If you were limited to one rifle only, what model and what cartridge.

To be more specific, scope, mounts, and limited to anything less than elk. No moose, bears, ect.

I'm going with an older model 700 in 6mm rem with a shilen number 2 8" twist. Leupold dual dovetails, leupold vx5 2-10x42.

Remember this is your only rifle, from muskrats to elk.
Let's hear it!

Custom bolt action 30.06

I would say my 7-08AI. It is a Tikka action with a Bartlein #13 (Rem varmint) contour, 20” and threaded 5/8-24 for use with my Dead Air Sandman Ti suppressor. It sits in a McMillan Game Hunter stock with Mountain Tactical bottom metal and factory M+ mags.

This should be fun. Got to be my $499 special Mauser M12 in .308 with a Z3 3-9 in Talley LW's.

Montana, 7-08, 6x scope. Done.

Rem 700 in 308 with Ziess 3-9x40

Probably my Model 7, 7mm-08 wearing an SPS takeoff cut to 22" and sitting in a Model 7 factory predator stock.

Anymore I could do just as well with my stainless Model 7 in 6x45.

If I could still get out and hunt it would most likely be my old Swedish Ma user I have had since sometime in the 80s. Finally got it the way I wanted a few years ago. Full stock, with a piece of deer antler on the fore end. Stained to match the old Winchester color. Rust blued. Have an old Leopold on it. Can't remember the exact numbers on it right now. Always has been accurate with 129gr but been loading 140gr SSTs lately. Some of you can relate. It is an old friend.

Accurate bolt action 30-06 with a good 3 x9 scope.

From what I have, likely my model 70 classic featherweight in 25-06

Or my fairly new to me Sako AII .243

Or my MRC X2 1/8 .260

Just maybe my Savage 99 EG .300

Possibly my NIB Model 70 Classic FWT .308

Or a tanger M77r .270 that I've shot a little but never hunted

Post hunting season cabin fever setting in at the campfire.

I'll play. 30-06 and party on.

That is a deal on an M12, IMHO.

ya!

GWB

Colt Accurized Rifle (CR6724)

I wouldn’t change anything, one rifle/cartridge for everything since 1990……including moose, bears, and the occasional T-Rex! memtb

old faithful = Ruger #1 257 Weatherby Mag. been using it on Whitetail and Mule deer bucks for around 20 years Nightforce scope 4.5-14 x56 ,picatinny mnts . play on

Pass me a Blaser R8 in 7-08 with a Swaro Z6 2.5-15x44 riding on top for general purpose duty. The rules didn't stipulate only one barrel, so that gives me flexibility to swap things around for more specific tasks like gophers/prairie dogs.

Mauser action 30-06. Pacific Research stock. Fixed 6x scope, Zeiss or Leupold.

I've got all the ingredients, not on one rifle at the moment.

BRNO ZG-47 in 9,3x62 with two 2,5x20 Leupold in Alaska Arms rings.

I think I could keep it simple with a Bergara Ridge 308
With a Meopro 2.5 to 10

This would cover me I think
And it simple economical accurate dependable and I can use 700 stuff for some upgrades (bases trigger etc)

I am in the market for one right now

Hank

the same one i've been killing deer with since 1990. Marlin 336 in .35Rem.

My Kimber Hunter in 6.5CM and SWFA 3x9MQ.
It has an Open Country camo stock and TI tactical bolt handle…

It’s name is “Killer” for a reason….

Tikka T3X 22-250 8 twist converted/re-chambered to 22 Creedmoor with 3-12 LRTS/LRHS scope mounted in Seekins medium rings on a Mountain Tactical rail.

More than likely, from a practicality standpoint, my Ruger GSR.

Browning A-Bolt in .270 Win with a 4x12 Bushnell 3200 with bdc reticle.

.308

Practicality dictates it be my M70 stainless featherweight. 270win. With 3-9x40 Leopold.

