November 28, 2012, 10:35 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 28, 2012
Posts: 118
|
One rifle (centerfire)
Mine would be my old tang safety M77 RL in .270 with the Bushnell Elite 3600 Firefly. I bedded the action and floated the barrel years ago. Trigger is decent. It likes Winchester Supreme 130 grain Ballistic Silvertip. Never seems to need adjustments to the scope, its a dream to carry and I can hit with it. It'll do anything anywhere I'll ever be. Plus its a very handsome piece.
You? |
November 28, 2012, 11:46 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 12, 2011
Location: Washington state
Posts: 1,558
|
I love all my rifles but......if I had to chose only one.....my Win 94 in 30-30. It was my first centerfire. And my Dad bought it for me as my wages for an entire summer of hard labor (I was 12 yrs old). Lots of memories and sentiment in that gun. It probably cost me more labor than any other gun I own and taught me the value hard work. I haven't shot it since dad passed away, maybe it will come along next time out.
__________________
You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education! |
November 28, 2012, 11:55 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 5, 2010
Location: McMurdo Sound Texas
Posts: 4,322
|
Remington .30-06 is effective on most any target on the North American Continent.
On the other hand, a .50 BMG semi auto fears no target
__________________
Cave illos in guns et backhoes |
November 29, 2012, 12:44 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 13, 2000
Location: Mountains
Posts: 1,385
|
Two guys on my deer lease hunt with Ruger 77 rifles with the wood stock and blued finish. They bought them in the 70's or 80's and that is all they use with the 130 grain bullets.
Me, I can't stick with just one rifle all the time. I have to try different ones and about the time I think I have settled down to just one, I go out and buy something different. Really truly the one that feels the best in my hands when deer hunting is my Browning Bar MK II Safari in 30.06. I have taken several deer with it and it shoots like a laser. I must say I have not carried it much in the past few years and have mainly used either my Model 700 XCR in 30.06 or my Model 700 XCR in 7 MM Magnum. I must say the XCR is one heck of a finish on a rifle and there are no worries about rust from bad weather or hard hunting. As far as if I could only hunt with just one rifle (which would suck ) it would probably be the 30.06 in the Model 700 XCR. |
November 29, 2012, 12:49 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 26, 2004
Location: Louisville KY
Posts: 13,805
|
You mean out of my collection?
Garand. |
November 29, 2012, 01:21 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 23, 2008
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 2,126
|
My Tikka T3 Hunter in 6.5x55SE.
|
November 29, 2012, 07:31 AM | #7 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 1, 2010
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 4,556
|
Quote:
Have, or "dream" rifle? Clrarify... |
|
November 29, 2012, 08:52 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 14, 2004
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,694
|
One Rifle Days:
In the early 60's, I had a glass-bedded, Bishop-Picher stocked, Savage 30-06 with a 2.5x Weaver that was used for all CF shooting/hunting. Then, I sold it and bought a .22-250, bedded, Rem ADL that was used for everything, including killing a few deer, shooting lots of varmints, fun at the range, and winning lots of turkey shoots. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today, I can't have just one centerfire rifle for everything, because I've built a more specialized small collection to cover various game, varmint, and range use. For longer-range deer hunting, my favorite is a Rem stainless 700 BDL, .270 Win, HS Precision stock, Leupold 3-9X VXII. For large varmints, I favor the 1980s vintage Rem 700 ADL, Pac-Nor barreled, pillar bedded, .243 Win, with 2.5 - 10x scope. (Also used by grandkids for deer hunting.) For walkabout general hunting, I like my new Tikka T3 Lite, .243 Win, with Leupold VX2. (This is also used for deer hunting by some of my grandkids.) For smaller and/or shorter range varmint and range use, Tikka 595, pillar-bedded, .223 Rem with 4.5-14X Mueller. This one goes to the range often and is the most accurate/fun CF rifle I own (1/4 minute with handloads). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
November 29, 2012, 01:23 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 2, 2007
Location: Iowa
Posts: 2,676
|
After a decade or two and many centerfire rifles I'm already there. I only own one centerfire rifle, a homebrew Savage 110 in .243. It will do anything I want/need for the foreseeable future and beyond. The likelihood, I'm gonna hunt elk, moose or big bear is slim to none so I'm covered.
|
November 29, 2012, 01:48 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 14, 2011
Location: Brazos County, Texas
Posts: 1,038
|
Like L Killkenny, the first thing that popped to mind was a 243.
But,depending where you live,you might need a larger caliber. |
November 29, 2012, 02:09 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 18, 2000
Location: Metairie, Louisiana
Posts: 890
|
If I had a favorite I'd only have one. 30-06 bought in the 70 will do anything necessary in the field. Custom 308 will pinch one hole all day long but it's way to heavy to carry. Little CZ 527 in .223 shots like a dream but I wouldn't try taking anything larger than a Yote with it. Savage Mk II is fun for punching a tiny hole at 50 yards all day long. Sig 552 punches tiny holes too and spits out .22 LR as fast an you can pull the trigger. Browning Lever .22 LR will take cans off the berm at 100 all day long is nostalgic and fun. And then there's the BEAST. Marlin 1895 45/70. It's fun to shoot but you don't want to bench it for hours on end and with a scope on it it's a little heavy for a leaver gun, but I'd take it anywhere none the less. I couldn't part with any of them.
