what's your "go to" rifle?

[yorketransport]

I went out today to do a little shooting and tweak loads on a few guns. While I was out there I got to wondering if anyone else has one gun that's always ready to go. The one that you can always grab and know that it's sighted in and ready to go at any time. Most of my rifles are a work in progress. I'm always working on a different load, changing scopes or stocks, or adjusting the zero. I actually write myself notes so I know the status of any given gun. I have found myself heading out the door, only to remember that the gun I grabbed isn't sighted in with the particular load that I have on hand.

My go to gun is a Ruger M77 Hawkeye Alaskan in 375 Ruger with a Leupold VX3 2.5-8x scope in Warne QR rings. With the scope it's sighted in 1" high at 100yds and with the iron sights it's dead on at 75yds. The load is a 260gr Nosler Accubond at 2675fps. That's the one rifle I can grab that I know will hit exactly where I want year after year. I hunt hard with this gun and it's definitely not a safe queen. For deer, bear, or elk this rifle will get it done. Of course the only things I've actually shot with this rifle are a couple of rabbits and a porcupine.

So what's your setup, and what do you use it for?

Andrew

[jackelope]

My current go-to rifle is a T/C Encore with a 300 winchester magnum barrel on it. I'm shooting 180 grain Nosler Accubonds and would feel comfy using it for anything in North America. I archery hunt for elk and don't do too much bear hunting myself, so currently it is my deer rifle. I also have a .22-250 barrel for it for coyotes and whatever else. Next for it is a 24" 12 gauge smooth bore turkey barrel for it. It's a great versatile rifle.

[rasbo]

721 odd 6,its a shooting sonagunna...factory ammo

[rb2506]

i have many different guns for for different hunts but for some reason my 270win does alot of the killing

[callonetta]

I have two, a Ruger M77 MarkII in 25-06AI with a 4x14-50 Burris and shoots 100gr. Barnes TSX with Reloader-22 for powder, killed antelope and deer with it, the other one is a Steyr Pro-Hunter in 300wsm with a Leupold European 3x12-40 ans shoots 165gr. Nosler Accubonds with H-380 powder, killed antelope and a bear with it.

[Moose Eyes]

Remington 700 BDL Custom Deluxe in .270 Win.  I have been hunting with it since my dad bought it for me new 36 years ago.

[280ackley]

Remington 700 Mountian Rifle in .280 Ackley.

[wapiti hunter2]

Similar.  Remington 700 ADL 30-06.  I got it in 1971 used.  I floated the barrel in the late 70's and it now has a Leupold VXII 3 x 9 40mm scope that still  shoots 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards.  I love 165 gr boat tail bullets.  It's killed 3 Alaskan moose, elk, deer, coyotes and everything else I've ever aimed it at.  Looks used, is used, and my grand kids will still have it.

[ecnclan]

A Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 topped with an old Simmons Aetec Scope.  Not the most glamorous setup but that rifle will put every shot one ragged hole if i do my part everytime.  My father made the stock, cut and crowned the barrel.   

[Atroxus]

Wish I could afford to own enough guns to have to choose a "go to gun". I only own 2 rifles atm, a Marlin 60 .22LR for small game, and a Stevens .30-06 for medium-large game. So I spose each would be my go to gun for their respective purposes.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Now there's a tough one. Actually, for big game, I don't have all that many choices.

Ruger 77 in 30-338. Each load is within an inch of elevation at 100yds.  180gn Speer SpSP, BTSP @3100fps out the muzzle. Zeroed at 300yds. 190gn Hornady BTSP @3150fps out the muzzle. Zeroed at 300yds. I don't use a range finder, and I know I'm a very poor judge of distance with my eyes. Any way I look at it, I'm in the kill zone from muzzle out to 400yds without hold over.

Remington barreled 03-A3 with sporterized military stock and Timney trigger.  Sierra 180gn BTSP @2700fps out the muzzle.  Speer 180gn Spitzer at 2750fps out the muzzle. Both shoot to a zero at 200yds, which puts them in kill zone from muzzle to 300yds without hold over.

I always have these loads on hand and the scopes are dialed to them.

Mr. Lucky!   Marlin 30AS. 30-30win.  Pepsi can accuracy with iron sights off-hand at 100yds with Winchester 170gn Silvertips. I don't shoot anything else through it. (OK, I have some Remington box stuff, but it pretty much hits the same place.

Now, my hand guns are a different story. But the 44mags always have some 300gn SP Sierra's on hand that are good for 1250fps and 6" plates off hand at 75yds -also with iron sights. The 250gn Sierra FPJ's run 1400fps and hit about the same place but just a little flatter shootin. Both my Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley and SS Redhawk have taken several Blacktails. My problem is chosing one. I like them both but I think the Redhawk gets more holster/woods time.

For Grouse, I took all but one with rimfire handgun and scoped Ruger 10-22 last year. The Rem870 shottie did get a couple trips in the field but late season birds were too skiddish to get close enough too. The Rugers are dialed in at 50yds.

-Steve

[Whitelightning]

My go to is my first inline M/L, A .504 White Rifles Whitelightning. Never lets me down and has put everything in its way to the ground. Gotta love it!!!

[FC]

The only rifle of mine not ready currently is a Mosin Nagant 91/30 that I just got, it's getting a stock refinish and accurized, I have high hopes for this one having already gotten several 1-1.5moa groups at 100m with it the first time out.

[turkey buster]

my goto is a thompson encore chambered in 7mm mag topped with a bushnell elite 4200 3x9, I am curently shooting 140grn nosler BT 67.5 grns reloader 19

[Bulldozer]

Mine are all good to go. But if I am grabbing just one it is either my old model Ruger 77 ultra light 30-06 or my 257 weatherby.