For me it's a ruger mk2 wood/blue in 30-06 with a leupold 3-9×40.

The one I started with back in 1971. Remington 700 30/06 with Redfield 1 piece mount & rings. Scope is a Leupold VarX-III 2.5x8 plex. It's taken everything in NA from hogs in TX, elk-antelope--muleys--black bear in CO, moose in WY, whitetail deer in PA and MS & grizzly bear in AK

Flip a coin, as there is no exact answer. Many cartridges will do the same thing. I would have to take my Ruger American .308, with the 6x, though, for a one-and-done.

My Remington 700 KS SS .280 in a McMillan from the Custom Shop

My wife just has one rifle, a first generation Kimber 7/08 with a 1X4 heavy cross hair Leupold.

She only has one shotgun, too a 1955 M-42 factory vent rib. Do not tell her a 410 won't work on 16 yard trap...she went 17 straight then put her gun in the case...."hard to find those AA#9s "she said.

>>>If the last three white tails are any indication, a 22/250 and 65 grain Game Kings are serious deer killers. I am haunted by rifles.

If forced to choose one I already own, Fieldcraft 6.5 CM. If starting from scratch today, a custom lightweight 308. Scope would be SWFA 3-9 or Athlon 2-12 in Warne Mtn Tech rings on a 20 MOA rail.

Savage 99F 284.

Montana 7-08 2-7X33

This is sure a good one

Hank

I'm in the process of building it now:

Stainless Rem 700 trued action
24" Bartlein 2B in .300WM
Manners EH3 stock
3-18X Leupold VX6HD with B&C reticle, in Tallet LW mounts

The Manners is on order and the Bartlein arrived last month. I had the bolt skeltonized and fluted last year. I can easily load it down to 30-06.

It would be my Winnie classic in 7 mag. Had Pac Nor swap the crappy stock bbl with the boss for a stainless and bedded it in a mcmillan. It wears a M8 6X Leupy and has been my go to rifle for years.

I have others I like too, but I always seem to favor this one....

If I had to get rid of all my big game hunting rifles and settle on just one, it would be my Bergara Mountain 2.0 in 6.5 PRC that I acquired last year. It is light, very accurate, and with my handloads of Barnes LRX and Hornady ELD-X bullets, I have a great all-around shooter that I can use for everything from pronghorns to elk. Plus, I have now assembled a lifetime of components, including powder, brass, bullets, primers, and powder.

No bears or moose? Easily a NULA or Forbes Model 24/24B chambered in a 270 Winchester.

Talley LWs
SWFA 3-9×42

I’d be boring and take a tikka stainless 270, or maybe even 7mm Rem mag.

Custom 700 25-06, Leupold 3.5-10x40.

Rem 660 308, in a Brown Precision stock i fit with my own 3 left hands, Decelerator pad.
Talleys hold a 3x9 Vari-x II.

165gr BTs from the 100 count boxes, too much 4895, CCI Primer.
Or 165 Sierra BTHP over a bunch of BLC-2, same primer.

If elk were on the menu I might go with some of the 180 Pro-hunters the 30-06 likes.
Might try a new powder too.

A collapsible buttstock AR15 in a cartridge bigger than 5.56 with a LPVO, 2-7x or 3-9x scope.

My Remington 700 in .257 weatherby Burris signature 4x16

A stainless steel Model 70 FW CRF in .30-06, one with the original style trigger. It has added iron sights and Weaver style Warne all steel bases. I have Leupold QR rings on one scope and 4x4 rings on the other. Both scopes are Leupold 2.5-8x36 models. I have an HDI 2.5-8 with a CDS coupon I will probably put on it this spring. If this was my only rifle One of the scopes would be either a 3.5-10 or a 2.5-10 VX5 I got off the Fire. As it is I keep lighter scopes on it to keep weight down. The sling is a LW home made 1" nylon with Shoe-Goo to keep it on my shoulder. I have also changed out the bottom metal to slimmer models rather than the thick cast stuff that was on it.

