Best All Around Rifle for Versatile Use

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

.06 .270 7mm mag. And well the .22 has killed more game than all of them combined.

[wadu1]

.06 .270 7mm mag. And well the .22 has killed more game than all of them combined.

Very true about the old .22. I have a hair on 3X3 muley rack my grandmother harvested in Colorado in 1900 with a Stephens Crackshot .22.

[Humptulips]

It seems to me to be an impossible question to answer. I know you wrote deer but for me any rifle I am going to have for a big game animal is going to have to work for elk, deer, bear and cougar. IMO there is not such a gun that would also be suitable for small game. I guess if you don't mind blowing a bobcat or coyote to uselessness you could make the compromise but I won't go there.
For years I used a 7mm Rem mag for big game but more recently I have packed a 300 Win Short mag. I would not think of using these for small game. As far as shooting sports I guess you could use what ever but I should think most would want something  that was affordable to shoot. That ought to fit in well with small game but crossing over to big game too. I can't see it.

[BigGoonTuna]

There are so many, once you realize that most cartridges pretty much overlap in usefulness. Any perceived differences in ballistic qualities are usually limited by the shooter’s ability more than anything else.

It’s hard to beat the .308 or 30-06 for ubiquity. They do everything well with tolerable recoil and (in normal times) cost of ammunition.  Someone who wants an adequate rifle to do everything probably isn’t going to mind tearing up hides on coyotes or want magnum recoil from something capable of taking an elk at 600 yards.

[kselkhunter]

As mentioned, two rifles sounds like a better concept:  1) small game rifle such as 22lr or 22mag, and 2) big game and coyotes/bobcat


If you really can only have one for all those purposes?  35 Whelen.    158gr or 180gr pistol bullets (they're lower velocity loads for pistol bullets) for small game, coyote, bobcat.   Then step up to a big game load for everything else.  Can load from180gr up to 310gr bullets for everything from deer to grizzly.       


Or just get a multi-barrel combined. Like the Double Badger in 243win and 410ga.  Or one of the old Baikal's if you can find one.   Those came in lots of varieties of combinations.  There is a cool 257 Roberts over 12ga Baikal on Gunbroker right now that would be fun.  But they did 308/12, etc. combos.  Some of the old Savage 24 and Savage 42 combos are good too if you can find them.

[huntnphool]

 .260 Rem

[The Big Game Hunter]

I've seen a lot of references to the 30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag here and I have to agree, especially for more big game hunting focused applications.
You can learn more about those cartridges below if you're interested.
https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/7mm-rem-mag-vs-30-06/
https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/6-5-creedmoor-vs-30-06/

[BKMFR]

.243 or .270 would be hard to beat.

[dilleytech]

AR-16 .308 if we are talking home defense and target sports as an option.

[Taco280AI]

Best all around "rifle" is one that fits you and feels comfortable. Lot of great options, I'd stick with a bolt action.

[Igor]

.243 or .270 would be hard to beat.

The .270 is, indeed, hard to beat.  I consider it one of the best calibers for deer-sized game.  It is a little light for elk, IMO.  However, I have a friend who has hunted Roosevelt elk on the peninsula with his .270 for many, many years, and has been very successful.  I might choose the .30-'06 over the .270.  The '06 is extremely versatile when it comes to reloading.  Can't really go wrong with either caliber.

[Magnum_Willys]

Its not there yet but in 5 years I think you will see 300 Prc being mentioned a lot in answers.   215 gr @ 3000 fps,  1000 yd capable, shootable without brake or lightweight with brake.    The main advantage over these others mentioned is it can do targets or game to 1000 yds.

Edit - obviously I didn’t read the whole question! 

[Stein]

I own one hunting rifle and it’s a 30-06.  Never needed anything else.


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[NRA4LIFE]

Funny, I have 7 or 8 hunting rifles and do not own a 30-06.  However, if I were to choose only one, that would probably be it.

[Dan-o]

Funny, I have 7 or 8 hunting rifles and do not own a 30-06.  However, if I were to choose only one, that would probably be it.

I also don't own a 30-06, but if pressed for a single rifle might go there. 

Tons of factory ammo across a very wide spectrum, and I'm guessing better ammo availability at small town stores than about any other caliber. .....  present times excepted.