Im doing it. Im going down to ONE gun

caramel said:
You cant do better than a 308 for a jack of all trades... JP.
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Unless you go with a .30-06...lol... :p

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NAA.
 
I agree with c-fbmi, Savage 99 with the rotary mag. The saddle part really narrows it down, take that out and I'd say 300 win mag. Common calibers are limited to 270, 7mm rem mag, 30WCF, 303, 308, 30-06, and 300 win mag. Isn't the BLR Available in 300 wm? Although to my eye they are too ugly.
 
The BLR seems a good option, given your parameters.

While I do like .308 lots, and have taken tons of game with them myself, for "the one" rifle, I might add more juice.

I would give serious consideration to .30-06, 300 win mag, or .358 in the factory BLR.

For your money, you could also get a BLR re-barrelled to .35 Whelen, .338 win mag or 9.3x62 if you wanted. A factory 30-06 or 300 win mag BLR should accomodate this, no big deal. If you'r rifle is "the one", a caliber change might really make it feel like, it's "yours". I doubt there are too many lever action 9.3 x 62's out there...
 
Id pick something in 6.5 if I was doing once gun on a short action. I only have one big game rifle its 30-06. Shoots 110gr -180gr easily. Id feel comfortable with it over my shoulder anyplace on this continent.

caramel said:
You cant do better than a 308 for a jack of all trades... JP.
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And master of none.
 
Given your criteria, I would stick with ONE cartridge (.308) but abandon the ONE gun idea and go with two rifles... If you are going to be banging this gun around in a saddle boot and working with it, you would be best to do a lever with irons, or better yet Skinner peeps (or other) in .308 for your boot gun (BLR)... And then do a nice scoped bolt action (Kimber etc...) Also in .308 for your more refined hunting purposes... You can use the same ammunition to keep it simple... I just don't see your usage as conducive to a single platform.
 
Agreed on the .308. It's common, will kill most things in North America (maybe not Polar Bears or Narwhals), and shoots far enough to exceed the level of marksmanship for most shooters.

The Ruger Gunsite Scout is a really fun rifle to shoot. I can't comment on the others (never fired any of 'em) but the Ruger Scout is accurate enough that even as a former biathlete, my grouping sizes are all clearly my issue not the rifle's. It's sturdy, simple, and I would expect would easily last the rest of an adult's lifetime for regular shooting. Trigger is great for it's purpose - it's crisp, not a light trigger, but there's not much play in it before engaging.

You'll have a choice though - there are ones with flash hiders available now in Canada from one of the retailers here. Great rifle - love it. If I were to own only one firearm, it would probably be a shotgun (for versatility, birdshot, buckshot, slugs). But my second firearm would ABSOLUTELY be a Ruger Gunsite Scout. (third and last would be a Ruger 10/22 takedown most likely).
 
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Without knowing a lot about your tastes and hunting needs, I wouldn't comment much on your cartridge choice...it might very well be perfect for you. Most of the rifle candidates you mentioned are well worth considering as well.

But I would really suggest that you reconsider the whole one-gun-only thing. Several times (admittedly, spaced out over several decades) I have had rifles crap out for one reason or another just before hunting trips. I have had several instances where I needed a loaner gun for a family member. Last but not least, I just don't want to be without a readily-available sighted-in gun at any point, upcoming hunting trip or not, just in case. So by all means trim the herd a little bit, but don't carry it to such extremes that you hobble yourself if and when you have some unforeseen problems crop up.

I know you said you would ignore all posts containing the "idiot" observation, but if your one-and-only gun fails and is out of commission for weeks or months (totally possible, given the speed at which many gunsmiths operate) you will feel like one.:)
 
c-fbmi said:
If you are stuck on the 308 I would recommend you broaden your parameters a bit and look at other rifles in walnut and blue as well........the rifle that comes to mind here, given your stated needs would be a Savage 99, your choice of DM or solid frame blind mag. Nice flat saddle gun, 308 most common caliber, easily scoped and most are just about as accurate as a bolt gun. You could have the metal done in any one of the several finishes that are impervious to rust and as saddle guns go it is about one of the best. I find they balance much nicer than the Brownings and have smoother, cleaner lines. Mr. Savage knew a thing or two about levergun design. A nice low mounted 6X scope or compact 2-7 and you would have a pretty nice go anywhere do most anything rifle. JMHO given your stated wants.
They have proven themselves to be extremely reliable and relatively inexpensive, which allows you to spend some dollars on a good, rust proof metal finish, mount up a good scope and still keep it to just over a grand all in. Were I you I would give the 99 some serious consideration.

PS.........the 99 is relatively light compared to many other options out there.
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See...airplane guys, just like I said in the "Survival Gun" thread. Even guys with twins are weight conscious!
 
out of your choice list, I'd go with the BLR 308. But then again, I'm a big lever fan. Always remember, it doesn't have to be your final forever lasting choice. If you only want one gun, you are still allowed to sell it and buy another;)
 
Thanks for all the input guys. I think im leaning towards the BLR as it probably fits all my needs the best. Also point taken on what if your one gun craps out but thus far iv been able to fix anything that has gone wrong with my rifles(even if it was me that messed it up). As for looking at blued guns if I wasn't planning on taking them out on the WET coast for extended periods id be all over it but stainless is so much easier to care for. And no im not dropping the saddle carry idea out of the equation I love my horses and have a need to carry a rifle on them.

Keep it coming guys thanks again.
 
If I ever get down to one gun it will probably be because that is all they would allow me to keep in the insane asylum . . .

That being said your choices appear to go to extremes. Single shot, Lever action, and bolt from 30-30 to 45-70.

Some how I don't believe you are ready to take the step yet! If you can't make up your mind why would you ask the rest of us lining up at the doors to the asylums.

Does anyone see the similarities to the "Inmates running the asylum" yet?
 
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Its not that extreme of a selection my choices are a 30 cal repeater that will take all game in North America or a big bore that if I needed more than 1 shot something is wrong. The 45-70 was thrown in as a big critter protection but would be suited to kill game as well. But I think ill stick to a 30 cal repeater because call me crazy but im not to afraid of what goes bump in the night........inless im down town Vancouver :)
 
I cannot even imagine being relegated to only one hunting rifle, but if that were to be the case I'd have to keep my 375 H&H dies so I could load for it....
 
BigUglyMan said:
308 wouldn't be my choice for "the one" at all. Not enough oomph. It'll do, but not do it with aplomb. 30-06 would offer more performance which would be welcome if you wanted to start something with the larger critters available in North America.
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It really depends on where you live and/or hunt.

A 308 would be lots from Ont to all points east and most of the rest of Canada for that matter. If big bears are of concern, you might have want for something larger.
 
I've finally accepted the fact my BLR 81 in 358win is the one for this thread.
Big enough to be big and honestly accurate with the three sized bullets I've
fed her.
 
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