Most of the posters here know their rifles and ballistics and the anatomy of their game well enough that the outcome is typically one shot kills but it has more to do with who is pulling the trigger than anything else.

This poster hits on an overlooked concept in hunting rifles. Make the one you have as versatile as it can be. Sticking with one bullet and load for everything is fine, but your gun is far more capable than that. Rifle manufacturers would prefer you buy another rifle for every conceivable purpose, but it's certainly not necessary.

You can load everything from 22 magnum ballistics on up to your rifles maximum with creative thinking and handloading. And if you're determined enough to persevere, you can regulate your loads to shoot the same poi, or at least some semblance of usable poi, so you never touch the scope settings while having all the variation of loads at your fingertips. I am fairly new at this concept but so far have found great satisfaction in it!

Now when walking the woods I can switch from bear to small game hunting just by reaching in my pocket and pulling out a different load.

For the same reason that some hunters find combo guns useful, loading your rifle to varying intensities makes it far more useful. And having multiple loads available for your hunting rifle means you're not limited to one shot as with a combo gun. You can flame away with your repeating rifle and small game loads just as you would with your big game loads on your elk hunt.

Loading in this way is really an eye opener and is extremely satisfying.

In my youth, the 50’s, one man one rifle was the norm, then was pre 64 Winchester model 70 30/06, today it is kimber Montana model 84l 30/06.

Not a gun writer here but an interesting question. Purely for the hunting I currently do and the ability to reload, it would be a bolt gun in 338Fed, Rem700 with a 21” Sporter barrel, McMillan Game Scout edge with a Swarovski or Zeiss scope. If I can only use factory ammo then make it a 308.

If the scenario is only for survival in a collapse, I would want a 223Rem, 7 Twist, with the same stock and brand of scope above.

For the same reason that some hunters find combo guns useful, loading your rifle to varying intensities makes it far more useful. And having multiple loads available for your hunting rifle means you're not limited to one shot as with a combo gun. You can flame away with your repeating rifle and small game loads just as you would with your big game loads on your elk hunt.

Loading in this way is really an eye opener and is extremely satisfying.[/quote]



This……I used to shoot quite a few cast bullets @ around 1500 mv in my hunt’n rifle. Great for small game, and plinking….also works for coyotes, but ya gotta get them pretty close. memtb

Same/same for me.

Longer bolt action rifles with higher magnification scopes that are chambered for flatter shooting cartridges for open country and longer ranges.

Shorter lever, pump, or semi-auto rifles with lower magnification scopes that are chambered for cartridges with heavier bullets for hunting in tight cover and shorter ranges. Old Winchester 100s and a Ruger 44 International fill this niche for me.

The spare rifle that I always take with me when I travel very far from home is a Smith & Wesson C made by Husqvarna that is chambered in 30-06, zeroed with 180 grain pointed bullet factory loads, and mounted with a 3-9x40 Scopechief IV. My idea of what a "universal" medium game hunting rifle looks like.

A Savage 99 in 284 does double duty pretty damned well for me. Shots from 20' on a buddies wounded bear to 425 yards have been easy and natural with the Savage 284. You've all seen the photos...

Beretta Mato in 30-06 Springfield, with a Burris 3-10x40 Signature Select scope. I have both wood and synthetic stocks for the rifle. The load is a 180gr Swift Sirocco at 2750fps.

This, in 308 @20"

Pre 64 Winchester action, 6.5x.284 with as fine a 3x9 as I could afford . I like a G&H style wood stock .

Having actually used a 30-06 as a general purpose rifle for more than three decades I pick the one I have. Maple stocked Springfield, light contour barrel, Timney trigger topped with a old Leupold 4x M8 before they made them clickers. Been running 180 gr. Ballistic Tips, Speer Hotcors, Hornady Spire points and Partitions since 1986. I have of late put a Bushnell Elite 3200 3x9 on it. Still a solid reliable rifle.

The biggest thing I'm ever gonna shoot is a hundred pound Pennsylvania whitetail. Accordingly, a good .243 winchester will work just fine.

Kind of torn between two different rifles. A Winchester M70 push feed Youth Ranger in .308 Win. that I restocked using a Ramline I had on hand. The other is a J.C. Higgins M50 that I restocked in a Butler Creek synthetic and added a Timney trigger is in 30-06. The M50 is a good all round gun that I can run hunting loads from along with specially worked up cast bullet loads that shoot to point of aim at 25 or so yards.

The M70 .308 on the other hand can do just about everything the 30-06 can do and be a more useful piece in an SHTF situation. This includes working up cast bullet loads for small game and fun.

