Question(s) for 86er

[J Miller]

Based on your experiences as a professional hunter and guide here is a couple questions, actually one question with multiple parameters.

If a person wanted one rifle to hunt all North American game with, and they were going to use factory ammo only, which ...

... bolt action rifle


... lever action rifle

and calibers would you suggest?

Joe

[JustaJeepGuy]

"

Based on your experiences as a professional hunter and guide here is a couple questions, actually one question with multiple parameters.

If a person wanted one rifle to hunt all North American game with, and they were going to use factory ammo only, which ...

... bolt action rifle


... lever action rifle

and calibers would you suggest?

"

Joe asked, as he opened a can of worms.

[86er]

My answer would vary based on an individuals motivation for hunting in the first place.

Across the board though, a 30-06 Bolt Action. Why - widespread versatility in factory ammo, capable of varmints to bison, and in reduced recoil too; plethora of used and new rifles at reasonable prices; scope or sights or both; availability of rifles and ammo; very useful trajectory range to expand opportunities; very reloadable for specific tasks; accessories like after market pre fit recoil pads, calibrated rangefinder scopes, rangefinder with drop compensators programmed to factory loads, etc. Readily available parts and repairs; modular (you can buy a different stock for length, color, material, the hell of it) or have a different barrel put on the same stocked action (35 Whelen, 280 Rem, etc.); international availability if you ever did decide to leave the US; understood by Guides and Outfitters; abundance of brass at range; works well with a vast range of powders; etc......

For 90% of hunting situations a 308 Win has not enough difference from the 30-06 to be noticable by game but it seems the overall # of rifles, ammo and components are less.

Now if your motivation was purely to get up close and personal with game, you don't mind hunting from a blind and you don't get a rise out of conventional equipment (or you are a convicted felon) I might suggest something like a 50 caliber in-line with 300 gr Nosler Partitions and 777 Mag pellets.

[Blaine]

Can of worms, indeed.

[J Miller]

WOW!!!!


Convicted felon??? Now THAT is a can of worms. Can they own or possess muzzle loaders in Texas? I'm sure they can not in IL. Not sure about any place else.


I never even factored in "motivation". I'm sorta in the area of thinking what I'd keep if I got rid of the excess. I have a 30-06 that I've never shot. But to be honest I'm not a bolt gun fan. That's why I put the lever gun question in there too.

Ahhhh I sure hope the weather warms up a bit. I gotta get outta this house and do something.

Joe

[86er]

A muzzleloader does not meet the definition of firearm according to BATFE, GCA, etc. IF someone in that predicament was permitted by the State to have a hunting license they could use a MZLDR or Archery equipment.

If you were sticking with one lever gun for all, a Sav 99 or BLR in 308 would be pretty hard to beat across the board. So would a BLR in 300 Win Mag. Not ideal overall but versatile enough for just about anything in N.A.

[Old Ironsights]

I agree with 86er Joe. "Worst case scenerio" where GCA gets you you could do a heck of a lot worse than a good ML Double Rifle, a ML SxS Shotty, a 20ga SxS Howda and a brace of 1860s... All available through the Post from Cabelas...

[J Miller]

From what I've read, IL considers muzzle loaders the same as cartridge guns.

Some time back I read an article about a hunter in WY I think that was a convicted felon in possession of a muzzle loader and got in more trouble because of it.

That's why I asked that question. Federal law might say one thing, but the states don't always agree.

Joe

[Old Ironsights]

Well, Ill is just that... Ill. In every conceivable way.

But yeah, some states/cities DO/have decided to declare MLs to be "guns" for purposes of STATE anti-gun statutes, but according to Fed Law MLs are OK.

[Hobie]

A muzzleloader does not meet the definition of firearm according to BATFE, GCA, etc. IF someone in that predicament was permitted by the State to have a hunting license they could use a MZLDR or Archery equipment.

But it DOES meet the definition of firearm as to possession by a felon in the state of Virginia (and others).

[rjohns94]

For ALL game in North America??

I would probably use a .375 H&H in a bolt gun or 45-70 in an 1886, or TedH's .470 just for giggles.

[shdwlkr]

86er
I like my 257 roberts for deer and pronghorn, my 270 or 30-06 for elk in bolt action bullet weights are 257 100 grain, 270 135-140,160 grain and 06 165-180 grain.
In levers I like my 30-30 150-180 grain, for deer and .375 winchester with 220-268 grain for elk and 45-70 350-440 grain for elk.
Might not work for everyone but they work for me and that is what matters. I don't like to shoot anymore beyond 200-250 yards and prefer board side shots. I am in no hurry to get my game and if I have to pass up a few shots so what.

[Tycer]

Win 670 30-06 The mechanical twin to the venerable Win 70 with fixed mag and birch furniture.