It is Devcon steel bedded into the original "All Terrain" Tupperware stock, it is plenty accurate. . I have a Brown I was going to put on it but that stock has a defect I need to solve. Again, if it was my one and only I would probably put a Bansner blind magazine stock on it to allow it to be a couple ounces lighter. I put a Bansner on the Pre 64 Featherweight I gave my oldest son and found I really like it.

99F-284

Now that I’m old and not likely to wander much or go for anything big, my 6.5 Grendel could easily do it all, with less powder, less recoil, and long barrel-life. Howa Mini in a light stock and hinged floorplate from Wayne York. Trijicon Credo HX 1-6. Less than 6.5 pounds.

I really need to read all of the post! So now I’ll quote myself, then give details!

Original post….
I wouldn’t change anything, one rifle/cartridge for everything since 1990……including moose, bears, and the occasional T-Rex!

Details: Semi-Custom Winchester Model 70, “Tefloned” action, 24” Douglas Match Grade SS barrel in lightest contour, Express sights - 2 leaf folding rear, front sling swivel on barrel, McMillan Sporter stock, Pachmyar Decerator pad, Leupold 3.5-10 x 40 in Leupold Quick Release system (a Leupold 2.5-8 with same system already zero’d).

The rifle weighs 9# 1 ounce (scoped, fully loaded, and slung). It is chambered in .375 AI. With cast bullets @ around 1400 fps - good for small game, plinking, or in a pinch….big game. Presently running Barnes 250 grain TTSX’s @ 3130 capable of sub 2”, 3 shot groups @ 300 yards. Will be working on a load with Barnes 270 grain LRX’s…..hoping for a very accurate 3000+ fps load!

There you have it ……from Muskrats (and smaller) to anything on terra firma! memtb

Out of the box,

A SS Tikka in 308 with a Zeiss conquest 3-9X40 in Talley lightweight mounts. A good argument can be made for 6.5CM or 7-08, but I have a 308 and don't want to change at this stage of my life.

With some custom touches my SS Winchester 70 EW 308 in a McMillan stock with the same scope.

They weigh the same, accuracy is the same. I trust the CRF Winchester to be a tiny bit more reliable. But I can buy 3 Tikka's for what it would cost to put together another Winchester with the same components.

This except make my scope a 2.5x8.

Same as last time. LH Rem 700 KS .270 with 2.5-8 Leupold on top.

My old custom Rem 700 in 270 with leupold vx3 4.5-14

Lou

One rifle, that is just lunacy..

6.5x55, husky Mauser.

I must have been a wise 16 year old, bought a Ruger tanger in 270 Win and stuck a 6x Leupold on it. It still gets the job done but as I get older, it gets heavier.

Dale

Mine is 1984 Win Model 70 Carbine in 30/06 - push feed. Has 2X-7x Redfield scope in Leupold QR engraved mounts. Fits me perfectly and I generally shoot 165 grain rounds either factory or hand loads.
My backup rifle is a Ruger 77 tanger RSI in 308. It’s got an older Browning (really an early 2X-7X Burris) on it in Redfield mounts and rings. I usually shoot 150 grain factory (mostly Federal and Winchester) in it. I got the scope at a pawnshop for $5 cos the crosshairs were broken. Paid S & H to Burris and they refurbished it free of charge and sent it back wearing
bikini rubber lens protectors. The 3 sons argue over these 2 and who will get them at my demise. I’m old (73) and definitely old school. The rifles are old too. Got the Ruger in early 1980s and Winchester about the same time. Used my jobs mileage reimbursement to get both.

Another only 1 suck thread ,you on some antigunner payroll?

Hanco, nice buck.

These are fun sometimes. But I don't get capping it at elk. (I think most folks would shoot a moose with anything they'd shoot an elk with?)

