One Game-Hunting Rifle -- What Would It Be?

[AA Ron]

Sako AII 7mm-08
Leupold 6x36

 

[Intheshop]

Have to go with my "rainy day" SPS 7-08.
And will even keep the $15 "broken" evilbay B&L 3-9(fixed it) on top.

 

[msalm]

View attachment 1220170Sako AII 7mm-08
Leupold 6x36

I’d hunt with that!

 

[epc308]

Older Rem 700 Mtn in 7mm-08.

I lucked out in the early 90s when the Mtn rifle first came out. Found one in 7-08 at a gun show that probably hadn't seen a box or 2 of ammo. It has always shot way better than it should with it's pencil thin barrel. Big green was on their game the day it was built.

 

[john 800]

I lucked out in the early 90s when the Mtn rifle first came out. Found one in 7-08 at a gun show that probably hadn't seen a box or 2 of ammo. It has always shot way better than it should with it's pencil thin barrel. Big green was on their game the day it was built.

What did they come with for a stock? Did the older ones have something better than the plastic molded stuff?

 

[Gary in MD]

Since you do more carrying and holding the rifle than shooting it when you are deer hunting. I want something that isn’t too hard to look at.
30-06.... of course.
Gary

 

[Bc'z]

Since you do more carrying and holding the rifle than shooting it when you are deer hunting. I want something that isn’t too hard to look at.
30-06.... of course.
Gary


View attachment 1220227

I just got a chubby!!

 

[cjames]

View attachment 1220170Sako AII 7mm-08
Leupold 6x36

I just fell in love.

 

[wkdickinson]

I lucked out in the early 90s when the Mtn rifle first came out. Found one in 7-08 at a gun show that probably hadn't seen a box or 2 of ammo. It has always shot way better than it should with it's pencil thin barrel. Big green was on their game the day it was built.

I bought mine in the early-90's if I recall correctly. It was shortly after they'd been introduced. At the time I had a Ruger No. 1 in 30-06 which I could never make shoot and I had a chance to sell it 2 days before deer season. Our local sporting goods store had a new Mtn Rifle in 7mm-08 (wood stock), which I'd looked at a few days before. I called to see if they still had it, along with the Leupold 2-8 X 32 VX3 scope I'd looked at. They did, the right mounts and rings too. So made the deal over the phone. The next morning I picked it all up early, along 2 boxes of shells. I was leaving for camp as soon as I could that day. So I took it home, mounted the scope, bore sighted it against a door in the basement and headed out.

Camp was about 5 hours away and I knew there was a range on my way, right off the highway. I stopped there to sight the gun in. I took two shots at 25 yds., adjusted the scope accordingly and switched over to the 100 yd. target. Two more shots to get a zero, then shot a 3-shot group which measured about 3/4" and off I went. That gun never changed it's zero, other than when I changed ammo.

I killed at least a dozen deer with it. I gave it to my son for Christmas when he was 16 and he has also killed many deer with it. It was and still is a true joy to carry and shoot.

 

[DangerRanger]

Hmm factory rifle for only deer sized game


A real deal 275 rigby like Jim Corbett had.

Or a browning BAR safari in 3006 probably

 

[CJ6]

30-06. Even though I haven't shot mine in several years. 90gr.-240gr. bullets give you a lot of options.

 

[epc308]

What did they come with for a stock? Did the older ones have something better than the plastic molded stuff?

Mine came with a plain grain walnut stock that had nice slender lines and a matte finish. It's pretty nice for a factory stock. I'm not sure if any Remingtons had plastic/synthetic from the factory at that time.

 

[1K6BRA]

If just deer hunting here in western Pennsylvania it would be this model 70 250-3000.If deer hunting throughout the United States it would be my model 70 in 25-06

 

[miningshawn]

Remington 700, almost any flavor, in 30-06AI. I can improve the rifle and find parts. 30-06AI for long brass life and that extra-spicy punch when I want to shoot heavier than deer.

 

[Devin Wiggett]

30-6 or 308 in an older 70 or 700 throw in a Sako for fun. Those calibers can be found in any Mom and Pop gas station across the country, well maybe not at the moment.

 

[jasophil1]

7x57 mauser in fn 98 model 1.3/4 x 6 leopold or lyman peep sight it has worked real well for the last 130 years it will for the next 130 years.

 

[Louisiana Shooter]

Ruger No 1, Browning 1885 or Win 1885 in 375 H&H

 

[Rook 6]

I believe factory rifle was part of the criteria. A Remington 700 Mountain Rifle or BDL in 30-06. I actually use a 1980 700 that's been trued and put in a McMillan Mountain Rifle stock, Pac Nor stainless in 30-06 so I am not far off.

 

[dgroen65]

Thought Process: I originally bought a Remington Mountain in .308, lightweight, stainless and chose .308 over 30-96 because everything I read said there will always be .308 available since its a military round. Then the NYSAFE act came along and what could you NOT find on the shelves? .308. What WAS on the shelves? 30-06 lol. The Remington Mountain is also difficult to find an accurate load for due to it's lightweight barrel (not that you need to be THAT accurate to shoot a deer). Fast forward, I've got a Savage .308, a Remington 30-06 and a pair of Browning X-Bolt Stainless Hunters, one in .308 and one in 30-06 (I call them the Twins). The Brownings are the most accurate factory gun I've owned shooting more different loads accurately. If I could only have one, I would choose an X-Bolt Stainless Stalker to get me in a Stainless/Synthetic Combo so I don't have a concern with sitting in foul weather with my rifle while hunting.

Answer: Browning X-Bolt Stainless Stalker in 30-06.

 

[std7mag]

This is quite the quandry for me.
3 years ago the answer would have been easy.
My Stevens 200 chambered in 7mm-08AI.

I would have picked that even over my Savage 111 in 7mm Rem Mag.

Now....

The Stevens has been rebarreled to 250 Savage. I still have & take the Rem Mag out.
But i've bought other rifles since then.
Ruger 77 MKII in 257 Roberts.
Whitworth Mark X rebarreled in 284 Win & B&C stock added. But it weighs 10 lbs!
Another Ruger 77 MKII this time in 280 Rem.
And a used Forbes 24B in 280 Rem. Goal for this was an out west elk hunt. I have since found a buyer for this one.
And now i'm in the getting parts stage for a Savage 111 build in 257 Roberts AI, and still the 7X57 Mauser for my daughter.

Due to caliber restrictions for elk in PA, if i ever get drawn, the 25 calibers are out.
So a tie between my remaining 280 Rem, or my Rem Mag.
Leaning towards the 280 Rem.