Favorite Rifle?...and Why!

[soco11]

Hey guys,
Another thread got me thinking--what is your favorite hunting rifle (not varmints but deer, etc.) ...and more importantly, why? What is it specifically about that rifle that really turns you on? I am looking for a new rifle and thought I might just go with the best argued case and buy one of whatever it is!

[Ryan_Th3_K1d]

I use a Tikka T3 in .300 WSM. The simple answer as to why, is cause it works and doesn't give me any trouble. And it's also surprisingly accurate.

[rammit]

my friends dad has a 1950s 30-06 with a vintage leupold on, probably my favorite rifle, its beat to hell, but has an amazing trophy room attached to its history, 2 moose in 2 different states, many elk deer and antelope, awesome to take that gun out, makes me feel lucky all the time.

[buffalobo]

Savage 110 in 30-06, grey laminate stock. Accurate, powerful, cheap and extra weight of laminated stock actually helps dampen felt recoil(similar to 243).

[BigBear]

Well, I don't have a lot of firearms and I don't hunt with it but I would say my bolt .308. As far as why... because it is MINE. The first gun I've really put together, and did things to by myself. Still not done.. but it's a $$ thing. I don't seem to be able to get the amazing fleas butthole groups at 40K miles like everyone else does, but I think I didn't pretty darn well with it for my first "real" rifle that is MINE.

[GhostRider]

well I do have a number of rifles, and have shot alot more, didnt ever think that I had a favorite but after considering it for a while, I find myself reaching for my savage 270 the most. It has never let me down. I think it is the cal the most. Although, I did just get a 300 whisper on a Remington 700 platform a couple months ago and it is quickly going to the top of the list.

[michael_aos]

I've been really happy with my Remington 700 SPS Stainless in 270 WSM.
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[DSB OUTDOORS]

So many TOY'S not really a fave. Rifle, but I would ask the more popular ?? Is what caliber?? I personly like the 30-06 Just because I like a 150 gr bullet for deer, 180 gr for Elk! 135 - 140 gr for antilope. BUT you need good Optics first and a good rifle second!! You can take a ok rifle with over the counter ammo and with the right scopt tile it in and be one hell of a shooter!! [Beer]

[mx'r]

My most favorite I sold a few years back. It was a sporterized 6.5 Swedish. Most accurate rifle ever, and killed the HELL out of elk. Not sure why the smaller bullet worked so well, but it did.

[brokenscout]

Smooth shooter and drops them every time.And I don't have to chase anything far:)

[mx'r]

Smooth shooter and drops them every time.And I don't hae to chase anything far:)

must be nice. I hunted with a .338 for years and never put one down on the first shot. 25 yards to 250. All were well placed, but guess not well enough. None got away though. Took my first bull and cow with that old M77 .338

[Beprepared]

My Dads old 7mm mag he built from a mauser 98. He sporterized in the 60's, old 4x bushnell optic. Not pretty but tough as nail, with 7mm performance, makes me misty-eyed. Dads still around, just no need for that caliber where he lives, so he passed it on.

[brokenscout]

must be nice. I hunted with a .338 for years and never put one down on the first shot. 25 yards to 250. All were well placed, but guess not well enough. None got away though. Took my first bull and cow with that old M77 .338
I mostly shoot coyotes:) And I never said 1 shot I just have a quick follow up shot(or 3):)

[mx'r]

I mostly shoot coyotes:) And I never said 1 shot I just have a quick follow up shot(or 3):)

Wish I understood ballistics and reloading a little more. I still think slowing that round down would be the way to go. 300 grains, 2800fps, = dead on impact.

[brokenscout]

I think your right about slowing it down.I'll look into it. I mostly shoot Hornady Superformance 200 grain.

[TDYRanger]

I have a Ruger Mark 77 .30-06 my wife bought me for Christmas a few years ago. She picked it up used (I love used guns!) Anyway great shooter I've been running Winchester ballistic silver tips (150 grn) I'll tell you this I bought a box of 20 I've used 4 rounds and have 4 dead animals. Also .30-06 is cheap to practice with; which is more important than the scope or the rifle. At the end of the day I just trust that rifle.