Either cartridge responds well to reloading, well at least the two mentioned does for me. Probably the most practical of the two would be the .308. but I like them both.

PJ

Ruger American Ranch....in 5.56

Why?
Bolt action....it will run anything I reload and off the shelf too. From .22 LR loads to full power .223 remington loads.
Short 16 inch barrel.
It is lightweight.
Easy to use.
Inexpensive to feed.
It takes AR magazines and has a good twist rate.

Recipe load is two fold..... #1 is 55 grain hornady with 23 grains of TAC........#2 is 77 grain tipped match kings with 24.2 grains of BLC2.

Scope is a Burris FF2 3x9.

Best
Heavy

Tough choice but probably this 700 mountain rifle in 30-06 . Timney , Leupold 3.5-10 in a Greyboe stock. For a do all I might switch from the 165 gr Ballistic tips it currently shoots to a 165 gr Barnes , Accubond or Partition.

For 5 decades my general purpose rifle FOR HUNTING BIG GAME, was/is a post 64 Model 70 Winchester, 300WM. I used/use it for, antelope, black bear, caribou, lots of elk and mule deer. It still shoots an inch at 100 yards. Recently I was gifted with a Kimber Alpine Lite, 280AI, of which I have killed my last three elk with. But if i am thinking anything beyond 400 yards, or an animal that will eat me I would be carrying the 300WM

If a new guy ask me that question about hunting here in Idaho I'd say buy a Tikka T3X Lite in 6.5 Creedmoor. Put a Vortex Viper 2.5-10x44 on it and you are good to go. While a little light for elk (still works) the 6.5 is a fantastic mule deer round. Super accurate, easy too shoot, and low recoil. Ammo available with lots of options or easy to reload for if you go that route. The 6.5CM has taken over for the .243Win, .308Win and even the 30-06 for a do it all caliber in my safe.

FWIW: I still own a pre 64 M70 30Govt06. That is still a classic and will do everything the 6.5CM will and more. But, the recoil is substantially more. I had it out shooting last weekend and put 40 rounds through it. Had a headache the rest of the day.......can shoot every round I have in the 6.5CM and still be grinning at the end of the day.

IF you were to hunt elk every year then the '06 would get the nod. But if you are like most in this state you draw a bull tag about ever 7-8 years, so deer hunting is much more common.

Mine is my old 7MM Remington Magnum built on a LH Model 70 action. On its third barrel and it’s definitely a favourite.

you hunting them "PA mountain deer"? back in the 'early '90s, my dad (RIP) and my best friend each got a "mountain doe" that they carried it on their shoulders. i had a chance to kill a "mountain doe" but when i seen it, i thought it was a fawn so i let it go. my dad told me that the deer in this area are small, not like "farmland deer" which go 150lbs +/-. average. we were hunting in Bedford County near the town of Woodbury. on the farmland side of the mountain, the deer would average 150lbs. on the other side of the mountain, the deer would average 70-80lbs. i forget (its been about 30 years ago) but there might be a ridgetop or two of mountain deer until they get to the other side of mountain then it is farmland deer again.

i hunt in Somerset County and the average deer is around 140-150lbs. this year i shot a big old dry doe that i guesstimate is around 200lbs. i know she is big old dry doe because every night she comes into my yard alone. until i shot her, that is.

The question is totally irrelevant if you want to encompass everything from rodents to DG.

But if you want to focus on the middle, non-dangerous BG, then there are dozens to choose from within infinite overlap from the 243 range to the 300 range.

Pick what you like, use bullets appropriate to the game & rock on.

Or take up more bandwidth will silly, banal questions.

MM

Bolt Action, SS, .30-06, Classic synthetic stock, iron sights, sling,buttcuff, Weaver bases and rings, 2.5-8x36mm Leupold. Spare scope already sighted in in rings

I have a M70 Classic All-Terrain FW and a Kimber Montana that fit this description. I would like to add a Ruger Hawkeye SS LW to my safe when I find one.

My one golf club 6 iron

Early Sako TRG22 308, 3.5x15 NX , NF rings, 4 x10 rd ACIS mags 1000 Sierra 175 gr TMK

That concept has lead to a several rifles and cartridges for me. Though, for my-do-all North America type game above coyote size, my cartridge choice would still be 338 Winchester. Stainless barrel and action, and synthetic stock. Action type, Ruger, M70 Classic, or Kimber would work for me. A low to mid range variable scope. I would add iron sights to make it closer to my-near-perfect. My only added accessory would be a sling. It would spend most of its time in the pack.

