Best All Around Rifle for Versatile Use

[silverdalesauer]

Just like the previous topic I posted on "Best All Around Carry Pistol for Versatile Use" I've run into another question much like it. This one comes from someone wondering what would be the best all around rifle to own (if you could only own one) for the following purposes:

   - coyote/small game hunting
   - deer hunting
   - shooting sports (target)

   - home defense (optional)

I've added home defense just because I know that there's multiple options with an AR-style rifle that many friends use to both hunt with and serve as a back up for home defense. But, at the same time, I'm more of a shotgun guy who'd prefer to use a pump-shot gun for the home defense. So, it's not absolutely necessary.

Thoughts?

[tgray]

I’ve always thought a light weight accurate 7mm would be the the rifle to own if only having one. I don’t even own a 7mm currently. A 270 Winchester would be hard to beat also. I have many rifles but a 300 win mag and a 25-06 are pretty much all I use

[Rem14]

Used to be 30-06 , load them up or load them down for what ever you wanted to hunt. Ammo you could get anywhere. Times have changed.

[Duckslayer89]

I have a 7mm rem mag I love it.

[LDennis24]

 
Or the trusty old .308!

Best survival/apocalypse gun...  .22 long rifle or similar rimfire, but .22 ammo is everywhere. I would carry a .22 in that instance cuz I could carry 1000 rnds easily. Try that with even a .223...

[fowl smacker]

22mag

[ellensburgpo]

I have a 7mm rem mag I love it.

This was the route I went a few years back and still think it’s the right answer.

If home defense was truly in the equation I would go with the Maxim Defense PDW, animals would still die, I’d just have to get closer.

[hunter399]

Or the trusty old .308!

Best survival/apocalypse gun...  .22 long rifle or similar rimfire, but .22 ammo is everywhere. I would carry a .22 in that instance cuz I could carry 1000 rnds easily. Try that with even a .223...

Gotta + 1 to the 308 ,great caliber.
I have to add 243 also, everything you said could be done with a 243 and very easy recoil.
With that said ,my first bolt action rifle was a 270 and it put meat on the table Alot for me.

I currently been playin with the 7mm mag past few years ,it seems to get the job done.

[jrebel]

Based on your above description (coyote, deer, shooting sport) I would have to think a .243 would fit that bill just fine.  Flat shooting, not overkill on yotes if you want to save the hides, enough to kill a deer and can definitely bang steel at distance.  As for home defense....not optimal unless you get it in an AR10 platform. 

If you don't care about the hides on yotes and you want to hunt bigger game than deer.....options are countless.  6.5, .270, 7mm, 06, 300,...........If you don't want to step into a magnum caliber I would strongly consider the 6.5 or .270.  You can get the 6.5 creed in an AR10 platform if you want to add home defense to the menu.  I'm personally not a fan of hunting with AR platforms.  They are heavy, loud and clunky.....I know people will disagree with that last statement that is why I preface it as my opinion. 

[Magnum_Willys]

6.5 AR 10

[b23]

6.5 AR 10

 

The AR10 6.5 Creed does check a lot of boxes and everyone should have at least one.

[MADMAX]

270

[KFhunter]

.243 with 3x9 scope is a great choice.  Set it up and done, kill everything deer sized or smaller.

Then a medium to mag size rifle for a second choice,  to cover deer and elk, bear.

Then AR platform.



Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[snake]

270, I still to this day find ammo at random gas stations in the middle of no where.

[wadu1]

Used to be 30-06 , load them up or load them down for what ever you wanted to hunt. Ammo you could get anywhere. Times have changed.

Or .308 load up or down.