Caliber suggestion?

[Lloyd Smale]

I own lots of rifles In many chambering's but if I could only keep one the good old 06 would be that pick. Nothing is more versatile.

 

[3212]

I'm a one caliber hunter.I vote .308 since your familiar with it.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have an AR-10 and currently reload for .308 making it a great choice if appropriate.

That's close to ideal -- my own .308 is a 99 Savage, and it does the job nicely.

 

[Unlicensed Dremel]

.260 rem, .243 win, 6.5x55 swede, .280 rem, .270 win, 7mm-08 rem, .257 robts, .30-'06, .25-'06, 7mm WSM, 7mm RSAUM, roughly in that order of preference. Hon mentions to 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 WSM, 6mm Rem, 6.5-.284 Norma, and yeah, .308 win.

.308 isn't a *bad* choice by any means, but it wouldn't make my top ten. I might even put .243 first for your purpose...love that chambering for deer.

Obviously, I'm partial to flat-shooting rounds, with low-ish recoil. Just today a friend of mine shot a doe with a 6.5x55 sporterized swede 94 20" bbl I sold him a few years ago, and it killed two does instead of one. FWIW, last year and this year I've hunted whitetails with a .243 win, .280 rem, and 7mm RSAUM.

I think it's quaint that you think it will be your last rifle.... Muahahahaha.

 

[gunner69]

I too like the 6.5mm bullet. I use it in the 6.5 Swed, the 6.5 Grendel, and the 6.5 x 284. Each and every one will do wonders on game.

 

[T.R.]

I'm a big fan of the 99 Savage in .308 for long shots in rough country.

TR

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'm a big fan of the 99 Savage in .308 for long shots in rough country.

That's what I use these days -- easy to carry, fast handling and plenty accurate.

 

[mnhntr]

.260, 6.5 CM, 7mm-08, .308,

 

[gamestalker]

I'm a huge fan of the .270 win and the 7mm RM. Recoil isn't all that much different from the 7 mag, so that would certainly be a viable option for just about anything on the N.A. continent.

However, in my experience, the .270 with a 130 gr. Speer Hot Core will take care of anything it comes in contact with, including black bear and elk.

GS

 

[waffentomas]

I, too, am a one caliber hunter... .308 for me; I've killed many elk, mule deer and bear with it.

 

[chucknbach]

Deer within 200yds? Your wide open, just start at .223 and go up. Get what you like or use the 308. Your not asking a lot out of your rifle round.

 

[Sniper66]

I would suggest the .270. But, if you are looking to go the cheapest, yet effective, route, your .308 will be just fine. One reason I like the .270, besides it doing the job, is the availability of ammo. Some of the other rifles suggested in this post are hard to find ammo for. It's easy to reload too.

 

[brainwake]

I am also a .270 guy. But I also think your .308 would work just fine.

 

[gamestalker]

Nothing wrong with the .308 either, just not my personal choice, but certainly very capable with the right load. A dead deer, is a dead deer, and it won't be any more dead if shot with a .270 than with a .308.

GS

 

[AKElroy]

As a kid I hunted with dad's .270. When I made it on my own, I graduated to a 7MM Mag. I signed onto a lease with thick brush, narrow shooting lanes and rarely a shot over 180 yards, and went .30-30. I lost a nice buck after a 180 yard shot with the .30-30, and decided I needed a bit more accuracy and distance, and went .308. I have a Savage Weather Warrior that will group in less than .5" at 100. Took a decent buck last week at a lazed 173 yards. He ran 25 yards and dropped.

My son just bought a .30/06, and shot a nicer buck on Sunday. It ran zero yards. It was legs-up before hitting the ground. I'm sure the .308 would do the same with a similar shoulder-shot, but, well, it hasn't yet.

If I were buying ONE rifle for what you described, it would be a .30/06. 110 grains for varmints, 220 for Elk/moose/carabou. Can't double up weight in a .308.

I still use the .30-30's for all my driving up / stalking / walking around hunts, so they still get the most use. But if I could only have one, it would be an .06.