M70 FWT 280 Rem. Montana sling. DNZ 1 piece Reaper base. 30 year old Leupold. Norma Oryx 156s.

Some people's kids huh?

Pre 64 Win 70 30-06 with iron sights just in case Leupold 4.5-14x40 CDS fails

The thought of being limited to only one rifle hurts my soul but if I had to choose just one from the safe, after kicking and screaming and holding my breath until I turned blue....

I suppose it'd be the LH Browning X-Bolt in .30-06 topped with a 3-9 Trijicon Credo in Talley rings. I can't think of anything that rifle couldn't do.

Yup, you've got me pegged.
Far from it bud.

I have been wanting a Ruger Scout in .223 or the Predator in .223. I haven't seen one in a long time although I know they show up on gun Broker. I guess I will have to use my Remington 700, Ruger American compact or one of my AR's until the right one comes along.

If I have to go big I have a Springfield 1903 in 30-06 in the gun safe with several hundred rounds loaded up for it.

kwg

For my one and only big game rifle, I’d go with my Tikka T3, 3.5-10 with CDS in Talley’s shooting 168 ttsx north of 2900fps. And a Limb saver

Beat me to it. LRHS 3-12, 155 Scenar, 4 mags, GTG.

Winchester M70 fwt, .280 Rem. 150gr bullets, Leupold vx3hd 3.5-10.

That’s what I’d pick out of my stable.

Winchester model 70 in 338 Win mag, Nightforce NX8 4-32x50, Kills everything close to long and just feels good.

Apart from my .50 Firehawk, as this seems more breechloader related, I HOPE it'll be my new Remington 760 .35 Remington with a nice fixed 4x on her. A nice old gloss tubed Leupold M8 would be DANDY.
The .35 will handle all I need to shoot.

Tikka T3x with McM Hunters Edge stock. Cartridge…lots of good choices…the chambering isn’t all that important. Most important is availability.

M98 in 30-06. from mouse to moose. Handle a bear too.

If only keeping one it’ll have to be the M70 Featherweight 30-06 with its 2.5x8 VXIII. Anything I’ll hunt can be handled with it. It shoots good and is a pretty good looking rifle I enjoy handling.

If my life depended upon it? A Pre 64 Model 70 FW 308 wearing a Leupold VXIII 2.5x8 in QR bases & rings shooting 130 TTSXs.

If not, then my Kimber 84M Classic Select 7mm-08 with a Nikon Monarch3 2x8 in Talleys and 139 GMXs.

Can't eat just one chip, you know?

Ruger M77 Hawkeye All Weather, .308 Win, Leupold low mounts, Leupold 2-7X33 LRD, fluted barrel, sckeletonized bolt, shooting 150s.

Of all the stupid sh it posts on the Fire, this one tops them all ... sounds like the work of a gundummy

"One rifle .. no moose, bears " WTF ?

If I was limited to that nonsense, I'd end my miserable pointless existense with that "one rifle"

My moose season is 30 days long and I can hunt with a different rifle every one of those days ...

"One rifle" .... that's crazy talk

Remington 700 xcr2 in 270 win in a McMillan classic edge with a Timney trigger. VX3 3.5-10x40 mounted in Talley LWs.
A Similar setup in 7mm08 with a Triggertech trigger and a VX 5 wouldn't hurt my feelers.

It’d be a .30 something. From 110gr Plinkers to 200gr Partitions. Now just have to figure out which one.

Guns in the safe I haven't hunted in years.
Ones ive never fired.
One, never fired.

A couple that do get used between the girls and I.
But there is 1.
1 that I have fewer complaints about then any.
Those complaints are small.

1, that's light, but not too light.

1, that I shoot better than any other.


The concept of not owning more than one is disturbing.

The concept of only using that one isn't.

What's truly perplexing is my constant search for "The Perfect Rifle" for me.
Every new gun gets set aside for that old 660 eventually.