And the proof is in the pudding so to speak!

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1204.snc4/155639_10150101723988103_710328102_7303369_8199722 _n.jpg

[battle_sight_zero]

My favorite deer rifle is my SAKO A7 300wsm . Love the round because up to 400 yards I don't have to much drop to worry about. Also the animal goes down with no suffering. My antelope rifle is a FN PBR in 308 with the 24 inch barrel. It is a tack driver. I took a jogging buck at 475 to 500 yards with it last season. The only thing tough about the 308 is getting your drop figured out. Agree with the post refrencing scopes. I have Kahles on the Sako. That scope has helped me harvest 4 times now. I used a sightron 6x24x42 mildot on the FN. The sightron is a good scope as well.

[michael_aos]

I went with the 270 WSM (140gr Nosler Accubond (G1 BC .496) @ ~3250fps) because it shoots flat and I'm not particularly good at estimating distance in the field.

Also not a lot of recoil, and plenty of energy.

[ThunderSquirrel]

My Favorite Elk rifle is an old school Ruger 77 Round Top in 30-06 that was given to me by my grand dad on my 12th Birthday. No scope on it, just the original Ruger Irons with the flip up rear. It's a tack driver too. Especially with 180gr. Hornady SST ammo.

In addition to its tried and true reliability and accuracy, I think it being my favorite has alot to do with it being the same rifle my grand dad dropped so much game with.

[Colorado Luckydog]

My favorite rifle of all time was my Remington 700 300 ultra mag. I can't believe I sold it.

I just bought a new Remington 700 XCR 300 ultra mag. It is at the gunsmith. They are cutting 2 inches off the barrel and putting a Holland muzzle brake on it. They are also floating the barrel and pillar bedding the action. Last but not least, they are doing a trigger job to 3lbs. When it comes home, I have a new Leupold VX-3 4.5x14x50 scope to top it off with. It should be a great shooter. I hope this will be my new favorite rifle of all time!!

[2008f450]

My favorite is my Remington 700 in .300WM. Can go light weight bullet for smaller game and step up to the 180-200 stuff for the big critters. When I do my part they dont go far.

[Troublco]

My favorite hunting rifle is my Remington 700 BDL in .308. It was given to me by my cousin's wife after he passed following a motorcycle accident. It's special because he and I were closer than either of us were to our siblings; and I have used it almost exclusively since then to take antelope, deer, and elk. When I got it, it had a Springfield Armory 6x40 scope with the rangefinding reticle for 7.62. It just so happens that my favorite hunting load (using a Sierra 165gr. Game King hollow point) works perfectly with the reticle; so it's stayed put. I've had a sako-style extractor put on it, but otherwise it is as it was. I can only recall two instances that a second shot was necessary, and on both the second shot was it. I know exactly what that gun will do, every time. I've almost restocked it now a couple times, but I haven't quite been able to do it yet. Maybe one of these days.

[aceinbrighton]

my favorite is the savage with the accutrigger. i own 2 one in 17 and the other in 30.06. The accutrigger is the best. however its not for everyone you will either love it or hate it. There seems to be no middle ground on this subject.

[K31Fan]

Well, it all depends. Sometimes I like using my single shot breach loader 10/22. But most of the time I hunt with my Glock 26! More of the thrill of the chase type of thing. Ya' know, I see the deer, deer sees me, high noon type of stand-off for about three seconds. Then my be-speckled friend bolts into the brush with me chasing clumsily after him, and firing willy nilly into the bushes!

[Larry Ashcraft]

It's a toss up between two 1903 Springfields.

The first, my dad bought in 1946 for $12, a Rock Island double heat treat rifle. He sporterized it in the 1950s with shortened and turned-down barrel and a Herters birdseye maple stock. He gave it to me about 40 years ago. I replaced the barrel a few years ago with a medium contour 26" stainless barrel blank in .277 caliber (the blank came from a shop in Raton, I don't remember the name), and had it chambered to 270 Ackley Improved. It's a fine shooter, but way too heavy to carry very far.

