Do you actually use your “everything rifle”?

[silicosys4]

I use my everything rifle,
not for everything, of course, most of my hunting is done with other rifles because my everything rifle is still nice and I don't want to wear it out if I need to use it for everything.
Not really for target shooting because I have dedicated rifles that recoil less and shoot flatter for that,
Not really for plinking because gosh, ammo is so expensive and I need to save my everything ammo for when I need it for everything

but I use it

 

[BreechFace]

Let’s look at some numbers…

For the standard non-AI 280 Rem I could only find Federal loading 150gr, I was trying to get all three from the same commercial manufacturer to compare velocities.

270 WIN Nosler Trophy Grade Partition 150gr
2,800fps, .465BC (NP #16323)
@400 yards, -7.11moa, 2,068fps, 1,464ft/lbs
10mph Wind @400 yards, 2.97moa
Data from a 24" Barrel

280 REM Federal Nosler Partition 150gr
2,890fps, .456BC (NP #16326)
@400 yards, -6.63moa, 2,130fps, 1,500ft/lbs
10mph Wind @400 yards, 2.90moa
Could not find barrel length from Federal

30-06 Nosler Trophy Grade Partition 150gr
3,000fps, .387BC (NP #16329)
@400 yards, -6.39moa, 2,097fps, 1,465ft/lbs
10mph Wind @400 yards, 3.32
Data from a 24" Barrel

Looks like ballistic equals at 400.

 

[sage5907]

Looks like ballistic equals at 400.

It would be interesting to know the barrel lenghs of each of the rifles used in the tests. The Nosler online load data shows a 270 Pacnor barrel at 26 inches, a 280 Lilja barrel at 26 inches and a 30-06 Lilja barrel at 24 inches. Factory ammo ballistics are normally pretty optimistic. If you changed all of the barrel lengths to 22 inches the faster burning powder used in the 30-06 would begin to show up.

 

[Varminterror]

270 WIN Nosler Trophy Grade Partition 150gr
2,800fps […]
@400 yards […] 2,068fps […]

280 REM Federal Nosler Partition 150gr
2,890fps […]
@400 yards […] 2,130fps […]

30-06 Nosler Trophy Grade Partition 150gr
3,000fps […]
@400 yards […] 2,097fps[…]

Looks like ballistic equals at 400.

One lost 900fps, another lost 760fps, and the other lost 730fps…

Walk another 100 yards and that parity which is coincidentally happening at 400 evaporates really quickly… As I mentioned before, this comparison is card-stacking at its finest. Picking a much higher SD bullet in the smaller caliber to ensure the added base area promotes sufficiently higher velocity on the larger caliber to make up for the worse ballistic coefficient in the short range, then picking a sufficiently short comparison distance to negate that BC influence. Neglecting that any shooting selecting a ridiculously heavy for caliber 150grn 270win load would also be the shooter picking a 180-200 grain 30-06 load, rather than a relatively light for caliber 150…

For a hunter, none of it really matters, as any of them are better than throwing rocks, and the demand of the application is to simply deliver a bit better than throwing rocks… but if you’re wanting to split those hairs, don’t let yourself be mislead by the comb-over hiding the bald spots in data sets like these.

 

[BreechFace]

Agreed, it is strictly a coincidence the overlapping of ballistics between the three loads of cherry picked projectile weights at 400. Interesting, nonetheless.

 

[9x56MS]

Yeah, comparing same bullet weights for different bore diameters is DUMB.

I don’t know about sums but it is definitely not a level playing field. King of like comparing apples to oranges to plums.

 

[BreechFace]

It would be interesting to know the barrel lenghs of each of the rifles used in the tests. The Nosler online load data shows a 270 Pacnor barrel at 26 inches, a 280 Lilja barrel at 26 inches and a 30-06 Lilja barrel at 24 inches. Factory ammo ballistics are normally pretty optimistic. If you changed all of the barrel lengths to 22 inches the faster burning powder used in the 30-06 would begin to show up.

I updated the barrel lengths on my previous post, the Federal ammo didn't list the barrel length. Most ammo manufacturers are using 24", so I would assume that would be the case with it as well.

