I would take my Dakota Mod. 76 Classic and have custom irons installed on it and change to Talley Mt.s from the current Leupy Q.R.s I would change the stock to a good synthetic, probably a Micky Supergrade, and use the 1.5x6 LPS thats on it now, as well as the spare Leupy Vari-XIII in spare rings. This rifle is in .338Win Mag. using Win. brass, CCI 250s, Nosler PT. Gold-250 gr., 77 gr. RE-22 and it shoots .5-.6 consistently with this load.
If, I dropped it into Gatho Cr. or the Muskwa, while crossing on horseback, I would use on of the 4 P-64 Mod. 70 Alaskans I have in .338. They have Brown Precision stocks, Leupy Q.R. one-piece bases, QR rings, Redfield or Lyman receiver sights, Sourdough front sights and B&L 1.5-6 Balvar scopes, with the irons sighted in and left on the rifles. They will not take quite the load that the Dakota does, but, they all give around an inch with 250 N.P.s at 2700+.
If, there is a better setup than this, I have yet to find it and I have packed these, for nearly 40 yrs. all over B.C. and much of Alberta, year-round without a single malfunction. I hunt and used to work alone in remote wilderness with substantial Grizzly populations and I prefer a bigger bullet than .30 cal.
Posts: 1379 | Location: British Columbia | Registered: 02 October 2004
If I had just one rifle.... I would use it to rob enough 7/11's until I could buy a couple more.... AND pay for an Africa trip.
Actually, for North America I would pick my Chapuis 9,3x74R double rifle with my 1.5-6x42 Swarovski with the illuminated circle dot reticle. I really enjoy hunting with this rifle. It has proven effective to 300 yards. Might not be the best choice for antelope, sheep and goats, but as Elmer Keith said, "I prefer hunting my game before I shoot"
Posts: 16134 | Location: Texas | Registered: 06 April 2002
If you had just one rifle to shoot all of North America's big game with; which rifle would it be. I would like to see caliber along with the brand and model of rifle(With scope?).
If you had just one rifle to shoot all of North America's big game with; which rifle would it be. I would like to see caliber along with the brand and model of rifle(With scope?).
Thanks,
Will
Will, I already own the rifle I'd use if I could only use one, a Remington 7600 synthetic carbine in 30-06. With 180 grain FailSafes I wouldn't feel deprived.
I use a Burris compact 2X7 with mine.
Posts: 8827 | Location: CANADA | Registered: 25 August 2004
.340 WEATHERBY THrows long, fast lighter bullets for game at distance, sheep, goats, yet at the same time will throw up to 300gr bullets with "great vigor" for any of the bears you might wish to have an "up close and personal" meeting with.
Exceptional accuracy for a rifle with that kind of capability.
Posts: 624 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 07 April 2003
Just 1 rifle! What a nightmare. I used to say 30-06 but I may have changed my mind and voted for the 9.3x62 after I voted against it. And to avoid having to choose between the Model 70 and the CZ550---it would be built on a 98 Mauser action.
This past week my father-in-law gave me my ideal "one gun for North America". It's a 1957 vintage Winchester Model 70 .300H&H Magnum. I've yet to even fire it, but I have little doubt there's anything on this continent that a premium 200gr bullet couldn't handle.
This rifle currently wears a vintage El Paso made Weaver KV 2-3/4x-5x scope in top mounts. I'm debating whether or not to leave this scope on the rifle so that it's just the way it was in '57, or to swap it out for something along the lines of a Leupold VXIII 3.5x-10x.
I've owned and shot a Ruger .300 Winchester Magnum for years, but have dreamed about someday owning this particular .300H&H. I think it's the perfect "classic" chambering, for the perfect "classic" rifle.
Caliber is easy, see my signature. Depends on the money for the gun. If I wanted to spend $1000, for a gun It'd be a Remington CDL with a Bushnell Elite 4200 3x9. I'd buy as much non-corossive milsurp as I could with the leftover and practice, practice, practice. If I had $500, which I have done, I'd buy a used comercial Mauser FN or Mark X, and an elite 3200. I'd opt for a 24" barrel. When and if you ever go big bear take 5-10% of your Trophy fee and buy a bigger gun. capt david.
Posts: 655 | Location: South Texas | Registered: 11 January 2004
If the large bears are involved, I would say the .338wm. For everything else, it's hard to beat the old .30-06. I don't own one but it's hard to beat as a one rifle battery. Factory ammo available everywhere, big enough for elk & moose & flat shooting enough for antelope & sheep/goats. The .300winmag would be a step up, but really not neccessary for deer size game, more recoil & heavier rifle.
If money were an issue, I would get a M70 ft.wt. w/ Leup. VXIII 2.5x8. If you are spending as much as you like, a Dakota M76 classic, 23"bbl. w/ an add'l. syn. stock. I'll stay w/ the VXIII here as well. BTW, I don't own a .30-06 or a .300WM, too many rifles & carts. to have.
