Again, the "only one rifle" issue?

[Thankful Otter]

I hope this post is received in the spirit it is intended. From a very young age, we hunted, and we were probably considered a poor family. It was not until after I graduated from college, got married and both my husband and his grandfather are hunters and gun collectors, etc. So I have since my early years learned to enjoy many different calibers. However for the sake of this thread. I have used a simple and boring 30-06, for Wolf, Moose, Elk, Deer, Black and Brown bear, Caribou, Musk-ox, Bison, Sheep, and Goat. So it is always hard for me to suggest anything else for North America, including the brownies. I use a variety of different calibers now, but not because it is necessary, but because I enjoy doing so. For the world including dangerous game I would feel comfortable with only a 375 H & H.

 

[Guy Miner]

YH - you've had broader experience than mine, but I'd have to agree. With a good .30-06 and a good .375... What more is needed?

Those choices have only been around for a hundred years or so. I'd say our predecessors figured out this cartridge thing pretty well back then.

Regards, Guy

 

[Elkman]

charlie asks
Bill, scope is a Leupold, is it a 2.5-8x36, VX-3?

I changed earlier this year. This is a 3.5 X 10 X 40 VX-III with the BDC Reticle on the top. It gives me a couple hundred more yards than the other one.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I would hope that this entire thread is not serious and is accepted by all in the sprit of which is is intended. This site has always been pretty relaxed and informal plus embued with a good sense of humor which I hope will continue into the future.

When we start taking ourselves too seriously. topics tend to degenerate into contests instead of good natured ribing and helping others with issues that they may have. I hope that this type of overzealous seriousness never ruins this site?

 

[alaska100]

I hope this post is received in the spirit it is intended. From a very young age, we hunted, and we were probably considered a poor family. It was not until after I graduated from college, got married and both my husband and his grandfather are hunters and gun collectors, etc. So I have since my early years learned to enjoy many different calibers. However for the sake of this thread. I have used a simple and boring 30-06, for Wolf, Moose, Elk, Deer, Black and Brown bear, Caribou, Musk-ox, Bison, Sheep, and Goat. So it is always hard for me to suggest anything else for North America, including the brownies. I use a variety of different calibers now, but not because it is necessary, but because I enjoy doing so. For the world including dangerous game I would feel comfortable with only a 375 H & H.

Like Guy, you have harvested more species than I but I agree with you and Guy 100%. I actually still use the 30-06 and would have no problem with that being my one North America gun. For the world, I would also be fine with the 375. But I do use and like other calibers and have a fondness for the big bore lever actions.

I think a lot of what one likes and uses is dependent upon where one hunts of course. Cheyenne, probably has had most of those animals in her back yard, so to speak, all her life. So what seems like a hunt of a life time for us, could be as simple as getting the time off work to hunt them for her.

When I lived in El Paso a moose or bear hunt would have been a major hunt and expense, and now I see them driving to work or when fishing.

 

[hubcap]

Well, I love and adore my 270,s for deer. For dark timber elk I grab my light weight 30:06 with 200 grain PT;s. If I was told to pick only one and be happy about it, it would be my 300 Mag. If I ever wanted to hunt the brown bear I would borrow a 375 from Fotis.

 

[IdahoCTD]

Wait... someone can have just one rifle?

Do not.. under any circumstances, mention this in front of my wife.... please!

My recent description of the 7STW's 'necessity' was already getting a raised eyebrow. I do believe the 'But honey, this one goes to 11', was met with the same level of resignation she has when it comes to most of my hobbies.

I can't remember back when I only had 11. I think I'm north of 70 now :shock: My wife doesn't even try to count or keep track :lol:

For all of NA I would probably pick a .340 Weatherby, .338-8mm, .338Baer, or a .375 on the same cases. The H&H would work but I'd rather have an improved version as the velocity gain is pretty good (150-200fps). The .338's have better bullets but the .375 make bigger holes.

If we are talking the world I'd probably go for a .416 of some flavor. They are still capable of 500yd kills and can take the biggest critters on the planet.

It just so happens my go to rifle for many years was a .375-.358STA and following that it was a .416 Rem. mag. The former went to Africa with me and took 8 plains game animals from duiker to Kudu. The shots ranged from 35yds to 515yds.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I am pretty much a deer hunter and aside from a half dozen elk which have spiced up the many deer that I have killed, all of my hunting could well have been done with the .270 Win, Winchester Mod 70 that I have used for much of my deer hunting in the last 55 years and the .338 WM Model 70 that I used to kill most of the elk.

I have owned a lot of different rifles over the years, including a .30-06 and a .375 Ouch & Ouch both Model 70's but I have not killed and game with them except one elk which I killed with the .30-06. I guess that you can say I am a two rifle act also (.270 and .375), just limited to Cervids and Odocoileus.

