What's your all-around favorite gun?

[Skillet]

Been a while since I've sat around a campfire and just had the opportunity to choot the chit with my hunting buddies, hoping you'll all indulge me here.

 Was looking through the rifle safe today and got a little nostalgic about some of it's older residents.  There's the gun I killed my first deer with, the gun(s) I got from Grandpa, the first real rifle I bought myself. I've had a lot come and go over the years, bit there's a few that are never in danger of being evicted.

Of those, I've decided the 1957 M70 Featherweight in 30-06 is my favorite. Bought new by Grandpa when he was 30, it's topped with an M8 Leupold 4x, and all wears the leather strap he died it with back then. It bears the dings and scratches of a solid lifetime of hunting by Grandpa (35 solid years).  I can't guess how many deer he killed with it, but I'll bet it isn't too short of one-a-year. There were some dang nice bucks in there, too - for a meat hunter. I've killed a couple with it as well.  It's just a boring old 30-06, but Grandpa said "if it can't be done with an -06, it don't need doin'."  I don't think he's wrong.

I've got lighter rifles for high mountain hunting. I've got more accurate rifles, more powerful rifles, more valuable rifles.  They all have some combination of better glass, composite stocks, stainless everything.  But if I had to just have just one of my guns for the rest of my life, it would be this old unit.

I think she's among the prettiest rifles ever made, and definitely has a look to it that makes me want to grab the old Filson Mackinaw and start hunting mountain mulies in the November snow.  It's a nostalgic gun for me, and I acknowledge I won't get a shot on that bruiser buck 600 yards away unless I can halve the distance.  But that's ok, it's about the total hunt experience. Wall tents, meat poles, good partners.  Every hunt is a good one as long as I'm toting this gun with me.

It's my favorite gun.

What about the rest of you?  What's your one all-around favorite gun, and why?

[johnbmyersii]

I'd have to say my Henry 44mag. It's my go-to truck gun and a goal of mine to get a bear with it this year. With a skinner pear rear sight and a fiber optic front this thing is a tack driver out to 125 yards. It's probably my favorite cuz I love the history of the old west, the nostalgia of an old school lever action and what the old timers could do with them and the beauty of a Henry yellowboy

[Magnum_Willys]

My Uncle made me my first shotgun.  16 ga bolt action two-shot clip.   Had “Shotflinte” engraved on the side.   I could shoot trap with it at age 6. 

Also inherited his self-converted mauser 30-06 with german double set triggers.  A beauty. 

Then theres the Weatherby 300 Win Mag my dad gave me as a college graduation present - 42 years ago.  Still can shoot 3” groups at 500 yds.

Then the 338 Vanguard my buddy gave me as a wedding gift thats downed many a bull.

My 12 ga model 12 my dad left me. 

My custom 338 Lapua thats taken trophies over 900+

Favorite?  Tough to say!   

[Skillet]

My Uncle made me my first shotgun.  16 ga bolt action two-shot clip.   Had “Shotflinte” engraved on the side.   I could shoot trap with it at age 6. 

Also inherited his self-converted mauser 30-06 with german double set triggers.  A beauty. 

Then theres the Weatherby 300 Win Mag my dad gave me as a college graduation present - 42 years ago.  Still can shoot 3” groups at 500 yds.

Then the 338 Vanguard my buddy gave me as a wedding gift thats downed many a bull.

My 12 ga model 12 my dad left me. 

My custom 338 Lapua thats taken trophies over 900+

Favorite?  Tough to say!

Gotta pick one to post! 

[Skillet]

I'd have to say my Henry 44mag. It's my go-to truck gun and a goal of mine to get a bear with it this year. With a skinner pear rear sight and a fiber optic front this thing is a tack driver out to 125 yards. It's probably my favorite cuz I love the history of the old west, the nostalgia of an old school lever action and what the old timers could do with them and the beauty of a Henry yellowboy

I'm getting back into leverguns.  Picked up an 1894 AE in 45 Colt, but thinking I want a 44 now.  Probably going with a Henry.  Buddy got a Henry in 357 with side gate feed, it is an awesome rifle. Slick, and accurate.   

[jay.sharkbait]

Colt 22 that dad carried as a Naval Aviator.

2nd place is a Nelson built M1a.

[johnbmyersii]

I definitely wish mine had the side gate, bought this one before they had that model. The Henry's have trouble cycling the Hornady leverevolution unfortunately and I have to slightly sand the plastic ballistic tip to feed properly

[Skillet]

Colt 22 that dad carried as a Naval Aviator.

2nd place is a Nelson built M1a.

What barrel is that on the Woodsman?  Mine is a standard.