Type of game, terrain, hunting conditions, personal preferences vary so much; I do not think the universal do-all exists. I could substitute substitute a few different cartridges for the 338 Winchester and adapt. I have rifles in 8mm through .375 that I acquired for a do-all. Since I don't hunt-all, several only see range time.

Edit: Including my 338's to the mostly range time.

Current production Winchester M70 Featherweight Compact in 308, add aftermarket open sights, Leupold 1.5X4 LPVO, Vickers Adjustable Tactical sling with quick release sling mount adapter on the right upper rear side of the butt stock satisfies my needs.

Requested: 1) action 2) caliber 3) stock style 4) accessories.

1) CZ 550 or Ruger Hawkeye.

2) 9.3x62 or 9.3x66

3) American straight stock

4) 2.5-8x Leupold VX3i, Talley low rings, Decelerator recoil pad, open sights, barrel band sling swivel, straightened bolt handle.

I achieve these last accessories through my custom rifles made by Wayne at AHR rifles, which also includes gorgeous walnut stocks with a black fore end tip. Lipsey’s specials in Ruger Africans also.

I hunt America and Africa, so given one rifle to do it all, it must be DG capable chambered. My last Buffalo in Zambia last year was a 46” trophy taken with my AHR 9.3x66 and a 286 gr. NP. If I were to hunt only America, it would be a 30-06 to cover everything from Pronghorn to Bears. It would be with either my AHR custom 30-06 or my Ruger Express rifle in 30-06.

A single shot like the Blaser 95, synthetic 30/06
Or
A customized Browning B78, synthetic, skeletonized
30/06. 22" barrel
A high quality, 2x7x40 scope / sleek with out any extra dials or knobs
Simple

You have good taste; W70 in 30-06, McMillan

Start with a Winchester pre64 M70 featherweight like ctw has in the classifieds RIGHT NOW (30-06) and throw an older Leupy 3-9x or "fixed" 4x or 6x and go conquer the world! A .270 would be just as good! You will never lose a dime and stand as good a chance at making a few bucks as with ANY other rifle out there.

"Honorable mention" would include .243 or .308 calibers, newer Weaver or Burris scopes, and a ~$500 McMillan synthetic stock if you must have one for weather reasons. If SS is a "must" for the same reasons, go Tikka for the same general price or $1500-$2000 for a 700KS or maybe a little less for a "classic" M70 CF "stainless".

Can't hardly miss on the first option though!

One man - one rifle, got to go with the NULA 28 style Colt Light Rifle action made by Saco Defense, #2 Douglas 24-inch, stainless barrel in 7PRC put together with their NULA spec stock, trigger, etc. by Outkast Arms. Bare rifle weighs 5.98lbs. Might go with the Burris FF2 2-7 ballistic plex in low weaver tip-offs instead of the 2-7 illuminated Sig in low Warn Vapors. And, the sling would have to be a leather Whelen by Hunter. Homemade rain/snow hood for the ocular and flip up for the objective. She's off getting a new paint job and Outkast's "Super CLR" 3.7 inch mag box conversion. Why is this my choice? Because it's one of the best close-range woods guns I've ever shot. The weight, balance, stock fit, scope ergos, etc. are magical. Shoots the factory 160gr CX monos into little bitty groups. And, I have to confirm (I've to date been a strictly short-range guy) but, thinking she'll be pretty good way out there (450 yds is my goal ). Just so happens according to Strelock that the 160gr CX factory load sighted 2 inches high at 100yds puts it on the first hash mark of a Burris ballistic plex at 285, 2nd hash mark 400, 3rd hash mark at 500yds. "Ain't too many problems a man need flee with seven hundred dollars and 7PRC!"

From coyotes to moose: Winchester M70 Stainless in 30-06, Bansner stock, Talley steel rings, Leupold 3.5-10x40. Probably use 168gr TTSX or 180gr Accubonds.

With the 168's, try some H 4350. Generates the higheat levels of accuracy in my .30/06.

Will-do!

Good choice Maybe substitute rifle for kimber montana if I found one that shot sub moa with a good 165 grain like Barnes ttsx or nosler accubond and 58.5 grains of 4350(have lots of the stuff).

98 8x57 4x Leupold...... Didn't want to waste words.....

[quote=pathfinder76]Mine is my old 7MM Remington Magnum built on a LH Model 70 action. On its third barrel and it’s definitely a favourite.









That is a spectacular whitetail.

