Hunters!!whats your most universal rifle?

mikesride · mikesride's Garage

Ok....Thinking about trying hunting again, first time actually as an adult. (would hunt as a child with my father and uncles) I am a big guy but very inexperienced with any rifle larger than a pellet gun. I will be taking the hunter safety course with the girlfriend whom also wants to get out. She only wants a 22 cal rifle, not sure about that but she is worried about recoil. For myself I was thinking a 308. Good choice or is there better options for someone just getting started? To the anti-hunter crowd, I respect your opinions more than you will ever know, please respect my right to have a conversation with other individuals that share my point of view, thanks.

HHI944 · 10-05-2013, 06:21 PM

Modern ammo has made the ol 94 in 3030 quite a nice all around platform

E38Driver · 10-05-2013, 06:29 PM

It depends on what you are going to hunt. Deer or other small game a .243 works very well. Bigger game (elk, bear, moose) I'd go with at least 30-06.

.243 is a necked down 308 casing and a 30-06 is the same diameter bullet as 308 with more stopping power(more powder).

It also depends on how good your shot placement is. Some folks can shoot 5 shots at 100 yards and cover it with a dime, others can barely hit the paper.

Hope that helps some.

Dave

Taz's Master · 10-05-2013, 06:57 PM

What are you going to hunt? Grizzlies, sheep, moose? Do you hunt where 300+ yd shots are common/likely? Are you talking about Eastern whitetails?

You are far better off being honest about your abilities, and what the firearm will need to do, than trying to find the most capable round and buying a rifle that shoots it. If you're going to shoot whitetails at 75yds, a .30-30 or .35 Remington will do the job, and not beat you up. If you insist that your deer rifle also be able to kill a woodchuck at 500yds and a polar bear, maybe something like a .338 Lapua. But that would be pretty expensive and likely punishing to shoot. And the whitetail at 75yds won't be any more dead.

Tailor the gun to its intended use, learn to shoot it well, practice shooting offhand, and enjoy it. A .30-06 is remarkably flexible and useful as a hunting round in North America, but there are flatter shooting rounds if you are going to be shooting long distances. If you're recoil sensitive, perhaps a .243 or .257 Roberts would be more appropriate. If recoil doesn't bother you and you plan to hunt the big bears, moose and elk, maybe a .35 Whelen. If you're going to carry it all day while still-hunting swamps and thickets, maybe something small and light and quick handling like a model 94 Ranger in .30-30.

I cannot see how a .30-06, .308, or .270 wouldn't do most any job a hunter would ask of a rifle for hunting medium or large game in North America.

mikesride · mikesride's Garage

To answer the above question....White Tail Deer would be the primary target. I would not go on a trip until I am satisfied with my aim and stability. I would hate to injure or maim an animal with anything less than a nice clean shot. I know it happens but I would like to minimize the possibility.

Bill Douglas · 10-05-2013, 07:04 PM

Around here a .270 is considered a one size fits all.

Taz's Master · 10-05-2013, 07:20 PM

Deer don't need anything special (unless the ranges are particularly long). People will tell you whatever their favorite caliber happens to be (just about anything from a .243 to a .300 Winmag) is the best tool for the job. Because they've all worked for them. A quality bolt action rifle in .30-06 is a great answer to your question. It'll surely kill a deer, and you could hunt bears and goats and sheep, elk, and moose with it, and even shoot woodchucks and coyotes as well. But you might enjoy shooting a .257 or a .30-30 more. Maybe you would prefer a lever or a pump? Trust me, while a rifle isn't cheap, at least it will hold value and you can sell/trade it for something that suits you better later, as opposed to the rest of the money you will sink into your hobby should you get into hunting. Get a quality rifle and good optics, and you'll have made a pretty good choice, even if the caliber isn't perfect.

Arthropraxis · 10-05-2013, 08:51 PM

I like a 7mm magnum. If you load your own it can be adjusted for light weight/high speed or heavy/higher impact for a variety of distances or densities of targets.

id10t · 10-05-2013, 09:09 PM

12ga pump action shotgun lets you hunt big game w/ slugs and buckshot, and small game and birds with (duh) birdshot, shoot skeet/trap/sporting clays, and defend your home. Get a few different barrels, and you'll be set for every occasion. There is nothing you can't hunt in N America wtih a 12ga shotgun. Granted, it isn't the optimum tool for every situation (I can come up with excuses for 4 or 5 more long guns quite easily, and we've not started on pistols), but if you are only gonna have *one* gun...

GWN7 · 10-05-2013, 09:19 PM

.30-06 is a all around good gun. You can get various weight ammo to meet what your shooting needs will be for a reasonable price. As mentioned a bolt action.

Gretch · 05:39 AM

I like them all...

I have .22mag, .223, .243, 30-30 (w and w/o glass), 30-06, 308 and 7mm mag, as well as a .50 modern muzzle loader.

For white tail deer, .243 is plenty sufficient and a great all around gun.

For a versatile platform, may I recommend a Thompson Center Encore or Pro Hunter action and then you can get several barrels to fill in the range of performance you are looking for.

My TC Encore wears .243, 30-06, .50cal sabot and .338 barrels, and the total cost including glass for all four set ups was less than a Weatherby 7mm mag Lazer MArk V.