[Skillet]

I definitely wish mine had the side gate, bought this one before they had that model. The Henry's have trouble cycling the Hornady leverevolution unfortunately and I have to slightly sand the plastic ballistic tip to feed properly

Roger, good to know

[jay.sharkbait]

Colt 22 that dad carried as a Naval Aviator.

2nd place is a Nelson built M1a.

What barrel is that on the Woodsman?  Mine is a standard.

They were target pistols based on the woodsman. I grew up with it and found out later they are collectable. I’ll pass it on or be buried with it. Lol.

It still shoots very well.

[Skillet]

Colt 22 that dad carried as a Naval Aviator.

2nd place is a Nelson built M1a.

What barrel is that on the Woodsman?  Mine is a standard.

They were target pistols based on the woodsman. I grew up with it and found out later they are collectable. I’ll pass it on or be buried with it. Lol.

It still shoots very well.

That's a great looking Woodsman.  Little bit different frame too.  Much better looking than mine

[jay.sharkbait]

Colt 22 that dad carried as a Naval Aviator.

2nd place is a Nelson built M1a.

What barrel is that on the Woodsman?  Mine is a standard.

They were target pistols based on the woodsman. I grew up with it and found out later they are collectable. I’ll pass it on or be buried with it. Lol.

It still shoots very well.

That's a great looking Woodsman.  Little bit different frame too.  Much better looking than mine

Thanks! That said, i like the ones like yours as they a timeless.

[BigGoonTuna]

It’s tough for me to pick a favorite. If I had to pick one, it would probably be my Savage 99F that I had converted to .358 Winchester. It started out as a .300 Savage that I picked up from an old timer for cheap (he was selling everything but his 30-06 and 12ga since he planned to retire and live on the road in an RV).  It was built in 1960 and had seen some hard use, but it had been refinished to a really nice deep blue at some point. It shot alright with my hand loads, but the bore looked like a sewer pipe. I found that if I cleaned it, it’d take about 10 rounds to start grouping again.

Last year, I got furloughed from work for a month and started going through the gun cabinet. I had wanted a .358 for some time, but the odds of finding a 99 in that caliber in my price range is pretty low. I had heard good reviews from JES reboring out of Oregon, so I got in contact with them and sent the rifle down to have the barrel punched out. 10 days and $250 later I had my .358.

I put a Leupold 1.5-5x scope on it and worked up some 200 and 225gr loads.  It shoots at least as well as I can. It’s a bit of a kicker but that’s to be expected from a rifle that weighs 7lbs. Those wide 35 caliber bullets punch big holes in game and leave a heck of a blood trail.  It carries more like a shotgun than a typical hunting rifle, like an extension of my arm.

[kselkhunter]

It's not "valuable" in terms of collector value, but it's my all around favorite.  1961 Parker Hale.  Bought it as my first rifle when I turned 18, got it used.  Was a 30-06 back then.  For decades it was my only rifle, so it's seen many hunting trips many of them backcountry trips with many hundreds of days carried in the woods and many animals harvested.  I had JES rebore it to 35 Whelen a handful of years ago, and refinished the stock, new recoil pad as the old one dried out, and cerakoted the barrel.  Gave it a new lease on life.  Not a fancy rifle. More of a tool in the woods.  With 250gr bullets, it hits with authority.  I have shot it so many times over the years that I know it well.   Lots of memories with this rifle.  Sure I have other rifles now, but this is always my "go-to" or favorite nostalgic rifle for my lifetime. 

[Jolten]

I'd have to say my 26 nosler. First do it myself job.

[ASHQUACK]

Browning A5 20 ga magnum. My dad left it to me. Killed my 1st duck and pheasant with it. It'll be my son's someday.

[AL WORRELLS KID]

At the price of "Ammo" nowadays?...... It's a  "No Brainer"!
Always was, always will be, my Favorite. 

[NRA4LIFE]

Most all of your post rang true for me, but I liked this:

Was looking through the rifle safe today and got a little nostalgic about some of it's older residents.  There's the gun I killed my first deer with, the gun(s) I got from Grandpa, the first real rifle I bought myself. I've had a lot come and go over the years, bit there's a few that are never in danger of being evicted.

If I had to pick one, it would be the oldest, most precious gun in my safe.  Probably not worth anything.  It mostly resides in the back, but I like to pluck it out every so often and shoot a couple rounds through it or bring it on a trip for good luck.  It is a model 98 Mauser in 8mm, circa 1917-ish I believe.  I got it from my dad and he got it from my Grandpa.  Rumor is all 3 of us killed our first deer with it back in WI.  I know I did and my dad claims the same.  Iron sights only and an old leather sling that I know is older than me. 

And I too have so many others that have highly improved shooting qualities, fun factors, etc. but that rifle will belong to me until I die.

