If you could only have one rifle for big game what would it

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Rich M
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Re: If you could only have one rifle for big game what would it

Unread postby Rich M » Thu Jan 19, 2017 5:27 am

My dad hooked me up with a Winchester Mod 70 in 30-06 quite a few years back, said I would never need another gun. So far, I believe him.


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Horizontal Hunter
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Re: If you could only have one rifle for big game what would it

Unread postby Horizontal Hunter » Thu Jan 19, 2017 10:32 am

Rich M wrote:My dad hooked me up with a Winchester Mod 70 in 30-06 quite a few years back, said I would never need another gun. So far, I believe him.


Sounds perfect to me. I ended up with a Savage 30-06; my awesome wife bought it for me.

Bob
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Re: If you could only have one rifle for big game what would it

Unread postby 35whelen » Thu Jan 19, 2017 9:09 pm

Remington 700 Classic in 35 Whelen. Set in a McMillan Edge stock and Leupold 2.5-8 on top it weights right at 7lbs ready to go. I can load pistol bullets for small game and 270gr Woodleighs for the really big stuff.
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Re: If you could only have one rifle for big game what would

Unread postby GoetzC » Fri Jan 20, 2017 4:19 am

cbay wrote:.270. Model 70. There's just something about the bark of that rifle.
Since i can have more than one, add the .308 ;)
If i hunted mostly bear and moose and wanted a bulldozer for a rifle the fascination with the .338 would get the best of me.


That's exactly the rifle I chose when I was in the same boat a few years ago. Winchester Model 70 in .270
After doing all the research I did and reading about Jack O'Connor it was an easy choice for a one and done gun.
That's not to say I won't buy another rifle, I just won't need to. :D
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Re: If you could only have one rifle for big game what would it

Unread postby Mike32 » Tue Aug 15, 2017 4:16 pm

For my Hunting needs, I prefer Winchester model 70 in either a 308 or 300 win mag..
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Re: If you could only have one rifle for big game what would it

Unread postby Emrah » Tue Aug 15, 2017 4:27 pm

I know I should say my Savage Axis 30-06. I have a great 165gr Nosler Partition load for it as well as a screaming fast 130gr Barnes TTSX load. Plus all the availability of factory loads just about anywhere.

But.... my heart lies with my iron-sighted, milsurp 24/47 Yugo 8mm Mauser. I love this gun. I love the open sights, I love the heft, I love the smoothness of the granddaddy of all modern bolt actions. And I love the critter-flattening 170gr Hornady round nose I have for it. Shoots like a Cadillac, hits like a freight train.

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Re: If you could only have one rifle for big game what would it

Unread postby Rich M » Fri Aug 18, 2017 11:35 pm

I almost talked myself into a .243 to hunt deer with. :o Is that bad?
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Re: If you could only have one rifle for big game what would it

Unread postby jman22 » Fri Aug 18, 2017 11:38 pm

300 win mag
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Re: If you could only have one rifle for big game what would it

Unread postby Horizontal Hunter » Sat Aug 19, 2017 12:59 am

Just thought I would post a follow up on the Savage Axis 30-06. It's a low end rifle package so I planned on moving the scope to a .22 rifle and replacing the scope with a better scope. I also knew that the trigger was stiff and gritty and I had planned to do the trigger mode to improve it. Out of the box the trigger was a little over 81/2 pounds.

I put on a Nikon Prostaff 3x9 x40 scope with the BDC reticle and bought half a dozen boxes of different 30-06 ammo ranging from 150g to 180g and headed to the range. The best I could manage was softball sized groups at 100 yards from my lead sled.

I took a coil and a half off of the trigger spring and took a stone to the sear which got down to 7 lbs so I replaced it with a Timney trigger and set it to 3 pounds.

Now it shoots like it should at 100 yards. My rifle seems to prefer the heavier bullets. This is the Hornady American Whitetail in 180g. There is still some room for improvement but I'm good to hunt with it now.

The small holes are me just having fun with the .22 while waiting for the barrel to cool down between groups.

I also want to thank BowHunter15 for his suggestions which shortened the learning curve on this rifle saving me some ammo.

Bob

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Re: If you could only have one rifle for big game what would it

Unread postby Emrah » Sat Aug 19, 2017 2:21 am

I did the "snip a coil and a half" thing myself when I first got the rifle a few years ago. Made a night and day difference. That Axis (and the .243 version I also have) shoots lights out for me. Factory ammo, handloads, light, heavy, doesn't matter. Not bad for $289 scoped combo from Fleet Farm.

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Re: If you could only have one rifle for big game what would it

Unread postby Horizontal Hunter » Sat Aug 19, 2017 12:22 pm

Emrah wrote:I did the "snip a coil and a half" thing myself when I first got the rifle a few years ago. Made a night and day difference. That Axis (and the .243 version I also have) shoots lights out for me. Factory ammo, handloads, light, heavy, doesn't matter. Not bad for $289 scoped combo from Fleet Farm.

Emrah


It's probably a Massachusetts thing. Some years ago our AG perverted the consumer protection laws for gun control. One of the perversions is that each trigger has to be made so that a child can't fire the gun. It is common to get a new gun and bring it to a gun shop for a trigger job. 8lbs - 10lbs is the norm. :angry-banghead:

Bob
Vegetarian: vejiˈte(ə)rēən/noun: old Indian word for lousy hunter. :o

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Re: If you could only have one rifle for big game what would it

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Sat Aug 19, 2017 12:54 pm

I have owned it for many, many years...
It has killed piles of Bucks...
Bolt action Remington 700 BDL in 7mm Remington Magnum...
160 grain Nosler Partition...

It puts buck and bear down, LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN ON A VOLKSWAGEN!!!

Just ask Uncle Lou!!!
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Re: If you could only have one rifle for big game what would it

Unread postby Uncle Lou » Sat Aug 19, 2017 1:26 pm

Singing Bridge wrote:I have owned it for many, many years...
It has killed piles of Bucks...
Bolt action Remington 700 BDL in 7mm Remington Magnum...
160 grain Nosler Partition...

It puts buck and bear down, LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN ON A VOLKSWAGEN!!!

Just ask Uncle Lou!!!


Yep. 160 grain Nosler Partition- yep. 3,000 fps of 160 grains of a well constructed, high ballistic coefficient, heat seeking missile, cooking down on any animal is too much too handle. One rifle, one round - 7mm Mag with 160 grain Nosler. Sight it 1.6 inches high at 100, zero at 200, minus 7 inches at 300. Hold dead on to 300 and let her rip. Or you can do some complicated math and zero for maximum point blank range and get another 50 or so yards on a dead on hold. Lots of good rounds mentioned.
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Boogieman1
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Re: If you could only have one rifle for big game what would it

Unread postby Boogieman1 » Sun Aug 20, 2017 12:11 am

.577 T-Rex bolt action
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Re: If you could only have one rifle for big game what would it

Unread postby Octang » Fri Aug 25, 2017 12:14 pm

I would get a Tikka 30-06. It is actually the next rifle I'm purchasing. A few months ago I bought a tikka t3 270 and I like it so much I want more!


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