One rifle only, what round?

[ar15barrels]

I am not an "arsenal" type person. I like having a few weapons, and not many different rounds to stock up. I anticipate at some point getting a short tour to Alaska, and I want to make use of that 12 months of my life, but I want to use the same rifle in Colorado, where I'll be for the next 4 years of my life (minimum). I just never want to wish "damn I should have gotten the bigger round" later on.

That seals the deal.
30/06.

[Garandimal]

One Round? 30-06
One Rifle? M1 Garand




GR

[JMP]

I think it is narrowed down to 9mm or .45 ACP. Can we finally rule out the .40 Short?

[Epaphroditus]

450 Bushmaster.

[TMB 1]

Check out this poll http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/...-rifle-caliber

[Artema]

I'm loving the discussion, but I will just throw out there that I'm going with The Savage 111 in .338 Win Mag and will swap in the appropriate stock like this when I figure out which one will fit.

http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/product.htm?pid=55485&cat=1220

That'll make it nearly identical to my .22 from them, so practice with this one will translate at least somewhat to the one that is $2.25 a round.

[JustEd]

Had you included 270 Winchester that would get my vote.
You jump from 30 cal to 6.5 Creedmore leaving out the time proven
270. Shoots far and flat with reasonable recoil. Also it was
one of the few rifle calibers easily available when we had the
ammo shortage (ok its still going on to some extent). It is not
suitable for dangerous game or Moose, but some of your other
calibers choices aren't either.

[smittty]

I'm loving the discussion, but I will just throw out there that I'm going with The Savage 111 in .338 Win Mag and will swap in the appropriate stock like this when I figure out which one will fit.

Nice choice, we call that the 338 Win Ridiculous. Congrats!

You'll understand the ridiculous part after you see your shoulder in the mirror.

[Mr. Beretta]

30.06

No need for anything else.

[Hunt]

this depends on the limitations of the game you will be hunting, if limited to the lower 48 I would say any non magnum would be fine. If including Alaska you better step up to a bigger magnum, there are bears the size of a car up there and they will eat you.

[Bhobbs]

If you reload - 300 Win Mag - load it down for CA deer or full power for long range Elk shots
30-06 or 308 Get the 308 it's a 30-06 with the case tailored to modern powders that wern't around in 1906.

It's a case made to match M2 ball performance with modern powders. M2 ball wasn't anything spectacular and the extra case capacity of the .30-06 is a major upside if you load heavy bullets with slow powders.

[SDgarrick]

I went with 30-06 for about the same reasons you went with 338.
Wanted a do it all rifle for long range steel banging, hunting these fine rockies, and any future guerrilla activities. I have no plans for alaska, so your choice makes sense to me even though it seems like a big step up in price from 30-06.
For the price of 5 boxes of ammo, you could probably find a modest reloading setup, then really maximize the cartridge.

[Artema]

I understand it seems expensive, but when I had a .308 the good hunting rounds were about $2 each, and now they're $2.25 instead. Doesn't seem that bad for bolt-action.

[Hunt]

I went with 30-06 for about the same reasons you went with 338.
Wanted a do it all rifle for long range steel banging, hunting these fine rockies, and any future guerrilla activities. I have no plans for alaska, so your choice makes sense to me even though it seems like a big step up in price from 30-06.
For the price of 5 boxes of ammo, you could probably find a modest reloading setup, then really maximize the cartridge.

recommended reading is the biography of Frank Glaser, http://www.amazon.com/Alaskas-Wolf-M.../dp/1575100479 he was the very first US Gov't predator control agent in Alaska, back then they got off the boat in Seward with a backpack and rifle then walked to Fairbanks as there were no roads. He also made a living as a professional hunter supplying the railroad crews with meat, he got paid by the pound. He took one rifle a 30-06 later got a .22 cal varmint rifle. He shot moose, bears, sheep and caribou with the '06. Usually took 2-3 hits with a heavy bullet from the '06 to stop a charging bear. If you are into hunting this book is one of the best ever.

[Artema]

recommended reading is the biography of Frank Glaser, http://www.amazon.com/Alaskas-Wolf-M.../dp/1575100479 he was the very first US Gov't predator control agent in Alaska, back then they got off the boat in Seward with a backpack and rifle then walked to Fairbanks as there were no roads. He also made a living as a professional hunter supplying the railroad crews with meat, he got paid by the pound. He took one rifle a 30-06 later got a .22 cal varmint rifle. He shot moose, bears, sheep and caribou with the '06. Usually took 2-3 hits with a heavy bullet from the '06 to stop a charging bear. If you are into hunting this book is one of the best ever.

Okay, so if I do go to Alaska I'm definitely buying several more magazines. I was thinking of just sticking with the one it comes with, but if I'm on the last round of my magazine when a bear charges...