Have to agree with that assessment nor could I find fault with a guy who takes his wife along looks like they had a spectacular day..mb

Action: lightweight bolt action with a sporter/light-sporter barrel - both stainless, nitrided coated action, whatever coating on barrel.

Cartridge: There's so many capable rounds, as a one gun I'd make it a common round, .223 (fast twist required), 6.5 CM, .308 - whichever fits your preference and majority of use

Stock style: Carbon/lightweight stock - more and more I'm preferring a vertical grip. Grayboe's Trekker works well for me offhand or prone but there's lots of good choices. The "Rokstock" design should be a good one.

Accessories:
Scope - probably the S&B PMII 6x or SWFA 3-9x42.
Pic rail for ease of scope change if needed/desired.
APA low 30mm rings.
SWFA bubble level on the scope.
I prefer to carry/hunt with a blind mag but I'd probably go with M5 inlet
Hawkins hunter bm
MDT flush fit 3 round mags for hunting for standard rounds...Hawkins flush fit .223 mags for hunting if it's a .223. Larger capacity AICS mags things other than hunting.
Simple nylon Mt Sling.

M70 EW/SS in .270 Winchester topped w/ a Leupold VX-3i 2.5-8x36mm, and a cotton USGI web sling.

Mostly 150 gr. Speer Grand Slam at 2800 fps or 140 gr. TSX at a little over 2900, with the occasional factory Federal 130 gr TrophyCopper.

Because it's easy to shoot well from field positions - and it works.






GR

CZ 550 in 500 Jeffery. From jack rabbits to T-Rexs 570g Barnes TSX at 2300 fps AHR's #1 upgrade (single stage match trigger, 3 position M70 type safety, straighten and fill bolt)

My CZ 550 in 6.5x55 is similarly accurate. 5 shots in 1 5/8" at 300 yds with handloads and 24 x dot scope. Hard on brass due to tapered case. My 243 Sako has served multipurpose use. Barrel life not great for target shooting. Light Blue Dot loads for small game is more of a gimmick than necessity when a 22 magnum will do the same in reverse order at short distances. So that rolls into the 223 territory plus cheap target shooting in a long lasting barrel. Not great for elk, etc. Now we're back to 30 06!

Good question; can't be more than three or four dozen correct answer's to this question! But I'm a bolt action kind of guy and probably would use a mod 700, mod 70, some mod Sako bolt action or who knows, maybe a Savage! I don't generally go looking for bears but suspect having a cartridge that would work on them would be a good idea. Also don't shoot at over 300 yds and only done that one time. I think at my age and sight problem I'd be best served with a vairable scope although my favorite scope now is a very old Redfield 2 3/4x fixed scope. I probably have six different rifles right now that would work well with little changes. First change on any of them would be the scope. For big game I can see no use for a variable over 2-7x. Smaller and a bit lighter than anything bigger. Guy's always looking to lower the weight of their hunting rifles and seems the reason is so they can add more after market products! Actually about as good a hunting scope as you can get is probably a fixed 4x! Thinking of myself, even at 300yds my 2 3/4x has enough to regularly hit about 8" targets at 300yds, there is not really any need to have a rifle set up to shoot 1" groups at 300yds other than ego. Zeroing my hunting rifles I generally trip over group size! Ego!

There is nothing I'll ever hunt again that a 140 to 180 gr bullet will not kill very well. Another thing, I hate recoil so that will keep bullet weight and velocity down. Let's see my 6.5x55 would fill the bill very well. Only Winchester I've ever hunted with much. No reflection on Winchester, I just like different rifles. Come to think of it my new to me 260 might also do well here, mod 700 ADL with a Lilja barrel! has a 2-7x Redfield on it and looking to load it with 140gr Speer Hot Cores. Probably my 25-06 would work well with the right bullet!

I like it!

Me2. I could be happy with several calibers and/or rifles that I’ve used over the years. But if I had to pick just one to use anywhere for any non dangerous game it’d be my 300Wby built on a M70 by Echols. It checks every box.

That combo works beautifully in my #1B, for everything from coyotes to elk.

MkII boat paddle stainless in 270Win. Timmney trigger, Luepold 2-7x33, Walmart synthetic sling. Bedded, action painted semigloss black, stock in textured cast iron.

I have just finished up what started out as a R700 ADL Varmint. Had the barrel cut to 20" with recessed target crown, Timney Elite Hunter trigger, Magpul R700 Hunter stock with the magazine kit. It is topped with of all things a Mueller APT scope which is very clear. The rifle shoots very tight groups.

I always want to dream up something different. I don’t know why. But really, we could likely all say that. lol.