The 30-06 has been my perfect go to rifle hunting here in florida with shots out to 150 maybe 200 and closer it works great with the right bullet combo its the only rifle caliber I have and pretty much need for my hunting methods
I have the 1981 version of the Model 70 XTR in .257 Roberts. It looks like yours is one of the Cabelas specials or similar. I'm fondling my pre 64 .270 as I watch. Open sights. Elegant feel. Perfect fit. Best working man's rifle ever. Followed closely by the Savage 99. Growing up on the ranch and watching what the cowboys used really formed my thoughts on versatile rifles. That 99 in .300 Savage was my Grandfather's only rifle. He was born in a time when target shooting was a rich man's luxury. As you mentioned, when you only have one, you get really good. He was really good. I have the remnants of the 3 boxes of ammo He bought with the gun and Weaver Mark 4 in 1957.
I just recently discovered your channel and have watched almost every video and am really enjoying it! I was fortunate enough to know a man a lot like you who was an all around gun guy and a wealth of knowledge on guns and reloading. I got an old Remington 721 30-06 from him before he passed and your videos have rekindled my love for older guns, thank you ! Looking forward to more in the future
Keep up the good work! I love how your videos are versatile just like the guns you just spoke of. Your videos have common sense, history, philosophy, good old Christian theology, and are much like sitting in a classroom with a knowledgeable professor. Considering I am from Mississippi your Southern drawl just adds to my appreciation of your work. I happened to find your channel by accident and now I find myself constantly looking for more of your videos. I find that I am a lot like you in the fact that early on I had one gun that did all things and now I have become a collector of new to me old firearms that are beautiful. One of these days I'm going to find a Winchester model 70 that was just meant for me to own. I have about three or four calibers that I would accept it in and one of these days when I least expect it it will jump off the shelf at me. Looking forward to more of your videos so that I can soak up some more of your knowledge!!
During my time I guess Ive had a lot of specialized rifles, never thought if it that way but after watching this, they were. I had long range rifles [ Weatherby .300 ] Bear rifles, [ .35 Whelen ] Deer rifles [ 30.06 ] etc. But if I had to pick one all around rifle it would have to be a 30.06 because of the wide availability of rounds it will shoot. You can load it for anything from varmint to bear and still be successful...Great video actually made me think and remember some great rifles Ive had over the years. Looking forward to seeing the work on the 03 and the FN...have a great week and God Bless.
I'm running a little behind on comments this week Lee, LOL, but thanks. And I think most serious hunters that go after different game end up getting more specialized over time even if they don't realize it?
I know I’m late to the party, but I’m glad you feel better and are back to doing what you love. I, myself am no stranger to health issues. I’ve dealt with a heart arrhythmia since I was in my mid 20’s.
I can't wait to see how your 03 build turns out! I'll be watching this one for sure. I have a sporter I bought a few years ago (100 years old this year) that LOVES 180 gr. When I get back home next month I hope to do some experimenting with the 150 & 145 I found. I'm actually looking for a 22-250 or 243 for little chuckies.
I was shooting 175gr bullets in the a3 so we know it likes the heavier bullets as well. I have some 150gr SST's that I want to load for hunting. I sure it hope it likes those as much as the 175s.
Thanks, and I bet stone age men sat around camp fires making arrowheads while having the same conversation. And hopefully there will be men still hunting in the future and if so I bet they'll still be having this conversation.
G’day Tom I have two rifles one in .223 the other in .270 they are both m18 Mauser I think they are the best two rifles about,my .223 is for short to medium, the .270 is for medium to long they aren’t really the best looking rifles about but they are so consistent and reliable nothing else matters I love your videos, l have only just come across them you have some great videos easily to understand and follow 👍👍👍👍 keep up the great work
I have 3 rifles. But my go to rifle for big game is Savage 30-06 with 22” barrel, Boyd’s custom Stock and 3x9x40 scope. Not much of a conversation piece, but if flat out works on deer, big hogs and larger game as well. That 7mm you have is a sweet rifle for sure!
My perfect rifle/cartridge comes in .257 Roberts, .308, 30.06, .270, 45-70, 44 mag, 357 Maximum, 6.5 Creed, 284 Winchester,30-30, 30-40 Krag,...aw heck if it goes bang it's my favorite what can I say so I guess I am a collector Tom. LOL. Good vid sir. Enjoyed it.
I think it is interesting that when you selected the Winchester model 70 your starting point was the ammunition. In so many ways the intended purpose of the rifle guides the ammunition choice and from that point you are already going down a path of specialization in some sense. Same with your selection of sights. In other words, by the time you have put your weapon system together it is designed to best fulfill it's intended purpose - even if that purpose [read specialization!] is to be a jack of all trades rather than master of one. Awesome vid as usual. Edit. Watched further and you discussed cartridge choice and how critical it is to select the right one for intended purpose. Perhaps I should have watched to the end before commenting!