The TC is a single shot, breech load set up for modern ammo. I do agree that a proper hunting rifle is either bolt action or breech load. I have hunted bear with lever action (model 94) but the ballistics on tube magazine loaded rifles is not ad good as can be had with breech or trap door (bolt) loaders because of the shape of the bullet nose. For distance under a hundred yards, using consistent ammo, a 30-30 is fine, beyond that you will want more accurate ammo. My white tail shots have averaged about 200 yards with significant elevation change. I like either the .243, 30-06 or the 7mm mag for this kind of hunting.

Rick V · 10-06-2013, 06:22 AM

For dear, my personal choice is 30-06, and I prefer a bolt gun, as others have said 270, and 7mm both excellent choices.
Now those are fr hunting here where there are trees, brush, and other bullet deflecting obstacles to contend with.

mikesride · mikesride's Garage

Would you guys recommend buying a new rifle or used? With new I would know exactly what I am getting, but with used perhaps I could get a better weapon for the same cost? Remembering that I am a rookie and could not tell the difference between a great used rifle or a used up old rifle... There is only one private gun shop in my little city, and two larger chains that sell hunting gear, (wholesale sports and cabelas) Where would you guys be most comfortable asking these rookie questions?
The .270 and 30.06 seem like some popular weapons. Should a guy be concerned about stock material? are the composite stocks as good as the wooden ones? Better maybe if I will be hunting mainly in snow?
What other "kit" should a guy be looking at (cleaning and maint) without getting sold useless things by the gun shop?
Is a .22 cal rifle for the girlfriend small enough just to be dangerous? If so what would the next step up be that would not inflict to much recoil havoc? She has shot a 308 in the past and feels it is too much gun for her.
Sorry for all the questions but there seems to be some good knowledge on this board about this stuff.

Seahawk · 10-06-2013, 07:04 AM

There are some really great new rifles available at reasonable prices. Take a look at the Savage Arms website.

My son has a Savage bolt action .22 WMR that is as deadly as an IRS audit.

That may also be a good gun for your girlfriend, game dependent..

sjf911 · sjf911's Garage

I think the best rifle is the one you are most comfortable, confident, and accurate with even under adverse conditions which means one you will shoot a lot so factor cost and availability of ammo if important. I hunted for many years in central Texas with just a 30-30 and it was fine for the relatively short distances and mesquite woods we hunted in. Open range (>antelope) I preferred a 7mm mag which is what I use mostly now but .243, .270, 30-06, and .308 are all good basic deer rifles. My current rifle is stainless/composite.

Head416 · Head416's Garage

.243 might be good for her to use as a hunting rifle.
.22's are pretty much required for everybody to own - cheap and fun, and great for practicing technique.

GWN7 · 10-06-2013, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikesride

Would you guys recommend buying a new rifle or used? With new I would know exactly what I am getting, but with used perhaps I could get a better weapon for the same cost? Remembering that I am a rookie and could not tell the difference between a great used rifle or a used up old rifle... There is only one private gun shop in my little city, and two larger chains that sell hunting gear, (wholesale sports and cabelas) Where would you guys be most comfortable asking these rookie questions?
The .270 and 30.06 seem like some popular weapons. Should a guy be concerned about stock material? are the composite stocks as good as the wooden ones? Better maybe if I will be hunting mainly in snow?
What other "kit" should a guy be looking at (cleaning and maint) without getting sold useless things by the gun shop?
Is a .22 cal rifle for the girlfriend small enough just to be dangerous? If so what would the next step up be that would not inflict to much recoil havoc? She has shot a 308 in the past and feels it is too much gun for her.
Sorry for all the questions but there seems to be some good knowledge on this board about this stuff.

I used to deal with Wholesale. I found the staff quite knowledgeable and easy to deal with. They won't light you up like a Christmas tree if you go there. Stock material is personal preference. Neither effects the use of the gun. A used gun with a wood stock that is scratch free shows that it was well taken care of. A cleaning kit can consist of a piece of string with a chunk of rag tied in the middle. Oil rag and run back and forth thru the barrel. Tie a new piece of rag to string and repeat till rag is clean. A .22 will kill you just as well as a .30-06. When my son was starting to shoot I took him and shot a .22 into a 6" log about 18" long. Then I split the log to show him how far the bullet went in. Then I asked him if he was tougher than the log. When he said the log that's when I told him that the "little" bullet would have gone right thru him. As to recoil, get her a well padded gun to shoot and a padded shooting shirt (they make them for women).

KaptKaos · 10-06-2013, 08:39 AM

Some places limit your round size depending on the game you're hunting. I.e. you can't hunt deer with a .22, as it's too small and will wound the animal. Check your local laws.

A semi-auto will have less recoil than bolt action, as that energy is used to help cycle rounds. Just something to consider.

Good luck.

Henry Schmidt · Henry Schmidt's Garage

For the girlfriend you might try a 7-08. Accurate good knock down and less recoil.

My best hunting rifle is a Sako Finnbear in 270.

BTW: It might be for sale. I am thinking about selling quite a few of my long guns.

targa911S · 10-06-2013, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Around here a .270 is considered a one size fits all.

same here in western PA. The Remington 760 or 7600 in .270 is referred to as "The Amish machine gun" around here. Of course any lever action 30-30 as well. Lots of 30-06 guns but few seem to use them anymore. I shoot varmints so 22-250 is my caliber of choice.