Do you actually use your “everything rifle”?
- Thread starter someguy2800
- Start date
- Status
sarduy
Member
My do it all hunting rifle is a 7mm Remington Magnum, however I have taken my 308, 6.5cm and 223 way more.
Nature Boy
Member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2015
- Messages
- 8,254
same here
My aught 6 was a 03A3 sporter project my dad started 60 years ago and never finished. He gave it to me a few years back and I completed the project.
I developed a half-dozen accurate loads for and took it hunting. 15 minutes into its maiden trip I stoned a nice 8 point and I haven’t carried it since.
I’ll take it again one day as it’s handy and maybe an even little bit lucky. My son will eventually get it.
Which one of them? 
Surprisingly enough, I don't own a .30-06 (yet... I've been procrastinating this for 30+ years) but the .308:s see action regularly. They're fine for anything from grouse to moose, jacks of all trades. With the exception of 7.62x39 I love for deer at moderate distances, I rarely use anything smaller. Bigger, sometimes, for either moose, bear or Africa.
But the .308 is here to stay, it could almost be my only rifle caliber just like .30-06, but what would be the fun in that?
Surprisingly enough, I don't own a .30-06 (yet... I've been procrastinating this for 30+ years) but the .308:s see action regularly. They're fine for anything from grouse to moose, jacks of all trades. With the exception of 7.62x39 I love for deer at moderate distances, I rarely use anything smaller. Bigger, sometimes, for either moose, bear or Africa.
But the .308 is here to stay, it could almost be my only rifle caliber just like .30-06, but what would be the fun in that?
Nature Boy
Member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2015
- Messages
- 8,254
Sounds like you have a gap that needs filling.
Even if you don’t end up using it for everything, you’ll feel better knowing you have it and your life will be more complete. It will be a subconscious thing. You won’t even know why but you’ll have more pep in your step, the world will seem and little brighter and you’ll have a more optimistic view of the future.
LET’S GO!!!
gotboostvr
Member
An "Everything" rifle might not be something I'd actually use frequently, but would make a decent backup for most purposes instead of having two of every type of rifle.
I could see a pretty generic "Jack of all Trades" type backup having a permanent home in my safe.
I could see a pretty generic "Jack of all Trades" type backup having a permanent home in my safe.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
I still have an "everything" rifle, but urban sprawl and my job have made my use of rifles fall off considerably.
Kind of interesting that the first half of my shooting years was with long guns and the second half heavily favors handguns.
Kind of interesting that the first half of my shooting years was with long guns and the second half heavily favors handguns.
OP
OP
someguy2800
Member
OP
OP
someguy2800
Member
That's why I'm building my 375 ruger. I have absolutely no intention of going to africa or alaska, but it just feels good to know you could.
OP
OP
someguy2800
Member
Thats basically what I use to justify keeping my 30-06 tikka. Its a dependable rifle that I wouldn't hesitate to loan to a friend or bring as a backup if I ever do go hunting someplace away from home.
.38 Special
Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2006
- Messages
- 7,355
It's kind of silly, but for a long time a .416 Rigby was my "everything" rifle - and I don't live in Africa! I just really liked it, liked carrying it and shooting it and just goofing around with it, and so I used it all the time. My home state outlawed lead bullets at roughly the same time I started moving away from rifle hunting, so it's been languishing in the safe for more years than I like to think about, but there you go.
OP
OP
someguy2800
Member
Well funny you say that because I really languished trying to decide between 375 ruger and 416 ruger for my everything rifle build. I think .416 would be a great deer rifle loaded with 350 grain cast at like 2200 fps, and then load jacketed at full power for whatever else. I finally decided I don't need to duplicate what my 444 marlin already does so I went with 375.
Not exclusively now, but did for a lot of years. Tang-safety Ruger 77 .270 I bought (dad bought) when I was 15. Hunted everything with it: crows, woodchucks, coyotes, deer. Even shot the heads off a few partridge and a bunny or two. And its still the one I carry every deer season, at least until my tag is filled. Come to think of it, I hunt crows, chucks and dogs so seldomly now, one could argue I DO use it exclusively. I have other suitable rifles (M7, 336, BLR, 94 and other M77's) but it just seems to be bad mojo to not use the old girl. What if I missed with one of the others...the horror.
