If you had to choose just one!

If you had to choose 1 rifle for your son or grandson to hunt with, and it was going to be the only gun he was able to own for his whole life. Not knowing what his hunting opportunities will be, but being able to use your knowledge and past experiences to help you guide him with his decision. Also, consider that he may hunt anything from coyotes and coues deer, to moose, or even say a lion or giant eland. You may also assume he can hand load his own rounds! This sounds like a tough question, but for me, all things considered, I would lean towards a 30-60!

I am almost 70 and I started hunting when I was 6. I have used the same 30/06 my entire life. Yes, it kicked the fool out of me when I was little, but I learned to handle it. I have shot mountain goat in British Colombia and was laughed at by the four other hunters who all had 300 mags. However mine was the only one shot kill of the group. I've used it for antelope, whitetail, mule deer, pigs, bobcats, coyotes. It has never failed me. The only thing I ever did to it was upgrade the scope twice. However, two years ago, I bought a 270. Not because my gun ever failed me, but because it was a great great deal on a Weatherby and I had always wanted one. So now there are two rifles in my truck. If I could only pick one, I might shed a tear as I throw the Weatherby out the window and pick up my old trusty 30/06.

a .308 or 30/06 without a doubt if we're including large game
outside of Texas. ammo availability is a factor reloading or not.
you can find .308 or 30/06 everywhere at every mom and pop store.

although everywhere i've hunted in Texas a 30/30 has been more
than adequate.

Been shooting the same old Winchester Model 70 .270 at everything bigger than birds or varmints since I was a small child, and it has been consistently great.

With reduced recoil loads you can start him on what you think is the best. I started with a 6mm and still have it. Although I use a .270 90% of the time and my .280 or .223 the rest. I have not killed a deer with my 6mm in 23 yrs.

Sako or custom 30-06

I think I would have it down to 7mm08 280 rem 7 mag and 30-06.

In honesty I think its impossible though, anything that would serve well for a across the board cartridge over here would be ill suited to lion, cape buffalo, elephant etc.

270

30.06. The first rifle I purchased was a Sako 30.06 for exactly OP reason... for life for a do-all gun with lots of ammo choices for subject game. Still use that as my go to choice most of the time over my others 30.30, 223, 270, 6.5CM and others.

x2

I purchased a Browning A-Bolt Gold Medallion chambered in 30-06 in the late 80's. Chambering was chosen because I knew it would kill anything I would ever hunt and that the ammunition could be purchased anywhere. It has served me well and it will be one I will be handing down to my children...that is when I'm finished with it. LOL

too broad a spectrum. whats overkill on coyotes would be undergunned for big bears and stuff like eland.

For a true one gun do it all in north America, I would opt for a .300 win mag. Yes a .30-06 will do it but a .300 win mag will do it better.

Amazed to see that so many see the versatility of the honorable 30-06. A 110 grain for small game and a 220 grain for moose, elk and bear and many choices in between. The gun I used successfully for 40 years until I could afford the whim of some less versatile but useful calibers. If only one could be had the 06 would be it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

question....


why so little mention of the .300 win mag?


spitting the same bullets as the 06' but at faster speeds = more versatility

One of the big 300's would be a great choice if a lot of big stuff was going to be hunted. Particularly dangerous game. Would be a bit over gunned on smaller animals. 30-06 would be a logical choice if mostly medium sized animals were hunted. You could get by going after big stuff too. Maybe a bit under gunned on large dangerous game but it would work. I think I would gravitate to my comfort zone and opt for the 7RM though.

30-06, no questions. I got one when I turned 14, bought my son one for his 14th bday. My grandsons will each get one too.

30.06 IMO ...

30-06 is the way to go.

It would either be a 270 or a 30-06.

30/06 hands down

.270 .

378 Weatherby will kill pretty much anything but ammo is expensive and the rifles are heavy. It might not be the best mountain or sheep rifle because of the weight. One of the 338 or 300 magnums are probably the closest you can get in a reasonable weight rifle.

If I could only leave them one it would be a .300 Win Mag.