I thought you had a good point. This is one of those topics that you can approach it from so many different angles and that's what makes it tough to discuss a topic like this. It sort of what came first the chicken or the egg? It's more cyclical than linear because of the different variable are so inter connected but for me it always comes back to intended range. Long range rifles need to be set up different than short range even if using the same cartridge. And maybe because it is cyclical that's why I always end up going in circles in when I talk about such topics? LOL
I like a lower power scope with about 2 or 2.5X magnification on the low end for deer hunting in the bush. That way you can use the scope with your right eye and still keep a large field of view available with your left eye. If you can shoot with both eyes open it really helps, especially with a running deer. I also like short stroke levers so you don't have to drop the gun between shots. Semi autos are even better of course. BTW, you pronounce lever like a Canadian. I'm used to Americans saying levver. Thanks again.
That's a great conversation Tom. I'm setting up a browning blr 30-06 and a tikka t3x .308 as my med - large game rifles. I have some food for thought on hand... Im hunting in saskatchewan, mixed field and thick forest... Lever action with some heft in 3006 and this lightweight 308.. As for scope, I own a 3-9×50 that I may put on my 308 and purchase a low power 1.5-5(ish) scope for the 3006. The 3006 likes 150g and 220g bullets. Shorter range bush gun 220 g for moose, elk and hog. Then .308 for shots to 300 on deer/mule deer. What am I missing? Any thoughts Tom
Mike that sounds like a pretty good plan! You could go with the 150gr in the 06 and have a longer maximum point blank range than the 308 and use it for longer distances. The down side to that is you would still need heavier bullets for the brush and larger game and those heavier bullets are probably going to have a lot more felt recoil in that Tikka even though it is 308? I would take the route you're thinking and it should work out great for you. P.S. I love the Browning BLR's!
That model 70 is beautiful. I have a small ring Chilean Mauser in 7mm I put a scout scope on and get moa with 150 eldx and a light load of 760. What loads do you like in the model 70
Pretty much every bullet I have ran in this one has shot well. 139 and 160 gr Hornady's, 150gr Partitions, and 145gr Speer Hotcores. And I've bounced back and fourth between H4350 and IMR 4350 but I have yet to find that one load that you just know is the load. I've got some IMR 4166 that I've heard great things about for the 7mm08 that I want to try next. I know all of the loads I've tried work but I just haven't quite found what I'm looking for. And those Spanish Mauser are highly underrated rifles. I always thought it was funny that manufactures down loaded their 7x57 ammo because of the small ring Mausers not being able to handle higher pressures but they never even loaded the factory ammo to the pressures that the standard service ammo was for those rifles, and we know they held up to it.
Yeah I know some people have loaded hot for those rifles but I don't see the point. I'm averaging 2560 with that 150 eldx out of that boat oar barrel. If I actually wanted to hunt with that gun that would be just fine. I was just expecting shotgun patterns and was pleasantly surprised
As a younger man with two children at home, I always thought in terms of a versatile trio of what I called "Lower 48" rifles. All based on what is in my humble opinion, the most elegant rifle made in America...the Ruger #1. For the youngest daughter, a 6mm Remington (10 twist barrel...LOL) was to be built for her. My son would have a .257 Roberts, and I would use the 7x57. You will probably notice a theme here and I'm sure you know this but the trio of cartridges are all very closely related as they're all based on the venerable 8x57 Mauser. I even considered having the #1 extractors modified for a rimmed version of the trio, there's just something about a single-shot action and rimmed cartridge combo! It all ended up being a pipe dream as the kids grew up and moved on to other interests (except for my 7x57, I did finish that one). Sorry, off-topic but will say this is another fine video Tom...keep 'em coming!
That's a nice dream but as you pointed out dreams change. But that's ok, it's good to have new dreams. And yes I am very familiar with the cartridges you just mentioned. I have the 7x57 and .257 Roberts both in Featherweight model 70's and I have a brand new bag of 6mm Remington brass just waiting on a rifle. I thought that was a great idea you wanting them all in a No1 mainly because you can get them all in a no1 which is something you can't do with very many other rifles. And I'm pretty sure Winchester never chambered a Featherweight in 6mm so I have no idea what the perfect rifle for a 6mm would be for me but I'm keeping and eye out for it and have been for sometime now. But I'll find it one day.
Enjoyed this immensely yes this is the reason different rifles and different calibers were invented and I'm not prejudice if it goes bang it excites me lol but will admit my all time favorite will always be the 30-06 because of all the different makes and models it was chamber in a model 760 pump or 742 was a ideal tree stand and woods gun my Winchester model 70 shorter and Ruger 77 were ideal for hunting creek bottom pasture land and no it doesn't have to be a 06 for that but choose the rifle for your hunting condition and life will be so much better
I went through this versatility analysis many years ago. The rifle I chose was stainless steal, synthetic stock, iron sights, sling studs, bolt action. The caliber I chose was 30-06. I mounted a 3-9x40mm Leupold scope on it. What rifle satisfied all this was the Ruger M77 All Weather. I still think it a versatile rifle.
