I am looking to buy a center fire rifle and was wondering brand, model and caliber would you buy. I have had 30-06, 30-30, 22-250, but I am wanting just one center fire rifle and was wondering which would be the best for anything you would need a center fire for.

I live in middle Ga, my main interest is deer hunting. Long shots are rare
around here. I usually carry a handgun to hunt but the rifle that trips my interest is usually a single shot. If I had to have one, more than likely an Encore, it would be easy to get a different barrel, my caliber choice for this area would be and is 7mm-08.

For just about any game animal that roams the North American continent it is difficult to beat the .30-06 cartridge. With bullets in the 125-150 grain range, at velocities at or near 3000 FPS, the .30-06 will handle just about any varmint, predator, or medium game animal (deer, antelope, etc) out to 300-plus yards. With bullets in the 165-180 grain range the '06 is fully capable of handling larger western mule deer, elk, or moose at any reasonable range. With bullets of 200-220 grains the largest North American game (including the great bears, bison, musk ox, etc) can be reliably taken.

Ammunition is available just about anywhere ammo is offered for sale. Reloading components are available in wide variety.

As for the rifle, just about any variant of the Remington 700 series, Ruger 77 series, Winchester Model 70 series, etc will provide very good performance at reasonable cost. Several years ago the NRA published articles rating factory production rifles, and found the Howa Model 1500 to be the most accurate production rifle (out of the box) on the market. The Howa 1500 was also marketed as the Weatherby Vanguard and S&W Model 1500 in years past. Moderately priced and highly regarded.

One cannot go wrong with a .30-'06 or .270 Win. For 99% of hunting needs in the lower 48 a bolt action in either caliber would be entirely satisfactory, and there are no bad bolt actions. For most, the best brand is whatever fits your budget.

Several years ago I bought a Winchester M70 Sporter in 30'06. It was one of the ones built in the new SC factory. It is an accurate rifle, seemed a little cheapened compared to my mid 80's M70 in .223. It has a matte rather than a mirror finish, the stock is a little thinner and not quite as substantial. They went back to the controlled feed, while my 80's rifle is a push feed.

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Common sense isn't so common.

Remington Model 700 in 243 Winchester.

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That's gonna leave a mark.

Don't rule out .308 or again the .270.





Both bolt rifles are Remington 700 built about 20 years apart.

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Isaiah 41:10

In KY, I'd go for an oldie but goodie--Marlin 336c either in 30-30 or, if you plan on having to face black bear, .35 Rem. They are light, fast handling, and will take any game outside of Alaska. They used to be very cheap as everyone had one, but they are becoming a bit more rare these days.

If you plan to do any varmint shooting, the .270 does a very creditable job when handloaded with light bullets (90 or 110 grain). For use on larger and heavier game, say Moose or Elk, a .30-'06 with heavier bullets (180 or 220 grain) would probably be better. For anything in between, both are equally satisfactory. Everyone has their own personal fantasies about the "Best" caliber, but in fact no other exceeds the practical versatility of the .30-'06 and the .270. Especially so if you are a reloader. No trick to download a .30-'06 to .30-30 level ballistics for use by a recoil-sensitive woman.

Over the years I’ve narrowed my rifle criteria significantly.

First is weight and handling: 7 pounds loaded with scope and sling. Barrel length needs to be 20” or less.

Next it needs to be in a cartridge that will take anything in the lower 48: 308, 30-06 or 270.

Finally, it doesn’t have to be new.

Used centerfire rifles are the bargain of the firearms world. These used guns usually haven’t been shot a lot, although some have been carried and handled a lot.

Keep your eyes open for early Remington M700’s (circa 1964) for long actions chambered in .270 or 30-06. These were available with very handy 20-22” barrels.

For the shorter action 308, look for a Remington Mohawk, M600 or 660. These are also 1960’s products but were way ahead of their time. These are the original Scout rifles.

Any of these are head and shoulders better than current production bolt actions of comparable price in today’s market.

“Anything” says levergun to me. Pick a caliber based on local conditions.

I'm not against used guns, but I'd say that there are a lot of cheap bolt action rifles right now that are better bang for the buck, including the Savage Axis, the Ruger American, the Remington 783, and the TC.

My own suggestion for a lever rifle has to do with that rifle's handiness, but if you are planning on taking game outside of 150 yards, a bolt action in a stronger caliber is what you should be looking for.

