Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles In search of the "Holy Grail"...again

OK, so yet again I'm considering putting together one rifle to do 90% of the hunting I plan, hope and dream, to do in the next 5 or so years and wanted some input.

I guess the place to start is to list the hunts I'd like to do with this "Holy Grail" of rifles. So, I hope to complete a couple of the NA "Slams", BTW I'm not real fond of that word and aint into record keeping. But I would like to hunt the remaining NA deer (mule, columbia blacktail, stika blacktail and coues) and caribou (mountain, woodland and central barren ground). I also hope to do at least one moose hunt, we're talking about going to New Zealand for red stag/fallow deer in the next couple of years and we have a deposit on another trip to Africa, where I would use this rifle for plains game. Plus I'm always open for a black bear hunt and NA antelope.

Now for the rifle I have in mind. After years of owning and hunting with different makes of rifles I've found a few likes and dislikes I personally have when it comes to a rifle fo me. Even though I love the look and feel of a nice classic wood stock I'm just too hard on them and after a few hunts a wood stock wouldn't be pretty any more, so this rifle will wear either a McMillan or a Rimrock stock. Barrel length, no matter the caliber, will be 24" because thats what I like. I've also learned the value of having iron sights on a rifle so this one will have them. As to the action I wouldn't have a problem with either a Remington BDL or an older Sako and don't want to get into the PF vs CRF thing. Both barrel and action will be matte finished. Which leaves the real burning question... which caliber? 30-06 or 300win.?

I think if I had to hunt the world with one rifle, it would be a .338 Win Mag.....

Heck you KNEW that this is going to cover a lot more cartridges than just those two <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

My vote would be for a Model 70 or Rem 700 SS in a Mickey with light fill, NECG banded front sight (blade not bead), single standing rear sight. Caliber either .280 or 30-06. Prolly the 30-06, shoot some 165 gr to 168 gr TSX for everything and IMHO you are there. Scope would be a fixed 6x36, B&R would be Talley QD's.

Just my .02 worth. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Copy Brad's 30-06

JimF

I'm missing something here????

Mark,

Incoming PM

MtnHtr

Have looked at the 35 Whelen. At normal factory loadings its not that much more of a kick than the 30-06 but when you want more punch---Nosler's factory ammunition is great! And if you handload its even more versitile. Just a thought.

Back before everything went bad, Celt built a rifle for me that covers everything your looking for. Rem 700 with Pac Nor Match grade barrel twisted for 180 grainers, Mikey mountain stock by Rickasso. Only thing different is the barrel is 22 inch cause that is what I like in a mountain rifle. She is SWEET, and I would not hesitate to take her on any of the hunts you list. Definitely my go to gal for just about everything. JMHO TM

Jim, that's quite a compliment! For an all-arounder a 30-06 flatly works. This one has accounted for several antelope from 225 to just over 300 yards, deer, elk and black bear:

I agree, thats why I've got a CDL in 35 whelen. But still, its sort of lacking in the long range department and I've made a couple of long range shots with mine.

Ray, PM sent.

Brad, tell me more about her.

THAT, would be the one.......... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

JimF

Couldn't agree more. In fact, I did just that, with a few modifications and divergences. It's my favourite rifle.

I too would do a 30-06. In fact I just picked up another JC Higgins FN 98 in an '06 just for that reason.

it's true that the 06 does it all...
in parts of the world, though, the winnie makes doing it all easier.....

actually, i'm really fond of the 7mms... whelen probably said it best-"a little better hunting bullet", if i recall the quote correctly...
i've owned a couple of 7 mm rifles and if i were picking a cartridge to go any where and do anything, a .280 would have to receive serious consideration.....

when considering the winnie for a hunting rifle, i look at the useful bullets and what it will do with them... a 200 partition or similar at 2800, or so, gives any rifleman all the reach, the smash, and the trash that he could ask for...

the ,280 gives about the same velocities to the heavier 7mm bullets as the winnie gives to the 30s..... john w

a friends remington custom shop 700 mountain rifle in .280 comes conspicously to mind..... john w

As far as I'm concerned, the 300 Win. Mag. simply can't be beat for all of the hunting you've outlined here, and I've used it myself for many years, for everything from Mexican Coues deer to sheep to elk to moose to bears, as well as all manner of African plainsgame. It'll do all that the 30-06 will do and then some, plus it shoots flatter and delivers more energy at all ranges, making it even more versatile than the '06 itself. Plus, you can house it in a handy 24" barrel and achieve full velocity. Accuracy is typically fantastic (clue: used by 85% of the 1,000 yd. Wimbleton winners over the last 40-some years); the case itself is one of the strongest ever developed; and it's not the least bit fussy to work with, unlike my 7mm magnums, 280s, 338s, etc.

It's so versatile that you can use it for all NA big game as well as all African plainsgame, and with it handle all such situations that you'll run into in a walk. It's good for at least 99% of the world's big game, plus it's AVAILABLE in terms of ammo and brass. You'd only need something bigger for elephant, rhino, Cape buffalo, hippo, and big Asiatic bovines such as Guar.............

AD

just go to the store a buy a stainless Tikka T3 in 30-06... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

That's easy split the difference and get a short fatty. I split the two right down the middle with a 300 saum. I love mine.

30-06, 308, or 300 WSM. OF course the 338 will handle everything, even coyotes.