Author Topic: Favorite "GO TO" Rifle ? (Read 2661 times)

killdeer · « **on:** January 22, 2006, 01:43:01 PM »

Surely most of us have a favorite go to rifle.
Mine is a CDL 300 RUM topped with a VXIII 4.5x14x40 set in Luepy low rings but stock otherwise.
It's my fav not because of caliber but because I have 100% confidence in that particular rifle and that makes me a better shooter.
There are lots of attributes a rifle can have like weight, accuracy etc.
What is your "go to" rifle and why?

KD

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 22, 2006, 02:34:49 PM »

My Tikka 300 Win mag with my Leupold VaraXIII 2.5X10X50.

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #2 on:** January 22, 2006, 02:43:05 PM »

My CZ 527 Carbine in 7.62x39 equipped with an older Redfield AccuTrac 3x9x40 Light handy I can buy ammo EVERYWHERE. Plus I can put a 125gr Nosler ballistic tip EXACTLY where I want to out to 300yds, I limit shots on deer to 200.

Don Fischer · « **Reply #3 on:** January 22, 2006, 02:54:53 PM »

Remington M660 in 308win with a very old 2 3/4x Redfield widefield. But last week I got a new Winchester featherweight in 6.5x55 and put a very old 1-4x Redfield on it. We will see.

By the way I've been using the same charge of 3031 and the 165gr Hornady for close to 20yrs in that rifle. I've used it in Montana, Colorado, Alaska and Oregon.

dharvey · « **Reply #4 on:** January 22, 2006, 03:02:44 PM »

Winchester Mod. 70 Featherweight w/Boss in .280. It has never let me down... :grin:

longwinters · « **Reply #5 on:** January 22, 2006, 04:10:44 PM »

Sako 75 Hunter in 280 with a Kahles TDS on top. I dont hunt with it often, but it would definitely be my go to gun for out west etc....

Long

nomosendero · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2006, 06:07:05 PM »

I have a rifle that started off as a 30-06. It is a Win M70 Featherweight in 30-06AI, Magnaported with a Bedded Brown Pre. Stock, Leo. rings & 2X7 Nikon scope. It is often my goto gun here in AR. & a back-up gun for Western trips with my 25-06AI Sendero or 300 Mag Sendero depending on what's on the menu & I know that if it becomes the primary gun on a Western hunting trip, no problem.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2006, 06:34:08 PM »

The one I pick up most often is a 1989 Ruger M77 in .257 Roberts I picked up used about 2 years ago. Nailed Coyote #62 with it this morning. (That's a lifetime total, not the total for the .257.) 22" barrel and a Leupold 4.5x14 I picked up used.

Shot a one hole group with it at 100 yards on the 14th. 3 shots into 0.232" center-to-center.

JDenis · « **Reply #8 on:** January 23, 2006, 02:34:19 AM »

Browning A-bolt Composite stalker in the 300 WSM with a 2.8-10 Simmons Aetec. It's fairly light to carry and it shoots great. It puts 150 B-Tips and 180 PP's at the same point of impact. It just makes me feel like a better shooter.

marylandeer · « **Reply #9 on:** January 23, 2006, 02:38:59 AM »

My Tikka T3 stainless lite chambered in the 100 year old faithful .30-06 springfield. It shoots a 165 grain Sierra gameking at whatever I put the 3-10x40 Weaver grandslam's cross hairs on. I have knocked 5 deer off their feet and 1 went about 15 yards. Six deer in two seasons. Has not let me down yet and it will be my goto until it does.

Ahab · « **Reply #10 on:** January 23, 2006, 04:41:35 AM »

WBY. Vanguard, 7mm Mag. with a Monarch 6x42 scope. :grin:

flintlock · « **Reply #11 on:** January 23, 2006, 05:00:36 AM »

Mine is a Ruger M-77 in .243 that I bought new in 1980...I've killed about 130-140 deer with...Its been pillar bedded, trigger set at 2 1/2 pounds and had a 24 inch Shilen barrel installed a few years back...It started with a Bushnell Scopechief when new...I put a Leupold 3x9x40 VX-II on a few years back, after I turned 45 I sent it back to Leupold and had a heavy crosshair put in scope...really helps in low light conditions...Other than deer I have also used this gun for crows, groundhogs, coyotes, beavers and black bears.

Daks · « **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2006, 11:34:56 AM »

Savage 116 in .30-06. I have a 2.5 to 10 Bushnell Elite 4200 on top. The gun is wonderfully accurate but it has robbed me of my usual excuses...

kenscot · « **Reply #13 on:** January 23, 2006, 12:51:19 PM »

Go to gun would have to be my 20 year old Rem700 bdl with a leupold vari x2 3x9 scope in 270 winchester. It will shoot what ever 130 grain bullet I load into tiny little groups and has given me nothing but lightning like kills on deer and antelope

jr meredith · « **Reply #14 on:** January 23, 2006, 01:44:06 PM »

my cricket 22lr

nasem · « **Reply #15 on:** January 23, 2006, 02:38:05 PM »

ok, here is a strange one, My Gamo Shadow .177 pellet rifle, any squirel under 30 yards = finished :-D

but seriously, I'd go with my Winchester 70 black-shadow 30-06, with a simple simmon's scope 3-9X40 (bought it from walmart for 250$ all together), under 1/4" groups @ 100 yards

poncaguy · « **Reply #16 on:** January 23, 2006, 02:39:02 PM »

Winchester Super Shadow 270WSM.........then Ruger 77 260 Remington.

killdeer · « **Reply #17 on:** January 23, 2006, 02:39:13 PM »

jr meredith,
welcome to Graybeard Outdoors.

