One rifle you could hand anyone to hunt anything? (Western US)

[cwitt]

If you were to build a rifle but you didn’t know who was going to use it or what western hunt they were going to take it on, what would it be?

This has been a question on my mind lately. Every year I guide a good number of hunters all over the west. As more of them show up with rifle systems that leave something to be desired, I am taking it upon myself to have an alternative to offer. The other use would be as a backup rifle should theirs fail in some way. The twist is I’ll have no idea who it is that will be shooting it or what hunt we will be on that they need it for. For all intents and purposes, assume it could be used on almost any style of hunt in the west.

If you were in my shoes, what would the rifle look like? I’m talking clean slate, starting from scratch, could go any direction.

 

[Matt5266]

Since caliber restriction is a thing in some places. Id say you 243 or 6 creed or even 6 arc

Since it sounds like a rifle you want to hand to anyone i would keep it simple. 243 and 6 creed are capable for most anyone but 6 arc certainly is as well as longer barrel life. Tikka, rokstock, UM rings and a SWFA 3-9(simple mil dot reticle). Helluva killer and a simple gun anyone can get behind and be lethal to further than someone should be shooting who's borrowing a gun and probably never shot it before.

Edit to add 16-18 inch barrel with a can

 

[Rippey715]

6.5 CM. 18” barrel and a can. Origin action, TT primary trigger, XLR Element Aluminum with an adjustable stock. High rings.

Get ammo anywhere, nice and wieldy size, super adjustable and adaptable for different shooters. Built in Arca. Prefit barrels you could swap in minutes if you wanted.

Good luck.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

A Tikka 6 Creed in a Rokstok with “300
Win Mag” printed on the barrel… because, you know.

 

[SwiftShot]

Tikka T3 in 308. If your shoot deer 165 grain. If your shooting elk you could bump it in weight or not. Key thing is, if they are showing up without a decent rig. We'll they need to keep there shot in close say 300 or under. Because I would be doubting their trigger time. Under 300 yards the 308 does everything just fine.

 

[TN2shot07]

My thoughts are like SwiftShot, I just bought a 308 for this same purpose but would have been just as happy with a 6.5 creed. I was airing purely on ammo variety and availability. Also going with a basic 6x Leupold that I pulled off a muzzleloader, no reason someone new will be taking a long shot or needs anything else to worry about.

 

[hiker270]

The good old tried and true 270 Winchester.

 

[BLJ]

A Tikka 6 Creed in a Rokstok with “300
Win Mag” printed on the barrel… because, you know.

Similar thought here as well.

The hard part won’t be building a rifle that can be used by many.
It will be convincing those people that peepaw was wrong when he said a “243 don’t have enough power.”

 

[justinspicher]

Nothing. If they didn’t plan properly why is it is up to you to provide for them?

 

[mtnbound]

If you were to build a rifle but you didn’t know who was going to use it or what western hunt they were going to take it on, what would it be?

This has been a question on my mind lately. Every year I guide a good number of hunters all over the west. As more of them show up with rifle systems that leave something to be desired, I am taking it upon myself to have an alternative to offer. The twist is I’ll have no idea who it is that will be shooting it or what hunt we will be on that they need it for. For all intents and purposes, assume it could be used on almost any style of hunt in the west.

If you were in my shoes, what would the rifle look like? I’m talking clean slate, starting from scratch, could go any direction.

6CM/243, but if I didn’t want to listen to people whining about its “too small” I would give them a 270 or 6.5 PRC.

 

[cwitt]

Similar thought here as well.

The hard part won’t be building a rifle that can be used by many.
It will be convincing those people that peepaw was wrong when he said a “243 don’t have enough power.”

A Tikka 6 Creed in a Rokstok with “300
Win Mag” printed on the barrel… because, you know.

This is 100% valid and part of my thought process as well for considering for calibers. I have mostly narrowed it down to 6.5prc or a 25 creedmoor.

 

[cwitt]

Nothing. If they didn’t plan properly why is it is up to you to provide for them?

Because I will be hunting with them either way. I value my own time and energy too much to leave something on the table like this that is easily controllable. And finding a way to have a successful hunt despite the limitations of a client is a pretty core aspect of guiding.

 

[BLJ]

Sadly I think that even the word Creedmoor has a stigma that most will consider more than they should.
Whether a 6.5, 25 or 6.

Call it the 25 Rocky Mountain Magnum.
Shooting 134 Blood Tips.

Clients will fight over it.

 

[cwitt]

6.5 CM. 18” barrel and a can. Origin action, TT primary trigger, XLR Element Aluminum with an adjustable stock. High rings.

Get ammo anywhere, nice and wieldy size, super adjustable and adaptable for different shooters. Built in Arca. Prefit barrels you could swap in minutes if you wanted.

Good luck.

A Tikka 6 Creed in a Rokstok with “300
Win Mag” printed on the barrel… because, you know.

These are relatively similar to what I have in mind for now at least. A Tikka (or maybe Raven?) action in a HNT 26 chassis with a 3-18x NX6. 20-22” barrel, OG65. TT trigger.

Any reason for the XLR over the HNT26? I am leaning towards a chassis.

 

[well_known_rokslider]

I guess the tikka army is still sleeping...just wait...

 

[Hnthrdr]

A Tikka 6 Creed in a Rokstok with “300
Win Mag” printed on the barrel… because, you know.

Because it will hit with authority then?

 

[Hnthrdr]

These are relatively similar to what I have in mind for now at least. A Tikka (or maybe Raven?) action in a HNT 26 chassis with a 3-18x NX6. 20-22” barrel, OG65. TT trigger.

Any reason for the XLR over the HNT26? I am leaning towards a chassis.

I’ve handled them both, I own an xlr… I would probably go with a hnt26 if I did it over…

 

[Pulleye16]

tikka t3x in 308 or 30-06. Done!

Next

 

[RancherJohn]

A Tikka 6 Creed in a Rokstok with “300
Win Mag” printed on the barrel… because, you know.

This is the way; I have had different 'loaner' guns over the years but I finally have most of the pieces here to set one up like this. 16-18" 6cm/6.5cm/6.5PRC Tikka, Area 419 rail, SWFA 3-9x, Rokstok, OG6S/OG6.5 can. Reliable, short, light (ish), and easy for anyone to pick up and shoot.

 

[well_known_rokslider]

Ope, here they come

I guess the tikka army is still sleeping...just wait...