Glad that it’s just a hypothetical though.

.300 WM......

.270

30-06 - versatility, manageable recoil, and ammo availability makes it a logical choice.

.270

Not knowing if moose and big bears would be in the equation, I’d opt for 300WM. Over gunned here but would about par for the biggest North American game. Could push a 150 at high speeds for wt, etc. and run a 210-230 for the big stuff.

I bought my 30-06 from saving my lunch money and doing odd jobs when I was a Sophomore in High School. It kicked pretty bad when I was a teenager, and then after I got out of the Marines, I didn't notice the kick anymore, but then I wanted something more exotic. I went through that phase for awhile, but always took the 30-06 hunting, and it never failed me. I tried reloading, but then found Federal Premium ammo and gave up on reloading. Eventually after going on hunts in different places, meeting quite a few other hunters and seeing what they used, I came to love my rifle and the 30-06 caliber. I didn't know anything when I bought it, then I went through that stage of thinking I knew everything, and luckily settled down to happy ignorance to where I enjoy my rifle and not want another one to hunt with. I'll still buy something new if it catches my eye, but when I'm heading out into the field, I'm carrying my 30-06

Why is it we notice the kick as Eddie has mentioned but in time we don't notice anymore? Same with me.

1 Rifle? I would lean 300 WM, 7RM, or .30-06.

1 Cartridge, multiple platforms? I might look at the .338 Federal, which I think is overlooked quite a bit. You can build an AR-10 in it or a bolt gun, it fits in a short action, and carries nearly as much thump as an '06 with the heavier bullets. 200gr SST has a bc of .455 so you can push it out a ways, at least as far as 95% of people hunt. 180-185 for WT and hogs, 210-225-230 for moose and bear or heavy African antelope. And it would be kinda unique, which is fun to me.

For Texas game, a 30-06 is over kill. You can kill all TX game with a good .243 and a good scope. It is good for most sheep and deer size animals. Shoot placement is key with any gun.

The question went well beyond Texas game.

Time behind the gun? First time I ever shot a 12 gauge, it was alarming (first gun I ever shot). Now, it doesn’t bother me at all, even with 3.5” shells.

I really wouldn't want to go after a West Texas Mule deer, Aoudad or a Big panhandle whitetail with a .243. For whitetail hunting only over much of the state its adequate but not a do-all caliber even in Texas

I'd say 243 is a bare minimum caliber for big game. I wouldn't want it to be my only gun. It's not even legal for elk in some places.

Don't think I would take a chance shooting a big bull @ 300 yds. plus with a .243....Just Sayin..

30.06

Simple choice.

Not flashy for over a century, but still kills stuff dead.

This is a 30.06 rifle I inherited from my grandfather. He got in the early 50's. Best we can tell it has less than 100 rounds thru it....probably a lot less. It is in perfect condition. I will never sell it and will pass it on to one of my sons.

My choice would be 300WM.

Lemme just walk through the West Texas mesquite brush once with it. (You know I'm kidding.) It's a beautiful thing.

Yes, very nice. Need to bring that thing when you guys come hunt this season with us.

I'm surprised nobody said they would go with a 6.5 creedmore.

Please explain a 30-60. I have never heard of that caliber rifle??

It's kind of like a 270 necked up for a 308 bullet.

I only hunt with my 30.06 until I bought my son his .243. Love that one now. Been using 06 for 15 years with no issues to 225 yards. 70+ animals down so see no point in changing. Fixed 6 zeiss on it.

I still have my 6mm from when I was a kid. I make a point to take it with me to the blind at least 1 time during the season. While I have other guns, I still enjoy using it. Now we have 2 grandsons (one 4 and the other 5) that I took out a couple of times this last season. They will be starting out on the 6mm soon enough, but now it would seem I'll be in the market for another one soon so that they will each have their own. I know there are many choices for guns, but I'm still amazed at what that 6mm will do. I didn't use it on any of my elk hunts, or while hunting mule deer but for hanging around here in Texas for me the 6mm is awesome. No doubt everyone has their own choice and many might say it isn't enough gun. I'll pass on the 6mm to the boys and have them paying attention to shot placement no matter what they decide to get as they grow older.

