Do you actually use your “everything rifle”?

[AK Hunter]

why won't they let you hunt with the 91/30?

I only have access to public land & that caliber is not legal on public land.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Shotgun or the straight-case thing?

 

[Ugly Sauce]

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.

I'll say it again, the Springfield rifle is a beautiful thing to hold and behold. They make beautiful rifles, or are beautiful just the way they were born. I owned an '03 for a while, but I actually like the 03A3 better. For sure like the sights better...of course for building a sporter you can have any sights you want...or...puke...a scope.

 

[md7]

I have one hunting rifle, and used it since the mid 90’s. A Remington 700 Mountain Rifle in 270 Win topped with a Leupold Vari X II 3X9 scope. It’s killed scores of whitetail, a fox, a bobcat, and I’ll use it to dust coyote too when/if they traipse across my site line.

There’s only one other rifle I’m interested in. I really like the Bergara B14 in 308 with 18” or 20” threaded barrel. My shot opportunities are almost always inside of 300 yards, I’d like a synthetic and cerakote for nasty weather, and I’ve got a hankering to use a suppressor. I’ve also taken to hunting national forests which are usually thick cover. The short rifles do well in this environment.

Pic of the old Remington.

 

[Picher]

Thanks, I've shot something like 40 big game animals with it, from moose on down.

Here's the meat buck I shot the other day,

View attachment 1119684

It's the first deer I shot with iron sights in a long time.

DM

I didn't think it was legal to shoot deer when they were sledding! '

I have this enfield waiting to go hunting

View attachment 1119807

Really nice wood grain on that one!

 

[Picher]

I have one hunting rifle, and used it since the mid 90’s. A Remington 700 Mountain Rifle in 270 Win topped with a Leupold Vari X II 3X9 scope. It’s killed scores of whitetail, a fox, a bobcat, and I’ll use it to dust coyote too when/if they traipse across my site line.

There’s only one other rifle I’m interested in. I really like the Bergara B14 in 308 with 18” or 20” threaded barrel. My shot opportunities are almost always inside of 300 yards, I’d like a synthetic and cerakote for nasty weather, and I’ve got a hankering to use a suppressor. I’ve also taken to hunting national forests which are usually thick cover. The short rifles do well in this environment.

Pic of the old Remington. View attachment 1119908

Nice! I have a BDL that puts all the shots in "one hole" groups at 100 yards. It's taken lots of game and defended the homestead from varmint "attacks" also.

 

[savagelover]

The other caliber thread got me thinking. Every time the subject of one rifle caliber for all North American game topic comes up, I always come back to 30/06, and that seams to be the most popular opinion as well. The thing is though, my 30/06 is in the safe collecting dust.

I am old enough now and have been thrifty enough that I have a dozen hunting rifles, most of which I built for a very specific purpose rather than general purpose. Some of those purposes I freely admit are imaginary, but I’m always looking for an excuse to build another rifle. I would say my general purpose hunting rifles are my 30/06 and also my 338 win mag, but for my typical hunting which is deer at under 100 yards and often within bow range due to the terrain, I would much rather use my 358 yeti and 444 marlin.

So do you actually use your generalist rifle or has it been replaced with specialists?

I basically use my 357 rifle or my 686 revolver. Seldom does my 243 leave the house..

 

[jmorris]

I do it stays in the mule.



Even if I have a hunting, target shooting or just playing around rifles in there too. A Jack of all trades is generally master of none.

 

[Scout21]

my 686 revolver

Do you find that your .357 revolver gets the job done well enough? I've considered taking my late grandfather's duty 4 inch Colt Trooper out for deer, but it seems to be frowned upon by many on here based on some threads I've read. I'd probably use an all-copper bullet, likely a Barnes bullet.

 

[DM~]

I didn't think it was legal to shoot deer when they were sledding! '

He was stopped, I just made him get in the sled, before I shot him!

DM

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The other caliber thread got me thinking. Every time the subject of one rifle caliber for all North American game topic comes up, I always come back to 30/06, and that seams to be the most popular opinion as well. The thing is though, my 30/06 is in the safe collecting dust.

I am old enough now and have been thrifty enough that I have a dozen hunting rifles, most of which I built for a very specific purpose rather than general purpose. Some of those purposes I freely admit are imaginary, but I’m always looking for an excuse to build another rifle. I would say my general purpose hunting rifles are my 30/06 and also my 338 win mag, but for my typical hunting which is deer at under 100 yards and often within bow range due to the terrain, I would much rather use my 358 yeti and 444 marlin.

So do you actually use your generalist rifle or has it been replaced with specialists?

I use .30-06 for everything -- deer, bear, elk (sometimes) and squirrels.

In Arkansas the game regulations say "Nothing above .22 rimfire for squirrels EXCEPT when there is a modern firearms or muzzle loading season in effect for deer, bear or coyote." Coyote season runs from 1 January to 31 December. I load a 160 grain Lee cast bullet over a moderate does of AA 5744 for 1600 fps and use it in an M1903A3 Springfield for small game.

 

[savagelover]

Do you find that your .357 revolver gets the job done well enough? I've considered taking my late grandfather's duty 4 inch Colt Trooper out for deer, but it seems to be frowned upon by many on here based on some threads I've read. I'd probably use an all-copper bullet, likely a Barnes bullet.

Why worry about what others say about it. If your a decent shot,use it. Don't let others control your life...