Posts: 7752 | Location: kalif.,usa | Registered: 08 March 2001
I have that rifle; it's a Winchester pre-64 Model 70 custom in 338 Win Mag with a VX-III 2.5X8. Having said all that, I'll trade for the rifle Chuck Neslon mentioned! jorge
Posts: 7149 | Location: Orange Park, Florida. USA | Registered: 22 March 2001
Well I've had this one since they came out in the early 80s. The best rifle I've ever owned!
For versatility you can't beat the .06 because of the availability of ammo everywhere and the availability of military surplus for plinkin/practice.
If I were going to pick one cartridge for NorthAmerica today it would probably be a 300WSM. It's got that 200-250fps faster speed than the .06 and it fits the shorter action.
The new rifle would be a Steyr Pro Hunter in stainless in 300WSM. I'd put a BP brake on it and have the action and barrel coated with cerakote.
For scopes I'd go with the Zeiss Conquest. They're almost as good as the Zeiss Diavari and a few hundred dollars cheaper.
I have a Echols-built custom Model 70 'Legend' in .300 Win. Mag. with a 3.5-10X Leica scope that is probably the last rifle I'd ever sell, and I'd hunt all of the world's big game with it except for rhino, Cape buffalo, Asiatic buffalo, elephant, and hippo. That takes in a lot of territory, including all N. American game.
Most guys would be better-served with one or two high-quality rifles that are built without compromise, rather than a safe full of mediocre rifles that are seldom used.
Quote: Most guys would be better-served with one or two high-quality rifles that are built without compromise, rather than a safe full of mediocre rifles that are seldom used.
I'd be partial to a Winchester M70 Featherweight in .30-06 wearing a 2.5x-8x Leupold and shooting 180gr. Partitions at 2750fps. I'd also go as far as switching up to the 300WSM, same rifle and scope, for just a little more pop.
Of course, that's just for Big Game, as the topic stated. That doesn't include a 12ga. autoloader for turkey and ducks, a 12ga. over/under for upland birds, a .22LR for plinking and small game, and a heavy barreled .223 for varmints.
Not to mention the other two or three big game rifles for... umm... uhh... hanging on the wall! That's it! Don't tell my girlfriend!
I would have to go with my Mdl 70 Stainless Classic in 300WSM. With the 3X9 Kahles scope it keeps most bullets from the 130gr XLC and up in groups that are and inch or better.
Posts: 398 | Location: Texas | Registered: 27 September 2000
I'm gathering parts to have mine built as we speak. Winchester 70 CRF 300 Win Mag, Legend stock, Krieger barrel, Blackburn magazine box and floorplate, Talbot scope bases and rings, Wisner or Willaims extractor and collar, NP-3 on the finished metal. The most important component will be the skilled gunsmithing that puts it all together. JCN I have a lucky Leupold 2.5-8 VXIII scope. I'm convinced that the pope blessed it the last time he was in America.
Posts: 7158 | Location: Snake River | Registered: 02 February 2004
Since I only hunt in Alaska, I use a Ruger stainless in .338WM (The Alaskan), and that's my only big game rifle. Now, my dream rifle would be an Echols "Legend" in .338WM.
Posts: 2448 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 25 May 2002
After you have hunted for many years, shot most of the game on this earth, and tried all the great calibers out there, each and everyone of you will finally pick the 30-06 and wonder why you ever used the rest of them, trust me on this, and if not then you need more experience...
Posts: 42314 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000
So, the truth finally comes out! THIS is why you are now selling your 21-H in 9.3x62, which only a few, short months ago, you told us you would always keep. Aha, I have figured it all out! I now have 3 21-H rifles, if only my recent dental bills were not keeping me from buying that 9.3......can one own too many rifles????
Posts: 1379 | Location: British Columbia | Registered: 02 October 2004
I must confess that I have never hunted in the US, an omission I intend to rectify as soon as I can arrange it.
However, I have just the outfit for it. A classic custom FN M98 in 308 Norma Magnum (bit of a widcat these days, but once, I belive, very popular in the US before the 300 Win Mag was brought out by Winchester) with a Leupold Vari-XII 2-7X33. My favourite load is 180gr Hornady SPBT (Stock #3072) pushed by 75grs AR2213SC (sold in the US as H4831SC) giving a MV of 3,100 fps (chronographed).
If I were after a light weight (featherweight) rifle it would have to be my Winchester pre-64 M70 featherweight in 270Win with a Leupold VX-I 4-12X40.
Both rifles sport Conetrol Custom mounts and rings.
Magnum
Posts: 62 | Location: Brisbane, Australia | Registered: 11 June 2004
For me its a Winchester Classic SS 338win topped with a Leupold VXIII 2.5-8, stocked in a McMillan featherweight stock. I've used this rifle for the last few years and it has performed wonderfully from moose and bears to sitka blacktails in all sorts of weather. Ready to hunt it weighs in at 8lbs 6ozs, while not as lite as some of the other rifles I own it will be going with me sheep hunting next year. Hard to beat a .338 for all around use.
