If you could only have one.....

[whitetail Junkie]

Originally Posted by jkerr1976

If you could only have one riffle what would it be?
Why?

Im buying my first new rifle soon and digging for some info.

Thanks all:sHa_shakeshout :

300 WBY Mag....From antelope to Grizzly bear That 180 grain bullet is gonna hurt.

On another note As i mentioned before if some razor blades going 300 FPS will kill an animal,so will any bullet traveling ten times faster.....So pick a gun! any gun!

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by jkerr1976

If you could only have one riffle what would it be?
Why?

Im buying my first new rifle soon and digging for some info.

Thanks all:sHa_shakeshout :

I made my selection simply on my own interests, but for a new shooter I always say a mid range cartridge on the 308 bolt head style - 308, 708, 260, 6.5X55, '06, etc.....
Cat

[sns2]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I made my selection simply on my own interests, but for a new shooter I always say a mid range cartridge on the 308 bolt head style - 308, 708, 260, 6.5X55, '06, etc.....
Cat

IIRC, this thread started with a guy looking for his first rifle. I wonder how many started out with a big belted magnum as their first rifle. I can't imagine a recipe for developing a flinch faster than that, even if the OP is a big guy. Remember, muzzle blast factors into a flinch too.

Cat, I hope he takes your advice.

[jkerr1976]

You recalled perfectly

I have narrow down to either 270 30/06 or 7 mm
The all seem to be readily available
I really appreciate all info from all of you

.338 Winchester Magnum. Likely not a great choice for a first rifle though but definitely a great choice for a one gun shooter.

[Slone500]

love the .308-dad's favourite round for moose. 303, 30.06, and smaller for deer. Birds are another story. not too familiar with all the new ammo availiable just the old stand-bys. Which work great, still. 7mm seems powerful and popular.

[Stinky Coyote]

If only one weapon to hunt with, a bow no doubt

A 270 win or 7-08 would be my solo firearm

[dogslayer403]

30-06 is not my favorite cartridge, there are a lot cooler ones out there but if I could only have one it would be chambered in 30-06 its cheap to shoot, ammo is readily availible and it will kill anything I need it to.

[Pathfinder76]

To hunt Alberta or the World? A 7MM Mashburn Super on a Model 70 action.

[redranger15]

270 wsm first choice or 270 win can't go wrong with either. WSM has a little more jam and I like jam.

[SonnyJ]

Originally Posted by redranger15

270 wsm first choice or 270 win can't go wrong with either. WSM has a little more jam and I like jam.

But do you like Ram Jam??



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJJg3ezoraA

[jkerr1976]

Originally Posted by Stinky Coyote

If only one weapon to hunt with, a bow no doubt

A 270 win or 7-08 would be my solo firearm

My Hoyt Katera is the only bow I need, but not what I was trying to educate myself in............thanks

[nekred]

I shoot a .270 and love it... low recoil, fast bullet, find ammo anywhere,

I started with a .243 as a kid and took everything with it moose, bear etc.

My Dad shoots a 7mm and that is only rifle he owns and has killed more game than most.

My brother shoots a 7mm as well.

I like the added speed, less recoil and flatter trajectory of the 270 over the 7mm, 7mm hits harder (on both ends)

Plus doing the old counry store test chances are they will have a dusty old box of 270, or 30-06 shells on the shelf....

I mention the 30-06 because for an all around big game cartridge it is prbably one of the most popular in past...

The thing with my .270 is I want something bigger for elk and moose and something smaller for coyotes.... (I said want not need!

So if you are looking later on for some safe mates for your 270.... easy to explain that this is a medium gun for medium game... I need a smaller one to really work well for coyotes, and a bigger one for bigger game, then a rimfire for gophers, then a shotgun for birds... and you are well on your way to a nice little collection.... so start with 270!....

[elkhunter11]

I like the added speed, less recoil and flatter trajectory of the 270 over the 7mm, 7mm hits harder (on both ends)

Which 270 are you referring to, and which 7mm are you referring to?

If you are referring to the 270win, and the 7mm remmag, the 270win does not have more velocity, and it doesn't have a flatter trajectory than the 7mmrem mag when using similar bullets in each cartridge.

[nekred]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Which 270 are you referring to, and which 7mm are you referring to?

If you are referring to the 270win, and the 7mm remmag, the 270win does not have more velocity, and it doesn't have a flatter trajectory than the 7mmrem mag when using similar bullets in each cartridge.

I was referring to .270 Winchester (.277 calbre) and 7mm Remington Magnum, which is (.284 calibre)

What you say is true, but in general out of the box economy ammunition.... it was a general statement.... With a 270 I generally use 130 grain for general hunting, and with 7mm my dad always used 175 grain bullets.... So i ended up with a faster flatter trajectory than he did,

If we both used 150 grain pills, then his rifle was a hair faster... but in my opinion this would not be ideal for either rifle for maximising their potential... I like the 130 grain for 270 and 168 grain for 7mm....

