My usual response would be a Garand, any make as long as condition was good. However with the limitations of deer sized game and I already have a 22 I'd probably pick a non Chinese SKS. Easier to carry than the Garand, enough power for deer at woods ranges and reliable as many bolt actions.
If you could only afford one centerfire rifle.....
- Thread starter G-Mac
- Start date
cass
Member
Since i only hunt in the Republic of TEXAS, I'd be content with the 30-30. I can reload for whatever is available.
Sir, IMHO you can't go too far wrong with a good bolt gun in .30-'06. I rather like the old '03-A3--good sights, good trigger, controlled feed, parts readily available, it can be quickly reloaded with stripper clips, and the bolt can be easily stripped and cleaned in the field.
Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.
Ron H.
silentflyer
Member
Another vote for a bolt action 30-06, shoots anything form 110 to 250 grain bullets with great accuracy...NEVER had a deer get more than 10' after a shot.
quneur
Member
Hard to say. If out west where black tail & elk then '06. If antelope is an option then 270. East would probably be shotgun + slugs (non-centerfire but viable).
rcnixon
Member
My first choice would be a Winchester Model 70 stainless classic in .30-06 with a 2.5/3 to 9/10 variable scope and backup iron sights. My second choice would be the ubiquitous Remington 700, again in .30-06 with the same sight options. Either is a good rifle and will do the job accurately on any North Amrican game animal at ethical ranges; I'm just partial to Winchesters.
Russ
Russ
OIF2
Member
This would work fine; Winchester M70 in .30-06. Scope is a nice, clear Lyman in 4X. What else do you need?
Bob
Bob
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Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
SKS. Ammo is cheap, powerful enough for most small & medium game. The rifle is simple & reliable and can be accurate enough.
enfield
US Veteran
.308 or 30-06 scoped bolt gun.
Curiously, I don't own one. But I do own some of the others mentioned.
Curiously, I don't own one. But I do own some of the others mentioned.
I've only got one centerfire rifle. A Marlin 336W, in 30/30.
It'll do.
It'll do.
Only one centerfire rifle? Once I only owned a single centerfire rifle... a 1903-A3 w/ two-groove barrel. It was of course in GI configuration. So... if I could only own a single centerfire rifle, I'd take my Remington 1903-A3 and have it drilled and tapped. I beg or buy a 03-A4 bolt and fit a nice Leupold scope. Given that the rifle is in a nice USGI "C" stock, I'd then have a setup that would allow me to enjoy shooting one of the best military surplus bolt action rifles ever made as well as shooting a caliber that earned well it's reputaiton as the "Queen of the battlefield!" Second choice would be to put a nice extended-eye relief scope on my K-98 Mauser. The result would be very close to the sort of setup used by the German army in WWII. With some nice 7.92mm ball and a few boxes of some of the European loaded hunting ammo... I'd be set for just about anything in North America. And... either rifle could be fired with handloaded cast lead bullets to be very effective for small game, target practice, etc.
The Highlander
Member
Ruger Scout Rifle or Steyr's original Jeff Cooper Scout.
I really love my old 03A3, as long as it's at the range or in my safe. I'm not carrying that heavy sucker anywhere. I carried a Garand one time, deer hunting, felt like it weighed 50 pounds by the time I got back to the truck. I love my old 99 featherweight in .308, too, but the winner is my Winchester 70 Featherweight Classic in .30'06 with a quality 3X9 scope. Tough, accurate, fairly simple, and good looking too.
folkenheath
Member
That's what I was going to say. .30-06 is very versatile and readily available. I would probably select a Reminton 700, but any good solid American bolt action would do.
teesur
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Model 70 - .270 Win.
teesur.
teesur.
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