Choosing caliber if you're going with one rifle only

I live and hunt in Washington too. I usually use my .30-06 but keep in mind some hunting rifles are as light as 6.5lbs. Mine is, and shooting 180 grainers from a bench all day is not a good time. You are going to want a light rifle for hunting and since you want to do a lot of paper punching too I would compromise. For example a 7mm-08 with popular 140 grain bullets will recoil substantualy less so you will enjoy shooting it from a bench more and it will still have plenty of power for hunting anything in Wa.
 
The great majority of my shooting will be at paper, but I'd like the rifle to be capable of work in the field.
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coupled with:
I do not and probably will not ever reload
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I would venture the least generally expensive ammo with the lightest recoil.

You want to have fun putting holes in paper. One of my favorite pastimes. The last thing IMO that you want is to smack yourself hard (in the shoulder and wallet) each and every time you pull the trigger.

I recently bought a new rifle with basically just these objectives in mind; wanted the best accuracy for a low cost per shot sticking with factory rifle and ammo able to reach out a bit. (I reload, but mainly for my hunting rounds.)

Ended up with a Remington 700 SPS Varmint in .223. (Search if you want to read about that journey.)

While I doubt that I will be using this rifle for much hunting where I live, Alaska, it is very similar to my Remington in .300 H&H that I do hunt moose with. Put basically similar scopes on each, and practice with the .223 translates to the .300 with less cost and happy shoulder! (Easily put 50 rounds through a .223, not much fun with a .300 H&H; not to mention 3 rounds for a dollar versus $3 a round.)

In a nutshell, good luck with the one rifle thing! I told myself years ago that I would stick to having just one safe... finally broke down recently and bought a second one for my "extra" rifles.
 
But my real question is caliber. If you were forced to go with just one rifle in just one caliber for use against game from coyote to elk which caliber would you choose? My research has led me to narrow the list to 3 so far
.308 Win
7mm-08
30-06
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I'm surprised the .270 didn't make your list so my choice would be the 7mm-08. It will kill everything on your hunting list within 300 yards with the least amount of efforts (lightweight, lightest recoil of the three). Factory ammo for the 7mm-08 is more expensive than the others, but if you're planning to use it on occasional hunts, the price difference is minimal. As with any gun, the more you plan to shoot it, the world of reloading will eventually creep into the picture.

Have fun with your search for "the" rifle (I'm guessing there will be other rifles in your collection soon) because you can't go wrong with any of the choices. Let us know what you decide on.
 
Out if your listed choices, the .30-06. Though if you're going to shoot smaller game much more often than elk sized game, maybe the 7mm-08 would be a smarter choice...
But personally I'd go .270.

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My vote would be the 7x08, since you are going to mostly shoot paper the recoil would be lighter then your other 2 choices. You can fire a lighter bullet with the same sectional density, which can penitrate just as deep, without going to a heavier bullet in the 30 calibers to get the same sectional density, so again lighter recoil. Better choice of ligher bullets for varmit hunting that will perform better then the 30 calibers because of there higher sectional density then a same weight 30 caliber bullet. I will take it one step further, in the future you may get into handloading, a very nice hobby and cuts shell cost and lets you have more choices of bullets and loads then factory in any of your calibers. It will kill anything you are hunting in WA, and gives you better performance with lighter bullets then the 30 calibers. My personal choice would be a 270 win, some may say it is on the light side for Elk, but I have killed many Elk with mine, and black bears. As far as rifles, all that you mentioned are fine choices. You will get many "personal opinions" on that too!!!!!!!!! Go what fits you and fells comfortable when in the shooting position, but they all will have close to the same stock dimentions. Heck Kilamor Joe killed over a 1000 elephants with a 7mm and a 6.5mm using solid bullets and a brain shot.
Bob
 
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My favorite hunting rifle is my .270 bolt action. I use it for whitetail and Javalina at ranges of 50 to 400 yards. I also have a 30-06 carbine pump 16" barrel strictly for night hunting wild hogs at 50 yards. My AR-15 (5.56/.223) is not used for hunting.
 
Pick the rifle first.