The second, I built in the early eighties. (Don't get your panties in a twist, I used a new, never-barreled action I got from Sarco for $100.) It has a French walnut stock, with euro style comb and schnabel fore-end, a Douglas air-gauged barrel in light sporter contour, and is chambered in 25-06. The trigger is a stock military one, but I shoot it so well I figure why mess with success. I've killed several pronghorn and a bunch of coyotes with it.

[theGinsue]

I use a Ruger M77 MkII - Left-handed bolt .30-06.

It's blued with a wood stock, and I'd really prefer stainless with a synthetic stock due to the weather elements I typically encounter during hunting season, but as a lefty, my options are limited.

Why do I like the gun I use?

First off, because it is a left-handed bolt versus having to adjust to using a right-handed gun.

Secondly, I like that the M77 allows my to put 1 rnd in the chamger and 4 in the (non-detachable) magazine. Some rifles don't allow this. I wish there was a mod option for this rifle that would accept detachable magazines so I could have a few loaded up and ready instead of carrying around ammo in the factory or plastic aftermarket boxes which I then need to load - possibly when time really matters.

Lastly, I perfer the .30-06 cartridge because it is probably the most versatile cartridge for hunting a variety of big game in North America. For elk and deer, the 180gr round is sufficient at dropping the animal quickly - with a well placed shot. While there are many different cartridges out there, some might be too big for one type of game, while another would be too small for other types of animals. With the .30-06 I can hunt antelope (pronghorn), black bear, mule deer, moose, and elk - all with the same gun (also bighorn sheep, mtn goats, mtn lions, bison, etc. etc.).

[spittoon]

why it has killed more elk and deer than i can count . it was first rifle i bought out of the services from my buddys uncle. he original bought it shot a 5 point bull and did not like the meat [Help]what was he thinking . my buddy called it the 30 ot suck [ROFL1] and he had a 300 bar.witch can not even come close [NoEvil]and my freezer is full[Ban2]thank the sweet 30-06 and the grace of god[Beer]

[970TJ]

For elk I use my trusty Ruger M77 in .300 WM. I like the .300 because of the load data thats out there; it can be loaded for most any of the larger game. But my favorite rifles are my older Remingtons and Rugers. My dad handed down a few Remington 600's and 660's in in .222, .308, and .243, all with less than 200 rnds down the pipe. He also just gave me his Ruger M77 flat bolt in .220 swift. He bought them all new in the late 60's and early 70's and all have vintage Leuplod glass on them. God love the old man!

[gcrookston]

Hard for me to pick a favorite. I culled all the non-performers a few years ago.

The one I've hauled around most and shot the least is this one:

Pre-64 Model 70 in .264 WM.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj19/gcrookston/Picture026.jpg

[raymill]

Savage 110 .270 w/ accutrigger very accurate and Jeff Cooper approved.

[jreifsch80]

my 8x57 mauser it's a tack driver and i've always loved 8mm, also my nikon scope on it makes it a nice reliable hunting rifle

[soco11]

Interesting: a quick read seems to evidence that the .270, 30-06 and (here was a surprise to me) the .300 calibers are the favorites, at least of those who have spoken up.

[cebeu]

I have not "hunted" since the early 90's, not into it. That said; I do have a hunting rifle in the arsenal, a Rem 870 BDL in 30.06 for two reasons, 1) Handed-over from my father - sentimental and 2) I do like occasionally blasting 30.06 lead down-range, I like the kick-factor. I don't shoot it much these days but I try to maintain some skill/experience with it...ya' never know.

Besides...damn...a 30.06 in the safe is...well..."a requirement" if you are over 40...right? [LOL]

[Wolfhound]

Pre '64 Winchester 88 in .243 with a Lyman 6x scope. My dad bought it new and when he told me he was going to trade it in for a Ruger in 22-250 I said "like hell" and bought it off him. It's vaporized more varmits and taken more deer/antelope than any other rifle I've owned. It now sits in my gun safe waiting another generation of 'hounds to use it.

