Big, big respect for Ron Spomer. If there is anyone who ever has, he has certainly "been there, done that" as far as big game hunting. The advice he offers is spot-on. He had maybe two or three real hunting rifles on offer, the rest are what I call "range rifles". Either too heavy or too cumbersome for serious hunting.
I am a little bit disappointed that he left out my personal favorite (discounting my love for muzzle loaders and 19th century breach loaders), the Ruger #1. The Dakota he shows is essentially the same thing, just five times the cost. I've always seen a fine single shot as the purest "hunting" rifle or "stalking" rifle, demanding a somewhat different mindset from their users.
One other thing - I'll never be convinced there is an "all around" caliber. I've hunted where 300 yards is a "close" shot, and where 30 yards is a "long" shot. I've hunted 50 pound "big game" animals, and I've hunted one ton and larger "big game animals". No way one rifle, one caliber will ever cover all of that. Besides, that's no fun. We all need excuses, er I mean "reasons" to buy more rifles. So, I have an "all around" battery of #1's, rather than just one.
Left to right, 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser, .375 H&H Magnum, .458 Winchester Magnum, .30-'06, and .220 Swift. All are sized "just right" for their respective calibers, all balance and carry wonderfully. These are my picks as the "perfect" modern rifle.