Actually, my Remington 870 12 Gauge that was purchased in the early 70s, that has has been dropped in the mud, swimming for hours in the water in the bottom of the Perough (? spelling) "ditch boat", has dozens of cases of 2 3/4 high brass through it over years, has taken deer, more ducks, rabbits, squares, doves, Wood Cock on and on and clay pigeons than I could ever count, has never failed to go bang and never needed more than cleaning is by far my favorite... but you said rifle.
__________________
Guns are not dangerous! People are! RKBA! |
November 29, 2012, 06:12 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 13, 2005
Posts: 4,700
|
One of my SIG SHRs. So far they have all been fine out of the box, with factory stocks and no special treatment, no bedding, etc.
2nd Place-my 1978 Winchester M70 XTR in 308 Win. The same-in 1979 at 100 yards in fading light I fired a 1.5" group with GI amuunition. |
November 29, 2012, 06:35 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 19, 2012
Location: East Texas
Posts: 407
|
Probably my AR-15.
It's the type of rifle I've used the most and know the best. The flat top and forearm rails give it a lot of flexibility with types of sighting system. And there isn't anything around here I can't hunt with it. Finally, with the right set of equipment it's fairly night friendly. I like walking around with my Winchester 94 better. And it's prettier. But, if I could only have one, I guess I'd give it up. |
November 29, 2012, 06:49 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 14, 2011
Location: WV
Posts: 938
|
I really like my Rossi Circuit Judge but if I just picked one rifle, it'd have to be my 45-70 New England.
|
November 29, 2012, 06:55 PM | #15 |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: June 25, 2008
Location: Austin, CO
Posts: 19,578
|
I'd go with my .243 Ackley Improved.
I'd shoot any animal in North America with it, certainly up to black bear and elk, without a second thought. I'm confident that an 80gr Barnes TTSX leaving the muzzle at 3,550fps and routinely exhibiting 3+ feet of penetration would handle anything I'll ever need to shoot. On the other end, a 55gr varmint bullet at 4,100fps would be quite... dramatic... on anything small(ish).
__________________
Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley |
November 29, 2012, 10:39 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 17, 2004
Posts: 567
|
Presently my favored rifle is a custom Mauser 30-06. It has a well made walnut stock and an octagon barrel.
I have have/had a number of rifles since the early 1950's and what with the lack of woodchucks here in New England I have been using that rifle all year around. I bring a Kimber Montana along in case it rains. |
November 29, 2012, 10:55 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 26, 2004
Location: Louisville KY
Posts: 13,805
|
I have a CMP Garand. Cost all of $495, great gun.
Figure if I ever needed something for hunting, HD or...whatever, the venerable 30-06 should be more than adequate. Heck of a sturdy rifle. |
November 29, 2012, 11:24 PM | #18 |
Member
Join Date: May 11, 2010
Location: Missouri
Posts: 63
|
my 1916 no.1 mk 3 Lee Enfield in .303 british thank you very much.
|
November 30, 2012, 01:15 AM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 21, 2012
Posts: 113
|
Hey OP, I feel ya on the M77. Good choice. I inherited my dad's M77 30-06 from the 70's. Shoots great, and the action is like butter. I want so badly to say my new Gunsite Scout would be my "one", but it may have to be that M77. If I could just get it to take magazines! lol.
|
November 30, 2012, 01:19 AM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 7, 2001
Location: Washington State
Posts: 2,166
|
Only one?
I'd have to go with my 1903 Springfield. Plenty accurate--I've put five rounds of GI ball ammunition into a hand sized group at 200 yards, off the bench. Substantial weight and a good steel buttplate. Sling swivels in the right place to really get close and personal with a good leather 2 piece sling, and sights precise enough to hit a target out to 330 yards and beyond. Plus, the capability to accept all varieties of what is possibly the most common caliber in the US. I think it's ideal.
__________________
Hiding in plain sight... |
November 30, 2012, 06:47 AM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 18, 2010
Location: Independence Missouri
Posts: 4,582
|
I did use my Wearherby Vanguard in 7mm rem mag.
Unlike some peopleI really could hunt and kill any game in this country and not be undergunned
__________________
Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry. |
November 30, 2012, 07:23 AM | #22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 18, 2010
Location: Independence Missouri
Posts: 4,582
|
I did use my Wearherby Vanguard in 7mm rem mag.
Unlike some peopleI really could hunt and kill any game in this country and not be undergunned
__________________
Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry. |
November 30, 2012, 07:44 AM | #23 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 16, 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 3,577
|
MIne would also be the 243. Just a all around good choice. 308 would be a close second though
__________________
NRA Certified RSO NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional |
November 30, 2012, 09:05 PM | #24 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 25, 2006
Posts: 1,819
|
Remington 721 .270 and Weaver that was Gramps, or my Sears Winchester 100 .30 30 lever Ted Williams that Dad got me. I am glad I dont have to pick.
|
November 30, 2012, 09:47 PM | #25 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 12, 2008
Location: The Real America
Posts: 149
|
If I only had one to take it would be my Win 94 in 30-30. It is the most comfortable rifle I own and shoots great. Of course my oldest son can choice a different rifle, and the youngest son can choice yet another. Then there are my two daughters and don't forget the wife! She can pick one. So then that make six OK I'm good with that.
__________________
"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|