[pd]

Skillet, pardon the interruption to your thread, but you touched a nerve.

"Meat pole."

I haven't been in a camp with a meat pole in maybe 10 years.  We don't camp together anymore, we are always on the move.  We don't spend more than one night in the same place.  We don't hunt for a week or two at a time.

"Meat pole."  What is that anyway?  I doubt many people will even remember.

[Blacklab]

6.5 Grendel

[ucwarden]

I'd have to say my 26 nosler. First do it myself job.

Impressive.  Nice job!

[Jpmiller]

Model 70 featherweight in .308

My dad got it for me used when I was 10 or so to be my hunting rifle, used it every season since. I've acquired a few other hunting rifles since then but it's been on 95% of my trips and I'm so sentimental that I don't see it changing much. I did get a savage 99 last year that I've absolutely loved so far but I just can't beat the original.

[brokentrail]

Winchester Model 70, .308 win, that I bought mowing lawns when I was 13.  Been shooting it every deer season since and it is still my favorite.  I have plenty of rifles but that is always the one I seem to be carrying during deer season.

[elkrack]

Like many others on here my first rifle is the favorite of all. An old 30-06 Parker hale that I worked all summer to buy when I was 13. Not worth anything but I just like it a lot! Of course being a smaller kid at 13 and my dad not realizing the length of pull matters, The recoil pad came off and was shooting Bare wood to the shoulder. Lol.

[RugerRay]

Mine would definitely be my first rifle as well, which is a 1981 Ruger M77 .270  My dad bought it the year I was born and passed it down to me when I turned 18.

[PolarBear]

My favorite deer/varmint/whatever rifle is my 1930’s-1940’s Savage .250-3000 that was passed down to me through distant cousins. I’m hoping to kill an antelope in Wyoming with it next year. I’m also partial to my Colt Woodsman that my Dad’s Uncle carried as an ABC Agent through the Alabama woods and swamps.

[PolarBear]

Not sure why my pics got turned. 

[PolarBear]

At the price of "Ammo" nowadays?...... It's a  "No Brainer"!
Always was, always will be, my Favorite. 

Good choice. Between my daughter and I we have won 11 of them during bb gun shoots over the past few years.

[Woodchuck]

First gun I ever bought. Tang safety M77 .338WM. I have 3 others of other calibers and this one always feels "right".

[Jolten]

I'd have to say my 26 nosler. First do it myself job.

Impressive.  Nice job!

Thank you!

[Dan-o]

I literally got hit with an unexpected wave of emotion....

I lost my favorite rifle to a cabin fire at my brother's place outside Palmer,  Alaska.

It was my dad's Sears 30-06, with a somewhat blurry Weaver K4 and a seriously cracked stock.

My dad emigrated here from Holland as a kid after WW 2, and went to work at age 12.   He was a landscaper, and a janitor, a handyman and a great man.

He bought it used and never upgraded.....  Feeding his kids was more important.

That rifle was my best keepsake of my dad.

[hunter399]

Remington 700 ,270 given to me by my parent.
Lots of favorite I suppose.
But I will just put that one at the top.
Did a coating on it,and new stock,and new scope rings, a few years ago.
And it's in the back of the gun cabinet.
I might blow the dust off it this year and start using it again I'm thinking.
I haven't even sighted it in since the new scope rings.
I'm thinking it's about time!
Looked at old photos last time used was 2016

[elkrack]

Skillet, your thread just brought the guns placed in the back of safe right back up to the front 

[bhawley76]

Ruger Mark2 stainless 7mag, That my dad got me when I was 15 for doing good in school and my first gun!

[Rob]

Without a doubt my 870 Remington express 12 Gauge.

Well over 5,000 rounds through that gun-I am guessing close to 10,000.  Given to me new as a Christmas present from my dad in 1990.  I have taken:
-Turkey (Eastern and Meriam)
-Ducks (Pintail, Mallard, Wood Duck, Teal, Bluebill, Bufflehead, Old Squaw, several kinds of teal, and some I am sure I have forgotten)
-Coots
-Goose (Canadian and Snow)
-Sandhill Crane
-Guinea Fowl
-Ring Neck Pheasant
-Quail (Bobwhite, Californian, Blue)
-Chucker
-Dove (Mourning, White Wing and Black Banded)
-Rabbit (Cotton Tail, Jack)

I have hunted with it in Washington, New Mexico, Texas, Wyoming, Louisiana, Montana and Namibia Africa.

I have several other, higher end shotguns, but this is nearly always my go-to shotgun.  Her name is Heather.

[konradcountry]

Mossberg 835

I've owned and shot quite a few shotguns but I would take the 835 if I could have only one.

