Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Best rifle for all North America hunting?

Thanks for all the input guys! I was thinking Rem 700 in 30-06 or 300 win mag myself.

Prairie Dog Shooter
Who ever mentioned anything about shooting prairie dogs all day, maybe you shoud go back and read the original post again!

I'd agree with PDS.............simply a worthless discussion with no practical answer. Nobody that can afford high dollar ($10K) hunts like sheep, grizzly, brown bear etc. needs to worry about having just one gun.

I also agree that the three rifle battery is most sensible.

Pure Varmint....................................223
Dual Purpose (Elk capable)................260
Big stuff (if you ever need it).............30 or 338 std or mag (that part doesn't matter much)

But.......to answer the impractical question............30-06 22" bbl, 4x or 2x7 scope, action and handle of choice.

JimF

Nope.

Read the first line in the post that started this thread: IIRC, coyotes are both much bigger and less numerous than prairie dogs. And moose, in my experience, are a lot easier to stop or kill than brown bear.

The proposed concept makes a lot more sense � and is a good bit less susceptible to ridicule � if you quote it accurately and answer it honestly.

See below. I'd choose my 51FN as first choice. Second would be a CDL then M70. I would definately choose a 24" barrell, just because..... My $.02, capt david <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Another 30/06 vote!(yet another)

Ammo is available everywhere,and easy to reload for(plus the "lite mag" ammo which puts it into the 300 H&H class; what's not to "love"?)

Sometimes we forget; before the "mag craze" this "ole workhorse" killed it all and very well IMHO; with new powders and bullets NOW available it's only gotten better!

Certainly others would also work; but none better IMHO and you'd have to wonder about ammo being available ANYWHERE you'd use it???

Add to that; IF so inclined you can load some Hornady 110 grain spire points in front of some fast pistol powder and even go after really small game also! Try that with most others(yes you could also do it with the .308...but not most others) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

To *ME* that's as versatile as you can go IF you're limited to ONE rifle only....

Well, here's a guy who opted for a plain ol 'Marlin .45-70 levergun and took it to Africa, where he used it on most everything...
http://www.garrettcartridges.com/lupoindex.asp

I think you and PD are underestimating the appeal of the "one gun" concept, recall all of those folks who have happily anted up $2,000+ to own a Steyr Scout Rifle, usually in .308.

Allow me to state the obvious; when it comes to hunting folks don't always choose what works best, often they limit themselves on purpose.

Shotguns are legal for moose and elk in most places and a guy with slugs is no worse off than most guys with muzzleloaders and better equipped than most archers. Surely there must be someone somewhere who has opted to go after all sorts of game with shotgun slugs.

Along these general lines, how about the Winchester Mod 1300 "Camp Defender" for the ultimate "do everything" firearm?
Eight round 12 guage pump, 22" rifle-sight smoothbore barrel that takes screw-in chokes, including rifled ones.

Doves anyone? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Birdwatcher

I guess I read the post title.


Lots of critters fit that catagory.

An Echols "Legend" 300 Winchester Magnum topped with a Leupold VXIII 3.5-10X40.

Chuck

The old tried and true .30/06 is unbeatable for an all arounder. The Rem 700 action or the Win 70 actions are a matter of preference. The ammunition options in factory or handloads today are the key to it's universal do all status. It's all it ever was and more these days. It takes a rifleman of extreme ability to ever say that he can actually do all the .30/06 is capable of in a decent rifle. AW

My vote goes for my MAUSER M-98 in 7x57 topped with a Leupold 6x42 using Barnes 190 gr bullets.
That combo has been my go-to rifle for 20 years.
Don

I'll second Chuck Nelson's entry. But since I unfortunately don't own a legend, I'll go with my 300 Weatherby. jorge

Of the rifles I already own, I would have to choose my 1963 Browning Safari chambered for the .30-06. If buying new today, I would pick a Winchester Model 70 in .30-06.

uh! Winchester Model 70 Classic Compact in 300 Savage.

The listing of coyotes brings a grin to my face. I remember a neighbor who tagged along with me on one of my coyote hunting forays. We stopped to make call and he uncased his 300WTBY! Did a great job if one could stand the muzzleblast!!!! (I wore ear plugs, thank God!) Then there was the fellow who brought along his 7RM stoked with factory Federal Premium Trophy Bonds!!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />



MtnHtr

The rifle is really easy.......Winchester M70

The cartridge is even easier........30-06!



Huntr

Win. Model 70

7x57mm

Leupold VX-III 1.75-6x32mm

If custom then a 30-06 built on a M700 or M70 action, 24" barrel, syn. or lam. stock, quality 4X or Leupold VariX-III 2.5-8. Of the shelf a Rem. M700 or Ruger M77MkII in 30-06 or 280 with the same glass. 165-180 gr. partitions or a bonded bullet in 30-06, 150-160gr. of the same for the 280.

Hmm - mine is a stainless LH Model 70, in .30-06, in a McMillan Monte-Carlo pattern (their Remington BDL pattern) with a Leupold VX-III 2.5-8X36, except mine is mounted in Leupold Dual Dovetails. Does it count that I have Talley QD's on my other stainless M70? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Once again, proof positive of an intelligent man - he agrees with ME! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'll go with the 1963 version .300 Winchester Magnum for all N. American hunting. It'll do all that the .30-06 will do and a good deal more, yet recoil is still moderate, and you can get by with a 24" barrel and still achieve full velocity. Ammunition is widely-available as well, and it's an extremely easy cartridge to work with in all respects. I've used the .300 Win. Mag. from Alaska to Mexico on everthing from Coues deer to moose, and just about everything has folded to one shot on the spot. Even though I own quite a few rifles chambered for various cartridges, I stick with the .300 Win. Mag. for probably 90% of my hunting.

As Chuck indicated, an custom Model 70 from D'Arcy Echols in his McMillan-stock 'Legend' format, if you are willing to shell out the money for one, is just about as good, accurate, and fool-proof as an "all-around" big game rifle can get.

Actually, there are a lot of cartridges that would work extremely well as a one-gun solution for N. American hunting.

Jim Carmichel said it best:

"There is no shortage of all-purpose rifles. Where are the all-purpose hunters?"

AD

I'm going to buck typical responses and say my do everything gun would be a Remington 7600 rebarreled to 338/06. Kahles 3X9 with a TDS reticle in Leupold QD mounts. I believe that rig would be capable of all that might be required in North America and most anywhere else, without deference to caliber requirements on the dark continent. I don't have one yet but it to be my first truly custom gun I hope to begin very soon. Good luck on your quest!