308 and 30:06 are my idea of jack of all trades, as far as cartridges go you can not get any more versatile. Was this particular rifle too heavy? Was it the wrong scope? Was it the action type that bothered you? Could you just put on a lighter stock and/or change scopes and have a more versatile rifle? Your choice of a 7mm Mauser seems logical but not much better if any than 7mm08 or 270 and the scope 3x9 is what I put on all my hunting rifles. I like all the guns you chose.
Robert, I didn't think about it until I published the video but I really should have explained why the 5R wasn't very versatile. It's heavy. It has a 24in bull barrel and the stock is pretty heavy as well. I just assume when I was filming that it would be apparent how thick that barrel actually is because it's the first thing you notice when actually looking at that rifle but as I'm learning things just don't show up in video like I think they will. It looked like a normal barrel in the video. So no there isn't much that can be done to lighten it up, which is fine because I still enjoy it as a target rifle. And you are right about the 7x57. There is no real practical benefit to it over any other cartridge especially with how I hunt these days. But when I was younger I really liked the heavier bullets and the 7x57 can handle heavier bullets than a 7mm-08 and because it's in between a long action and short action in length I could load those heavier bullets in it, seat them way out really close to the lands, and still be able to fit them in a magazine because rifles chambered in 7x57 are usually long actions and that leaves plenty of space in the magazine. I have to load the cartridges I use in the 5R one at a time because they're to long for the magazine. On a side note, that 5R has the same barrel as the Army's m24 sniper rifle and it has a 1 in 11.75 rate of twist for the best possible accuracy with .30 caliber 175gr bullets. But those 175gr bullets are a lot longer than most short action bullets which causes problems fitting them into magazines. Not a problem with the 7x57.
I love this video! Several years ago I built my dream rifle. 15lb 300 win mag. High end high magnification scope, top tier rings, 20 Moa base, fancy bipod, rear bag. Sounds ridiculous for deer right? But where I was hunting I had 800 yard shots and regularly practiced that distance. Had no issues shooting a baseball at 600 yards. I had 100 yard walk to my hunting spot at the top of a hill that overlooked a spiderweb of pipeline right of ways. It was perfect. I made amazing shots year after year. Killed a pile of deer. And then I lost access to my hunting spot. Well back to hunting game lands and guess what, a 15lb rifle with a 28” barrel doesn’t play well for woods hunting. Now I hunt with an old wood stock savage 110 in 270 with a 3-9 scope. Things change. Good thing they make choices. But my new rifle swings around in the woods good and it’s easy to carry but I regularly practice at 500 yards with it so if the opportunity arises I could stretch it out a little. Kind of my Jack of all trades. Little older and a lot wiser
I tried some a few years ago and I just didn't like them. They kept getting turned on by accident in my pack and the batteries would die. And I just couldn't hear right with them on. But I did try them. At that time I was having a lot of neurological problems and it my hearing a lot more sensitive. But thankfully it's not so bad now. And my hearing is pretty good except for being almost deaf at one particular frequency.
It has taken me a while to get to this point but I now believe that a Winchester model 70 or similar rifle in 30-06 puts this whole debate to rest, especially if you are a hand loader. As you mentioned here it can be loaded down to .308 or stoked up and can effectively shoot bullets from around 100 grains all the way up to 200 or 220 grain all without burning as much powder or needing the extra barrel length of a magnum. I really believe that for any ethical hunting distance on any game in North America it can not be beat and puts all other calibers to shame in this respect. Take care Tom!
It's a great choice, but not quite as " versatile" in that it makes a lot of noise and burns a lot of power. I went prairie dog hunting last Sunday. The rancher's wife asked me what I was shooting because her husband and son were coming in from working cattle and were going to watch the Super Bowl. I told her .243 Win. She told me where to go and said they never heard me shoot. I really wanted to wail away with the M1 Garand, but a moderate caliber got me access.
Similar problem where I salmon fish. I used to be the only one fishing there. In a span of 4 years the place is packed. No edicate just slaughtering and littering. Gotta maintain. Cheers for the video
I set up two rifles for every upcoming season as well. For instance, those stands that overlook the bean fields I’ll carry the Weatherby Mark V chambered in 7x61 S&H. For still hunting and stands that are back in the bush, I’ll carry my Sako 75 Bavarian in 8mm Mauser. Another combination might be my 270 A.I. For the bean fields and my 300 Savage for the bush. In the end, running two rifles gives me all the versatility I need by allowing me to specialize on the day. For instance, is the wind wrong for hunting over the bean field tomorrow? If it is, then I’ll grab the lighter, faster, lower magnification, heavier bullet combo and head for the woods. Versatility.
And you touched on something there Michael that I'm not sure if I did a good job at explaining but it isn't just the cartridge or the rifle that makes something a better shorter or longer range rifle. It's the entire package including the optics. And I have to say you made some very interesting cartridge selections there. I like it!
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving That’s right Tom; it’s the whole package. Do you plan on still hunting a large tract of land? Then you need a light weight rifle that is conducive to all day carry. It should have good balance and stock geometry for snap shots like a shotgun. Vertical grips, beaver tail fore-ends, high combs and high magnification optics probably aren’t ideal. Think Winchester 94, Browning BLR or Browning BAR.