Posts: 223 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 20 February 2001
Winchester M70 Classic in .300 Weatherby. Taken apart and put back together by Mark Penrod. Kreiger barrel, Blackburn bottom metal, magbox & follower. Stock by Serengeti. Primary scope a Leupold VX-III 3.5-10x40mm. Backup scope Leupold 6x33mm. Tally mounts.
I've most sold every rifle I had to afford it. I still have a 22-250 and 7x57 Mauser Carbine. However, from Spring '05 when it finished onward 80 plus percent of my hunting will be with this one rifle.
Quote: keeping me from buying that 9.3......can one own too many rifles????
Kute,
I am trying to stay in control also. It may be what level of fun that we need in aquiring new guns. As of the moment I have enough of course. However there are dozens of interesting guns local to me and now the auctions.
I actually posted up here a .358 Win pre 64 M70 Featherweight with a Redfield on it that was at a local dealers for $850 so that I would not buy it. However I went back to the dealer and I knew I was going to buy it. The temptation was too great. Lucky for me (?) it was sold to some local guy. There were over 250 hits here in classifieds on that rifle and the dealer got only one call!
Let me throw a little something in the mix. If I only had one rifle and one caliber for "all" North American hunting I would choose a 7X57 custom built on a Mauser action with a Leupole VXIII 3X9 in a real good synthetic stock. Why the 7X57? This caliber has taken game world wide in every possible hunting situation. Bullet weight and construction is availabe to fit all hunting conditions and game. The Mauser action for simplicity, and dependability. Synthetic stock for duriability. Leupold scope for service, reliability, and performance. All ammo would of course be handloaded and taylored to the rifle. I know some of you will think I'm crazy but that would be my choice if I could only have one rifle.
I would take a .280 Rem in a model 70 and a .375 H&H in a model 70 - all wood and no stainless. I would put a Leupold VX III 3.5x10 on the .280 and a leupold 1.75x6 on the .375.
If you only have one rifle, go with the .375.
or .270, or 30-06 or .416 or .300 H&H or .243 or whatever you shoot well. I never can make up my mind anyway.
Posts: 10504 | Location: Texas... time to secede!! | Registered: 12 February 2004
Just one Rifle , It would have to be a Weatherby Accu-Mark (7mm Wea. or 300 Wea.) w/ a Nikon Monarch Gold settin' in Leupy Rings/Bases and Wearing a good ole' Butler Creek sling.
Good Luck!
Reloader
Posts: 4146 | Location: North Louisiana | Registered: 18 February 2004
Well I know this isn't very fancy or maybe not even my "dream" rifle but, Savage 111 in 300WM topped with an old 3x9x30 Weaver Marksman. WHY, you ask, well I already own it and it hits where I point it every time. I would love to do something to make it look better but I am afraid it might effect its unbelievable accuracy.
Posts: 2099 | Location: Missouri, USA | Registered: 02 March 2002
"Most guys would be better-served with one or two high-quality rifles that are built without compromise, rather than a safe full of mediocre rifles that are seldom used."
Man, I heard that loud and clear! It is the direction I've been heading for awhile. Would REALLY like one of the Legends...
Atkinson, I tend to agree with you, except that I choose a 7 Rem mag because the 2 that I have had all shot so damn good. I had what I considered to be the ideal all-around hunting rifle built several years ago. Trued Rem 700 action with Sako extractor and a trigger job, #4 taper Pac-Nor barrel with brake, McMillan stock, Talley scope mounts, and a 2.5-10x42 IOR tacticle scope, chambered for the .300 Jarrett. The rifle weighs right at 8.75 lbs scoped. The only thing I would change, after 9 years of use, would be to chamber it in the 7 Rem mag. For me the 7 mag proved to be a more versatile round, for everything from prairie dogs to elk, than the big .300.
Posts: 866 | Location: Western CO | Registered: 19 February 2004
Quote: Atkinson, I tend to agree with you, except that I choose a 7 Rem mag because the 2 that I have had all shot so damn good. I had what I considered to be the ideal all-around hunting rifle built several years ago. Trued Rem 700 action with Sako extractor and a trigger job, #4 taper Pac-Nor barrel with brake, McMillan stock, Talley scope mounts, and a 2.5-10x42 IOR tacticle scope, chambered for the .300 Jarrett. The rifle weighs right at 8.75 lbs scoped. The only thing I would change, after 9 years of use, would be to chamber it in the 7 Rem mag. For me the 7 mag proved to be a more versatile round, for everything from prairie dogs to elk, than the big .300.
YOU MEAN you have never been after woodchucks with a .375H&H???? It will stop a charge and usually you will get a "blood trail".
Posts: 624 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 07 April 2003
jorge
, It would have to be a Weatherby Accu-Mark (7mm Wea. or 300 Wea.) w/ a Nikon Monarch Gold settin' in Leupy Rings/Bases and Wearing a good ole' Butler Creek sling.
