Lawdwaz Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 A friend called me to get my opinion on a rifle. A friend of his is looking to get ONE rifle (Good Lord, WHY?) to hunt everything he'll ever do. On the menu; deer, antelope, elk and some longer range shooting out to 500 yards on targets for giggles. The question is what caliber? He's not a reloader and recoil could scare a "one gun" shooter right out of the game. My recommendation was the 280 Remington. Another other choice for a do-all would be the 308 Winchester. Funny, neither of which I own! Had them both at one point or another but like vanilla ice cream, boring. <grin> Ideas or opinions?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 I agree with the 280, or 30-06. If he's recoil sensitive he could get a semi auto but won't be as accurate for long range target, but I guess he could get reduced recoil ammo. Might be better selection of ammo in 30-06. Just steer away from light weight rifles to manage recoil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pygmy Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 The 30-06 is never a bad choice for a one gun hunter. There are lots of different factory loads and ammo is available anywhere in the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveNY Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Based on what you have said, I would have to say the old 30-06 as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deerthug Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 I would go with a 30-06. Good and powerful do all firearm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenAxe-7 Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 270 Winchester Short Magnum.....nuff said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sudzy8 Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Can't go wrong with the 30.06. For long range shots or hunting out west I like the .257 weatherby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hb270deermanager Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Ya alot of great suggestions 270 or 30-06 are great reach out rifles not bad on recoil prices are fair and the bullets are still middle of the road price wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BucktheBuck30-06 Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 I own more than one gun but for hunting i only use one gun..Whiych is a 30-06 and its great.Now getting a gun that will knock a target down at 500 yards with little to no recoil is going to be hard.I mean your either a shooter or not.I really don't think the 30-06 has a over powering recoil but thats just me.And on the note of having only one gun to hunt with thats a great idea for someone who is new to guns/hunting..I have been shooting guns my hole life and i still only use one gun for all my hunting witch is my 30-06..Idk sounds a little tricky i would give him a smaller gun to fire to get used to and then have him figure out if hes really trying to hit that hard!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pygmy Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 As Lawdwaz said, it is kind of boring for some of us gun nuts to have just ONE rifle. However, many hunters have just one and use them to good effect. I have a good friend who likes to hunt, but really has no interest in ballistics or whatever. Years ago, he bought a Rem 700 BDL in .270, with the idea that it would his one hunting rifle. He has used it for years, from PA to Alaska and killed big game from moose to pronghorns with no problems.. He uses Federal Premium 150 grain Noslers for the big stuff and Remington Green 130 grain Corelokts for stuff like antelope and deer. He seldom misses and the only game animal that I can remember that he shot at and did not kill was a wolverine in Alaska that was carrying the mail when he shot at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinsdale Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 30-06 snooze fest.... How about something sexier.....6.5x55 in a CZ 550 Full stock Shoots 140 gr bullets....proven popular Moose caliber in Europe. Same BC as a 06 and similar max point blank range giving up just 25 yds or so at 260yds to the 06's mid 280's shooting 150 gr rounds. Just thinking outside the box for you;<) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawdwaz Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 Beware the man who shoots one gun............................................ My Uncle could afford pretty much any shotgun going but his gun of choice is the good old Model 12 Winchester, 12 gauge of course. He can really shoot it too. A friend who is now 83 and hasn't hunted in 10 years used a Remington 760, chambered in 30-06 (yuk....) for years in PA. It also killed game in Colorado, Idaho and Ontario. You would not believe the deer that gun killed in Pennsylvania. Spike horns fill a few cigar boxes in his basement along with some 4pt & 6pt for good measure. (Thanks to Gary Alt, we don't have that problem anymore) Only CF rifle he ever owned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawdwaz Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 30-06 snooze fest.... How about something sexier.....6.5x55 in a CZ 550 Full stock Shoots 140 gr bullets....proven popular Moose caliber in Europe. Same BC as a 06 and similar max point blank range giving up just 25 yds or so at 260yds to the 06's mid 280's shooting 150 gr rounds. Just thinking outside the box for you;<) Note my comment above. <<<grinning>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinsdale Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Oh....and I'd top it with a QR Talley rings with 2 scopes.... A VXIII Leupold 2.5-8x32....nice light low profile for general hunting..... And find a nice used Swaro PV 3-12x50 with a TDS reticle for playing sniper at targets and varmints..... All done in one gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinsdale Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Note my comment above. <<<grinning>>> Just have him buy a Blaser....then he still has one gun and can just add a few barrels when he's hooked....can even share a few scopes between them. You didn't say what a budget is<<<<grinning back at ya>>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New York Hillbilly Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 My opinion cannot beat 30-06 for all around everything rifle. With the selection of loads, everything from woodchucks to you name it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BucktheBuck30-06 Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Yea 30-06 hands down.And it's not hard to find a sick looking 30-06..Like i said i own more than just a 30-06 but thats my only hunting rifle no need to get any more thats how nice my gun is..Never mis fired ive shot balloons out to 400 yards time and time again.It all comes down to personal choice.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BucktheBuck30-06 Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 My personal opinoin is that the 243 is the nect best gun that will give you lighter recil and you can still reach out and touch em 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawdwaz Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 243? Are you kidding me?? That's for kids & women! Oh yea, I'll be carrying one this fall also........Shhhhhh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pygmy Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 243? Are you kidding me?? That's for kids & women! Oh yea, I'll be carrying one this fall also........Shhhhhh. Pansy, pansy, PANSY !!! LOL..A .243..What a WUSS...<<grin>>... Actually, Dinsdale's suggestion of the 6.5 Swede sounds pretty sexy to me also... I have always liked difference stuff, like .280 Rem and 9.3 x 62, and 7 x 57... The onliest 30-06 I ever have owned is my Garand, but that chambering is always the one that comes to mind when someone wants ONE rifle to be used for everything, epecially with factory loads... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikrsrule Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 something wrong with the 7mm mag? Better ballistics than the 06 and a bit less recoil.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter49 Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 I say 270 spring or 30-06 . Kenaxe-7 the 270 short mag is nice if you want to spend all your money on the ammo. ( $45.00 + per box of 20) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pygmy Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 something wrong with the 7mm mag? Better ballistics than the 06 and a bit less recoil.. Only thing wrong with the 7MM Rem mag is that it is not as versatile as the 30-06 regarding bullet weights and it burns more powder to get similar velocities with equal bullet weights. Nothing WRONG with the 7MM Rem mag, but it can't perform as well with heavier bullet weights, in the 180-220 grains.. That's why most grizzly/brown bear guides will allow a 30-06 with heavy bullets, but most don't want a 7MM mag in camp. I'm not trashing the 7MMRem mag. It is a useful and very popular loading. I simply prefer more efficient loadings like the .280 Rem, which comes close to 7mm Mag ballistics with less powder and recoil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BucktheBuck30-06 Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 30-06 hands down!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikrsrule Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 I keep hearing about the 280, I just dont see ammo around for it and not many used rifles for sale in the caliber, I will check further though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.