Poll: What would be your only rifle?

[MeMelYup]

I have a Howa 1500 in .308 with the 20" bbl and Hogue youth overmolded stock. It has done great on medium-sized game (a total of 15 whitetails, Fallow, and a 200-lb feral hog--all with one shot). I don't even notice the recoil and it will shoot 1", 3-shot groups at 100 yds off a bench as long as I do my part. I wouldn't hunt the big bears with with, and maybe not even a moose, but I'd use it for anything else in North America. I slipped and fell on a rocky slope a couple of years ago, dinged up the scope, and broke the plastic spacer between the stock and the recoil pad in three places. In the center break it pushed the spacer in about a quarter of an inch. I pulled it out with a paper clip, glued the three breaks tight and took it to the range expecting the worst. Shot a 3/4" group! I may buy other rifles in other action types and calibers, but this one stays with me forever.


Crash

Now that's shooting.

[Maxwell]

Being an old Texas Boy I love my 30-30 Marlin for getting through brush and dropping anything it hits. But I do understand the allure of a 30.06.

[bloodhound13]

I recently (last year) decided to stop hunting with my M1A's, and decided to get a "beater" truck rifle. Went to Academy and purchased the Savage Axis .308, Leupold mounts/rings, and Nikon BDC 3-9X40 glass. All for right at $550. Three whitetail last season and two feral pigs later, it still holds zero and can drive a 3 round group sub-MOA at 100 yards. I have many other rifles I spent a pretty penny on, but I talk about this one the most due to the bang for your buck, and you get a lot for such a minimum entry fee.

[ghostrider]

Is the 270 Rem in the poll really meant to be 270 Winchester ?

[JCole]

One rifle for all purposes? Marlin 1894C, .357 Magnum.

[Excaliber]

I have a Howa 1500 in .308 with the 20" bbl and Hogue youth overmolded stock. It has done great on medium-sized game (a total of 15 whitetails, Fallow, and a 200-lb feral hog--all with one shot). I don't even notice the recoil and it will shoot 1", 3-shot groups at 100 yds off a bench as long as I do my part. I wouldn't hunt the big bears with with, and maybe not even a moose, but I'd use it for anything else in North America. I slipped and fell on a rocky slope a couple of years ago, dinged up the scope, and broke the plastic spacer between the stock and the recoil pad in three places. In the center break it pushed the spacer in about a quarter of an inch. I pulled it out with a paper clip, glued the three breaks tight and took it to the range expecting the worst. Shot a 3/4" group! I may buy other rifles in other action types and calibers, but this one stays with me forever.


Crash

How did you get all those animals to line up in the trajectory of a single projectile, and what bullet / powder load did you use?

Fixed it for ya:

a total of 15 whitetails, Fallow, and a 200-lb feral hog--all with one shot each.

Sorry - that was just too good to pass up!

[The Annoyed Man]

I have a Howa 1500 in .308 with the 20" bbl and Hogue youth overmolded stock. It has done great on medium-sized game (a total of 15 whitetails, Fallow, and a 200-lb feral hog--all with one shot). I don't even notice the recoil and it will shoot 1", 3-shot groups at 100 yds off a bench as long as I do my part. I wouldn't hunt the big bears with with, and maybe not even a moose, but I'd use it for anything else in North America. I slipped and fell on a rocky slope a couple of years ago, dinged up the scope, and broke the plastic spacer between the stock and the recoil pad in three places. In the center break it pushed the spacer in about a quarter of an inch. I pulled it out with a paper clip, glued the three breaks tight and took it to the range expecting the worst. Shot a 3/4" group! I may buy other rifles in other action types and calibers, but this one stays with me forever.


Crash

How did you get all those animals to line up in the trajectory of a single projectile, and what bullet / powder load did you use?

Fixed it for ya:

a total of 15 whitetails, Fallow, and a 200-lb feral hog--all with one shot each.

Sorry - that was just too good to pass up!

As MeMelYup said above, "Now that's shooting."

[RiverRat]

M1a in .308 given the limitations, but a scoped 30.06 savage bolt or model 70 would be a really close thought. I carry a lever .357 in the Gator or on the tractor most of the time on the ranch.

[GunnerMike]

If you hunt, could only have one centerfire rifle, and have a limited buget of $1000, what would be your only rifle?

Please post the rifle caliber, make & model.

Me personally.....I've tried a bunch of different calibers..makes etc but I always go back to my 6.5 Swedish Mauser bolt action . Just something about it that feels right and its hard to beat the ballistics..recoil and game it can take down. Just my honest opinion

[gemini]

Is the 270 Rem in the poll really meant to be 270 Winchester ?

I think so. I'll also endorse the .270 Win as my choice. (.270 wsm might be nice too).

[rmoraes]

B"H
I'll get .308 please. Got my DMPS from Academy, under 1k. or Rem 700 heavy barrel (got for under $450 late 90's )

[Charlies.Contingency]

My vote is a bolt action .308 any day of the week. I don't care the make or model, as long as it's a decent action and good barrel, it will do it's purpose, and .308 is fairly affordable and plentiful. I think it likely the #1 all around most popular round for anything and everything, and for good reason.

I just picked up a Savage Axis II that is camo'd out for $300 after mail in rebate from Bass Pro. A great deal on a decent rifle IMO.

[dlh]

Remington 700 BDL in 30.06.

You must have a hard shoulder. I don't remember it bothering me back in high school, but last time I shot one I was so battered and bruised after about 5 rounds I quit shooting. I turned it over to my son and he gave up after about 10 rounds. A Garand would be my choice for 30-06.

I also have a Remington 700 BDL in 30-06. The recoil was unpleasant so I recently purchased a thick recoil pad and put on it. Seems to kick just a little more than my .243 now. Not a scientific test, just "feel."

An even more unpleasant gun to shoot is my bolt action 300 Winchester magnum. It comes with a recoil pad and is still unpleasant to shoot. I might get a muzzle-brake installed for it. But I like the 300 Winchester magnum cartridge. Think of a 30-06 on steroids. :)

dlh

[VMI77]

Remington 700 BDL in 30.06.

You must have a hard shoulder. I don't remember it bothering me back in high school, but last time I shot one I was so battered and bruised after about 5 rounds I quit shooting. I turned it over to my son and he gave up after about 10 rounds. A Garand would be my choice for 30-06.

I also have a Remington 700 BDL in 30-06. The recoil was unpleasant so I recently purchased a thick recoil pad and put on it. Seems to kick just a little more than my .243 now. Not a scientific test, just "feel."

An even more unpleasant gun to shoot is my bolt action 300 Winchester magnum. It comes with a recoil pad and is still unpleasant to shoot. I might get a muzzle-brake installed for it. But I like the 300 Winchester magnum cartridge. Think of a 30-06 on steroids. :)

dlh

When I was a kid we called them "sissy pads" and no one would be caught dead with one on any of their guns. After trying to sight in that 700 I bought "sissy pads" for several of the non-semi auto center fire rifles I hadn't shot in awhile. I've got a .303 and shooting that doesn't bother me, I guess because it's so much heavier than the BDL. The only thing I've shot that was as or more unpleasant than my 700 is an 870 12 ga loaded with 3" magnum slugs. I decided that 2 3/4" slugs were just fine, but even better in a semi-auto.

[Deltaboy]

Remington 700 BDL in 30.06.

This.