KD

Jimi · « **Reply #18 on:** January 24, 2006, 07:42:47 AM »

My 1954-built Winchester M70. It was originally chambered in .300 H&H and subsequently amped up to .300 Weatherby. It has a custom Manzanita stock and is topped with a 2.5-10x Swarovski PV with an illuminated reticle. It is my favorite for 2 primary reasons... 1) I love the feel of it... it pulls down so nicely... really doesn't kick bad... but mostly, 2) it seems to kill everything I aim at. It's okay at the range... consistent 1.5" groups at 100 yards... good, but not great... but it is just death on game, which for me is the most important thing in a "go-to" gun.

kudzu · « **Reply #19 on:** January 24, 2006, 01:36:30 PM »

Mine used to be my old Ruger 77 270 with tang saftey. NOW it's my 270wsm Ruger m77 blk/grey Lam with stainless. (special run rifle)

mountainview · « **Reply #20 on:** January 25, 2006, 03:20:02 AM »

Savage 110E in 30-06.

tacomaj · « **Reply #21 on:** January 25, 2006, 02:25:57 PM »

Ruger M77 Mark 2, 280 stainless synthetic. "Dynomite" , 140 Core Loks on 46 grs of IMR 4064. .50 at 100 yards 3 shot group

Tacomaj

Siskiyou · « **Reply #22 on:** January 25, 2006, 04:13:55 PM »

It gets a little tough, but it is my Rem. 760, given to me by my Dad in 1957. It's been a great brush rifle, and brought home the bacon. It is a sure thing when out "jump shooting" blacktails in heavy cover. Almost like jump shooting ducks out of streams with an 870. It has done the job with 130 and 150 grain .277 bullets. Closest deer about 10 yards, longest kill around 400 yards. Average around 100 yards. A whole of of fun on running jack rabbits.

A tough question, I wish I could afford a 120 day deer season.

The rifle is prized for two reasons: (1)It is effective, (2) My Dad spent his hard earned money to give to me.

Thanks Dad

Slamfire · « **Reply #23 on:** January 25, 2006, 05:59:43 PM »

My 45 year old Savage 110L, now what's called a .260 Remington, but was a .243 before I had it rebored. :grin:

kombi1976 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 25, 2006, 06:30:24 PM »

Well, my favourite "go to" rifle is a real beater and some of you may've heard me talk about it before.
It's a cutdown 1914 Short Lee Enfield that was rebarrelled to 303/25 somewhere back in the mists of time(think: the 1950s).
Since the majority of my medium game hunting are roos with the odd feral goat I don't need anything firebreathing.
I can't even remember how it grouped @ 100yds(probably 1.5" to 2") but it's topped with an old Bisley Deluxe 3-9x40 on a Lynx bridgemount and is deadly for medium game using the 90gn Sierra GameKing HPBTs.
Does nasty thing to rabbits and hares too.
Funny thing is I only load it light to be kind to the old action & the loads must only be around 2650fps.
Who says you need to 3000fps!

I have a bubba'd & scoped K98 8x57 which shows a lot of promise(no, I didn't bubba it! :roll: ) and just acquired a BSA Martini Cadet sporter in 25-20 with a Weaver K6 that is coming up really accurate.
But since I need something with a decent thump especially when roo culling, and to be frank the 8x57 is overkill, the 303/25 is quite dependable.
It could do with some bedding and a good refinish but it was never pretty & it looks like the rifles you see in Aussie shooting pics from the 1950s so I'm reluctant to remove it's, shall we say, character. :wink:

phydaux · « **Reply #25 on:** January 26, 2006, 12:39:36 AM »

I have a Remington Model Seven SS in 308, 1.5x5x20 scope, shoots less than an inch at 100 yd, weighs 7 lb and has never let me down and will be handed down to my son.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #26 on:** January 26, 2006, 02:17:23 AM »

Favorite go to rifle: I don`t have "one" favorite as conditions and terrain
dictate my choice of rifles. For me, planning is a major part of the hunt
so the choice of which rifle i pick is the result of that information.
If i only had (1) rifle that choice would be simple but like a lot of you guys i have way more than one to choose from.
One thing for sure.............it needs to be light in weight. As i have several that meet that requirement the quandary of a "favorite" is still
there.
Bottom line is what ever one i finally choose is my "favorite" for that
hunt.

Prebanpaul · « **Reply #27 on:** February 09, 2006, 05:17:40 PM »

my favorite go to gun is my sako/Lazzeroni TRG-S in 308 warbird topped of the my 4.5 X 14X44 Zeiss. It will become a swarovski 4-16 TDS soon hopefully

257 roberts · « **Reply #28 on:** February 09, 2006, 05:26:30 PM »

Remington 700 Classic 7x57 with Leupold 3.5x10

Savage .250 · « **Reply #29 on:** February 10, 2006, 02:55:16 AM »

An old model savage 110 (1960`s) in .243. Redfield 3x9 scope.
100 gr Federal shells. If there ever was a true light weight, straight shooting, dependable rifle year after year this is it........IMO.
My savage 99`s could be #1 and some times they are but after spending years carrying that .243 around, never having a problem of any kind and harvesting many deer with it loyalty is strong.