If You Could Only Have Two Rifles

[TMF89]

What would they be? Calibers, specific models, scopes, all that good stuff. And let's say you're planning on hunting as many locales, ranges, and species as possible. The reason I'm asking is I'd like to purchase at least one, if not both rifles before next fall, so I'm trying to get my research done early. I plan on spending equal time hunting here in MN in stands, and out in the Rockies stalking deer, elk, pronghorn, sheep, whatever.

I like "oddball" cartridges (go ahead and try and convince me to get a 30-06 if you want lol), so I don't mind spending $10 more on a box of 7mm-08 than I would on a box of .270. Total for the rifle/scope I'd like to keep it right around or just over $1,000.

So go crazy with the brainstorming guys, thanks for your advice!

[GSP4ME]

300 ultra mag with a Schmidt and Bender scope on it good for anything short of Grizzly.

270 with a Schmidt and Bender scope good for all my deer and antelope, predator etc

[charliepete]

A pair of remington 700's topped with nice leupolds in 30-06 and .243

[Wanderer]

It's kind of a paradox you don't mind spending bigger dough on oddball cartridges but limit your set up cost to just over a $1,000. It's your mid grade and popular equipment that will put you in that price range IMO. Maybe I have a different view of what mid grade is though?

I like Browning A bolts in stainless stalker finishes and consider them a bit above mid grade. It's a great shooting and reliable firearm that can take harsh conditions. I like my Swarovski scope but think my Leupold, Burris and Nikon are O.K. I like my Nikon the least and probably the Burris second. Tikka is a good money saving option.

Get your 7mm-08 A bolt (or less expensive Tikka) with a 2x7 Burris for your typical sit and wait deer hunting. You can save some money on this and spend it here:

A regular 7mm Mag in A bolt for your stalking and going after the game you mentioned with 4x14 or similar higher power better quaility scope with more extreme conditions capability.

If you really want a coverall caliber and like to mess around with different loads, get into the .300s. You can pick a lot of magnum variations there. I have just the straight .300 Win Mag.

[monstermoose78]

06 and 22 long

[TMF89]

That's a fair point I guess. So new budget, $1300-1400 tops. And for argument's sake you get your .17/.22 rabbit gun so don't worry about that lol.

[swamptiger]

You can actually have one very nice accurate rifle and scope that will do the job of two rifles, and handle about anything for under $1000.

Pick up a Stevens Mod. 200 in 30-06 for about $300, and buy an aftermarket stock for it, such as a Boyds for about $100.

Buy another barrel and barrel replacement kit, such as a .25-06, for the Stevens for about $200.

Spend the remaining $350 for a decent scope.

Now if you're talking spending a total of $2000 for two rifles, there is a multitude of options.

[PurpleFloyd]

Probably a .30 cal something like 308 or 30-06 and a .22 rimfire.

[Gordie]

I would have to choose the 257 roberts in a Whetherby Vanguard frame and then go alL out and look tpwards a .338 winchester mod 70. I would also but a nikon optics on it

[Esox_Magnum]

30-378 Weatherby, Zeiss scope...

Custom 6mm built on an AR frame for the other with a high end varmit scope...

[hockeybc69]

If I could only have 2.... I would be disappointed.

[swamptiger]

+1. Where's the fun in that?..

The .22 is a given - everyone has to have one of those.

But if I were to get serious about one caliber that would do it all, I would buy or build a 6.5 swede, and get into handloading. Bullet weights available from 85 gr. to 160 gr. that will kill anything from mice to moose, if loaded properly..

[Musky Buck]

No .22 for me I'd have two 30.06 in case something happened to one or the other.

[mechanictim]

For sheep and pronghorn a light rifle is nice to carry and need not be a big bullet. Weatherby MK V Ultra-lightweight in 257 weatherby mag with a Zeiss 3x9x40 scope.

For the bigger critters such as elk, bear, and moose, a stainless Weatherby MK V in 340 weatherby mag with a muzzle brake and a Leopold 3.5 x10x50 scope.

Of course these are a little big for coyotes or other fur bearers so you need a 22 centerfire. Browning A-bolt with BOSS in 22-250 with Bushnell Elite scope in 6x24x40.

And if you plan a trip to Africa you need..........

[gunmunky]

Any 22LR and a 30-378 Weatherby with a Nightforce scope.

[DonBo]

.243 for anything from fox and coyotes on up to antelope and whitetails. .300WSM for deer sized game on up to moose and griz.

Take your pick of rifles. Browning A-Bolt, Winchester Model 70, Ruger 77, Tikka, Weatherby, etc, etc.

Top with Nikon or Leupold of your choice.

[picksbigwagon]

we have sat around many of campfires and discussed this over and over, our concensus is that a 12 ga. shotgun is truly all you will need. The rest depends on your hunting ability and in a survival situation there are no such things as size limits or hunting hours. from #8's to slugs, not one animal in North America that can't be hunted and killed effectively with a 12 ga.