I think we need a little more information on what you would really be using this for. .243's are great but a little light for heavier work. 30:06 or .308 are heavier calibers but a little too heavy for lighter work. Would you ever encounter a bear? Do you see a possible foreign military invasion on the horizon? I think it is difficult to find one rifle that does everything well. A .223, a .243, and a .308 or 30:06 should cover all bases where it you are located. Somebody in the Northwest might want something bigger for large game at long distances.

Rem 700
Stainless
Chambered in 7/08

Anything you would need a centerfire for? Are you including grizzly bears? If you are going after bears, you no doubt need to go up from the 30-06, but I will answer you question assuming you are not going after big bears. If you want to shoot anything, from prairie dogs to black bears, including elk, moose, goats and sheep, you want a 270 Winchester. My favorite is the 30-06, but I say the 270, because it makes an excellent varmint caliber, and can reach out to 500 yards much better than the 06.

Now the rifle. I do not think there is a classier looking better built gun than a Belgium made Browning Safari grade bolt action built on a Mauser action. You just have to be careful of a few years that they produced " salt" guns where they cured the wood with a chemical that can create rust on the barrel. There is information on years and serial numbers for these guns. Beyond that, I do not think there is anything finer. Except my old Sako built on a Mauser action. Actually the Sako Mauser actions were only made in 2 calibers, 270, and 30-06. Start the hunt for one of those in a 270. Only other choice for me would be a pre 64 model 70 winchester

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

CZ. You won’t find a better value in a very well made gun. Available in several calibers.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

For years I hunted everything in Northeast, Turkeys, Woodchuck and Deer, using an Old Remington 700/270win. Had a 243win Sako for Woodchucks, Bull bbl, nothing you’d take walking with, but Deadly! No matter your decision, get an OLD rifle, todays guns SUCK! Rem 700, Win M70, if your budget allows, the older Sakos are Fantastic shooters! One caliber, definitely 270win!

I'm going to have to say Rem 700 in 308 or 30-06.

There's just so many loadings/options for those calibers - especially 30-06.

But for me, if I had to choose one centerfire rifle, it's a M1917 Enfield

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Thread Killer.

The reason I got rid of my other rifles is because I lost vision in my right eye and had to start shooting left handed. I am over 70 so recoil and weight is a factor.

As for make I would look for Ruger Mod 77 or a CZ. I think a 7mm08 would work.

The CZ is the better value if the two. Outstanding rifles. I would get one in 223/5.56.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

That changes things...

In that case, I'd go with an AR in 223 wylde.

In a bolt gun I'd go with a 6.5 Swede in whatever platform....

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Thread Killer.

Given that information but still not knowing what use you intend for it, I will recommend a bolt action 243. Very accurate and even in lighter rifles recoil is mild but is very capable of clean kills on deer and black bear sized animals to 300 yards. If varmint shooting is in the mix it's still usable there. Look at the Remington 700 or Weatherby Vangard.

Plenty of good bolt actions for lefties - Remington 700s, Ruger 77s, Savage 110s. Don’t know if any of the newer synthetic stocked guns are for lefties but they would be good too. Lever actions that eject up (Winchester 94) also.

Some idea of your intended use(s) would be good but for lower recoil something in the 6 - 7 mm (.243 - .284) size sounds about right. The 6.5 Creedmoor is the current round du jour but there are a bunch of others.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

CZ 527 Left Hand.
CZ-USA CZ 527 American Left-Hand - CZ-USA

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

Check out Savage

WHAT YOU MIGHT NEED A CENTERFIRE RIFLE FOR, WOULD PROBABLY DIFFER WIDELY FROM ANY OF US WHO DON'T RESIDE IN YOUR NECK O' THE WOODS......

PERHAPS A MORE PRODUCTIVE APPROACH WOULD BE TO STATE WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE, AND WE COULD MAKE SUGGESTIONS BASED ON THOSE STATED NEEDS......

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

If I did not know better I would not even think Savage. But I have learned that a Savage is hard to beat.
I cant know what you intend to use your selected rifle for. I am just target shooting with mine and the accuracy is excellent.
Have one in .223 Rem and one in .308 and they are both keepers.
Jim

I chose a Tikka T3, stainless, in .308. Lefty gun.

Magazine fed, slick bolt, Sako barrel, won't rust, great trigger.

I too love the Savage brand but they didn't make a magazine fed .308 rifle at the time. I still don't think they make a stainless sporting rifle like that, unless you count their Scout.