It patterns the 3.5s well and I like having a shotgun in western wa that can take some abuse.

If it is rainy and muddy I'll take the 835 knowing that if it rusts I can just go buy another.

But it just keeps shooting even though I am hard on it.

My friends and I also have a lot of fun just shooting hot 3.5 rounds at random stuff.

[Skillet]

Some great stories here, glad I'm not the only one that gets a little nostalgic about the gear on the back of the safe.
 

[Jpmiller]

Model 70 featherweight in .308

My dad got it for me used when I was 10 or so to be my hunting rifle, used it every season since. I've acquired a few other hunting rifles since then but it's been on 95% of my trips and I'm so sentimental that I don't see it changing much. I did get a savage 99 last year that I've absolutely loved so far but I just can't beat the original.

Need to change my answer. Just found out I was left my recently passed grandfather's shotgun. He used it as his bird gun in Ohio and Wisconsin. when he was fighting in the Korean war he met a Japanesel engraver and had my grandmother send it over and had a beautiful waterfowl scene engraved into it and inlaid with gold. He had it displayed on his wall my whole life and Itll find a welcome home with me now. He said it was all still functional so I'll have to shoot it just to say I have but I'm so sentimental I'd be way too nervous to take it out into the field again 

[6haase6]

I'd have to say my 26 nosler. First do it myself job.

How do you like that At-One stock?

[Boss .300 winmag]

Without a doubt my 870 Remington express 12 Gauge.

Well over 5,000 rounds through that gun-I am guessing close to 10,000.  Given to me new as a Christmas present from my dad in 1990.  I have taken:
-Turkey (Eastern and Meriam)
-Ducks (Pintail, Mallard, Wood Duck, Teal, Bluebill, Bufflehead, Old Squaw, several kinds of teal, and some I am sure I have forgotten)
-Coots
-Goose (Canadian and Snow)
-Sandhill Crane
-Guinea Fowl
-Ring Neck Pheasant
-Quail (Bobwhite, Californian, Blue)
-Chucker
-Dove (Mourning, White Wing and Black Banded)
-Rabbit (Cotton Tail, Jack)

I have hunted with it in Washington, New Mexico, Texas, Wyoming, Louisiana, Montana and Namibia Africa.

I have several other, higher end shotguns, but this is nearly always my go-to shotgun.  Her name is Heather.

Looks like you shoot fish with it as well.🤣

[Rob]

What happens on a dove hunt, stays on the dove hunt.

[Jolten]

I'd have to say my 26 nosler. First do it myself job.

How do you like that At-One stock?

I rather like it so far. Wish they offered a bull barrel version thou. Took alot of finesse sanding to get the barrel floated

[Shadrach71]

I will break it down to my favorites 😀
- Ruger M77 ultra light in 257 Roberts for deer. It's a great carrying rifle and has never once let me down...

- 1921 Husqvarna 9.3x62 for elk and bear. A real, real close second would be my semi-custom 35 Whelen... Nothing quite like  heavy bullet hitting it's mark, very short blood trails if any and I appreciate that as I hunt the coastal rainforests...

- Winchester model 12 in 16 GA my grandpa left me, which just happens to be the shotgun I killed my 1st duck with along with many more ducks, goose, grouse, pheasants...

[jjhunter]

Cooper MTV .204 Ruger.  I bought it when I returned from my 1st deployment in 2005. 

It’s put hundreds of coyotes to rest and still going


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[deerhunter_98520]

Mine would have to be my Remington model 788 in .243. My grandpa was a gunsmith and after I passed hunters ed my parents had him build this rifle for me. I used that rifle for 20 years, killed alot of deer with it and when my oldest son started hunting passed it down to him and he's killed every deer with it. Just 2 weeks ago my youngest passed hunters ed and he will he using the same rifle. Now he wants to build this rifle. We got a Boyd's stock picked out for him. Going to be a great season making lots more memories

[crabcreekhunter]

Mine is a Rem 700 started life as a 270 win, given to me on Christmas 2001 when I was 13.  Currently a .280AI, and have packed it probably a couple thousand miles, lots of memories!

[pianoman9701]

My .30-06 Remington Classic was my first new rifle back around '75. Still drills the bullseye. I also had a Sears model 94 with which I killed many NH bucks. Besides those, the favorite in my safe is my Grendel AR, a big honkin 24" barrel with a 3" break, Magpul furniture, RRA match trigger, Vltor charging handle and upper receiver, Palmetto lower. Dressed in Desert camo (not shown).

[Gobble]

REM 700 BDL 30-06

[Bill W]

Model 70 Featherweight in 7mm Mauser.  Bought it around 1984 and shot about 40 deer, antelope and one elk with it.  Coyotes too.  Now it just sits in the gun safe.