The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - favorite all-purpose rifle/caliber?

Art Eatman · May 1, 2012, 10:56 AM

I've messed around with a good many rifles and cartridges, through the years. What with old age, weight seems to be more important than most other factors.

The majority of my hunting has ranged from prairie dogs to mule deer. No elk or moose.

I have an old L579 Sako Forester carbine in .243. Works fine for everything from prairie dogs to deer. Weighs seven pounds. I also have a Remington 700 Ti in 7mm08. Great for deer and maybe elk, but a bit of "a bit much" for prairie dogs. But, it's only 6.5 pounds with a Leupold 3x9 on top. Both rifles are reliably sub-MOA.

So if I decide to cut back to just one hunting rifle, I'd keep the .243. I see it as generally better as a varmint rifle but also plenty good for deer.

May 1, 2012, 10:56 AM	#15
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I've messed around with a good many rifles and cartridges, through the years. What with old age, weight seems to be more important than most other factors. The majority of my hunting has ranged from prairie dogs to mule deer. No elk or moose. I have an old L579 Sako Forester carbine in .243. Works fine for everything from prairie dogs to deer. Weighs seven pounds. I also have a Remington 700 Ti in 7mm08. Great for deer and maybe elk, but a bit of "a bit much" for prairie dogs. But, it's only 6.5 pounds with a Leupold 3x9 on top. Both rifles are reliably sub-MOA. So if I decide to cut back to just one hunting rifle, I'd keep the .243. I see it as generally better as a varmint rifle but also plenty good for deer.