Including a Tikka Swede. Live that gun.
Just too muzzle light. I don't shoot it well where it matters.
Daughter likes it though.

Knowing what I know now compared to when I started hunting Big Game.

My choice would be a .300 Win Mag for 3 reasons.

1. It will kill any animal on this planet, so from North America to Africa you are covered.

2. It has the energy to reach out and kill animals like Elk and Moose in Long Range hunting situations.

3. Ammo is readily available, basically everywhere you go.

Scope: Not a Fair Question lol

My Winchester New Haven Mod 70 30-06, bedded, trigger job, Steiner 6-24x50 P4 Leupold rings/bases.

It was the deal of the year. without a doubt.

I snagged one as well, but haven't used it yet.

Not the muskrat side of things because I’ve had a .22 or 2 all along as well, but for big game I did one rifle for years. Ruger 77 - .30/06 - 2.5-8x Leupold. Settled on 150 grain TTSX for the last several years and it worked from antelope to elk. Could go back to it exclusively with no concerns, but I’m glad I don’t have to!

Most likely I'd go with an FN Mauser I have chambered to the 30-06, It sits in a McMillan stock and has a 24" Douglas barrel, 1 in 12" twist. Shoots near bug holes with the 165 gr. Nosler Accubond and I plan on seeing that it will do with 165 gr. Partitions. It just does not like 180 gr. bullets which sort of limits me what I can hunt with it. I have taken elk with the load so I'm good to go for elk on down to field mice. I wouldn't worry about a Black Bear but wouldn't deliberately take on a Grizzly Bear with that load. Only would if the bear forced the issue. Rifle has a Dayton-Traistor trigger set at 1.5 pounds. The gentleman who built the rifle set it that way, way back around 1972 and it's held ever since. Current scope is a Burris 3x9FFII. I haven't decided whether to replace it it with a Minox 2.5x10 ZA HD or pick up a Leupold fixed 6X. The rifle is a bit on the heavy side but very accurate with the Nosler bullet mentioned. (AB)
PJ

How about a 168 ttsx? They are supposed to expand at a lower minimum velocity. May be the ticket in the .308Win.

I would kill myself

Would be my Vanguard Ibex in .308 with Dual Dovetails and a Cabelas (Meopta) 3-9x40. Light and accurate. Maybe one day I’ll updraft stocks but for now it works!

And right at 1” with factory 165 gr. Sierra tipped game kings.

I've always been a 270/280/30-06 fan & have done most hunting with those along with several 338's along the way.

But I've had a Rem 700 Ti in 7-08 for about 10 years or so & it's become my go to rifle for anything in NA that doesn't bite back.

So, much as I love my Rem 700 KS 270, & the others, & the guns they are in, I'd have to take the Ti...................it's light & easy to carry & it shoots bugholes all day with just about any bullet or powder.

(There are 8 shots in that hole with 3 different powders..............I jerked the 9th one out)

MM

Since it's a fantasy a custom built break action with multiple barrels and a purpose suitable scope mounted on each one.

One gun? What will I piss the rest of my money away on?

As usual some posters are taking this thread way too seriously. Acting like it's enforceable or something.
As for me I already own it. Winchester Model 88 in 308. That's all I'd need. Although not owning a 30-30 would be a bitter pill to swallow.

My stainless Tikka T3 Superlite .260 with modified Talleys and 3-9X40 Vari-x II

I could probably narrow it down to 4 that would all work for me. But if I had to pick just one, it would be my Stainless Tikka T3x lite 308. Main reason would be ammo availability.

I hunted pretty much all this past season with my Kimber Hunter .308 Win with a Burris Fullfield E1 3-9 Illuminated German #4.
It's my first year with it and I might have finally achieved ballistic Nirvana. (MIGHT)...

My Remington 700 in 250 Savage. I have 60 grainers loaded for small game/turkey, 70 grainers for groundhogs, and 87/100 grainers for deer.