I've got a 5R Milspec .308 exactly like yours and it's one of the most consistently accurate rifles I've ever shot, under 1-MOA with everything I've put through it and sub-.5 MA with what it likes. My 5R will shoot right with my full custom rifle on Stiller action with Bartlein barrel in a Mcmillan stock. My versatile rifle is my Rem. 700 ADL in .308 that's bedded into a HS Precision stock (I got his rifle for Christmas when I was 15 in 1983, I killed my first deer with it and It'll likely kill my last as well)
I haven't seen much of anything come up lately that I'm interested in. There is definitely a gun shortage right now, and then I get really depressed when I finally see one of the few rifles I'm interested in and then see the price with it. I used to see these from time to along with the 257 Roberts but I haven't seen either in awhile. Hopefully things get back to normal soon?
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving Those featherweight 257s are a dream as well. Alas I will likely end up with a 7mm-08 featherweight, not that it is a bad choice at all I just wanted something a little different.
Well, Tom, if Simple Living was easy it would be popular. The message that this video leaves us with is that a versatile rifle is the simple solution, but the best solution is to have a specialized rifle for all situations. It sounds much like professional hunting with high limits on the number of rifles to buy, which is not Simple Living, and which is not cheap. Simple Living is selling a rifle every time that you buy a new one (didn't you say that yourself at one point?). That's hard. Very tough to live by. Love your videos. Make you think...
All very good points Jean, and thanks for pointing that out. I have been getting off track from the direction I personally want to be going in. As for the number of rifles, I don't think one is needed for every situation but I think having 2 helps. I know I didn't do the best job explaining this but it isn't that a single cartridge or rifle can't do it all because it can. But it's tough to set up a single rifle and cartridge for both short range and long range. As for myself and simple living, I have been trying to figure out how to get myself back on the right track. I wanted to do some fishing and gardening videos but not because I necessarily wanted to do videos on those things but because those are the things I wanted to do for myself to help improve my own quality of living. But I have struggled to find the time for either much less to flim those things. With that said we do find the time for the things we value so I'm just going to have to figure out how to do more of those things. Like you said if it was easy it would be popular.
I had this conversation two weeks ago with a coworker who wants to get into hunting and target shooting. I'm a bow hunter with two bows, 70 lb and 110 lb draw, with three sets of multi weighted shafts and variety of arrow heads. I told him he'll need three or four rifles. One or two for the twenty caliber family and definitely two for the thirty caliber family. Also look for thirty caliber stocks that can add weights. Think of the stocks as chassis's to hold multiple engine's or barrel's. With any luck he'll only need two bolt's for the twenty caliber family and three bolt's for the thirty caliber family.
Funny you should mention archery because I just told someone that bet men had this same conversation while sitting around a fire making arrows back in the stone age?
I've found the 243 winchester is best for me where I hunt, most shots 100 yards or closer but have strength it out to 260 yards no problem. It's light with a 3x9x50 scope.
I guess if I could pick only 1 rifle to hunt bigger size game, from deer to larger critters, near and far, woods to open country, it would be a 30-06. Just my choice, there are a lot of good choices out there.
I have never hunted in white tail country back east anywhere so I may not know what I am talking about, but it seems to me that hunting in dense woods wherein shots will be 100 yards or less a 30-30 would do nicely.
I am a Oregon hunter of the coast range. I tried twice hunting Pennsylvania so I found a wide range of guns can be used . I found power lines to watch for deer with up to a mile to watch and I walked through brush to jump deer and I walked through hardwood forest when you walk - stop and glass for deer looking at you . My first PA hunt I carried a 7 mm Rem mag which was just fine I felt for this hunt. My 2nd PA hunting I took the Mark 5 Weatherby ultra light in 300WBY mag to cover all shooting. I say dead is dead so I never believe a gun is to big . Deer hit by a 300 WBY mag always pancake belly flops dead ! it's the most stunning death on deer to be seen . The deer even body expand and water turns to mist off the deer when the 30 cal bullet from the 300 WBY mag passes through a deer. Just be sure to load all 300 mags with Barns TSX bullets to stop bullet blow ups. I load for deer for the 300 WBY mag is a Barns TSX 150 grain at 3400 FPS .
All.my thinking caused a 338 win mag , rugar m77 ii zytel 444 marlin 444p outfitter ,, Jm, of course for the up close stuff... And a 22 mag over 20 guage ... Ready for anything from Alaska to the southern tip of south America
Daniel it sounds like your thinking put you in a pretty good position! That's a nice well rounded set of working guns. And I agree you can handle anything that walks in North America with that, and for that matter anything that walks on the planet! LOL
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving Was looking at your model 70 videos because I got an Alaskan statehood commemoritive 25 year anniversary model, 338 win mag Being a manufacturer date of 1984, It seems to be a mix of pre 64, and post 64,,, Original controlled round feed, and rear barrel sight, With a screw on front sight blade
@@danielravenstar4442 The changes on the post 64's were to cut cost and keep Winchester competitive with less expensive guns like the Model700 and that cost cutting really showed in the early post 64's. But there were certain models that Winchester charged extra for like the Alaskan, Safari, and Super Grades that Winchester made sure were made to a high standard like the pre 64's were. And by 1980 Winchester has really improved the fit and finish on all of their rifles but the special models like the Alaskan were still a step above those.