 

[BreechFace]

Why worry about what others say about it. If your a decent shot,use it. Don't let others control your life...

Exactly, take care of the variables you can control, your accuracy, bullet construction, shot placement, distance to target, etc.

 

[Captcurt]

Do you find that your .357 revolver gets the job done well enough? I've considered taking my late grandfather's duty 4 inch Colt Trooper out for deer, but it seems to be frowned upon by many on here based on some threads I've read. I'd probably use an all-copper bullet, likely a Barnes bullet.

A 357 will work fine with the proper bullet at a modest range. I have taken one deer with a 4" and six with a 6". My GP100 prefers 180gr XTPs over H110 or AA#9. All were one shot kills out to 43 yards.

 

[Peakbagger46]

Been a monogamous guy for about a decade now, 30-06 with 180g for everything. Nothing has required a second shot and performance is boringly excellent.

 

[Peakbagger46]

I use .30-06 for everything -- deer, bear, elk (sometimes) and squirrels.

In Arkansas the game regulations say "Nothing above .22 rimfire for squirrels EXCEPT when there is a modern firearms or muzzle loading season in effect for deer, bear or coyote." Coyote season runs from 1 January to 31 December. I load a 160 grain Lee cast bullet over a moderate does of AA 5744 for 1600 fps and use it in an M1903A3 Springfield for small game.

Holy crap, you shoot squirrels with a 160g slug?

 

[BreechFace]

@Peakbagger46

Nice pics!

 

[Peakbagger46]

@Peakbagger46 what a dandy rifle, I have a soft spot for M70’s!

I’d love a Win 70 someday, my everything rifle happens to be a Sako A7.

 

[BreechFace]

I’d love a Win 70 someday, my everything rifle happens to be a Sako A7.

yeah I took a glance at the photos and it looked like my win70 extreme weather. Then I zoomed in and it clearly wasn’t. So I changed my post.

nice looking sako for sure!

 

[Oldschool shooter]

I live in the metro Detroit area. If I hunt in northern MI where I can use rifle with bottlenecked case,my do all rifle is a 6.5 x55 Mauser. If hunting in the piwer part of the state, my do all rifle is a 357 magnum lever gun. The old '06 is plenty enough to get the job done on anything in North America, especially if you handload.

 

[someguy2800]

View attachment 1120070 Been a monogamous guy for about a decade now, 30-06 with 180g for everything. Nothing has required a second shot and performance is boringly excellent.

View attachment 1120061 View attachment 1120062 View attachment 1120063 View attachment 1120064 View attachment 1120065

I love it

 

[Mike J]

When I bought my .30-06 back in '89 I wanted a deer rifle. I chose that caliber because that was what the older men I worked with used. I figured the old men knew what they were doing. It has never disappointed. I never really saw the need for another deer rifle. I never really considered it a do-it-all rifle either though. I bought the rifle because I wanted to hunt but it was several years later before I really got sat up to do so. When I did get into hunting I went out & picked up a 12 gauge pump & an inexpensive .22. I figured if a fellow had a .30-06 bolt gun. a 12 gauge pump with interchangeable chokes & a Marlin model 60 he would be able to hunt pretty much anything around here.
I honestly haven't hunted for a while but I am missing it. I may try to correct that next year.

 

[sage5907]

What I mean is, my .308 Norma Mag is my "generalist" big game rifle.

Most people who have hunted for many years have developed a cartridge that they really like and I can see 308 Norma has fallen into this category. I have always admired the 308 Norma because I like a 30-06 but I have never owned one. Today I noticed a pre 64 Model 70 featherweight barrel listed on eBay that is chambered for the 308 Norma. Bidding is currently setting at $18. If anyone has a pre 64 Model 70 action and likes the cartridge this would really be a really good buy. Heads up 308 Norma!

My 338-06 with a featherweight barrel will shoot a 180 grain bullet over 2800 fps and recoil is tolerable. This barrel should also shoot a 180 bullet over 2800 fps and the velocity over 2800 depends on how much powder you want to use.

 

[daniel craig]

The other caliber thread got me thinking. Every time the subject of one rifle caliber for all North American game topic comes up, I always come back to 30/06, and that seams to be the most popular opinion as well. The thing is though, my 30/06 is in the safe collecting dust.

I am old enough now and have been thrifty enough that I have a dozen hunting rifles, most of which I built for a very specific purpose rather than general purpose. Some of those purposes I freely admit are imaginary, but I’m always looking for an excuse to build another rifle. I would say my general purpose hunting rifles are my 30/06 and also my 338 win mag, but for my typical hunting which is deer at under 100 yards and often within bow range due to the terrain, I would much rather use my 358 yeti and 444 marlin.

So do you actually use your generalist rifle or has it been replaced with specialists?

Yes, I've taken many things with my sporterized Mosin-Nagant, from varmints to deer and if I ever get a chance to fill a bear tag, I'll be using her for that too. I really don't give a flying fig newton what anyone thinks about my "commie garbage rod", it works well enough for me and I don't really plan on getting anything else until this thing it completely shot out or blows up.

 

[Scout21]

Why worry about what others say about it. If your a decent shot,use it. Don't let others control your life...

I assure you that I have zero concern with what anyone thinks of my choices. I'm more just curious about how well it works. I've seen differing testimonials concerning performance of a .357 round out of a handgun. I just thought that it'd be a good idea to ask someone directly who has some experience with it, that's all.