Do all rifle???

I've shot almost every cartridge listed so far and the 300 WM was my first rifle. It was fine, but overkill IMO for things like antelope or anything smaller. I've since settled on a 280 improved. Its very hard to beat from lighter bullets to heavies, load it up or down. I can duplicated a 7-08, or a 7mag if I wanted to. I usually use a Barnes TSX 175gr for larger game. I've got several wildcats based on 280 and 06 cases and they all shoot very well.

While I use my 280 quite a bit, I have several rifles for different purposes. I agree with the above statement. Get more than one.

NorthernHunter67 said:

Agreed or the wsm versions of either.

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I have a 300 WSM on a custom short action. If I had to do it all over it would be at least on a medium or long action so I could get the full benefits of a looooong projectile. Just my opinion.

300wm for me

Bucklowery said:

This is my next build a do all rifle. Deer hunting in the tree stand but capable of Longrange hunting as well. I have settled on the 300 wsm. Caliber is very accurate
Easy to carry but comfortable to got prone at range and not too heavy. Medium weight hunter rifle

Thanks

Buck

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You took the words out of my mouth....or off my keyboard! Nailed it.

GoatHerder said:

If you had to choose one rifle to hunt everything from antelope to elk, what would it be? This rifle must use components that are readily available. It must also be a caliber that is inherently accurate. No need to waste 600 rounds of 1000 round barrel life doing load development. I want to build a rifle but can't decide what to build.

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Well I'm gonna be another 7mm mag vote. For an affordable tack driver right off the rack look for a Browning A-Bolt ll 7mag with the BOSS then very accurately utilize the entire spectrum of bullet weights in that cal. My brother got the Win Version, me- Browning. He wouldn't trade his for anything, I loved mine, used it tons & wish I still had it.

7mm RM or 28 Nosler all day long, and even night time too!

They continue to and have been hammering deer and elk for awhile now from close to very far. Hard to find a more versatile round ....Obviously IMHO.
But full disclosure i am a 7mm guy

I made the same decision 40+ years ago and decided a 7MM Rem Mag was the best "do it all" rifle cartridge for everything up through and including elk. It was the best choice for a 1-rifle battery. I ordered a first generation Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker almost 2 years before they finally shipped.

It didn't take me too many years to determine that my one rifle, while capable of taking the game I was chasing, was almost never the optimum cartridge for what I was hunting. The 7 mag easily killed deer — and shredded any meat it got near. I got tired of the damage to meat & picked up a used .25-06 for use on deer. The 7 mag killed every elk I shot with it — eventually. Not satisfied with "eventually", I picked up more "potent" rifles (all used) for the bigger game, a .300 Weatherby Alaskan, a Sako 85 stainless in .375 H&H, and a .338/.378 Weatherby Accumark. (Every elk I've shot with the .338/.378 tumbled the instant I pulled the trigger — there was no "eventually".)

I recommend you plan for at least a 2-rifle battery if you are going to hunt everything from antelope to elk. A .25-06, 6.5 CM, or even a .270 WSM (if ranges are long) for the smaller animals, and a .300 or .338 mag of your choice for the larger animals would give you a "near ideal" rifle for everything you plan to hunt.

" the .30-06 was never a mistake"

MPNCC said:

First I give my serious answer, then I agree about how many times have we had this same argument and now I'm closing with this.
Grow some balls and have more than one rifle. Man was not made to have only one rifle. Instead of one for all things, try 2 for each individual animal that you may shoot one day.

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An interesting response. There are several reasons for having one "do it all" rifle/cartridge! Depending upon where and when you hunt, there could be game offered ranging from 125 or so pounds on the hoof to above 1000 pounds. Using your philosophy, some hunters would "carry" 3 or more rifles when in the field! Unless you have multiple gun bearers....that's not a real practical answer to the OP's question!

Also, many that come to this site are newbee's wanting to get opinions from others, that are possibly more versed on the subject! To those, we should offer a respectful answer.....even if it may not follow your philosophies! memtb

7mm STW or a 300 WSM both in a ultra light Rifles Inc or similar custom build.

270 Win may seem less than modern and exotic, proven accurate, flat shooting, variety of easy to find ammo, low recoil and classic....large bears require a specialty caliber and gun.

GoatHerder said:

If you had to choose one rifle to hunt everything from antelope to elk, what would it be? This rifle must use components that are readily available. It must also be a caliber that is inherently accurate. No need to waste 600 rounds of 1000 round barrel life doing load development. I want to build a rifle but can't decide what to build.

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In 1993 it was 338win mag
200+ animals later in 2020
300prc-300sherman

Does EVERYTHING well

Honorable mention to 28 nosler

And

30-06

I'm just interested in an example of an inherently un-accurate caliber.

My suggestions for a caliber with COTS ammo is 7mm RM, and for nearly a reload only caliber is .308 Norma Mag.

I would agree with almost every post made here. It really boils down to you. At the 50,000 ft view you can see a polarity in the replies. All are correct. Some choose the most comfortable rifle to shoot and do so accurately. Some choose what is the most effective cartridge they are capable of handling. If a single rifle is truly your goal my opinion would be to choose the rifle that most effectively kills the absolute largest game animal you intend to hunt and at the absolute maximum distance you intend to shoot. You owe it to that animal to execute a clean ethical kill. That very rifle will also take any smaller game you intend to hunt although it might be overkill. But to limit yourself to one rifle. I believe you have to go big to make certain you cover every animal you want to hunt. For me that would be a 30 cal. Probably 300 wsm. But I believe the 7 mm's in magnum would be fine also. Best of luck with it.