[NoWiser]

I've got my "do all" rifle. It's a Tikka T3 stainless in .270 WSM with a Leupold VXIII 2.5-8x on it. I feel comfortable hunting any big game in North America with this gun (with the exception of big bears which I will never be able to afford to hunt). It's already gotten me many whitetails, a mulie, a moose, a wolf, and various varmints. Even a few grouse have been decapitated by this gun. I don't see the need for me to ever get another rifle as I can load anywhere between about 100 grain and 150 grain bullets for this gun. With any luck I will one day have children who will want to join me hunting, and I will purchase a 7mm-08 for them. So, those would be my two rifles. While most love owning many different guns, and I don't blame them, I love taking my one rifle and working up handloads for whatever I find myself hunting that fall.

[TMF89]

Well guys I'm thinking a 7mm-08 for the light duty rifle, just because I like that round, it's flat shooting, has an excellent recoil, and I do kind of like the uniqueness of it. I'm thinking Tikka for at least one of the rifles, but I'm not sure if I want synthetic or wooden or one of their lamenated stocks, as well as a blued or SS barrel. I'm not too worried about the extra half pound I'll gain if I don't go with the synthetic, since most of the rifles duties would be plains game, or relatively easy hikes for deer and such. Although if I ever do go sheep hunting, that's a whole other story lol. Pros/cons for synthetic, wood, or lamenant stocks?

Now for the larger caliber, a 7mm mag, 300 W(S)M, or whatever else you guys can think of. Just a couple questions. What's the difference (on the range and in practicality) between the regular 300 mag, and the WSM? Also, how will the recoil be affected by the weight of the rifle? Say if I decide to get a Tikka that weighs about six and a half pounds. Thanks for the advice guys!

[DonBo]

Synthetic is ugly, but accurate. Wood is beautiful, but accuracy can be affected by weather. Laminates are the best of both worlds.

[mainbutter]

A compound bow and a slingshot

[NoWiser]

Now for the larger caliber, a 7mm mag, 300 W(S)M, or whatever else you guys can think of. Just a couple questions. What's the difference (on the range and in practicality) between the regular 300 mag, and the WSM? Also, how will the recoil be affected by the weight of the rifle? Say if I decide to get a Tikka that weighs about six and a half pounds. Thanks for the advice guys!

The 300 WSM and 300 Winchester have basically the same ballistics as far as I know. There are some small advantages and disadvantages for each, but either one is a great cartridge. One won't do anything the other wouldn't be able to do just as well. You can get the WSM in a little lighter and more compact rifle. I think if I were you I would be looking at something 30 caliber and larger if you also have a 7mm-08. The 7mm mag is a good cartridge, but I personally couldn't have two of the same caliber if they were my only two rifles!

You will definitely take a beating with a lighter rifle when you shoot it. The difference in recoil can be quite noticeable with a weight difference. My 270 WSM Tikka is about the limit of what I enjoy shooting. Before I put an aftermarket recoil pad on it, it exceeded that limit. Depending on where you hunt the benefits of a light gun can definitely outweigh the drawbacks. I took my first trip out west this year and, even though my rifle is very light, my shoulder, neck, and back were still sore afte 8-10 miles of climbing up and down hills. The lighter the rifle the better out there. Around here when you mostly sit in a tree, a heavy rifle isn't such a drag.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide!

[fishuhalik]

My own 700 in 25-06 with a Leupold 4-12x with a little trigger work done. Ive used it for everything from deer at 10yds with 115gr to prairie dogs at 810yds with 75gr bullets. My big game setup will be a Savage Long Range Hunter in 300 Ultra Mag with a Vortex Viper PST in 4-14x. 1st setup will be around $1200, 2nd is around $1400. Buy as many boxes of shells as you can afford.

My biggest piece of advise it to LEARN YOUR WEAPON!! It doesnt matter what gun you have, if you dont know it you wont kill with it. Break it in properly. Zero it at 200yds in a vise. Both will be sub-moa guns so your groups will be under 2". Shoot a couple boxes at 50-100yds. Shoot several boxes at 300-500 yds. Shoot a couple boxes in a hunting position (off hand, kneeling, prone, etc) at various ranges. Most of all have fun with it!!!

[TMF89]

Well how about a 25-06 and a 7mm Mag? I figure those two should take everything from varmint to moose right? Both flat shooting, relatively low recoil (7 Mag<300wm), and they're uncommon enough (not a .30 caliber lol) to fit my desire in that regard. What do you guys think? I figure with a 22, those two guns, and a larger caliber if I ever get into bear, and I should be able to reliably and respectably take anything on this continent.

[NoWiser]

I would be confident hunting anything with those two calibers for sure!