Remington model seven .308------ 180gr round nose

Model 70 416 Rem Mag
1.5-6X VariXIII. 4A Reticle
Echols Legend Stock

Squirrels to Elephants and everything in between.

My grandfather hunted his entire life and when he passed in 1979 he owned only two rifles and I inherited both. I would be heartbroken to give up his Savage 99 in 308 but I'll play along and say that I would keep his Remington 03 30/06 with the Leupold 2-8X36. As I near his age I appreciate how well armed he left me and wonder why I bought all these other guns.

Great choice!

Even better choice. LOL

Tikka T3x .308 with a 3x9x 40 leupold

The BEST lefty choice.......lol

NULA LH 7mm-08. At this time I have a Tract on it but for this picture it's a VariX 2.5x8

bighorn 6.5 creed, Manners EH-6A, Proof SL, LRTS in M-10's, Omega 30

Nula .284 2.5x8 lots of good bullets

This one does it all from beavers to moose.
#3 Ruger complete custom by Greydog, in .303 British


Cat

My ride or die.


ADL 270 with a 6x36LR.



140 Accubonds at 2950 fps...


#ouch

That's sweet!

Beautiful horse!

And really nice photo.

Another really nice photo...

Love this picture.

I’ll run with Sam on this one sans the horse.
I’d grab my 1957 Remington 721 in .270. That caliber in other guns would be fine, this old girl just always fit and never failed.
Maybe a better 4x scope than what it has, I don’t know these days who makes a more clear and bright one for aging eyes. Tally anchors I guess tho many would work.
Bullets, depends on the quarry.

Osky

I would choose one that is already a favorite; 1963 Winchester M70FW that I rebarreled with a Douglas 270 WIN barrel, action glass bedded, barrel with glassed pressure point. Leupold VX-6 with crosshair & red dot mounted in Leupold 30mm rings on a Leupold base. Shoots a 130 grain Hornady Interlock handload (59.5 grains H4831sc & FED 210) into sub MOA 3-shot groups. Finished it off with a Montana sling. I could end my deer hunting days with just this one.

if only one.......i'd be a winchester m70 supergrade .280 rem topped with leupold dd and some sort of schmidt and bender scope with the L3 ret slinging 140-150 grain bt,ab or partition........or 120 bt's for kicks.
Big Ed

I'd keep the pre'64 Sightless Fwt. in .270 WCF. Have plenty of 150 NP's and Acc's to end my days with this. But the Kimber 6.5 CM's are so nice!

Great picture and the coolest paint job I have seen on a horse. 😎

Goodmorning Coyote10,

I'll take my 223 Tikka T3. It's the best all around cover my bases rifle I own


Trystan

As long as I can get ammo or reload for it, my pre64 M70 in 300 H&H. I seem to shoot it better than anything else I have or had.

Personally I like these one rifle threads a lot! Not that I will ever do it but it doesn't hurt to philosophy the idea around a bit!

Any chance you could start a two rifle thread to ease the heat a little....Lol

Trystan

For what I hunt ( mule deer , and whitetail) 6 mm Remington a Ruger 77.

Custom Ruger 1, 23” Krieger barrel, 2x7 matte finish Leupold scope in 257 Roberts.

Remington 700 mountain in 280
Leupold VX3i 3-10x40 in Talleys
Them 120's been killing some deer this year.

Two rifle sounds good too. Hard for me to leave a 30-06 out of the mix!

Let's get a two rifle thread going.

Pretty much identical set up as the OP with the exception of the scope. Mine wears a NF 3-15.
It has taken several animals. Furthest was a coyote at 550.

Idk I could do it. I use my 22 the most, but a 30-30 puts the food on the table.
I could live off the 22, but not legally.

Your post pretty much sums up my position on it.

drover

Love my Tikka 280 with 160 gr bullets. Done everything I've ever asked of it the past 20 or so years.