If I was a righty I might get a Ruger 77 series or a CZ. Something about a controlled feed Mauser style action gives comfort...

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Psalm 27:2

Go to LGS, hug a bunch, hem and haw, try some again, pick the one you like the most!

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Bob P.

Of all the bolt action rifles I have owned, my Salvage 25-06 has been the best and taken more game then my 308's, 30-06, 7mm, 30-30 LA.
Just MHOP....

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Getting a 30-06 is never a mistake. I own about 6 or so, so maybe I'm biased. Seriously you can shoot 125 Sierra spitzers at 2600 feet for informal target practise, or 3000 feet per second for woodchucks. 150,168,175, 180, 190 and even some 200 grain matchkings for target or match shooting. Bullet weights from 125 up to 200 grains for hunting. And cast bullets from about 1200-1400 for low powered target type shooting and with a little work even 2000 feet per second for hunting. Frank

I'll tell my story. Started with a 700 in 30-06. Fine rifle and a freaking tack driver. But beat up my shoulder after 20 rounds or so. Traded it for a handgun I had to have at the time.
Next up was a Winchester model 70 featherweight in .308.. Beautiful gun, but I couldn't hit a darn thing with it. Recoil was very heavy and barrel heat up fast.
Sold it and got a M&P 10 in .308, put magpul SL stock and pistol grip, Gieselle SSE trigger and precision arm muzzle break on it. Freaking thing is amazing accurate. Splitting holes at 300 yards. Recoil feels same as my .556 if not less. Got about 500 rounds through it so far and has never had a single hiccup. And its light, still under 10 lbs with scope , ready to hunt.

I bet a .44 Magnum could be found useful in Kentucky.

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WELCOME TO THE CLUB, m41.....

THIS OL' SOLDIER SHARES YOUR SITUATION, EXACTLY ! ! !

THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE PATH OF HOT EJECTED BRASS , FLYING ACROSS YOUR FACE......

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Lefty guns off the rack are somewhat scarce at most gun shops and big sporting stores. I like to default to lever guns for a bunch of reasons (mostly the hunting conditions in our area). But if you have a 30-30 already perhaps an old Rem 700 in .243 might be the answer. Lighter recoil, great/dependable action, readily available diverse ammo, good knockdown power for most N American game and they are often available for sale. In a new gun with a different round, I'd look at a stainless Tikka T3 in 6.5 Creedmoor.
Good luck M41.

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paws for friendship

I would have said a .30-06 or .308, but since you want less recoil, and really, who doesn't. I would say a .243 or 7-08. In a bolt gun, a Savage or Remington. Man, an old Savage 99 in .250 would sure be sweet and ambidextrous too.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

The problem with trying to decide on one rifle and caliber for whatever you would use a rifle for will mean that it will be inappropriate for almost everything. Personally I feel that it would be easier and that a person would better off to buy four or five purpose built rifles to cover everything you would want to hunt, but that wasn't the question.

Whatever game that you will likely hunt will decide caliber. Caliber is probably secondary to brand and model. You can kill deer sized game with a .223 if you choose your bullets and shots well. A .338 mag would be acceptable if you wanted to hunt mostly elk, moose, and the great bears. Although inappropriate, the .338 could be used on woodchucks because there is no such thing as too dead. Using the .223 on the great bears would be suicidal.

Ammunition availability and bullet availability needs to be considered. 7mm Remington Mags are easier to find than 7mm WSM ammo. Do you handload?

As far as brand and model goes you need to decide if you will be hunting mostly from a stand or walking and what brand you prefer. If you hunt under wet circumstances, you would probably want a stainless steel rifle with a fiberglass stock.

I'd buy a Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather in 300 Win Mag and hunt anything in any weather in North America. Reduced loads with lightweight bullets could be used on ground squirrels, but you could load 180gr Barnes or 200 grain Nosler Partitions for the great bears. The 300 Mag can be downloaded to .300 Savage levels for a woods gun, but can be stuffed to the max with a sleek 168gr bullet for long distance antelope.

lots of advise here, in my opinion some good and some less than ideal according to your opening remarks. I would suggest the 280 Rem. Hard to beat on hunts in lower 48.

Don't know where the lefty came from. Not in the OP's post. Depends on the budget and the intended varmint. Deer, prairie dogs, turkey, hogs, cats, ETC. Friend from KY says a .357 lever gun will do it all. If that's all that it takes in KY, I would opt for a .41 magnum handgun.

