EMERGENCY!!! Returning to the dream of one hunting rifle…

[Hammsolo]

First, I am diagnosed with all sorts of mental health shiz. One of them is OCD. I crave that “just right feeling.” Second, I’ve got the itch for the infamous “all-around North American Big Game Rifle.”

My tendency is to have a “perfect” rifle for each species, but I’m looking to simplify and relax. I am overly practical.

I live in Washington, and primarily hunt “western style.” I hike a ton, but am not an ounces prince. I hunt Montana every year in some way shape or form. I currently use my 22-250 for sub-pronghorn; 6.5 for deer, and 300 wm for elk.

I will be keeping the 250, because I love it and keep pelts. However, I want to pass my 6.5 along to a family member and probably sell the 300 to move to a middle ground.

I am already hard of hearing, and am going to buy my first suppressor.

My budget is ~3k for the rifle and can combo.

What are your exact rifle, can, cartridge combos? I’ll hold my current idea for now to not sway ideas.

P.S. It should be able to go to Alaska and also shoot my first NRL Skills competition third year.

 

[Addicting]

I just sent P_Ham a Rem 700 SA and a Lilja 3 groove sporter contour barrel, and trigger tech trigger. It will sit in a Mcmillian Hunter edge stock. It is going to be chambered in 300 WSM, will be cut to 20”, and wear a Thunder Beast 5” can.

That is what I have decided to be my new all around anything rifle.

 

[TN2shot07]

I’m also waiting on a barrel with p_ham. I elected to go with the good old 270 win, it turned 100 this year and outside of the big bears there’s nothing I would hesitate to use it on here with a good bullet. Blue printed 700, 22 inch magnum sporter, threaded just in case and it will sit in an ag composite sportsman. Still sorting out the glass…

 

[Fire_9]

You handloading or buying factory?

 

[noharleyyet]

Awaiting a Seekins PH3 M3 Element 7PRC...VX6HD Gen 2 3x18x44 from @schmalts twiddling it's thumbs in the safe. The 7 Mashburn has served me well...we'll see if the hoopla that handling a Gunwerks caused last January is justified.

 

[Gulf of America]

I vote 280 Ackley. I don't have one, but I have the itch real bad. Factory options are limited, but I'd go Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed SPR for your budget with a VX-5 3-15x44. And a Diligent Defense Enticer S-Ti. That's the one part of the equation that I actually currently have. I think it's great value for the weight/size/performance. Also really interested in the Resilient Jolene S, but don't have personal experience to back it up.

 

[nrpate05]

If I were to use just one rifle it would likely be a .270. As much as I think I need to kill something a long ways off my average shot is probably ~150 yards. With a good bullet, it'll be fine on elk and can't really be beat for mule deer and antelope.

 

[brymoore]

I’ll tell you what I have but I don’t think it’s the perfect rifle. The action is a little wonky, especially when I compare it to my Model 70. However, the rifle is a killer and always performs. I’ve looked at upgrading a few times but can’t justify the cost for a minimal increase in performance.

I have a Kimber Montana 84L. 24” barrel with Thunderbeast 7” suppressor. 280ai. It is a very light rifle, sub 6 pounds before the suppressor and scope.

If I were to replace it, I’d stay in a 7mm calibers and I like long barrels for velocity. In my review of the 7mm calibers, I haven’t found a reason to leave 280ai.

 

[Gulf of America]

I’ll tell you what I have but I don’t think it’s the perfect rifle. The action is a little wonky, especially when I compare it to my Model 70. However, the rifle is a killer and always performs. I’ve looked at upgrading a few times but can’t justify the cost for a minimal increase in performance.

I have a Kimber Montana 84L. 24” barrel with Thunderbeast 7” suppressor. 280ai. It is a very light rifle, sub 6 pounds before the suppressor and scope.

If I were to replace it, I’d stay in a 7mm calibers and I like long barrels for velocity. In my review of the 7mm calibers, I haven’t found a reason to leave 280ai.

 

[TheTone]

7 prc in a closeout seekins ph2 if you can find one would work for anything I can think of

 

[Fire_9]

I find myself gravitating back towards more traditional cartridges. The top ones on my list would be .308, 30-06, .284 win, or 280 AI. If you can't kill everything proficiently with any of those, you have other problems

 

[chevyman181]

I was always a 7mag guy until I got a 280ai. The AI has been my primary for 10 plus years now. It's built on a savage action, proof barrel, and mdt hunt 26 folder. If I had it to do over again I might get a different chassis but the hunt 26 is not bad... I just want one that folds over the bolt vrs opposite the bolt.

I sometimes think about building a 7-08ai or maybe a 6.5cm but idk... I've killed elk with the 6.5 but I go back and forth. I have a 7prc that has about 120 rds through it and it shoots nice but it's sat in the safe the last 2 seasons and probably will for bear season as well... For the right money it might take a walk.

 

[longbow51]

Have p_ham rebarrel your 300 WinMag in a faster twist for copper, suppress it. Done. Way less than $3K.

 

[jimh406]

Buy a 6.8 Western.

 

[Sask hunter]

I have 3 big game rifles only. A 7mm-08 I haven’t used in years, 300 win mag for deer and 338 win mag for moose elk bear. I could easily cut it down to one rifle. Probably stick with 300 mag. Im
Lucky mine shoots my fast 165 had loads and 180 factories in the same spot. So I use the 165 for deer and if I want to use it for bigger stuff I shoot the 180’s. Now we won’t even talk about my obsession with varmint guns lol. Couple 22’s, 22 mag, 17hmr, 22x250x2 and next gun I want is a 17 hornet

 

[Sheltowee]

My recommendation: Tikka T3X Roughtech or similar with a Cerakoted barrel in .30-06 or .300 WSM, or if you want to get real funky, rebarreled to .338-06 or 35 Whelen. Stick a Swaro Z5 or a Trijicon TenMile on top. Go forth and prosper.

 

[WapitiBob]

If you’re going to shoot nrl I’d stick with the 6.5 prc.

 

[VMHunter]

This:

TWISTED RIVAL FP .280 Ai (67) - Fierce Firearms | Long-range rifles and high-performance firearms

ZEISS V4 6-24X50 MOA TURRET 100 YARD ZERO BASIC SHIPPING BOX

fiercearms.com

 

[Southern Elk]

I hunted most of my life with only one rifle. A Browning Stainless A Bolt 7mm mag that my dad gave me when I was 12. It wasn’t until fairly recently that I bought some other rifles. I’m in the minority because I don’t care for the latest and greatest calibers. I would stick to some of tried and true calibers. A stainless tikka in 7mm mag or 30-06 would be my rifle if I could only have one.

 

[2rocky]

I'm going to be the A-Hole here....
Perfection is highly overrated. I'm a one rifle guy shooting the wood stocked production rifle manufactured in the 1980's. I bought it used 30 plus years ago as a 16 year old . I've seldom gone to a Public range. Obsess about your time in the field pursuing game in the same manner you want to mentally self abuse yourself over miniscule differences in caliber, trajectory and velocity.

Nobody cares if you shoot a 1/2" group or a 1" group at 100 yards off a bench. Show me the coyotes you killed this winter or the pile of ground squirrels you applied that accuracy to. Spend your money to apply for hunts or save up for unpaid time off from work. A lot of what people call OCD is pursuing other people's approval. Put that effort into improving your abilities in the field and it will pay off in much more rewarding fashion.