 

[sage5907]

There may be another angle to the Ron Spoomer comparison. I don't buy loaded factory ammunition but I do walk by the ammunition counter at WalMart occasionally and I have noticed that the 270, 280 and 30-06 boxes of loaded ammo all have mostly 150 grain bullets. I don't know if the other bullet weights have previously sold leaving only the 150's on the shelf or whether the ammo manufacturers deliver mostly 150's to the WalMart stores. It could be that the generic hunter does not care about the bullet weight when they buy a box of ammo, and the ammunition shortage created by covid and politics may also be involved.

 

[someguy2800]

There may be another angle to the Ron Spoomer comparison. I don't buy loaded factory ammunition but I do walk by the ammunition counter at WalMart occasionally and I have noticed that the 270, 280 and 30-06 boxes of loaded ammo all have mostly 150 grain bullets. I don't know if the other bullet weights have previously sold leaving only the 150's on the shelf or whether the ammo manufacturers deliver mostly 150's to the WalMart stores. It could be that the generic hunter does not care about the bullet weight when they buy a box of ammo, and the ammunition shortage created by covid and politics may also be involved.

Pretty sure the average hunter is picking the one with the most appealing picture on the box.

 

[Okie_Poke]

I currently have two "do everything" rifles, both in 30-06. One is a Remington 700 that I got when I was 16, and the other is a Tikka T3x Lite I bought this past year. I have taken more game with that Remington than I have all my other rifles combined. I have and continue to hunt deer, hogs, and coyotes with lighter calibers (223, 6.5 Grendel, and 6.5 Creedmoor), but I often find myself grabbing the '06 more often than not just because I know it works so well. I bought the Tikka for two reasons: (1) my Remington 700 is heavy and I wanted a lighter rifle for trips out West, and (2) I've never gotten great accuracy out of that Remington and thought a newer rifle might help. The Tikka delivered on both of those points. I took it elk hunting this fall but never found a legal bull to shoot. Once I get a kill under the Tikka, I think it will become my favorite hunting rifle. I plan to send the Remington to a 'smith to get re-barreled and turned into something special, possibly a 35 Whelen. I have little need for a Whelen but there's something about it that makes me want one. In the mean time, my go-to hunting rifle is chambered in 30-06. It's not as much fun punching paper on the range as my Creedmoor, but I don't ever worry that I didn't bring enough gun when hunting with it and I know I can shoot it.

 

[BreechFace]

There's not much difference in case capacity across 270Win, 280 Rem and 30-06.

https://kwk.us/cases.html

270Win ~68gn
280Rem ~67gn
30-06 ~69gn

A bigger difference is the 30-06 Nosler Partition will protrude into the case at a lessor amount than the others due to cartridge diameter accounting for more of it's mass than it's length.

 

[21H40]

Since leaving Alabama I haven't been able to take mine out for a hunt. I still take it out once in a while to verify that it still works. It is an old Browning A-Bolt in 30.06 that has always shot under an inch at 100 yards with white-box bargain ammo. I love it, but there's not much to tinker with so it doesn't see daylight much anymore

 

[gotboostvr]

Since leaving Alabama I haven't been able to take mine out for a hunt. I still take it out once in a while to verify that it still works. It is an old Browning A-Bolt in 30.06 that has always shot under an inch at 100 yards with white-box bargain ammo. I love it, but there's not much to tinker with so it doesn't see daylight much anymore

I really like the old A-Bolt I & II's. They are just really nice hunting rifles.

Longer barrel than average, lighter than average the synthetic stocks weren't half bad, decent trigger, typically shot pretty well...

Lots to like about them.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I really like the old A-Bolt I & II's. They are just really nice hunting rifles.

Longer barrel than average, lighter than average the synthetic stocks weren't half bad, decent trigger, typically shot pretty well...

Lots to like about them.

I had the AB3 A-Bolt, guess it the cheap version of A-Bolt. 7mm mag, same ragged hole at 200 yard! AMAZING RIFLE for $550

 

[Ignition Override]

Yes I do.

