What is the best rifle for everything

It's not like I don't know the specs for an M1 Garand and USGI 30cal ammo, I've loaded them before. You load for pressure first, and try to keep it under 2750fps with a medium fast powder like 4064 or 4895. What I'm saying is that if you must use factory ammunition and all you can get is 150g grey box, putting 30 rounds a year through the gun is no biggie.

tumblr_ljtxocThnE1qa1saxo1_500.jpg


This thread isn't the "One rifle for SHTF" it's about having the best rifle for everything, and the Garand should at least make the list.
 
Of all the guns I own and use and shoot it seems when I seriously go afield after expensive non-dangerous game it is my old semi custom stainless Rem 700 300 Wby that fills my gun case.
Click to expand...


Pretty hard to beat a .300. Its almost never a bad choice for those that that can handle the recoil. Fact is, hunting camps are full of them and for good reasons.

People are funny. If recoil bothers them, they can't accept that someone else might even like it.

If they think that 300 yards is stretching things, then they are probably are happier thinking that the next guy is exagerateing or flat out lieing. Never mind that many people will hit nearly all of the gophers they shoot at at that range. Never mind that the 600 yard V ring is 3" and the worst shooter there is going to get more than a few of them.

Long range shooting is within reach for most people who know how to breath and squeeze, have a decent rifle, some guidance, a place to do it, and a big pile of ammo. 'Course, that list does eliminate most of them.............
 
Last edited:
If ammo cost and recoil is no problem for you,.. there's a lot of ultra loudenboomers out there to squeeze every last drop of terminal velocity on arrival, but.......


If you've got a great shooting M70 Winchester chambered in .300WM, or even it's short and fat cousin that Gatehouse shoots so well:p, what these can't do on your list, doesn't need to be done.

I shoot the same rifle in 7mmRM and would try to hold my own, but I will cede to the Super300 for your list requirements seeing as it is a hypothetical question and not purchased yet. I love the .30-06 as well as a lot of praise it has received here. The 300 will just do the same thing 150 yards further from the muzzle that's all.

For an apple to apple comparison of both .300's and the venerable '06, go to Winchesters online ballistics computer.

Select .300WIN,.300WSM, and .30-06.
Select 180gr Xp3 for all.
Select 200 yard zero.

Click shoot.......A great apples to apples comparison with the exact same Big Game bullet. Note the .300s are doing the same as the '06 150 yards further out. 300WM 1862ftlbs@500,300WSM1882ftlbs@500,.30-06 1832ftlbs@350yds.

Nearly a ton of energy in the .300s to hammer a .308" bullet home at 500 yards. Do you need more?? That's like pushing a pointed barrel .30-30 through the ribcage and then squeezing the trigger!
Did I say .30-30 oh no..............:eek:
 
.375 H&H magnum in a Win 70 Safari or Alaskan. Not sure I'd want to shoot it prone much.

Other choice is a Win 70 sporter or Super Grade in .30-06. Better for lots of practice. Probably better overall if you won't put the time in on the .375 magnum.
 
I have a Remington 760 in 30-06 and it good for everything I need it for in Alberta. If I was going to buy another gun it will be a Weatherby S2 Deluxe in .270 Win. Weatherby says that the S2 is sub MOA.
 
Personally I think lots of guys are going light for a rifle that is supposed to reliably kill big animals out to 500 yards, the the OP posted. I'm not sure that some of the calibers listed are honest, reliable one-shot-kill at 500 yards on elk or moose type cartrdges, but I may just be more experienced with larger calibers.

I'd have to reccomend .338 win mag in any controlled feed rifle that you prefer and is accurate. I've found that a decent scope with a LR reticle on such a rifle makes hitting longer range targets even easier.
 
7mm remington magnum is my favorite all around, great at long range. Will drop an elk at 400 yards no problem. Recoil is nice and solid but not uncomfortable.

McLean
 
I love the 6.5x55 swede and the 303 Brit, they seem to be the cartridges I go to the most. The swede is such a nice cartridge to load for 90grain to 160 grain pills that shoot flat. You can't go wrong with either.
 
Get a military Mauser 98 action, rebarrel it to 7x57. I like 23", but it could be anything from 21 to 25". With a nice piece of walnut there's no need for it to weigh more than 7 lbs. without scope. Put good open sights on the barrel, and QD mounts for the scope.

The 7mm Mauser has been doing "everything" for 120 years, and has probably killed every game animal on the planet several times over.
 
For "everything", the choice has to be the .375 H&H. It could be whatever action you want - Remington, Winchester, Zastava. Take it to a good gunsmith and have them true it up, tune the trigger and screw on a good barrel liek a Krieger. Add nice open sights, like something from Recknagel. Drop it into a McMillan, Manners or Brown of your choice. Add a good quality scope like a S&B 3-12x42, Diavari 2.5-10x42 or similar in EAW quick detach mounts and you are off to the races.
 
jackrabbit000 said:
I have a Remington 760 in 30-06 and it good for everything I need it for in Alberta. If I was going to buy another gun it will be a Weatherby S2 Deluxe in .270 Win. Weatherby says that the S2 is sub MOA.
Click to expand...

I love my 760 in 270. My go to moose/deer rifle until I bought a 7mm mag. Now I'm developing a slightly reduced load for my son for the 270.

One all 'round caliber? I'd have to say 30-06 due to the heavier bullets available but I sure do love the 7mm.
 
From what I'm reading you want an affordable caliber to shoot factory ammo at longer ranges. I'd say 300 win mag is where you should be looking. Gun...whatever fits you as that is a personal thing usually limited by funding. That said...buy once, cry once(as in buy one step above what you can 'afford').


*edit*

Just noticed this thread is from last year.....summer of last year that is.
 
savagefan said:
338winmag does it all plus it lets people know you have a really big ####.
Click to expand...

Ah yes there is always the added bonus of the "Look what I got" factor. The 338 is also great for knocking down big fuzzy critters. I love it. Now as long as no one shows up in moose camp with a 375 H&H. I don't think I can handle anything much bigger than that!
 
Well at the risk of being repetitive (not having read through the previous 90+ posts) I'm going to say 6.5x55sweed.


In a modern rifle such as an M70win or a M77ruger or a european brand bolt action it is not unreasonable to push the max load envelope for re loading.
I'd even go as far as 260remington pressures.
I wouldn't be so quick to push the limits on an actual Swedish mauser however. Not because the M96 or commercial swedish mausers are poorly made or anything....they're just 100 years old and a lot of un documented things may have occurred to these rifles during that time. Oh and the fact that reload info is tailored to the weakest action commonly chambered for the cartridge.(Creig-Jorgenson's)

But a 95 gr V-max or 90gr TNT are good varmint loads and a 129 SST or TSX is more than adequate on deer sized game. While a 140gr trophy bonded Bear claw (while existing supplies last) SST, 139gr TSX, or 160gr sierra is good enough for elk/moose/black bear at appropriate rages.

Couple all this to a larger case capacity than a 260rem, 6.5-08 and a longer barrel life than other 6.5/260 magnum chamberings. Its projectiles also have higher ballistic coefficient than many other popular cartridges.

Although a 25-06 is a more available cartridge, as are its components and newly minted firearms. It has similar attributes and varied game taking capabilities as well. And while its projectiles are capable of higher velocities they are of lesser grain weight. But still dead is dead guys do hunt moose with th 25-06. Not my ideal set up but still quiet adequate.

There you have it. My $.02
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom