If you could only afford one centerfire rifle.....

[Arik]

If the rifle had to take deer size game, be virtually indestructible, could be used for SHTF, and cheap ammo!? I vote AK47/74. The 7.62 is about $0.25 per round the 5.45 is $0.15 per round.

 

[mkk41]

If it really does come down to affordability , this is a no-brainer. A carbine-length Mosin-Nagant and all the ammo ya can afford. Rifles are around $100 and ya can buy a thousand rounds for another hundred. Plenty powerful and accurate enough for hunting and it's most certainly proven rugged enough for combat.

 

[mball]

Barring a zombie invasion and if I could have access to my reloader I would stay with my Marlin 45-70's. You can cast and load bullets for any animal on the planet and a 22 and/or shotgun would take care of small stuff.

 

[Sebago Son]

Good Logic from Mkk41 and mball...

 

[Arik]

I like Mballs's idea as well. Also MR makes the BFR handgun in 45-70 so ammo could be split between rifle and handgun. Not a very practical handgun but still....

 

[LazyKB]

It is hard to vote against a bolt action 30-06. but the one I would choose would be a .280 Rem. in a 700 Remington of some type. I have killed a truck load with this caliber. All of my center fires are Remington 700s.

 

[gregintenn]

I hate these scary threads!!!Just one rifle? Oh the horror!!!

 

[OLDFED]

At 70, my biggest concern would be self defense and the occasional deer if any are left after the Big SHTF. I have a number of CFs, but would probably go with a Marlin .44 or its sister the .357. I have revolvers in those and the ammo should be readily available.

 

[jlrhiner]

I'm so good, any rifle will do.

 

[redlevel]

Marlin 1894C .357. Pretty versatile. Pretty cheap to shoot if one reloads. Lots and lots of fun.

 

[Lt JL]

I'm gonna go with a synthetic stock M1A. Battle sights and a Loopy of some kind, like a 2.5-10.

 

[Sprefix]

My choice..............

Strictly in the bounds of the question would leave me to answer with my AMD-65 7.62x39. It is short, cheap, VERY reliable, relatively inexpensive to shoot, will take any game(food wise), and is perfect for when/if the SHTF because every interloper trying to kill us will be from foreign soil and using this round. JMO

 

[mtelkhntr]

The odd thing about answering the question is that I'd pick a caliber I've never owned.

I'll agree with most that the obvious answer to the question would be to choose the '06 but I think I'd go with a bolt action 300WM. It uses the same bullets and can be loaded down to emulate the '06. Plus it can be loaded full bore for long distance performance.

Like the '06 it can be used for everything from varmints to the largest of the North America ungulates.

 

[johnsonl]

Any bolt gun with open sights, caliber .24 to .30.

 

[sourdough44]

I could get by with my very 1st centerfire, a Model 70 chambered in 308. I have many others, but I could cover everything I do with a 308.

 

[Jst1mr]

Bolt action for ease of maintenance and reliability - .270, .308, 30-06 = eenie, meeni, minie, mo

 

[Smith357]

Winchester M70 .30-06

 

[mkk41]

OP, - "Also, please keep the purchase price at a level that the average person would be able to afford."

I'm gonna go with a synthetic stock M1A. Battle sights and a Loopy of some kind, like a 2.5-10.

That's about $2000 or better. And 7.62x51 ammo hasn't been cheap in quantity for years.

 

[chud333]

I'll take my Rem. 700 in .300 ultramag. Took it out to
S.Dakota and shot a prairie dog at measured 1058 yards
to get into the Varmint Hunters 1000 yard club. It has enough
energy to stop anything on this continent as well.


chuck

 

[jimmyj]

Springfield Model 1903/1903A3 .30/06.
It don't get any better!