What rifle and scope would you pick for all your Medium to Big Game hunting, in the lower 48 states?

[huntersdog]

What rifle and scope would you pick for all your Medium to Big Game hunting, in the lower 48 states?

Ruger Hawken in 30-06 and a Redfield 3-9x40 scope should cover me. Shots from 75 to 400 yards, pending on animal.

 

[Legionnaire]

Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08 with a Leupold VX3 2.5-8x33.

If I wanted a bit more range, Remington 700 Mountain Rifle in .280 Ackley Improved with a Leupold VX3i 4.5-14x40.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

I favor my Browning X-bolt .270 because it's so light and trim but also have a stainless Ruger Hawkeye .30-06---both wear Zeiss glass.

 

[CraigC]

Anything in the .308 class of cartridges from the 6.5 and up. For optics, a 1.5-5x up to a 2-7x. IMHO, most people over-scope their hunting rifles and the ubiquitous 3-9x is overpowered for most hunting in the eastern woodlands.

 

[troy fairweather]

A mauser type rifle in 7x57 or 7-08 if it's a short action and 280/280ai if it's a long action. Scope 2-12 is range probably a leupold,

 

[LoonWulf]

.280AI Ridgeline, or .375 Abolt if I wanted a lighter rifle with more punch.
If i had to pick something different, 6.5CM or 7-08, and a scope with at least 9xs at the top end.
i don't really care what rifle.

 

[dobedo]

A 45/70 of choice

 

[Anchorite]

A 270 of choice and a fixed 6x scope.

 

[rdnktrkr]

I've been using the great 30-06 since the 70's, started with a R700 BDL CD with a Nikon 3-9, I scratched the stock, so I grabbed a Howa 1500 with a Leopold 3-9, it is lighter, and the plastic stock is more forgiving in the woods. I've been thinking the 7-08 might find its way in my safe if I find one for a good price.

 

[InTheSwamp]

7 PRC with a fixed 10X

 

[jmr40]

I used 30-06 from the 1970's until about 15 years ago. I moved to 308 at that time. It does everything 30-06 does with bullets under 200 gr with about 25% less recoil. Or I could hunt with a significantly lighter weight rig with about the same recoil as a standard weight 30-06. I found it more accurate too.

I've recently gotten into the 6.5CM game. It lives up to the hype. As a hunting cartridge it does everything a 270 does. I'd hunt any of the same game with it I'd hunt with a 270 or 308. But while I like the cartridge, I'm heavily invested in 308. I just have several 308 rifles set up the way I like, I have worked up loads I like and at my age don't want to get too deep in another cartridge.

While I chose 308 and 6.5CM there is nothing magical about those. Realistically just about anything 26 caliber on up will work.

the ubiquitous 3-9x is overpowered for most hunting in the eastern woodlands.

I don't really disagree with that even though I have 3-9's on most of my rifles. I almost never take them off 3X when hunting though. While most of my hunting is in eastern woodlands I have hunted in other states and even here in GA there are powerlines, bean fields etc. where longer shots are taken so I still like them for versatility.

I chopped the barrel on one of my 308's to 19" recently and have a 1.5-4X scope for it sitting on the shelf. I've not had time to mount it yet, but that will be my deep woods rifle next year.

 

[Ks5shooter]

TC Venture 7mm-08 Leupold VX-R 3-9 40mm Firedot 4 reticle

 

[Speedo66]

Tikka in 6.5x55 Swede, with a nice Leupold 3x9, should fill your needs.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I've been using the great 30-06 since the 70's, started with a R700 BDL CD with a Nikon 3-9, I scratched the stock, so I grabbed a Howa 1500 with a Leopold 3-9, it is lighter, and the plastic stock is more forgiving in the woods. I've been thinking the 7-08 might find its way in my safe if I find one for a good price.

Pretty much same here, just the Weatherby verversion, also in '06-

Glass is a Burris Black Diamond 24X, but I keep it dialed down to 18 for eye relief.

 

[Picher]

What rifle and scope would you pick for all your Medium to Big Game hunting, in the lower 48 states?

Ruger Hawken in 30-06 and a Redfield 3-9x40 scope should cover me. Shots from 75 to 400 yards, pending on animal.

I use a Rem 700 BDL .270 Win Stainless with action-bedded/barrel floated, stock, 3-9X Leupold scope. It hasn't failed me on deer and moose, and has taken about 14 deer and a bull moose at ranges from 100-300 yards. I epoxy-pillar bedded it into the original stock. Accuracy is sub-MOA with my handloads.

 

[ECVMatt]

Winchester Model 70 in 30/06. Leupold 3.5x10.

 

[red rick]

Tikka T3x .308 , Leupold VX Freedom 3-9x40 CDS duplex .

 

[horsemen61]

For me it’s my 6.5 PRC luepold Mk 3 3x9x40 Mildot scope I’ve taken that very setup out to 800 on steel and on game to 443 yards

 

[StrawHat]

While the 50-70 is more than enough for North American hunting,



The 405 WCF shoots a lot flatter and hits a bit harder, so it would be my choice for the “one for all” rifle.



Kevin

 

[tarosean]

most people over-scope their hunting rifles and the ubiquitous 3-9x is overpowered for most hunting in the eastern woodlands.

I don't hunt east of the Mississippi. Therefor 4x20's for me. 0.308 Rifle we can agree on though.

 

[EIB0879]

My go to is a PA-10 in .308 with a Bushnell 3200 Elite SA 3-10X 40mm scope.

I probably will use my Mossberg 4x4 30-06 with a Meopro 3-10x 44mm scope more next season.

 

[H&Hhunter]

It comes down to personal preference and hunting style. Anything from 6.5 to .375 topped with a useable solid reliable scope.

The rifle should be reliable and accurate and able to be carried all day long without undue effort.

With that in mind the world is your oyster.

If you want to hunt with a big bore slow mover, that works too, just understand the range limitations and hunt accordingly.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Some 30-06 or 270 with a 2.5-8x36 VX-3

 

[Hookeye]

My boring do all crappy weather rifle is a Steyr PH .30-06 w Leupold 3.5-10X.
Its a bit heavy.

 

[Resist Evil]

It's a relatively heavy combo, but I was in construction and so, fairly fit. I only used a synthetic-stocked stainless Win 70 with the BOSS system in 7mm Rem mag topped with a Trijicon Accu-Point scope set at 6x. I only hunted in northwest Colorado which was simple since I lived in the Denver metro and I knew a guy with a cabin.