45-70?

30-06
110-250gr bullets. That may be the biggest weight spread option of any caliber. its a no brainer.

should have made a pole.

Actually, you can drop down to 55 grain bullets with the Remington 30-06 accelerator ammo.

7 Rem Mag, with a 1:8 or 1:8.5, or 1:9 twist.

Load it down (150's, 162's) for small game, load it up for large game (180's).

It surprises me that no one has named the .308. See lots about it being superior to the '06 as it is short action and supposedly more accurate. For general all around, I would vote .30-06, although mine is mostly retired in deference to .25-06 and 6.5x55. If I was young enough to get out after Elk and such, the .30-06 would certainly be in my hands.

forgot about those. Makes it even better.

With modern powders, and modern loading equipment, the .30-06 can be loaded to shoot very precise. "Superiority" depends on an individual's needs. The .30-06 will at least make 100 fps more, with a 175, or heavier, bullet. For the guy that would rather cycle a short action, then the .308 Win might be superior to him.

30-06 easily available ammo in light, regular and heavy loads with a wide range of bullets and weights. Sako or Tikka....

third post on page one

Another 30-06 vote. Semper Fi

If handloading is an option, 300 Win Mag would be my choice. The difference between 308 and 30-06 is slight. In contrast, the 300 Win Mag is a significant step up, but also easy enough to load down to lighter levels. Add a muzzle brake, and it becomes a hard hitting very versatile tool.

An AR10 in 308

.30-06

300 wm

.223 in a remington 700. Kills everything in Texas, affordable to shoot and a kid may not like an ott 6. A 57 year old friend of mine still has his childhood .222 in the mowhawk edition. Dont try to get him to sale it.

Having never inherited a rifle, except for mebbe the SAKO 243 my grand pop sold me for cheap right after I got married...I've had way too many "deer" rifles to have settled on just one particular shooter. I do however seem to have a penchant for 270's. I've more 270's than any other caliber I'm sure. However as I get deeper into geezerhood even the 270's are beginning to become less comfortable to go out and and run lots of load ladders on. So the quandry dejour is to choose 'tween a 6.5 Swede or a 7x57/7-08 as both of those are on hand and fully capapble of doing the job at my ranges of Minute of Deer. At the moment the 1982 M70 Fwt 7x57 onhand would be THE choice for an all around critter getter...but the Tikka T3 SL Swede is still there at coin flip time waiting it's turn at bat. If I can ever sell the 7Rmg SS Wby VG I picked up last year in a moment of fantasy of youth regained, I'll find a deal on a 7-08 and run it hard enough to make THAT decision, 'cause the very collectable M70 Mauser will not get used hard no matter what.

I shot the South Carolina M70 270 last fall enough to be satisfied with it to honor my history with that caliber but it's prolly not gonna be the The Primary Shooter either. The future do all go anywhere Last Gun for me will either be a Swede or a 7-08, and buy a Wood blue & SS/composite just alike in the same gun to finish out with.
Ron

If only one it would be a 30-06. Versatility and ammo availability. Just please don't tell my wife one rifle will do all.

I have heard the .243 argument for ever. I have met very few who want to tangle with big hogs or black bear with a .243. for pure versatility I have to agree the 30-06 is probably best. I have a few but am a .308 guy. 7 mag would make a fine choice as well.

.308 or 30.06

.270 for me.. I still have my first Winchester model 70 Dad gave me for Christmas. Sure wish I had kept count of all the animals I’ve taken with that rifle.. I still shoot a .270 today but have upgraded to a browning xbolt medallion, but looking into buying or maybe passing down the original to my son soon. He just turned 9 and has been shooting an ar for a few years, but ready to get him a bolt action. I just picked up a Ruger 6.5 Creedmoor, camo stock, muzzle break.. caliber seems similar to the .270... it’s a nice looking rifle and I’m sure the brake will be appreciated as I remember that first .270 kicking like a mule at an early age.