Rex, I haven't used a TC yet. I love the No1 and single shots in general but I just haven't tried a break action rifle yet. But I do love the fact that you can change barrels on the T.C. and I suspect I will have one before it's over?
I have 4 rifles, a shotgun, a handgun. 1 rifle, the M4A3, is in 5.56 x 45 mm NATO (.223 Rem.) I have it for self-protection and feral hog hunts. In my area, it's a bit customary to hunt feral hogs with those and there is a business near Lake Texoma who will rent you AR-15s and take you up in a helicopter ("Get in the chopper!") and you hunt hogs from the air. All you need is "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones or "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival to complete the ambience. My other 3 rifles are in .308 Win. I never considered 308 a specialized round, I thought it was more general but all of my rifles can be used hunting. I have an AR-10 in .308. It is balanced, super-accurate, so many ways to carry. But it is the heaviest gun at over 12 pounds. It does not feel heavy to me. What feels heavy to me is my Mossberg MVP 308 Long Range Thunder Ranch (in Kuiu Camo.) it is between 10 and 12 pounds but feels heavier because the balance is difference because it has a bull barrel, which puts some weight forward. The lightest gun is my Mossberg Patriot, which weighed under 8 pounds. I have not used it much because it kicks like a mule, being such a light polymer stock. Just this morning, I put in a MTD Chassis and adjustable but stock that I got. Fits like a glove. I will have the folding adapter. This makes it a breeze to take the bolt all the way out for cleaning. And I put on a Vortex Venom 5x-25x/ 56 mm FFP scope and a 6 inch picatinny rail, Harris bipod, so, I have added some weight and it might be close to 9 pounds. I need to weigh it. To me, a 7 mm Mauser might be more special, especially in finding ammo. Whereas, you can find 308 everywhere. And across the world, 7.62 x 51 mm NATO. So, for me, the weight and design of the rifle might lend more to philosophy of use. Or, just personal preference. I have read the memoirs of one of the most prolific modern snipers, Nicholas Irving, AKA, "The Reaper." In service, he shot an SR-25, a semi-auto in .308 Win. His sniper team leader shot a .300 Win Mag that kept jamming and causing problems in spite of the religious devotion to cleaning that they did. For some reason, the sand box played havoc with it. I plan to get new groups and new zero on the Patriot in the new chassis. I have heard that brings lots of improvement and I watched your other video about accurizing where you did some judicious sanding on the wood stock to free up the binding and torque that was happening when the barrel and even the front of the action heated up. If it works out, the Patriot, originally meant to be a hunting rifle, might just become my hunting rifle. I am a big strong guy and I think if I can shave some weight, that will good. The public land I hunt on is overgrown like crazy. You hike in and over and around stuff, leaving orange ribbon flags along the way. And then hike your way back out.
@@Lure-Benson Update, I did get the Mossberg Patriot zeroed in the new Chassis with a Vortex Venom scope. Averaging 1 MOA at 100 yards with a hot and thin fluted barrel.
Now you got my attention with the 6mm-284. I always thought that was a great cartridge. Which I thought the 284 win was a great cartridge but it just never really caught on? Can't say that I know anything about the 6.5 - 284 Norma.
People overcomplicate things. .243 to 30-06, with a good shot and a good bullet = dead deer. People living east of the Mississippi hunting deer with magnum calibers tells me a lot about their hunting education.
I had a friend that used to hunt deer with a 300 Win mag. He was one of the ones that I talked about in the .270 video that had lost deer with the .270. He decided then if there wasn't much left of the deer then he couldn't loose it. And I have to give him credit he never lost one with it. LOL. But the funny thing is it never did that much damage to them. Basically the bullet would just blow through the deer with very little energy transfer and there where many times when I saw more damage from my .308. But it does amaze me at how many do hunt with a mag here. I can see a place for some of the really flat shooting mags but that's only in special circumstances like bean fields or powerlines. But other than those special situations I agree there's no need for a mag for deer.
Agreed, they are all very versatile. And I can't eat most red meats. I can eat venison but I have to eat a little at a time until I get used to it again. If I go for awhile without eating it I have to start over with a little at a time (one bite a day then two and so on). I wanted to try squirrel and rabbit this past winter but I never got a chance to hunting so both of those are still a big question mark. But if I can go long enough without getting bit by the tick that causes it I should he able to eat red meat again one day?
In some way I regret having more than one rifle. When you have one rifle it is your go to rifle, no matter the situation you pick it up. With multiple rifles it adds choice and overthinking which may ruin the experience.
I'm ok with two but after that I agree it gets tough. And I still from time to time think about going back to just one. I don't think I would regret it if I did?