Come to think of it, I hunt crows, chucks and dogs so seldomly now, one could argue I DO use it exclusively. I have other suitable rifles (M7, 336, BLR, 94 and other M77's) but it just seems to be bad mojo to not use the old girl. What if I missed with one of the others...the horror.
Lord can we go down some weird rabbit holes to justify feeding the addiction.
Yep if they would let me hunt with my Mosin Nagant 91/30 PU sniper I would be dropping deer from far away. It's one of my most accurate rifles. I have no problem hitting gongs at 400yds with it.
nofendertom
Member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2019
- Messages
- 1,018
OOPS ! I read the question WRONG, My response was to answer a question that was not asked.
horsemen61
Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2011
- Messages
- 6,755
This for sure I have 2 30-06’s I won’t part with but one is going to become a 6.5-06 which I will use more
d2wing
Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
- Messages
- 6,416
My current deer rifle is a Tikka SS T3 in 7-08. I have had several other rifles that I have passed on. Since my hunting is limited, it is sufficient. I usually bring a spare but since my recent heart attack I don't know when I will hunt again at all. I would like a chance to use some of my others. My Dr. just told me I shouldn't even be walking my dog in this cold weather. I had tried Pheasant hunting with my dog and a 20 gauge last week. Bad idea.
Risky buisness
Member
My everything rifle... Im a little late to this one..
While I have numerous options to take out, it does appear that most of them are fairly specialized and don't really fit the 'everything role' so much.
Their is one stand out however, and just the other evening i grabbed it for a racoon skulking around.
While you could probably do this with any other rifle, using great care for using low power/ cast reloads of course, i picked out a 310 round ball loaded over a bit of unique from a shell holder on the buttstock of, you guessed it, my Old Marlin 336, 30-30.
Racoon left before we could commence but thats on him.
I guess my circumstances are quite different than many, we're way rural and I always have this Marlin close by, so it would classify as my 'everything ' rifle
While I have numerous options to take out, it does appear that most of them are fairly specialized and don't really fit the 'everything role' so much.
Their is one stand out however, and just the other evening i grabbed it for a racoon skulking around.
While you could probably do this with any other rifle, using great care for using low power/ cast reloads of course, i picked out a 310 round ball loaded over a bit of unique from a shell holder on the buttstock of, you guessed it, my Old Marlin 336, 30-30.
Racoon left before we could commence but thats on him.
I guess my circumstances are quite different than many, we're way rural and I always have this Marlin close by, so it would classify as my 'everything ' rifle
Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
- Messages
- 14,897
The biggest downside of the “everything rifle” is the fact it inevitably ends up being a sledgehammer to deliver that necessary for sledgehammer tasks - which leaves it capable, but certainly overpowered for any lesser task, as fitting trim with a sledgehammer is less than desirable.
Scout21
Member
The only centerfire hunting rifle that I own and actually use is chambered in .308 Winchester. It's power and range is ample for anything I've ever used it for, which so far has primarily been whitetail deer. I can genuinely see me only ever using a .308 for the rest of my hunting career, regardless of where or what I hunt. It's also a great plinker with cheap FMJ.
Last edited:
OP
OP
someguy2800
Member
My life would be simpler and cheaper if I could be satisfied with one.
Ugly Sauce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 6,180
why won't they let you hunt with the 91/30?
Captcurt
Member
I wanted a light rifle in a caliber that I could take large game with so I ordered a Savage 10 Sierra which is a 6 1/4lb 300wsm with a 20" barrel. Topped it with a 2-7X Leupold XXII. The first seven 3 shot groups were under an inch. I used it for 10 years or so before I got the Creedmoor bug. I now own (2) 6.5s. One is a Bergara B-14 set up with a 6-18X Vortex for when our deer hit the fields. The other is a M-18 Mauser with a 3-9X VXII and gets the majority of use now. The WSM has not seen duty for several years. It is still in the safe and goes to the range once in a while, but at 72 I doubt if I will be climbing any elk or grizzly country. Too tell the truth, I could own a 30-06 with no regrets.
mgmorden
Member
Meh - typically I take out the same 7mm-08 every time. And I've got 18 other hunting rifles available that I don't take (not counting semi-autos and milsurps). Mostly though I'm only hunting deer at the moment. If I ever went for something bigger like elk I like to tell myself that I'd take one of my .30-06's . . . but I'd probably end up buying a .300 Win Mag .
.- Status
