One rifle, one cartridge, one load for everything

[savagelh]

Just watched a YouTube video by backfire that got me thinking. I know it's a nasty thought, but what if you only had one rifle for everything you shoot/hunt what would it be? It should be a rifle that you have already proven in the field.

I think mine would be my semi custom tikka t3 lh in 308win. My load is 150ttsx at just under 3000fps. It has proven very effective on big game up to moose. I have also rang steel out to 650 with it. A close second load would be the 155 scenar at the same speed. I just haven't tried it on big game but I have read of many others that have very effectively.

So what is your choice? Some if the answers in the vid ranged from 9mm pistol, 22-250, 30-06, 6.5prc 6 dasher and 22lr.

 

[FLHTCUI]

300 Winmag with 180 Grn Particians.

 

[MilitaryCollectorMark]

That's a good one. For me, probably a 6.5 swede with 160 gr RN for game upto moose maybe a barnes TTSX for longer range game?

 

[AlbertaJohn]

My 47 year old winchester model 70 in 30-06

Second choice would be a toss up between mt 7mmRem mag or my 338wm

 

[DOUGLAS D]

HS Precision or M70 Extreme Weather in 300 WSM
Healthy dose of RL 17 or 19 behind a Barnes 165 grain TTSX.
Winchester Nickle brass and a magnum rifle primer.
Not perfect for everything but covers most bases.

 

[Joel]

That's a good one. For me, probably a 6.5 swede with 160 gr RN for game upto moose maybe a barnes TTSX for longer range game?

The 127gr LRX and Ramshot Hunter were promising for me. Nosler lists 45gr for 2837 fps from a 23" barrel.

 

[Evanguy]

7mm remmag, 300 winmag

Would be the most practical but I think if I had to pick just one I'd pick a 7mm stw

 

[Joel]

30-06 with Remington Jim's handloads lol

 

[DGY]

Hmmmm i would like to say 30-06… but I think either my mauser 98 in 8x57 with 200gr partiton, or my HVA “680” in 9.3x62! Just because of bison hunting where the minimum is 30-06… so all of these three calibers I own and hunted with so any of those three would work for me!

 

[remington jim]

30-06 with Remington Jim's handloads lol

Tikka T3X SS Super Light
30-06 with a 168 TTSX at 3050 fps . RJ

 

[medvedqc]

30-06 with 200 gr partition.

 

[Joel]

30-06 with a 168 TTSX at 3050 fps . RJ

Thats the one lol

30-06 with 200 gr partition.

But nothins walkin away from that one either lol

 

[hoytcanon]

Ruger M77 Mark II Express .30/06 with 180 grain Partitions.

 

[mikeyb]

I'd build something for my one-and-only. Probably a KS Arms Lightweight LAR with an IBI alpine hunter carbon barrel. Either a Mc Game Scout or a Grayboe Trekker stock. Triggertech Special. Hinged floorplate.

Chambering would be a .30-06, and ideally I'd push the 175gr LRX into the mid-2800 FPS range.

 

[pathfinder76]

Ruger M77 Mark II Express .30/06 with 180 grain Partitions.

Pretty hard to argue with that or the next weight of bullet either side of it.

Make mine a Model 70.

 

[Warden70]

My semi-custom model 70 in 35 Whelen and 225 gr Partition. Load it up or load it down, it will take everything I’ll be hunting. Good for 300 yards on most everything. Long live the Colonel’s cartridge!

 

[9.3mauser]

For this continent, a .30'06 with 180 gr Partitions. That would handle 98% of everything in the world, except the large dangerous game of Africa. Even there it would probably do the job, just not legally.

It's easier to go down to a single rifle than it is to go to a single load. I can envision scenarios where I'd prefer faster and lighter, and others where heavier, deeper penetrating would be an advantage.

 

[MiG25]

I've tried, the 8x57 with 200 grain Partitions, worked from Coyotes to Elk. Switched to 160gr TTSX's to try to flatten the trajectory (especially for Coyotes) and to avoid the whole Lead debate with the kids' Mothra.

 

[Standardvel]

Winchester model 670a 30-06 180gr nosler ballistic tip

Bought new in 73 or 74 hunted with just about every year since and shot varmints and predators as well.

 

[saskcop]

CZ 550 in 9.3x62 with 285 grain Norma Oryx at 2500 fps.