A Remington model 7 on 7mm-08 with 2x7 is close to perfect deer in my mind and don't own one . I always end up and buying something else my 06 is working just fine.
For the very first rifle I bought new I couldn't decide between a .308 or 30/06. I loved the .308 and thought it was perfect for deer but I finally decided to get the 30/06 just in case. Today, I would get the 7mm08. But they will all get the job done.
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving The only advantage I see in the 06 over the 308 is the ability to handle 180 to 220 grain bullets better. Deer are not that tough of a critter to put down. If you have the opportunity to hunt elk , the 180gr bullet in 30-06 is an old classic for elk.
Tom, you said you were "surprised" at the accuracy of the 03 with such an old barrel. Understood. However my custom Model of 1896 Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 has a receiver date of 1912 and is < 1 MOA all day long with commercial ammo. Now that was a surprise lol. Let's see ya send some down range from that beautiful 308. Would love to see groups out of that one too.
And the reason your 6.5x55 shoots so good is because it's also a low pressure cartridge. I just don't think enough people appreciate those low pressure cartridges? And I'll have to do a video on the .308 one day because it really is a shooter. I shot a 5 shot group with it once that was so small I couldn't even measure it.
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving Now that is a small group !! Quick story on the Swede. I wanted that cartridge to deer hunt with but went through three old Model 96's before I found one that would put all 3 shots almost in the same hole at 25yds with open sights. That's the one I chose for my project gun. Did I ever show you a picture of it?
What I always found so interesting about the 7x57 is that it was one of the first cartridges developed for smokeless powder and after all of this time it's still one of the best. And the 308 was a modified 300 Savage. They just made the neck longer and the 300 Savage was also one of the early cartridges. They definitely knew what they were doing back then.
I think you picked a fine do-all rifle. In fact, I think heavy magnums are largely overrated, even with large and dangerous game. Three facts lead me to this conclusion. First, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game DOES NOT RECOMMEND magnum cartridges for bear (grizzly, brown bear, kodiak). They say a .308 is just fine, and even the .270 Winchester or a 7mm-08. Given the responsibility they are charged with to ensure hunters and people in general are safe, that is saying something. This agency has been saying as much for well over a decade (perhaps longer). Second, and more interesting in my opinion, back circa 2014, the Canadian Arctic Rangers picked a new rifle for polar bear made by Tikka called the T3x Arctic and it was/is chambered in .308 Winchester. Not only that, since then, Tikka has released the Arctic in only one other caliber. In other words, for something as specialized as carrying a rifle in the arctic to hunt or otherwise dispatch polar bear and polar bear only (the largest and deadliest bear on earth), there are only two calibers that Tikka uses for the task: the .308 Winchester and now softer and flatter shooting 6.5 Creedmoor. If the BC and SD of the right 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge is good enough for polar bear despite its decreased mass, unless we're shooting between mountain tops, I can't imagine really "NEEDING" anything more. The only possible exception I can think of (and I am only guessing) is that hunters in Alaska and the lower 48 might prefer the heavier mass of a .308 for hunting large animals because I imagine it passes through such game more easily to leave a blood trail. If that's not the case, however, considering how closely .308 and 6.5 occupy the same space in today's world, the 6.5 Creedmoor may still be enough, and that is certainly the case for black bear, white-tailed deer and, in my opinion, the largest larger Cervidae. The larger polar bears typically weigh in at approximately 1540 lbs, but the record was 2,209. If polar bears are huge (and they are), the largest moose in North America are even slightly larger with the largest on record weighing in at 2,299 lbs. Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife provides the legal restrictions on hunting moose in their state. This is what they stipulate when it comes to caliber selection: "Cartridges: "Firearms with .17 or .22 caliber rimfire cartridges may not be used for deer, moose, or bear hunting, except that .22 magnum can be used for deer hunting. "Shotguns using shot loads cannot be used to hunt bear or moose." Clearly 6.5 Creedmoor is legal to hunt moose with, and coupled with Tikka's specialized polar bear gun being only chambered in .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor (the lightest cartridge for dangerous game I am aware of), 6.5 may now be counted among the greatest do-all rifle calibers. There have been some hunters who have criticized its use on white-tail deer, and all I can say is that they are misguided. I don't know if it comes from the firearms industry or just old fashion thinking that only considers BC and SD without understanding that KE = 1/2mass X velocity squared, but certainly 7mm or even 6.5 Creedmoor appears to be up to the task in my opinion. Would it be the best choice for a specialized gun hunting (and not just fending off) North America's largest animals? Probably not. But they certainly could be used for those purposes despite conventional thinking, and that makes those calibers perfect do-all rifle cartridges in my opinion (especially when you handload). In other words, there is an argument to be made for most going back to one rifle. Many consider the .308 or .30-06 as do-all cartridges (and they are). But a 6.5 creedmoor has less energy than a .308 inside 400 yards, so it's even better for closer shots on smaller game and proven to be more effective at long-range (having more energy beyond 400-500 yards). Given the right bullet selection and bullet placement, 6.5 might be the winning one-gun hunting solution in states that permit its use. Living in Ohio, I can't even hunt deer with anything but a straight-walled cartridge, so I don't even own a 6.5 Creedmoor and thus do not have a dog in the fight. But if I lived elsewhere, that might be my one rifle solution.