Wolfhound

[Mtn.man]

Have several, depends on the game.
Sako 30.06 Leupold scope Elk, Moose
Remington 270 Trijicon scope Antilope, Deer
Custom made 35 Whelen on mauser action Redfield scope Bear or T Rex

[Colorado Pete]

For big game, it's a tossup between two sporterized Mauser 98's I built while at the Trinidad Jr. College gunsmithing school back in the '70's. A .270 (recently rebarreled by Kevin Weaver) and a .35 Whelen (recently rechambered to AI by Todd Lockburner). The .270 is light with a dark brown French walnut stock (though the new barrel is a tad heavier than the original), has a very slick bolt, and is easy to carry. The .35 has my original half-round/half octagon barrel (a bit too heavy) and a gorgeous honey-blonde California English walnut stock, and shoots a 225 TSX at 2670 fps into about 1 MOA at 300 yards. Still working up loads for the new .270 barrel though.

[porfiriozg]

I'll be getting a Remington 700 pretty soon but my fav so far is the mosin nagant.

laugh if you want,but it's cheap and with the right scope you can get some distance with an ATI stock recoils not so bad. also it was my first

[MONTROSE1911]

Savage 110 in 30-06, grey laminate stock. Accurate, powerful, cheap and extra weight of laminated stock actually helps dampen felt recoil(similar to 243).

I agree 100%! A few cans of spray paint and you have a super cool cheap Rifle!

[Akyla]

My Ruger Gunsite Scout


.308 so I can take any game I want
removable magazine for quick reloads if I need it
M14 style iron sights
Ability to mount regular scope or rail for scout scope
Adjustable length of pull
Relatively light weight

[Zombie Steve]

Well, if I had to pick a favorite, it would be the old knockaround 700 in .30-06. Not the lightest, fastest, most powerful or best looking anymore, but it does just about everything pretty well.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x214/sbecht/IMG_0502.jpg

[Chaffee2]

A Remington 700 .30-06 has been my favorite rifle for 20 years now. I bought it in Alaska when I was stationed up there and used for black bear and caribou. Down here it has taken lots and lots of deer white tail and mulies both. It has been used in blizzards up in Montana, deep cold in North Dakota and of course in Colorado. It has a Leupold VXII 3x9 on it and I almost always use a handload of 4350 and a Hornady BTSP 150, 165 or as in Alaska I used a 190 grain bullet.

But for the last two years I've used a CZ 550 6.5x55 Swede and I harvested two very nice mulie bucks with it. Both didn't go more than 20 yards. It also wears a Leupold and I use handloads of 4350 and a 140 SP Hornady bullet.

[trout_champ]

I have been using a Savage Model 16 Weather Warrior .300WSM for a while and love it for deer and elk. It shoots nice and flat and fast. The only thing I don’t like about it is ammo cost. I’m looking at maybe getting a .30-06 or maybe a .308 for cheaper ammo. And maybe all black rifle since mine is a stainless steel barrel.

Randy

[josh7328]

Its a toss up for me. One is my 6.8SPC ar-15, the other is an excellent condition mosin nagant with a 3-9x scope. Really wish I hadnt sold it.

[sscoyote]

Here's my favorite big game gun. 7-270 WSM XP-100/7 twist Pac-Nor barrel that shoots the old 200 gr. Wildcat bullet--

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/sscoyote1/025_25.jpghttp://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/sscoyote1/Scan0001_0001.jpgOlder HS-Precision stock

[Colorado Pete]

Hey Steve, long time no hear from you on Predator Masters! Good to see you're still kicking!

[sscoyote]

U 2 Pete--still here.

[alxone]

no explanation needed m1 garand says it all

[snave58]

270 Weatherby fluted stainless synthetic stock. great gun to shoot. light weight and very accurate. have killed Zebra to Elk and all in between. sold it this year for some thing different, and miss it every day.