What would be the one rifle to have if you could only have one?
- Thread starter Ozzieman
- Start date
bailey bud
New member
actually - he abbreviated -
It should be "HIs Royal Highness......"
Middle East titles are exhausting.
It should be "HIs Royal Highness......"
Middle East titles are exhausting.
If I'm limiting myself to a rifle I already own, hands down my sporterized Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55. The short barrel makes it very handy, I can shoot anything from 85gr-160gr bullets, and it's very accurate. The only draw back would be parts availability if something were to happen to it. Now if I were buying a new rifle for this scenario I'd have a tough decision. Ideally I'd take a production rifle in 6.5x55 but it doesn't seem any of the major manufacturers are chambering for it any more. I'm not a big fan of the scout style scope mount so I might go with a M77 in .308 instead of the Gunsite rifle. M1A is another option although I have to agree with the article in that simplicity of design might make the bolt gun a better option. I'd have to go with the other posters that said I can't have just one.
Stu
Stu
I'm thinking that anything switch barrel, each barrel would have to count as a separate rifle. If it weren't, it'd be as easy as trying to decide which barrels I needed to finish kitting out my Encore.
Even though it means giving up on having a .22, I guess I could settle for this one; it even has attackManx approval...
Even though it means giving up on having a .22, I guess I could settle for this one; it even has attackManx approval...
Attachments
.22LR or ....
A reliable 12g is (not sure if that means 870 pump or side by side) with a set of chokes is the most flexible option and allows for birds and largish game. Ammo is literally everywhere.
Or .22LR bolt action with a decent length barrel, Weaver K4 scope and iron sights. Ammo is everywhere and super cheap.
If I had to go center fire, I guess 30-06 or .308 bolt with German military grade 4x or 6x fixed scope and iron sights. I'd prefer a .25-06 or 6.5x55 swede, but the 30 caliber rounds are everywhere in the US. It is really difficult to find a good bolt gun with iron sights these days.
A reliable 12g is (not sure if that means 870 pump or side by side) with a set of chokes is the most flexible option and allows for birds and largish game. Ammo is literally everywhere.
Or .22LR bolt action with a decent length barrel, Weaver K4 scope and iron sights. Ammo is everywhere and super cheap.
If I had to go center fire, I guess 30-06 or .308 bolt with German military grade 4x or 6x fixed scope and iron sights. I'd prefer a .25-06 or 6.5x55 swede, but the 30 caliber rounds are everywhere in the US. It is really difficult to find a good bolt gun with iron sights these days.
1. End of Civilization 2. Limited Expenses
I'm going to field both scenarios on this one.
1st. End of Civilization- I'd need something that would be common and where ammo would be in supply. So any .223/5.56 nato M4 platform.
2nd. Limited Expenses- probably the new ruger scout in.308 as it has a diverse nature to it. Not to mention the power of a .30 cal cartridge.
I'm going to field both scenarios on this one.
1st. End of Civilization- I'd need something that would be common and where ammo would be in supply. So any .223/5.56 nato M4 platform.
2nd. Limited Expenses- probably the new ruger scout in.308 as it has a diverse nature to it. Not to mention the power of a .30 cal cartridge.
This has been a perpetual question on every board and it makes little sense.
Nobody here is limited to owning one rifle for the foreseeable future and there is no rifle that can fulfill such a requirement, unless someone has a myopic view of their rifle needs. That observation also applies to people who believe that the sun rises and sets on TC Encores and Contenders. Believe it or not, there is life beyond the single shot!
Nobody here is limited to owning one rifle for the foreseeable future and there is no rifle that can fulfill such a requirement, unless someone has a myopic view of their rifle needs. That observation also applies to people who believe that the sun rises and sets on TC Encores and Contenders. Believe it or not, there is life beyond the single shot!
L_Killkenny
New member
There's a load of B.S. if I've ever heard one. Some folk go there whole life with one gun let alone one rifle. Here in Iowa you can do everything that needs doing with a 12ga. As a matter of fact, the only thing that is practical to hunt in Iowa with a centerfire rifle is predators. With that shotgun I also have one of the best HD guns ever designed.
I've made a choice to limit my number of guns. I don't want or need a specific gun for every role. I've built a 10/22, am building a Savage 110 .243 and will be getting a short barrel for my Winchester 1300 12ga when funds allow. With these guns I can plink, shoot paper as far as I want and hunt any critter that flys or walks from 1lb to 300 lbs or so. Much bigger if the ranges are 100yards and under. For the folks out west turn that .243 into a 7mm-08, 270, .308, etc and you can hunt anything that walks the lower 48.
Handguns are the same way. I could be perfectly happy with 2 handguns. A 4" .357 and a rimfire. If I wanted a dedicated CC piece that would make 3.
So there you have it. 5 or 6 guns, no repeats. Hunting everything is covered and so is defense. How the heck is that narrowminded? It means I am just a realist. You may want more but you DON'T NEED more.
I'm not saying to not buy that dedicated varmint rig if you want. Or maybe it's a dedicated 7mm mag for a sheep hunt or the AK you always wanted. Whatever it is that makes you happy buy it. But to say someone is myopic because they don't need one is well, narrowminded.
LK
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Maybe rephrasing the question to "What gun has the most utility" would make more sense to some people.
Of course, there are lots of times when I choose to have only one gun. Hiking, backpacking, fishing, camping- I only carry one gun, usually my Glock 32.
During deer season there are opportunities to also hunt hogs, squirrels, and rabbits where I live. I have often thought about which gun would allow me to hunt everything without carrying an armory through the woods.
Of course, there are lots of times when I choose to have only one gun. Hiking, backpacking, fishing, camping- I only carry one gun, usually my Glock 32.
During deer season there are opportunities to also hunt hogs, squirrels, and rabbits where I live. I have often thought about which gun would allow me to hunt everything without carrying an armory through the woods.