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

ALL MINE ARE USED...........Some for different task.

 

[21H40]

I had the AB3 A-Bolt, guess it the cheap version of A-Bolt. 7mm mag, same ragged hole at 200 yard! AMAZING RIFLE for $550

I picked up mine for $299 back in 2007. It was used with a few scratches in the finish on the outside of the barrel. I added a Nikon scope and for just under $500 I had a rifle that could shoot cloverleaf groups at 100 yards all day. I still want to take it somewhere that I could try it out much farther just to see what it is really able to do.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I picked up mine for $299 back in 2007. It was used with a few scratches in the finish on the outside of the barrel. I added a Nikon scope and for just under $500 I had a rifle that could shoot cloverleaf groups at 100 yards all day. I still want to take it somewhere that I could try it out much farther just to see what it is really able to do.

I swear it’s the A-Bolt but made to look cheap! they make a wood stock version, waiting for a sale

 

[Reloadron]

Do you actually use your “everything rifle?

I don't know that I have an everything rifle. I have hunting rifles where I try to match the cartridge to the game and I have my range target rifles more along the lines of very accurate rifles I enjoy shooting off the bench. Truth be known I haven't hunted in a decade. Hunting in West Virginia I liked my old Ruger 44 Carbine and my 444 Marlin lever gun. But also did use my Remington 7400 in 30-06 Springfield. Longer distances I like my 7mm Remington Magnum like out west where long range is available. My target rifles include my custom Remington 700, My 6mm PPC I built on a Remington 700 action and several others. Anyway all my rifles are either in group A or group B. The hunting rifles seldom see daylight and the kids can sort it out when I am toast.

Ron

 

[Maverick223]

I suppose that depends upon your definition of "use", I shoot them all, but my "everything rifle" doesn't go hunting with me. It's a c. 1920s Anschutz drilling chambered for 9.3x72Sauer and 2x 16Ga. (one improved & one modified choke). With the proper loading I'd say it's capable (if barely, the 9.3x72Sauer isn't the most capable despite the size of the cartridge) of taking anything in NA, but it's just too nice (coin-finished receiver is fully engraved in high relief with ebony inlays in the stock and bone grip cap, trigger guard, & buttplate) to take afield and the cartridges aren't easily attained. I'm leery of shooting slugs in the old 2.5" chambers too (it might be safe, but I'm not willing to chance it). Even so, with a good SP in the 9.3mm and a well selected assortment of shotgun fodder (I would opt for a smaller shot in the improved cylinder for small game at close range and larger shot in the modified bore for distant waterfowl & turkey. Probably not the "rifle-ish" that you were looking for, and certainly far from popular, but a good drilling is at the top of my list for a gun that I can grab and walk into the wilderness with the expectation of killing most anything in my path in the search for sustenance (or protection if it came down to it).

More along the lines of what I believe your gunning for, I do regularly use several of my other rifles that are capable of taking most any game in NA, most notably the Whitworth Express Mauser in .375H&H (pictured in my avatar) as well as my Marlin 1895 Trapper in .45-70Govt. and I plan to use the old Winchester 1895 (currently chambered for .30-06Spd.) once I have it bored to take the .35Whelen...if I ever get around to it. Any of the three would handily take any game animal in NA (though practical range is limited for the .45-70Govt.) and honestly I wouldn't feel terribly undergunned with one of my .30-06Spd. rifles, even with the largest of beasts.

 

[3Crows]

I figured Col. Cooper was onto something so I bought a .308 Savage Scout, plenty versatile for hunting everything in NA. But for stopping everything in NA that bights, claws and stomps, I trust the 1895 SBL and the Government. And my shoots to tomorrow rifle is still taking shape but it might be a Remington 700 in 7mm or maybe I can afford a Kimber 84M in 7mm RM. Or maybe the time for that has passed me, or not.

 

[DM~]

9.3x72R has the approx. ballistics of the 35 Rem., so I wouldn't say it's a good choice for "anything" in N/A, but it would surely be a good close range deer blk. bear round.

There is factory ammo available for it.

DM