Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles One rifle, all of North America.

Here's a thought. If you were setting out to build a rifle as good as it could be built, with the expectation that it could be the last one you ever had, and wanted it to handle any big game hunting you might do in North America, what would it be? CRF or not? Lightweight or anvil weight? All of us want a rifle that weighs a pound or less, shoots to point of aim out to infinity, and kicks like a bull-barreled .22LR, but if you were to have only one rifle for the rest of your days, what would you need? Super reliable, supremely sturdy, and as accurate as possible are my criteria.

I have gotten the old idea of "beware the man with one gun" in my head, and can't get it out. Figured I'd share the misery and let you guys twist your minds up trying to come up with the perfect all-around rifle, too. Right now, I am leaning toward a CRF action, with sporter weight barrel, synthetic stock, iron sights and fixed power scope. I want reliability first, shootability a close second, and the sturdiest setup I can build. Weight comes dead last, behind accuracy, which needs to be 1.5moa or less. I'd still like to keep the weight under 8.5 lbs. all up, if possible. What would you do? Caliber, action, barrel, stock, scope? What's your idea of the ultimate all-around hunting rifle for this continent?

Kimber Montana 84L in 30-06. End of story.

One of three choices:

Marlin 1895GBL with some custom work 45/70. This is on my short list of rifles to buy.

Currently at the smith: Remington ADL in 30-06 in a take off stock from a Ti has the iron sights on it and is being bedded. It will wear a leupold FXII 6x with Post/duplex in a set of talleys or Warne QR.

Third choice is a BLR in 358 wearing a VX3 2.5x8x36 again in some sort of QR. I really want this rifle, but it will be a while before funds allow for that one.

The first two on my list could do it all with no problem with no worry on reliability. The BLR might not be the best one rifle choice, but its one I'd sure like to have.

imo, any decent bolt 30-06 would work (ditto the 7remmag).

If I had to go back to one factory rifle, I would go back to the one that I started with: a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .30-06. These days, it would probably be the Extreme Weather version. If I were doing a build, it would be a Model 70 action, Featherweight contour barrel, cerakoted, in a McMillan Edge classic stock. FWIW...

encore, light weight, packable, accurate, reliable, affordable, and can carry an extra barrel if needed.

m70 CRF, McMillan edge stock, 22" barrel with sights, fairly light contour, Cerkoted, Talley QDs I might do 300wsm but about any cartridge between 7mag and 338wm would do fine. Scope wise maybe a 2.5-8 or 3.5-10 VX3 withe B&C reticle.

M70 EW in .30-06

Good Walnut, polished blue, maybe a 7x57? I like classics, any flavor would really work for me.

Something stainless in a McMillan.

My G33/40, in my old Brown or an Edge, with a Lilja #2 cut to 23" on it, Talley's, Uncle Mikes mtn sling and a 2-8 Leo with dotz in it.

Dober

Mudhen, noknees, Blargon, we think somewhat alike.

As to the remington 700 folks, I have a Mountain Guide in .308, which would be almost perfect, were it not for the tiny extractor. For an all-around rifle, I like the CRF rifles as much for the beefy extractor as for the minute possibility that they might be needed during a rough-and-tumble with an angry carnivore. In a rifle that I intend to have as an only rifle in remote areas and over a lifetime, parts failure is to be avoided at all costs. The simple, open trigger mechanism of the Model 70 and Mauser actions, as well as that giant claw extractor, go a long way toward this goal. Less parts to break, and what parts there are being designed to be tough and not give the elements or dirt any way to cause damage is important. For this reason, I personally do not like the 700 with its small extractor and closed trigger mechanism(for this job). By the same token, I want follow-up shot capability, so the single-shots, as nice as they are, are out for me.

Dober, I notice there's no reference to a chambering... not surprising as it's the rifleman, not the cartridge, that makes the difference.

Tikka Lam/SS, or Sako Grey Wolf
7MM Rem Mag
Zeiss Conquest 3-9X40MC

I already have it. It is an Interarms Mark X with a 26" barrel chambered in .375 H&H. Wears a 3X9 Leupold & a Bell & Carlson stock. Pobably goes 10-10.5 lbs. The only thing I would change on this rifle is getting it sooner.

More of the same here. I would take my pet Pre-64 M70 fwt 30-06 and put it in a Hunter's EDGE. On top a VX-3 2.5-8 with B&C reticle in low rings. To do this I would have the bolt bent down and reblued so it would clear the ocular.

Load up some 150TSX's to 2950 or 165TSX's to 2875 and I'm good to go.

M70 CRF stainless action fitted with 24 inch stainless barrel of medium contour. Cerakoted matte black on all parts that would normally be blued. NECG barrel band front sight with Talley bases with built-in rear aperture on rear mount. QD Talley steel rings. Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36 with standard duplex. All in an olive McMillan Edge stock.

Caliber: 338 Winchester Magnum.

For me, it'd be a M70 pre-64 or classic in a McMillan, chambered in 300 Wby. That round is just very versatile. Can load down to '06 velocity with ease and push to beast level without breaking a sweat. Plenty, but not too much for everything. I'd want it to come in around 8lbs. flat.

David

Mine is in the gun safe.
Kimber Montana in 300 WsM
Leupold 1.75x6 in talley lightweight rings
Barnes TSX 200 gr at 2750 fps
I could use this rig the rest of my hunting career here in AK.

Pre 64 M70 FW 30/06.