It would be a toss up between 308 & 30/06. I think leaning towards 308 because ammo is very common and It will tackle
just about anything in N America. A bolt action in Stainless and
synthetic stoc. I hate to say that because I don't like stainless
or synthetic. There are a lot of good cartridges but if just one it
should be practical and easy to get ammo. Stay away from the
new "Wonder" cartridges of last 20 yrs. Here today- gone tomarrow. Most are a solution for a problem that doesn't exist.
The rifles are made by all major manufactures now and that's more of personal choice on how much you want to spend.

Well there is a reason golfers have 14 clubs....

a single 45-70 will stop anything in N America....... so will a .22 long rifle (Eskimos and Polar Bears)

lots of deer have been poached with a .22 magnum.........I've become fond of the .22magnum in the past 8-9years....... out of my CZ rifle I getting MOA accuracy and 9mm muzzle energy out of a 16" barrel...... so a great 0-120 yd varmint (2 or 4 leg) round.

If you are looking for an all purpose/utility rifle.......you can get an AR and a bunch of uppers.................................22lr, 5.56 to 300 Blackout

All that said..... based on your age and location...........my thoughts


CZ rifle's are a the best value for the buck going IMHO ( I have 3 center fire and 6 rimfires).......many are available in Left hand models

The new(er) Ruger American Rifles are a good low cost rifle (I have 2 one in .22 magnum and one in .223/5.56 which uses AR mags.)

I have had a Ruger 77 International/mannlicher in .243 since the 1980s..... good all purpose, for Pa., deer in 100-110 gr and varmints in 80 grs.

A favorite utility/cabin rifle is a Ruger 77/357 in .357 magnum ;light, handy,5 rd magazine, stainless....... .357 158 gr. soft points are close to 30-30 performance out of a 18 inch barrel..... will shoot .38 specials.

Good luck..............

I'm old school. Another +1 for the 30.06. Every game animal on the planet has been taken with this venerable round.

Yeah 30:06 is good. If recoil sensitive try that Reduced Recoil ammo from Remington. Suppose to make in feel like a .243

Telling ya, my m&p 10 shoots soft and like mentioned, .308 will take care of anything in North America.

A lot of people recommend the 30-06 and I agree its a great round but...I bought a Remington 700 BDL with beautiful wood at Walmart and went to the range and fired 12 rounds off the bench to sight it in and my shoulder was sore the next day! I was wearing a t-shirt and the gun had a hard plastic buttplate but I like to put a lot of rounds through my guns not just fire a few shots per year when hunting so I'm looking at getting a 6.5 Creedmor. It hits harder at a 1000 yards than an ought six and kicks about like a light .243 and if I can afford to go on a hunt after something bigger than deer I can afford a gun specifically for that.

Often it's more bullet choice than caliber and .30 caliber bullets are produced in an amazing variety of designs. I reload in a range of 1700 to 3000 fps in bullet weights from 110 to 175 grains in FMJ, lead cast, soft point, hollow point and others. If I hunted now I would have a wide choice of supreme bullets. Since I don't hunt, I could use a smaller caliber just as well, but you can't beat the versatility of .30 caliber. 30-06 or .308 would be a good choice. Aside from the 5.56 NATO I would also choose 6mm to .270. If I decide to hunt again 6mm is the minimum caliber here for deer.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Savage also makes many fine rifles today. Which one you choose depends on what you most intend to use it for. They have everything from light weight hunting models to varmint rifles that will compete with anything made for accuracy. They are reasonably priced also.

There are many good rifles on the market. I'd go with a 30.06 for general use because there are lots of different loads for that caliber from brown bear type loads all the way down to squirrel gun type loads. You can find ammo almost anywhere that sells ammo although some of the more radical designs (like squirrel loads) aren't readily available. You can order them on the internet though.

I think to give a good answer to your question we need to know what you plan on using it for ? A 30-06 is a great round, but if you are only going to be paper punching and maybe small varmint hunting it's more gun than you need. A .223 or a .204 is a great small varmint gun, but if you're hunting elk or moose it's underpowered for that use.

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1st smiles,lies.Last,gunfire.

I am an older shooter and have a number of rifles and have hunted a fair bit. If I had it all to do over, I would get a stainless Ruger Gunsight Scout in .308. I would set the gun up to suit me and get plenty of ammo, magazines and accessories. I would then quit reading gun magazines and use that time to practice.