Need a Go-To Rifle

[FC]

With the quality of today's reloading components, if I was buying a rifle to fit your criteria I'd buy a .270 and shoot Barnes TSX bullets into anything I wanted to hunt in the lower 48.  A 30-06 is absolutely fine also.

 

I would get a stainless tikka t3 lite in 270 and shoot Barnes bullets...Oh yeah, I already did/do!

[Kowsrule30]

My go to for any big game in WA or the lower 48 for that matter is my 243.... But that's just me....

I'd reccomend something in the 7mm-.300.... Magnum or not.... Don't matter..... For what your set up is and the guns you mentioned I'd say the 06 is more practicle....      

[JLS]

I have a couple of 30-06's (one is probably going to be the subject of a 338-06 build), a 7 Mag and a 25-06 as my long guns.

Guess what I just bought as my new "go to" rifle?  Tikka T3 Lite Stainless in 270 WSM.  If you reload, it has pretty impressive ballistics.  But if you don't reload, ammo for it has pretty impressive prices... you may want to consider that combo.  Light and has a reputation for accuracy.  I believe it's plenty of gun for the deer as far as you dare shoot and elk out to 400 yards with the right bullet.

I swore I would never, ever, go into the woods without enough shells to get 'er done.  Always thought that "get ammo anywhere" argument was not really valid.  Guess what I did last year?  Spent some on a coyote and some thunderchickens.  Felt a little light in the ammo dep't for the rest of the trip, so I decided to go down into Winthrop to pick up some fresh grub and shells.  Damn glad I had a 30-06 instead of the 270 WSM with me that time.  So, that's a thing to consider as well.

30-06 is boring, yes - but when you're looking for ammo in a small town, do you really need that kind of excitement?

I have a .338-06 that I had rebarreled about 13 years ago.  I love it.  The best bullet I found for it is the Barnes TSX 185 grainer.  I've shot a pile of elk with it, and the performance is excellent.

[sticky]

With the quality of today's reloading components, if I was buying a rifle to fit your criteria I'd buy a .270 and shoot Barnes TSX bullets into anything I wanted to hunt in the lower 48.  A 30-06 is absolutely fine also.

I agree, but I'd go 30-06 and say a .270 is fine too.  ;-)

[1bugman]

My Go to is 270 win, had it for years and it never let me down. Just got a 300 win love it. I don't think the recoil is to bad. 30-06 is a great round, all buddies use 'em. I don't think there boring.

What ever you choose, I like Stainless and synthetic. Not as pretty to look at, but will hole up to the elements better.

[PlateauNDN]

Was my .308 but now it's my .270 as of last year.

[Three_Oh_Eight]

So, I picked up a new rifle that I hope will fill the bill.  I went to a local gun store and was going to buy a Remington M700 SPS Stainless in 30-06.  I don't have any stainless rifles and consider them "beaters" in a way.  So, what would make a better beater than that?  Then, the guy behind the counter says, "Hey, I ended up with a couple of NIB M700 XCRs in 7mm Rem Mag that I need to get rid of".  So, I bit.

I got a new M700 XCR (the original one) in 7mm Rem Mag.  A little longer than I wanted, a bit more recoil too.  But heck, whatever.  It will kill stuff.

[pianoman9701]

So, I picked up a new rifle that I hope will fill the bill.  I went to a local gun store and was going to buy a Remington M700 SPS Stainless in 30-06.  I don't have any stainless rifles and consider them "beaters" in a way.  So, what would make a better beater than that?  Then, the guy behind the counter says, "Hey, I ended up with a couple of NIB M700 XCRs in 7mm Rem Mag that I need to get rid of".  So, I bit.

I got a new M700 XCR (the original one) in 7mm Rem Mag.  A little longer than I wanted, a bit more recoil too.  But heck, whatever.  It will kill stuff.

[webbspinner]

An excellent choice   

I have become a fan of my 338 wm, but have a 7mm and a 300 as well as 270 and 30-06,  any will do the job but if I had to just keep 1,  it would probably be my 300 or my 06, just for ammo options.  All that said I've killed more mule deer and whitetail with a 25-06, which i regret ever parting with, and all my elk with my 7mm and all one  shot flops with the ole 7.

[Three_Oh_Eight]

Once I get the rifle put together and get to the range, I'll put up some pics.  Pretty nice looking rifle for stainless/plastic.  I kind of wanted an XCR II since they are coated with black trinyte and have a slightly shorter barrel, but I got a great deal on this one.