Thread: If you could have only one rifle

As the title suggests, if you were only allowed one rifle for all your hunting, what would it be and why?

I’m about to head down this track through necessity, and out of the two rifles I have (BSA .222 and Rem .308) the .308 gets to stay.

It’s about the right weight (7lb) short, suppressed, accurate and has enough power for the largest animals, and aside from rabbits, not too big for the smaller animals. Reloading components are readily available, and she’s easy to get a good load for. The only downside for me, is that she’s not a particularly ‘sexy’ rig. Just capable and reliable.

20” barrel 7mm saum built on a short action. Either rem 700 or custom action.

18” 1-8twist 6mm creedmoor or 6xc in full carbon stock and suppresser with 3-15 night force or swaro


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Hate to say it but a Creedmoor makes a lot of sense. Low recoil, great ballistics, plenty of rifle and factory ammo choices.

A 308 or 7mm08 would be a close second

Tough call between my 260 & 6x45. At a push, I'd probably go the 6x45 with its 1:8 barrel. I'm a meat hunter & goat killer these last few years, so I can cover the bases well with this.

Something in 30 06, You can get close close to 300 WM performance with hot loads or load it down to less than 308. Light fast projectiles for varminting or heavy for long range.

260 or 708

A fast twist 20/22" barrel .223 and various boxes of projectiles to feed it. 52-80 grn, hard and soft.
With the right powder/bullet selection I would be good for anything that I hunt. Wallaby to deer mainly, and the odd Tahr.

No other caliber would allow me to blaze off a hundred cheap rounds at wallaby or pests at almost any reasonable range and not pick up the brass, and immediately switch to shooting a deer (or Tahr) out to 300. On the same day, even.

I would need to turn down the odd shot at a big critter, but that would be the price of versatility.

Originally Posted by Mathias

Tough call between my 260 & 6x45. At a push, I'd probably go the 6x45 with its 1:8 barrel. I'm a meat hunter & goat killer these last few years, so I can cover the bases well with this.

@Mathias I could almost be convinced into the 6x45 being the one and only, that’s what the BSA was bought for. However, hunting primarily in the thicker stuff the .308 with its heavy payload makes sure they can’t run as far. I really loved my old 6x45 and wanted another, but unfortunately needs must at the moment....

I love these threads.
In New Zealand.
6.5x55
bullets from 95gr to close enough to 160, lapua brass, easy on the shoulder, accurate .Mice to Moose.

If I lived on a continent and only had 1 rifle it would be a 9.3x62

Just to stir the pot but what if there was something in between 6.5 and 7mm? with a decent sized case capacity but not magnum length?

Originally Posted by Steve123

Something in 30 06, You can get close close to 300 WM performance with hot loads or load it down to less than 308. Light fast projectiles for varminting or heavy for long range.

yep, I could choose the 7rem mag done the same way

Probably just stick with my 308. Jack of all trades, master of none and plenty of ammo choice.

Originally Posted by Steve123

Just to stir the pot but what if there was something in between 6.5 and 7mm? with a decent sized case capacity but not magnum length?

you mean a 270?

Originally Posted by Steve123

Just to stir the pot but what if there was something in between 6.5 and 7mm? with a decent sized case capacity but not magnum length?

Waiting for a 6.8 PRC to come out