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

[Rangerpat]

I asked myself the same question about 30+ plus years ago....
I bought a Remington 700BDL in .30-06 and put a Leupold 3.5x10x40mm scope on it. Still love to hunt with it today as the first day I bought it.

 

[Goldstar225]

Bolt action .308 with a 2-7 scope. Truth be told I would be good to go with almost any bottleneck centerfire from .24 - .30 caliber.

 

[hiram2005]

Marlin 336 leveraction in 30-30. And I wouldn't turn away one in 35 Rem.

 

[rojodiablo]

It's gotta be the 30-06. Hands down. From rabbit (Yes, I have! Headshots) to an elk or bear, it has it all covered.

 

[Cyrano]

Pe '64 Model 70. Caliber 30-06, but 308, 270, 280 Remington (or whatever they're calling it now), even 7X57 or 6.5X55(I'm loose).

Ammo supply isn't a problem: you'll either solve your problem or be dead in 4 or 5 rounds, and then, if needed, you can replenish your ammo supply

 

[LouisianaJoe]

This one. It is a CMP Special Grade. The receiver, barrel, and trigger are all Springfield 1955. I refinished the stock and rubbed several coats of tung oil into it.

 

[Mike1957]

 

[feralmerril]

There is no one best rifle or caliber. There are scores that will do the same job. It`s like dad told me, if everyone wanted the same woman the world would be in big trouble. Dead`s dead. Most rifles will kill everything. I own around 15 rifles. I only might need one. They are in 7x57, 30-30, 308, 30-06, 30-40, 300 H&H, .357 and .44 mag.
I have all the actions, bolt, lever, pump and semi auto. Scopes, peeps and open. If I had to I belive I could live with any one of em.
I like a "sweet heart" rifle. To me, thats a fairly light , low recoil, flat shooting rifle. While I have around a half dozzen with fine scopes, I really have come to respect peep sights. I hate fiberglass, stainless steel, camaflog paint, built in tripods and such. I like fine wood.
The most desireable asset in guns or anything else is reliability. Haveing a caliber that you can find ammo for is nice.
I own several very old winchester 70s. A browning safari. A browning auto in 30-06. A ruger 77 in 7x57. Remington pump in 30-06 with a peep.
A armfull of levers. While I have many more powerfull, accurate, exspendsive, collectables etc, you know what my first choice is?
I bought this winchester 94 30-30 when I was I think, 16 in 1957. It was my 1st centerfire. Paid about $60s for it new. Soon added a foolproof and a pad for LOP as I was a big kid. I have never had to change the zero in 55 years! I shot more deer with it than all the rest of my guns put together. (Thats not a fair statement as I havent deer hunted in the last 15 years or so, but still bought new rifles.)
I think my 1st choice as a kid was a good one.

 

[kraigwy]

I shoot competition more then I hunt. I really enjoy the CMP GSM vintage military games.

So, I'd have to go with my 1903a3.

Plus its more then capable of any hunting I do, even with the iron sights.

 

[Joe in SC]

The rifle I own that comes closest to what you are asking is a Remington 700 Classic in 6.5X55 Swede. A great caliber that is capable of taking game much larger than one would imagine and without the recoil of the bigger 30's which I also have in Rem 700.

It is a super accurate round that has been used for sniping, target, war and hunting game up to and including moose. Ammo is easily found, components for re-loading are abundant and several factories offer bolt guns in the caliber. When fired in modern actions like the 70 and 700 the round can be loaded to higher pressure levels that put a good bit more speed on the bullet and flaten the trajectory.

 

[Hofstet]

My Tikka T3 Stainless Lite in .270 WSM fitted with a Swarovski scope.

 

[gizamo]

A Ruger All Weather rifle in .44 mag. With both iron sights and scope mount. That way, you can carry a companion revolver. The All Weather gun makes the most sense if exposure to the elements plays a role.

 

[MountainSmith]

I am actually in this situation right now, only owning one centerfire rifle, a Marlin 1894 in .44 mag. I live in the east, so it should handle anything I see. Plus, as someone pointed out earlier, it isn't too bad of a self defense gun either.

 

[steamloco76]

I'll play............assuming I already have a rifle in .22 LR, then my one centerfire rifle for all other chores would be a Bolt-Action 30.06.

It's large enough to handle virtually any big game. Shoots flat enough to reach out and touch game at long distance and the ammo is readily available in many different weights.

Bolt-action because it would have be capable of quick follow-up shots and they are accurate and reliable. You have your pick of just about any manufacturer as almost all of them offer a rifle in 30.06, so find what you like in the price range you can afford.

Matching a handgun caliber is not a priority, IMO.

OK that's my .02's worth.

Don

Don took the words right from my keyboard. The grand, old .30-06 is the 'Can Do!' rifle. Mine is a sporterized WWI M1917 Enfield, though I've owned a couple other ought sixes over the years. Every LGS in my area has good examples from several manufacturers for $200 to $900 in their racks.

 

[gregintenn]

I'm not really fond of these scary "what if" games, but I think this would probably be the last rifle I'd let go. It's a Model 70 Winchester Classic Featherweight chambered in 280 Remington, and topped with a Leupold 2.5x8 Vari-xIII. As for ammo, I think I have enough brass, bullets, powder, and primers to shoot the barrel out of it.

 

[jhvaughan2]

Lever action .44 Magnum. It can take any game, and is handy enough for self defense use.

+1 Two years a go I would have voted for a lever action 30-30. But, down in the southeast, I've found the 44 can just about do everything the 30-30 can. I have never shoot center fire rifle enough to compel me to reload them. Switching to hunting with the .44 I am already setup to load for it.

 

[sgms]

Having just one centerfire rifle is a very scary thought, but if I could only have one it would be a 1903 springfield. Strong, reliable, accurate, excellent at both mid and long ranges, and good for about all north american critters.

 

[AirForceShooter]

Bolt action .30-06.

+1


AFS

 

[Dueeast]

I'll add.........My Remington 700 BDL, a proven rifle. In 30-06, you can load it to shoot anything from woodchucks to moose and can get ammo anywhere. And put a nice Luepold 3x9 scope on it.

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

1903-A3, '06.....no doubt.

Cheers;
Lefty