IJ1981
Member
If you had the choice of only one rifle to do most everything, protection, hunting, range work, etc. In what caliber would it be?
A Rifle For All Seasons. What Caliber Is Your Choice?
- Thread starter IJ1981
- Start date
kerreckt
Member
7.62x39
OP
OP
IJ1981
Member
My choice is the Venable. 30.06. It has fine range, is manuerable in all conditions, and has more ammo configurations than any other rifle.
.38 Special
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- Sep 15, 2006
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- 7,371
Like I wrote in the other thread, "everything" has to include big, dangerous animals. Even if you leave Africa out, there still are things like Brown and Polar bears.
I'd want something in the .340 Weatherby class at a minimum, and the .375 H&H might be the most obvious contender. Home defense might be amusing, but presumably it is enough gun...
I'd want something in the .340 Weatherby class at a minimum, and the .375 H&H might be the most obvious contender. Home defense might be amusing, but presumably it is enough gun...
Lo-Profile
Member
.308
Can be loaded in soooooo many different configurations depending on the need
Can be loaded in soooooo many different configurations depending on the need
1948CJ2A
Member
Caliber = bullet diameter. I would say probably 35 or 9.3 caliber for global needs. 30 cal for North America. 7mm cal for Texas.
Twisted Chemist
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- Nov 23, 2021
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- 140
Exactly what the strange man says...
someguy2800
Member
308 win
Oldschool shooter
Member
I would pick the old '06. Factory ammo availability from 150 up thru 220 grain. A few more options if you handload.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
True, but I say anything I might encounter on my home place. I sleep with a SXS 20 guage and a rifle ,revolver combo in .357. But if I had to be loyal to one I'd have my open sight mini thirty next to me. Plenty of gun for here. Go Chiefs
nettlle
Contributing Member
308. Take a look at your reloading manuals. It's accurate and a short action round.
Phaedrus/69
Member
If I take this to mean everything I actually do as opposed to everything one might ever do, then I'd say .300 Blackout. I haven't hunted since the Clinton administration so that doesn't much concern me. For plinking and general fun stuff (especially shooting plates and pepper poppers) the .300 is awesome! For home defense I wouldn't want to stand in front of a 115gr Underwood pill at 2400 fps, either. Of course, 5.56 would do some things almost as well and some things maybe a little better- especially past 300 yards- and do it at a slightly lower cost. But I'm not a super high volume rifle shooter, I can shoot .22 and 9mm in high volume for fun, so the .300 does it all for me.
If I was planning to take up hunting again I'd choose either an ought-six or the .308 Win. Or a 12ga, but this is the Rifle forum so...
BreechFace
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- Mar 2, 2020
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- 3,512
308 WIN
Not even a hard decision.
NATO round, plentiful ammo availability, loadings, great hunting round, proven military round, venerable semi and bolt action options, good mag capacities, can be loaded mild to wild, subs to supers.
A breeze…
Not even a hard decision.
NATO round, plentiful ammo availability, loadings, great hunting round, proven military round, venerable semi and bolt action options, good mag capacities, can be loaded mild to wild, subs to supers.
A breeze…
my choice is chambered in 22lr. henry lever action 16” carbine with large loops or ruger 10/22. 22lr since it’s cheap, easy, lightweight, ubiquitous and, if i ever must hunt, my prey will be rabbit sized at most. henry has no mags to lose and large loops accommodate winter gloves, ruger has an infinite variety of accessories on the market.
horsemen61
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- Oct 20, 2011
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- 6,759
6.5 PRC
CALIBER 26 cal of course
CALIBER 26 cal of course
troy fairweather
Member
Ya 308 probably makes the most sense, 243 could be pretty good to.
JeffG
Member
.308/7.62 M1a would fill all the needs.
Hokkmike
Member
Though I love bolts, I would be torn between a lever or a semi. The caliber would have to be both ubiquitous and between a .243 and a larger 30 caliber. Id like to have a capacity of at least 10 rounds. I suppose, for purposes of this question, that an all weather lightweight mountain type rifle also seems in order. Sighting system would have to allow for scope or red dot with iron sights as a backup. I'd love to punch this all in to. computer and see what I get. I imagine it would be some kind of AK/AR variant or one of those new stainless shorty levers. How about .454 Casul - doesn't that allow for large variety of 45 bullet use? A 6.5 caliber is more pleasant to shoot, and accurate and will take care of anything within 1000 miles of my house. But, I suppose the ever ubiquitous .308 would be best. Is it available in either of the platforms I mentioned? OP - now you got me looking for another gun- I HOPE you are happy!
My 308 or 375 H&H.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Thinking beyond the cartridge to the rifle my choice was .308 Win and I have several rifles chambered in that cartridge a rifle I wish I had is a FR8 Spanish Mauser. During the early 90s FR8 rifles poured into the US and on the cheap. We sold dozens of them and of all those rifles I never grabbed one to keep. Then too, as my wife frequently pointed out "you can't keep them all". 
Ron
Ron