I am an Alaskan and a Alaska bear hunting guide from 1989 to start of covid which ended my Alaska business. Not one pro bear hunting guide here will ever tell someone to use less than a 338 win mag for our bears . You need to understand all the AK game biologists came from schools in Eastern coast states and they aren't hunters, I have meet so many of them who are complete clueless book smart fool ! . These people working at the AK game department are only into wildlife study's not guns , not what kills AK game Just because a person works for a state game department won't make these people experts in hunt or guns and ammo .
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving LOL, I just gave you a thumbs up because I deserved that!! Soo funny. I'm trying to give this guy some feedback, I really like him he just needs to cut the rambling in half and make a video that hits some points and then let up go back to living our lives!
@@markr5132 I had to laugh when I read your first comment because I almost didn't post this video because I was rambling and I knew I was. And even with all of that rambling I still didn't explain it very well and left out some important points. One thing I have figured out is that when I ramble it's because I still haven't quite figured out how to explain something. But if I keep rambling enough it might all click for me and for everyone else? Sort of like the proverbial light bulb going off. And then sometimes it doesn't. LOL
I like the two-gun approach. For me, it's a Marlin 336 in .30-30 and a Remington Model 700 in .30-'06. I could get by fine with just the Model 700, though. "A .30-'06 is overkill for woodland whitetail," some would say. Mine isn't, because I handload, and have a 160 grain FTX over H-4895 load that averages 2.400 fps out my 700's 24" barrel. That 24" barrel insures I get the full benefit of full-tilt powder charges behind 180 grain homogenous copper bullets, too. At 8.75 pounds in field-ready trim, a day at the range "position shooting" from standing, sitting, kneeling and prone, firing M2 Ball duplicate loads with 150 grain FMJ bullets at 2,700, doesn't turn my shoulder in to ground sausage. That load out of my Model 700 gives me about the same felt recoil as I got shooting full-power .257 Roberts from a 6.35 pounds bare Browning A-Bolt Medallion I used to have. Some that similarity in felt recoil is due to my Model 700's additional weight, but some of it is also due to a bespoke Grade 2 walnut stock with a high, thick, parallel comb that fits me to perfection. Out in the hunting field, that weight is handy in controlling arc of movement, whether I'm in close cover and need to thread a bullet through shrubbery from an unsupported standing position, or I'm out on the Wyoming prairie, "slung up tight and prone" and taking a 175 yard poke at a pronghorn, or I'm doing an "across the draw" shot with a 20 mph wind blowing over the barrel perpendicular to the bore. I'm willingly sacrificing what I perceive to be a little portability for what I perceive to be a lot of improved field shootability. The long barrel doesn't bother me in thick cover. I use a 28 gauge superposed gun for upland bird and small game hunting, often in thick cover, with that shotgun being more or less the same overall length as my Model 700 is. In thinking about what I wanted my Model 700 to be, I though often about an old Model 1903 Springfield based sporting rifle I once owned. It weighed about 8.5 pounds bare, being made as it was when scopes weren't in common use by American hunters, and having aperture sights, in lieu of a scope. The fellow I inherited that from used it to hunt on five continents and it was the only rifle he ever owned. He claimed it was the only one he ever needed to own. When he went to Africa, if "the big stuff that bites back" was on license, he simply rented a "stopping rifle" from his hunting company, rather than owning one himself. For everything else, from pronghorns to pigs to moose and Alaskan brown bears, he deemed the .30-'06 "just about just right." While I could get along fine with just my Model 700, I get along a whole lot finer by having a Marlin 336 in .30-30 as well. If I cared about shooting gophers and the like, I'd likely need another Remington Model 700 in .223, but I'm not keen enough on varmint shooting to justify another rifle and another caliber to load for. Then again, I could probably get along fine with a rifle like a Winchester Featherweight Super Grade in 7mm Mauser, too. Or, perhaps something like a Model Seven CDL in 7mm/08......
It's funny how little we actually need vs how many choices there are out there. But it sounds like you are set and you touched on something that I need to make sure I mention in a future video on the 30-06 cartridge. It really is as versatile as they say but you need to reload to get that versatility out of it. A 160 grain bullet at 2400 f/s is absolutely perfect for the woods but you aren't getting that with factory ammo. And as you pointed out your rifle is setup perfectly for when you want to reach out there. And that sounds like one fine rifle! Thanks for sharing that. And i was a little torn on this video. I didn't want to give younger hunters the impression that you have to have 2 rifles, but it sure is nice to have a light weight low recoil something for the woods like your Marlin.