The three cartridges you mention are a coin flip apart. The .308 and .30-06 are almost ballistic twins. The 7mm08 is just a slightly lighter/smaller .308.

The things that make a good range/target rifle don't necessarily make a good hunting rifle.

Unless you don't have to walk much, a hunting rifle should be relatively light. Most of the weight is saved in shorter and thinner barrels.
Using that type of barrel while target hunting can be frustrating because as a barrel heats up it's shooting characteristics change. A light barrel heats up pretty fast.

Buy a dedicated target rifle and either rebarrel your .270 or find a used hunting rifle that doesn't cost much.
 
Thanks all. Many valuable insights and ideas I hadn't thought of.

I'm meeting up with a buddy this weekend at the range to try out his Rem 700 in 30-06. I've also got access to a Savage Axis XP in 7mm-08. I just have to bring the guy to the range with me. Its a camo model though. I'll have to shut my eyes, although that will affect my marksmanship.

I definitely want this to be a hunting rifle. Not a target rifle. BUT, given that I'm not a hunter, it'll probably punch more paper than anything else. I just want a hunting rifle to have one.
 
If it's truly a "one rifle" situation, I agree with those that say to pick the rifle first, in a chambering that sends a bullet between .26 and .30 at least 2600 fps. Put a low-to-medium powered scope on it (1.5-5x, 2-7x, 3-9x, or fixed 2.5x or 4x), and make sure you think it's attractive (whatever that means to you).

Personally, I'd get a Winchester M70 Supergrade or Featherweight in a "boring" caliber: any non-magnum that's been mentioned in this thread. I'd get the Featherweight in .270 (maybe 7mm-08), or the Supergrade in .30-06, because everything's a compromise, and they're classics.
 
I live and hunt in WA and have both a 300 WSM and a 7-08. I'd sell the 300 before I'd sell the 7-08.
If you reload, the 7-08 or .308 are great choices....if not, the 30-06 offers the best variety of loadings.
 
If I could only have one rifle for those purposes it would be a left-handed, bolt-action, .30-06. Since I have several rifles ranging from .223 to .300 Win Mag, none of them are a .30-06, but my next new bolt action rifle will be a .30-06 (probably, maybe).
 
of the ones you listed the 30-06 is the one I would pick.

If I could only have 1 rifle and I could pick it from any I would pick a 45/70 because I like lever guns.
 
Lawnboy:

There is no question... For North America game the 30-06 is simply the most versatile caliber... Everything from ground hogs to moose... It can do it all...
 
Of those three listed, I'd have to go for the 06.;) But just like Christcorp wrote the 7mm rem mag would get my nod, and I always have room in my cabinet for the ole .270 win.:)
 
I'm another one in the 30-06 camp.It will do everything the other two will and then some. Plus, you can find factory ammo for it just about anywhere. I must like 'em; I have three!
 
Range trip today. Fired Rem 700 30-06 belonging to a friend. I liked it.

I also got to shoot another TC venture again in 7mm-08. Loved the rifle again and the recoil is noticeably less thanthe 30-06.

My decision is made I'm going to go with a Venture in .308.

I'm choosing the Venture because it seems like the best made of the rifles in that price range. They all seem to shoot for me about the same, but the Venture is just "tighter" feeling. Smoother and better fit and finish. Savage Axis was the next best in my opinion.

I'm choosing the .308 because I don't reload and the factory ammo is half the price of the other two, so I'll shoot it more. Plus in the event of the Apocalypse I can use 7.62 NATO in an emergency;)

Thanks all.
 
Did you consider the Weatherby Vanguard, the Howa 1500, and last but never least the Savage? Some of these rifles are pretty killer dude!!:) Try their fit and finish before you purchase. FWIW there is no apocalypse in the near future be real!;)
 
The 30.06, .308, 7mm Rem mag, .300 Win Mag & .270 are all great rounds for general purpose hunting.

Narrow that down a bit by ammo availability & the 30.06 & .308 are pretty close.

Of the two, I personally prefer the 30.06.

Whichever caliber you decide on, I would also make sure you get a quality rifle to chamber it in. Savage is my personal choice nowadays. The old Winchester M-70s were a great rifle also.

Good luck with your selections!
 
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