Ideal hunting rifle
- Thread starter 10xsllc
- Start date
To hunt what?
HandgunHTR
Gold $$ Contributor
7mm-08, 8-9# scoped, 4-12X
LA 300wm for big game, SA 6.5cm medium game open terrain, 308 or shotty thick foliage medium game. Everything is relative given the lack of detail.
Herrmannator
Silver $$ Contributor
The venerable 30-06 has taken all North American game. Can be loaded in A VARIETY of bullet weights. Shoots with reasonable recoil. Ammo available almost everywhere Accurate to most reasonable kill ranges. Ammo always goes on sale. Made in almost any gun right or left versions. What's wrong with all that????
jbarnwell
Gold $$ Contributor
I've hunted with many rifles over the years, but I keep coming back to the 280 Ackley Improved. I like a 4 or 5 contour barrel. Bed the whole thing down in a good stock and you're ready to go. I've had Remington 700 actions, but am currently shooting a left hand Stiller. Mine have been wonderfully accurate and take game with authority. These are not mountain rifles, but heavy sporters.
Depends where / what you hunt. But for me, the ideal hunting rifle, one that does all in my area of eastern PA is the 243 caliber in a Winchester Model 70, Feather weight w/ the control feed action. A Tikka T3 would also qualify in today's world - same caliber.
This combo is very capable of serving as an all purpose - one gun - hunting rifle especially if you reload. If fact, this was my first center fire rifle back in the late 60's. I hunted groundhogs, foxes, and white tail deer extensively with this combo even before reloading using the 80 grain factory for varmints / predators and the 100 gain for deer. I became a skilled field shot because I knew the rifle so well and was so confident with it. Life was simple in those days. I had an excellent 3 x 9 Redfield scope and never found it lacking.
Then I started reloading and discovered the 85 grain Sierra BTHP - things got better. This is a magnificent bullet with match level accuracy and excellent terminal performance even on deer as long as you keep the shot broadside behind the shoulder. Never lost a deer to this bullet. IMR 4350 and 4064 work very well with this bullet. The advantage of using one load combo for all hunting applications should be obvious.
Of course, as you probably already know, the caliber / rifle, as long as it's adequate for the game you are hunting, isn't really the limiting factor - it's the shooter's marksmanship skills in the field (not off the bench) and the hunter's skill in hunting. My dad took 18 white tails with an open sighted 30-30 Model 94 Winchester using factory Remington ammo but he was an exceptional hunter and game shot.
This combo is very capable of serving as an all purpose - one gun - hunting rifle especially if you reload. If fact, this was my first center fire rifle back in the late 60's. I hunted groundhogs, foxes, and white tail deer extensively with this combo even before reloading using the 80 grain factory for varmints / predators and the 100 gain for deer. I became a skilled field shot because I knew the rifle so well and was so confident with it. Life was simple in those days. I had an excellent 3 x 9 Redfield scope and never found it lacking.
Then I started reloading and discovered the 85 grain Sierra BTHP - things got better. This is a magnificent bullet with match level accuracy and excellent terminal performance even on deer as long as you keep the shot broadside behind the shoulder. Never lost a deer to this bullet. IMR 4350 and 4064 work very well with this bullet. The advantage of using one load combo for all hunting applications should be obvious.
Of course, as you probably already know, the caliber / rifle, as long as it's adequate for the game you are hunting, isn't really the limiting factor - it's the shooter's marksmanship skills in the field (not off the bench) and the hunter's skill in hunting. My dad took 18 white tails with an open sighted 30-30 Model 94 Winchester using factory Remington ammo but he was an exceptional hunter and game shot.
pirate ammo
Guaranteed to take the wind out of their sails
Florida Whitetail and a 416 Rigby,gets them every time.
pirate ammo
Guaranteed to take the wind out of their sails
one word,,vaporized.You guys shooting the big calibers, my question is: enough gun for moles? Is a followup shot ever required?
Winchester Model 71 chambered in ..450 Alaskan. 7 1/2 lb. lever action with energy levels approaching .458 Win Mag. Kills about everything along with detaching your retina and strain your rotator cuff. What more could one ask for? Looking for a volunteer to sight it in off the bench.
This is mine. 6.5 Creedmoor built by Jon Beanland. Bushnell 3-12 LRTSi. Haven’t weighed it yet.
John
You just got to get used to it !
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
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