 

[.280 Remington]

So far in my 18 years of hunting I have used two calibers on deer and pronghorn. .243 which was my first deer and two .280 Remington's. This year was the first time since the switch to the 280 I have used a different rifle. Just so happens a 280 as well

 

[pre6422hornet]

Man I don't have as many firearm harvests as opposed to Archery, but If I had to just have one, and only one, it would be my model 70 in .270 win. Not because it cleanly harvests better, or has more "power" than others.... it is because I know it and its trajectory like the back of my hand.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Me too, Pat. After you have used the same .270 Win Mod 70 rifle since 1973, you kind of get to know how it shoots and where to shoots. I have worn out or broken 4-5 scopes on this rifle and upgraded finally to a 4-12x50 Swaro about 10 years ago but other than that, all I have done is added more scratches to the finish.

 

[Bruce Mc]

If I'm gonna limit myself to just one rifle, I'm gonna assume that the use of the rifle is not just for pleasure. Cuz' for that I would need the dozen or so that I currently have. For me that one rifle battery would have to be a .257 Roberts. It is as close to perfect deer and antelope cartridge as I could imagine. It's plenty for good for animals up to around 500 lbs and in an up close pinch, it will do for elk. I wouldn't even think about a grizzler with it but then again we said only one "rifle". If I was having to hunt in bear country I would have a 12 guage with some three inch slugs close. If you were really starving, it won't obliterate small game either. In an article I read many years ago the famous Skeeter Skelton opted that if he could have one rifle it would be a .22lr. His opinion being that there is a lot more small game than large game.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I also have a Roberts and I like it fine for informal and local deer hunting. For hard-core trophy hunting, I will stick to my 7mm Rem Mag, under all conditions and ranges.

 

[Bruce Mc]

In the "real world" I too opt for my 7mm Rem Mag for serious hunting. Especially if I have a considerable amount of cash tied up in the deal. I guess if shooting a 300 mag was fun, I would use one of those.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Gee, I always thought shooting a .300 Mag was fun? That is the difference, the amount of cash on the deal. Free is different than fee! I did use a .300 H&H on a couple of "fee" hunts and shot my largest mule deer with it.

 

[SJB358]

If I was limited to one rifle, the 338 or 35 Whelen would do pretty well. From 180's up to 310's, you have alot of great bullets, good trajectory out to 500 or better. Alot of bullet mass and easy to load for. This question always gets knocked around, but if it were just deer and such, 90% of the time, the 264WM or 270WSM would be the pick.

 

[Oldtrader3]

This entire line of reasoning makes me wonder what we are really talking about? In this reality, do I need to pinch myself because I am no longer real? Does one really need a .35 Whelen to kill a deer? Am I going to wake up any minute screaming that I was having a bad dream in which people were telling me that my 40 years run (of 3 or 4 kills per year) one shot deer with my .270 Winchester was nothing but a mad figment of my imagination and that I would have done better with a .338-06? Is (40) one-shot kill years not good enough? Is dead not dead?

I can tell, you all are going to ignore me again because you can't answer this question and this site is in reality some alter-geist reflection of Madison Avenue turned upside down and according to some here, the only thing that will kill deer is 6mm Rem's, .25-06's, .35 Whelen's and .270 WSM's/Weatherby's. Of course this is nonsense as is the often advanced proposition around here that .270 Winchesters somehow can't possibly kill deer.

Someone call me when you 30-somethings have figured all this out! I would hate to keep killing deer one bullet at a time with a caliber that can't possibly get it done but strangely has since 1925 and for me since 1966, when I bought my first .270 Winchester and killed my first Texas whitetail with it, with one shot! I still have the horns BTW nailed to wall in my garage, at least I think that they are real?

 

[Thankful Otter]

Good morning charlie and for the record, I believe you on all points. However, I am one of the odd balls who still believes the 30-06 is all that one needs for all of North america game, including the brownies. As mentioned earlier I have used that old and boring caliber for everything and still take her out occasionally. However, to be honest, it was all I had for many years and the bullets for it were cheap and easy to come by, especially for a kid. I was almost ready to go into college before I realized that their were other bullets for the 30-06 instead of either the 180 or 165. And looking back they were some of the best hunting years of my life.

I am one of those young people you speak of and I agree with you, the 270 would make a great deer gun. And speaking just for myself, I have no clue why I keep wanting to try a new caliber/gun when I have that old 30-06 that has served me so well. Cant answer for the guys but as a girl I can always fall back on the old " women reserve the right to change their mind" defense
we now have many different calibers makes and models and I enjoy using them all--don't need them, but I enjoy them. Right now today, my husband has fallen in love with the 340 Weatherby, I have taken a liking to a 300 H & H that we picked up and my Grandfather collects Weatherbys, has many different calibers but when he is in his cabin in the mountains he is always carrying a 45/70. and he is in his 70 s.

 

[SJB358]

I am with you Charlie, I like the 270 Win alot, but if I were limited to one, it would be it's bigger brother!

I am sure there are about a million 30-06's and 270 vs 35 Whelen and 338-06's.. If the right Pre64 ever runs across my tracks, I might have to have one.

 

[DrMike]

If I could only use one rifle, I'd probably go into a nursing home, curl up in the fetal position and wait for the care aides to bring me my milk and cookies.