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

Elk, Moose, Pronghorn, African Game, ect. Behaviors, Hunting Stories, Pictures, Tactics, Q&A.
  • Advertisement

HB Store


User avatar
Horizontal Hunter
500 Club
Posts: 2936
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2014 1:08 pm
Location: Western Massachusetts
Status: Online

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

Unread postby Horizontal Hunter » Fri Oct 14, 2016 8:30 am

If you could only have one rifle for North American big game what would it be?

What caliber?
What action/rifle?

Bob

[ Post made via iPad ] Image


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

Excalibur Exocet, GT Laser II, 2" Bhoning Blazers 125g NAP Spitfire
User avatar
seazofcheeze
500 Club
Posts: 3860
Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2013 1:13 pm
Location: Billings, MT
Status: Offline

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

Unread postby seazofcheeze » Fri Oct 14, 2016 8:35 am

.300 win mag. Overkill on deer, but I'd want the extra stopping power for moose, grizzly, and maybe even elk.

[ Post made via Android ] Image
User avatar
Hatchet Jack
Posts: 389
Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2016 5:23 am
Location: VA
Status: Offline

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

Unread postby Hatchet Jack » Fri Oct 14, 2016 8:43 am

12 gauge shotgun with interchangeable rifled barrel

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
User avatar
jwilkstn
500 Club
Posts: 1467
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2016 6:01 am
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jason.wilkerson.71
Location: The hills of Southern Middle Tennessee
Contact:
Status: Offline

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

Unread postby jwilkstn » Fri Oct 14, 2016 8:59 am

I asked myself this a couple years ago, but capped my spending at about $1k. I went with a Tikka T3 stainless light with a Leupold Vx-3 cds 3.5-10x50.
I absolutely love the rifle, and I still think it's as good as any for the money. I handload, and bought 5 boxes of Federal factory ammo for barrel break in, to sight in, and for the brass. Truth be told, I haven't yet loaded anything that outshoots those factory Federals, one-third inch groups at 100 yards. My only complaint about the rifle is the plastic magazine. If it were metal, the gun itself would be flawless.
I also love the scope, and would recommend it to anyone. The cds dial is a must-have if you want to shoot 300 yards or more. I wish, however, that I had went with the 4.5-14x50mm version just because those long shots are more precise with that extra magnification.
As for calibers, I debated long and hard ob it for my selection, and I still think it's overrated to be honest. It all depends on what species and also terrain you hunt the most. Since I've only whitetail hunted it really didn't mean a thing, but since I want to go out west for everything from antelope to elk, it certainly entered my mind. I already had a 30-06 with a Leupold on top, and decided to go with a .270 WSM in the Tikka. It's overkill for the deer I hunt, but shoots practically as flat as anything out there and can handle bullets up to 150 grains if you handload. Currently, my big game load is a 140 gr Accubond but I won't get to test it on elk until next fall. If I expected to be elk hunting with it every year and only whitetail hunting on occasion, I probably would have gone with a .300 WSM instead. Just my opinion, and most calibers will easily do the job with proper bullet placement.

[ Post made via Android ] Image
Not all those who wander are lost...
User avatar
PK_
500 Club
Posts: 6894
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:10 am
Location: Just Off
Status: Offline

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

Unread postby PK_ » Fri Oct 14, 2016 9:14 am

I am with hatchet jack. I absolutely love my 12ga 870 with interchangeable barrels.

But for a true rifle, I recently bought a Bolt action 30-06. Ruger american. Nikon buckmaster 4-12x40. Haven't gotten it to the range yet but seems it will be a nice versatile all around rifle for the money. Capable of killing any animal I would set my sights on.
No Shortcuts. No Excuses. No Regrets.
Everybody's selling dreams. I'm too cheap to buy one.
Rich M wrote:Typically, hunting FL has been like getting a root canal
mheichelbech
500 Club
Posts: 4188
Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2013 10:00 am
Facebook: mheichelbech@gmail.com
Location: Charlestown, IN
Status: Offline

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

Unread postby mheichelbech » Fri Oct 14, 2016 10:00 am

any thoughts on a Remington BDL? Is this gun overrated/overpriced?

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
"One of the chief attractions of the life of the wilderness is its rugged and stalwart democracy; there every man stands for what he actually is and can show himself to be." — Theodore Roosevelt, 1893
User avatar
Crazinamatese
Posts: 5602
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:25 am
Location: Wisconsin
Status: Offline

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

Unread postby Crazinamatese » Fri Oct 14, 2016 10:04 am

.308 cal Savage scout rifle. Love to have one.
The cave you fear hides the treasure you seek!!!
User avatar
woodswalker
500 Club
Posts: 606
Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2016 5:32 am
Facebook: don't do face book
Location: Pennsylvania
Status: Offline

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

Unread postby woodswalker » Fri Oct 14, 2016 10:40 am

.308 Winchester mod 88.
Life is short, eat dessert first!
Babernathy
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2016 1:34 am
Status: Offline

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

Unread postby Babernathy » Fri Oct 14, 2016 11:02 am

270 weatherby mag. Great gun will last forever. It's very flat shooting so you can take it out west and not to much overkill on a whitetail. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a moose or elk with it either.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
Babernathy
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2016 1:34 am
Status: Offline

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

Unread postby Babernathy » Fri Oct 14, 2016 11:07 am

270 weatherby mag. Great gun will last forever. It's very flat shooting so you can take it out west and not to much overkill on a whitetail. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a moose or elk with it either.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
User avatar
IkemanTx
500 Club
Posts: 1110
Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2015 11:53 am
Status: Offline

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

Unread postby IkemanTx » Fri Oct 14, 2016 11:22 am

Weatherby 257 mag in stainless... as long as I didn't have to pay for the loads...

It is ample gun for any game in North America, shoots flat as can be, and the bucket has a wonderful tendency to tumble when it hits soft tissue. The cavitation from the tumble causes far more soft tissue damage than a simple pass through.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
Go where none other dare to go, and there you'll find success.
Ruger1
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2016 11:09 am
Status: Offline

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

Unread postby Ruger1 » Fri Oct 14, 2016 11:51 am

Custom, I'd rebarrel a stainless Tikka T3 or Ruger Compact with a good 20" 35 Whelen barrel.

Over the counter I'd probably go with a Tikka in 300 WSM

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
User avatar
Ghost Hunter
Posts: 4891
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:00 am
Location: South Arkansas
Status: Offline

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

Unread postby Ghost Hunter » Fri Oct 14, 2016 12:11 pm

7mm mag bolt action.
I'm reason they call it hunting and not shooting.
User avatar
IkemanTx
500 Club
Posts: 1110
Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2015 11:53 am
Status: Offline

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

Unread postby IkemanTx » Fri Oct 14, 2016 1:08 pm

Ruger1 wrote:Custom, I'd rebarrel a stainless Tikka T3 or Ruger Compact with a good 20" 35 Whelen barrel.

Over the counter I'd probably go with a Tikka in 300 WSM

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image

Man, the Tika T3 Tactical is a pretty little gun. I'd love to convince the wife we need one.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
Go where none other dare to go, and there you'll find success.
User avatar
Uncle Lou
Moderator
Posts: 10308
Joined: Sat Feb 20, 2010 12:32 pm
Location: Holly, MI
Contact:
Status: Offline

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

Unread postby Uncle Lou » Fri Oct 14, 2016 1:44 pm

Ghost Hunter wrote:7mm mag bolt action.


X2
Silence Your Gear with Stealth Strips®
http://www.stealthoutdoors.com


  • Advertisement

Return to “Big Game Hunting”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests