Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles If you were to start over today

Agree w Steelhead. But I split the diff:
22 + 30\2 = 26 cal.
Medium wt. Bbl = 1 rifle

6.5x47L in fluted Light Palma

If not handloading ~ 6.5 Creedmoor

Don't forget a 6x scope. (Splits a 3-9x)

7x57

A 7-lb .308/7-08 or 7-1/2 lb 30-06. Boring but practical.

I think it would likely be a Tikka T3 chambered for 7mm/08. I could be entirely happy with Leupold 6x42 and a LRD.

or 223 and 7x57.

I think Steelhead's answer is very sensible. I would likely do something very similar, but would probably skip the AI version.

Quality .22LR bolt rifle.
Light .223 bolt gun
Heavy .223 bolt gun
Light .308 bolt gun
Heavy .308 bolt gun
Midweight AR in .223

8" twist on the .223s and 10" or 11" twist on the .308s, both throated properly.

Not much I couldn't do with the above and logistics would be as good as it gets.

John

I did.
I purchased a new 7x57. That covers anything in the lower 48.
John

im sitting pretty well, although there is probably too much overlap.

my main hunting rifles:
223(ar15)
243
257wby
7 LRM
300WSM.

I could scratch the 243 & 300 and be perfectly fine. Or,scratch the 257 and 300.

280 AI
300 WSM

Both would be completely custom built with Borden actions.....which I've already done.

I've always wanted a Winchester model 70 .280 Rem. I have one in .270 and maybe that's close enough?

.007 - James Bond would agree
Simply load 140 AB, 150 BTs, and 160 PT - and you are there.

If itsa FWT you are not far off.

If I were to start over today it would be much different, because you have the choice of more than two types of bullets...those that blow up and those that don't expand at all. I can do things with a 45 grn monolithic bullet today, that it required a 165 grain soft point to do 45 years ago.

It's not. I'll probably have to find myself a Featherweight .280 at some point. I never owned an FWT.

What I have now:
Model 70 FW 270 (pre 64)
Model 70 30/06 (pre 64)
Ruger 10/22
Whitworth 375 H&H

If I would have just started there!

Matching set of stainless Win 70's in 260rem, 358win, some variety of 375/416, Mickey stocks, Leupold 2.5-8's. Of course some sort of 22, also. And a few shotguns. And of course a few handguns. And....back to square one....

I would start with this combo of components, Husky 1900 action, Hart barrel, McMillan stock and chamber it in 280 Ackley.

The 45-70 wont work in Alaska??

If we're talking just big game then basically what I have ended up with as my Go-To hunting rifles.

Remington Model 7KS Custom Shop .350 Remington Magnum. Will do anything from small game with pistol bullets to the biggest bears with 250s. Weighs 7# ready to gun and is a joy to carry.... Has a Leupold 1.75-6 on it right now but just found a 2.5-8 with a B&C reticle that will probably go on it...





Second gun would be for longer ranges. Debated a long time over a .264 Winchester Magnum vs. a .257 Weatherby Magnum and the Weatherby won out. Always wanted one but didn't like the Weatherby stock design but when the Remington 700 CDL stainless fluted came out I bought one. Shoots .3 moa with 120 Speer BTs at 3200 fps. 6.5-18 Shepherd scope is on top and matches the ballistic drop reticle out to 600 yards. With light bullets would be a great long range varminter, heavies will do elk in a pinch.







Last gun would be a backup and general purpose rifle in .308. Kimber Montana, Remington Model SEVEN, most any light weight stainless/synthetic stocked rifle. Right now the bill is filled by a Remingtom Model SEVEN stainless/synthetic. It has a 20" barrel and is .5 moa accurate. If I kept it the only change would to put it in the same stock that the 7KS is in. One of the discontinued Remington AWR with a 22" blackened stainless barrel in .308 would be perfect...





Left shot was a called pull so I fired one more...



Bob

Were I starting over today I would follow the same path again. A wonderfully eclectic variety of rifles have passed through my hands in my life. If I had to pick just one out of all of them to fill my hunting/experimenting urges I wouldn't cry if it were a classic .30-06 sporter built on an '03 Springfield.