One Gun?

[William W.]

I am 78, and my idea of "leaning out" is to stay with 30-caliber. So, over time, that has led to from several 308's to several 300 Winchester Magnum's, and that has led to a left-over Bell and Carlson stock from one that I self-upgraded to an Accuracy International stock. As part of the upgrade, I self-installed a Jewell trigger and was ****ed to find out that AI at the time did not accommodate them. Before acquiring my mini-mill, I had to jury-rig my drill press with a hardware store bit, that was not a mill-bit, which took me most of a day of careful aggravation that ended-up with a nice.-done professional-looking job. Sooo, after years of unsuccessful gun-show looking for a cheap 300 WM, to fill up the left-over B&C stock, one the 24th of December, a few years ago, when Walmart was still selling firearms, I found a 7mm Remington Magnum in a cheap plastic Remington ADL stock which I transferred to the remaining Remington Bell and Carlson stock that would take a Jewell trigger upgrade. Next year, after my 308 deer rifle took a fall after opening the car door, and not having time to range re-zero between hunting trips, the next week I took my new "shoot my eye out" spare rifle, and called-in and shot a lovely 8-point with the bullet load that I had developed the previous Summer.

 

[DarryH]

I have 9, 30-06 rifles, so I am a fan. I think the .300 Win Mag is an easy step up. I also find the 300 Weatherby not bad as long as you don't go to a super light gun. So Many choices!!!!! If you have much bigger game, I find the .338 hurts me more than the .375 H&H. Might just be the gun choice as I have only shot one
338.

 

[BC Outpost]

Would like to clarify something. I didn't say that I had "one rifle to do everything', no that is not the case at all. I "do" have more than a Cresent wrench in the corral. What I posted was in response to the OP's question and my opinion on "one" go to rifle. I have a number of rifles, built on the same platform, but each one is chambered in a specific cartridge for specific game that I intend to hunt. The toolbox is outfitted quite well.

Alibiiv, I never meant to imply that you were a "one rifle" guy and I'm sure you have far more Crescent wrenches in your tool box. I was only agreeing with points you made. I have my favourite, go to, rifle which happens to be in my case a near 50 year old Sako 338 WM as it fits me well and I can shoot it very well. I could use it for everything I hunt in British Columbia but choose not to, because as you I am fortunate enough to also have a well stocked toolbox that allows me to fine tune my rifle and caliber selection to the hunt I'm going on. 65Jeffery's 30-06 is his baby and as many posters have already said a more than capable chambering for most North American game but I'm on board with the majority and encourage 65Jeffery to venture out of the box and get himself as many smoke poles as he can comfortably afford. Far more rewarding than collecting stamps in my humble opinion.

 

[ARlife4me]

If I could only own or have just 1 choice it will forever be mod70 pre64 264wm.

 

[BC Outpost]

I have 9, 30-06 rifles, so I am a fan. I think the .300 Win Mag is an easy step up. I also find the 300 Weatherby not bad as long as you don't go to a super light gun. So Many choices!!!!! If you have much bigger game, I find the .338 hurts me more than the .375 H&H. Might just be the gun choice as I have only shot one
338.

DarryH I could not agree more on the 338 vs the 375 H&H as far as felt recoil. I am a huge fan of the 338 WM and has been my go to rifle for larger game for years but I just love pulling the trigger on my pre 64 model 70 375 H&H. There is something to be said about those long soft sloping shouldered cases. They just seem to push back into your should rather than kick back into it. To me they are just a pleasure to shoot.

 

[William W.]

I am 78, and my idea of "leaning out" is to stay with 30-caliber. So, over time, that has led to from several 308's to several 300 Winchester Magnum's, and that has led to a left-over Bell and Carlson stock from one that I self-upgraded to an Accuracy International stock. As part of the upgrade, I self-installed a Jewell trigger and was ****ed to find out that AI at the time did not accommodate them. Before acquiring my mini-mill, I had to jury-rig my drill press with a hardware store bit, that was not a mill-bit, which took me most of a day of careful aggravation that ended-up with a nice.-done professional-looking job. Sooo, after years of unsuccessful gun-show looking for a cheap 300 WM, to fill up the left-over B&C stock, one the 24th of December, a few years ago, when Walmart was still selling firearms, I found a 7mm Remington Magnum in a cheap plastic Remington ADL stock which I transferred to the remaining Remington Bell and Carlson stock that would take a Jewell trigger upgrade. Next year, after my 308 deer rifle took a fall after opening the car door, and not having time to range re-zero between hunting trips, the next week I took my new "shoot my eye out" spare rifle, and called-in and shot a lovely 8-point with the bullet load that I had developed the previous Summer.

Like others on this page, I used a 375 H&H to take a bison 6-years ago, and finally after running out of meat, have scheduled a hunt in 2074. This place requires the "behind the ear shot", so I might just use a 300WM or my latest 30 caliber upgrade … one of my new 300 Norma Magnums.

 

[C-130 Dude]

I have 9, 30-06 rifles, so I am a fan. I think the .300 Win Mag is an easy step up. I also find the 300 Weatherby not bad as long as you don't go to a super light gun. So Many choices!!!!! If you have much bigger game, I find the .338 hurts me more than the .375 H&H. Might just be the gun choice as I have only shot one
338.

Ahhh! But that .375 is such a sweety .

 

[Emuckfwa]

I thought one day I'd get back down to a "one gun" but couldn't. My shots on deer are 300 yards and under. So, I'll usually carry a different rifle every week or two. Think I've used 16 different caliber/cartridge on deer over the years. Just enjoy carrying each one of them when I have the chance. But yep a 30-06 would be fine. That used to be the only gun I carried for years. A Remy 742 carbine in 30-06. Did everything I needed. It still sits in the safe a retired beat up veteran of many hunts.

 

[akdad]

Turns out I have a condition in my brain that turns "one gun" into one more gun…..
Doesn't seem like I'm capable of selling the deals just always fall though somehow.
Of course I buy the new one first because I'm definitely going to sell some to help cover it
I thought it was a rare condition till I found this forum.

 

[akdad]

I've always heard you should talk about your problems so I talked to Darryle. That ended in a new action
Then I talked to jwolff that ended up with new stock
So I went and talked to closetohome got a new barrel out of that contact.
So far I'm really enjoying this.Not sure how it helps my problem but I'm stubborn and I'll stay with it!

 

[asd9055]

My wife made the mistake to tell me once "you can't buy another rifle until you get a new safe". As the good husband I am I listened and bought a "64" gun safe. In reality it hold half that in scoped rifles. The other day she happened to see it opened, and she commented, where did all these come from? I said, you don't remember? You told me to get a new safe, I couldn't leave it empty.

 

[memtb]

DarryH I could not agree more on the 338 vs the 375 H&H as far as felt recoil. I am a huge fan of the 338 WM and has been my go to rifle for larger game for years but I just love pulling the trigger on my pre 64 model 70 375 H&H. There is something to be said about those long soft sloping shouldered cases. They just seem to push back into your should rather than kick back into it. To me they are just a pleasure to shoot.

If the rifle weights are the same/similar, the H&H may have a little more "bump". Most H&H's are far too heavy! JMO memtb

 

[Nipper]

Not gonna' happen. Yesterday was Anniv. #56.

Happy belated anniversary!

 

[M1A1ABRAMS]

You mean when the kids move out , you supposed to have more cash in your pocket? Hmmm

I never had kids. And at 54 I still never have enough money for guns working full time job. And was working part time. I have since quit the part time for hunting. lol