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by nekred

I was referring to .270 Winchester (.277 calbre) and 7mm Remington Magnum, which is (.284 calibre)

What you say is true, but in general out of the box economy ammunition.... it was a general statement.... With a 270 I generally use 130 grain for general hunting, and with 7mm my dad always used 175 grain bullets.... So i ended up with a faster flatter trajectory than he did,

If we both used 150 grain pills, then his rifle was a hair faster... but in my opinion this would not be ideal for either rifle for maximising their potential... I like the 130 grain for 270 and 168 grain for 7mm....

The 7mm mag will be faster right across the whole spectrum of bullet weights if you compare each bullet weight against both cartridges .
You can't get around case capacity.
Cat

[elkhunter11]

What you say is true, but in general out of the box economy ammunition.... it was a general statement.... With a 270 I generally use 130 grain for general hunting, and with 7mm my dad always used 175 grain bullets.... So i ended up with a faster flatter trajectory than he did,

By using such different bullet weights, you have made any comparison basically meaningless. It would be like comparing 165gr bullets in the 30-06 against 220gr bullets in the 300win mag, and then making the statement that in general, the 30-06 has more velocity, and a flatter trajectory than the 300winmag.

[boner54]

Lived and hunted AB for a lot of years and IMO you can't beat the 25-06. Tack driver way out there, lots of power for large deer and has killed a pile of moose and elk for me. Also great range of bullets so great for varmints too

[farmkid89]

Model 70 in 7mm rem. But how about giving the model 94 in 30-30 some credit? How about one rimfire and one centerfire?

[1100winger]

And a new shooter??? Then something with a mild recoil but excellent accuracy potential - even with store bought ammunition. 308, 6.5 x 55, 7 - 08, 257, etc. If this was for a world wide choice then 30-06, hard to beat in all bullet weights and probably available in every country habited. But if this is a one gun forever discussion - then model 70, 300 win mag, 180 gr bullet; top it off with optics that cost as much as the rifle - and go shooting; for anything in the back yard. I've had mine for 30+ years now - it just works well when I do my part.

[justinO]

I feel pellet guns get over looked when talking about a first gun and developing shooting skills. For youngsters nothing beats a pellet gun. My first rifle I bought was a 300 win mag and is still the caliber I shoot today. If money was not an issue my one caliber would be the 338 lapua.

[badmikey99]

everyone posts what caliber you should have....IMO..you should buy the rifle that you want, whether it be synthetic or wood, stainless or blued....but buy the caliber that you feel comfortable shooting and tolerable for recoil, cause if you only own one...you should learn to shoot it a lot!!

[North of 53]

I am building a 6.5 x55 improved on a 700 action for hunting. I think it will be as close to a all around gun as you can get. Mainly because of the high BC bullet available for it. The 6.5 x 55 has been around for a long long time getting it done in Europe.
Having said all that the good old 30-06 has been getting it done for over a 100 years here in North America as well. Maybe not as sexy as a wildcat or improve cartridge but it just works.
I could live with either one but because I can, I have both.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by North of 53

I am building a 6.5 x55 improved on a 700 action for hunting. I think it will be as close to a all around gun as you can get. Mainly because of the high BC bullet available for it. The 6.5 x 55 has been around for a long long time getting it done in Europe.
Having said all that the good old 30-06 has been getting it done for over a 100 years here in North America as well. Maybe not as sexy as a wildcat or improve cartridge but it just works.
I could live with either one but because I can, I have both.

Had one of those quite a few years back on a custom '96 action, SUPER silhouette rifle for open class!
Cat

[Arcus Venator]

30-06 hands down and my opinion best all round caliber.

I have been shooting a Sako Finlight for about 7 years now and using the same grain bullet for deer, elk and bear. A close second is the Tika .270 WSM but the only complaint is (and this only my observation) that the larger game has not dropped as fast as the 30-06. I shoot both in synthetic stock with stainless barrel.

[Kurt505]

Out of .243, .308, 6.5x55, 30-06, .280, and .300win, if I could only keep one. It would be an easy choice, definatly the .280

[hornhead]

if you are taking reloading into account... 45/70 ... shooting from .457 calibre round balls, shot loads, to big thumping bullets for big critters.

so you can hunt from grouse to grizzly.

it's the all-round calibre! :>)

(dang! i don't have one any more!)

no reloading ?? 308 ... kinda dull tho

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by hornhead

if you are taking reloading into account... 45/70 ... shooting from .457 calibre round balls, shot loads, to big thumping bullets for big critters.

so you can hunt from grouse to grizzly.

it's the all-round calibre! :>)

(dang! i don't have one any more!)

no reloading ?? 308 ... kinda dull tho

You could always try a custom Ruger in .303?
Cat

[hornhead]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

You could always try a custom Ruger in .303?
Cat

as long as it didn't have bad JUJU it would be ok!

[JTRED]

I love my Tkka T3 lite in 270win. It shoots great (if I do my part), is an easy gun to carry all day( even in the Kootenays where I live), and it's done a pretty good job on the animals I hunt. Love the 270win, easy recoil for range shooting ,readily available ammo in all price ranges, and except for the big bears and bison enough to do the job given proper bullet placement.