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving I don't think anybody, young or old, would come away from viewing your video with the impression that one HAS to have more than one deer rifle. What I got out of it was that it's NICE to have more than one. I tried to follow that theme in my comment; that I could get by with just my Model 700, but it's nice to also have that more specialized tool in the form of my Marlin 336. On the subject of the .30-'06, I agree wholeheartedly that hand-loading is the key that unlocks it's vaunted versatility. If I didn't hand-load, I'd be inclined to think that something in the 6.5 Swedish /7mm Mauser class would be ideal; either those two rounds, or their newer, short-action near-'nuff ballistic twins, like 7mm-08 or .260 Remington. In other words, take handloading out of the picture, and my "one rifle" would probably have been something like your Model 70 in 7mm Mauser. Parenthetically, there's another aspect to why thinking in terms of handloading led me to .30-'06 in the end, and it was simply that I've been shooting the cartridge, off and on, since I was 18, and I am heavily invested in the cartridge in terms of a stockpile of powers and components to load for it. I could make it work, and it made economic sense in my case to do so. :)
I just love my 30/30's , 243 and my 270's they cover everything.
And they would. All great cartridges there.
Not in Alaska they don’t
@@shaunlehman9158 or Africa
@@shaunlehman9158 sure they will, just don't bite off more than you can chew.
@@shaunlehman9158 lmao whatever you say pal...i bet youre such a badass hunter and fisherman and sober as a gopher 😂😂😂
The 30-06 has been my perfect go to rifle hunting here in florida with shots out to 150 maybe 200 and closer it works great with the right bullet combo its the only rifle caliber I have and pretty much need for my hunting methods
I have the 1981 version of the Model 70 XTR in .257 Roberts. It looks like yours is one of the Cabelas specials or similar. I'm fondling my pre 64 .270 as I watch. Open sights. Elegant feel. Perfect fit. Best working man's rifle ever. Followed closely by the Savage 99. Growing up on the ranch and watching what the cowboys used really formed my thoughts on versatile rifles. That 99 in .300 Savage was my Grandfather's only rifle. He was born in a time when target shooting was a rich man's luxury. As you mentioned, when you only have one, you get really good. He was really good. I have the remnants of the 3 boxes of ammo He bought with the gun and Weaver Mark 4 in 1957.
Think you for all you do Tom . Your videos are educational for all the young hunters and the old as myself.
Thanks Billy. I really appreciate that.
I just recently discovered your channel and have watched almost every video and am really enjoying it! I was fortunate enough to know a man a lot like you who was an all around gun guy and a wealth of knowledge on guns and reloading. I got an old Remington 721 30-06 from him before he passed and your videos have rekindled my love for older guns, thank you ! Looking forward to more in the future
Thanks Jeffery I appreciate that. And I'm glad to hear you're excited about those older rifles again because they never quit being great guns.
Keep up the good work! I love how your videos are versatile just like the guns you just spoke of. Your videos have common sense, history, philosophy, good old Christian theology, and are much like sitting in a classroom with a knowledgeable professor. Considering I am from Mississippi your Southern drawl just adds to my appreciation of your work. I happened to find your channel by accident and now I find myself constantly looking for more of your videos. I find that I am a lot like you in the fact that early on I had one gun that did all things and now I have become a collector of new to me old firearms that are beautiful. One of these days I'm going to find a Winchester model 70 that was just meant for me to own. I have about three or four calibers that I would accept it in and one of these days when I least expect it it will jump off the shelf at me. Looking forward to more of your videos so that I can soak up some more of your knowledge!!
Why thank you very much for that Smokey. Reading comments like that is what makes doing these videos worth it.
Great job as always! Enjoyed it!!!
During my time I guess Ive had a lot of specialized rifles, never thought if it that way but after watching this, they were. I had long range rifles [ Weatherby .300 ] Bear rifles, [ .35 Whelen ] Deer rifles [ 30.06 ] etc. But if I had to pick one all around rifle it would have to be a 30.06 because of the wide availability of rounds it will shoot. You can load it for anything from varmint to bear and still be successful...Great video actually made me think and remember some great rifles Ive had over the years. Looking forward to seeing the work on the 03 and the FN...have a great week and God Bless.
I'm running a little behind on comments this week Lee, LOL, but thanks. And I think most serious hunters that go after different game end up getting more specialized over time even if they don't realize it?
Not all bears are the same you can use a deer gun 30-06 on .
I know I’m late to the party, but I’m glad you feel better and are back to doing what you love. I, myself am no stranger to health issues. I’ve dealt with a heart arrhythmia since I was in my mid 20’s.
I can't wait to see how your 03 build turns out! I'll be watching this one for sure. I have a sporter I bought a few years ago (100 years old this year) that LOVES 180 gr. When I get back home next month I hope to do some experimenting with the 150 & 145 I found.
I'm actually looking for a 22-250 or 243 for little chuckies.
I was shooting 175gr bullets in the a3 so we know it likes the heavier bullets as well. I have some 150gr SST's that I want to load for hunting. I sure it hope it likes those as much as the 175s.
A. Great. Conversation. It can go on for ever. We hunters. Won’t get bored. With it. Thanks.
Thanks, and I bet stone age men sat around camp fires making arrowheads while having the same conversation. And hopefully there will be men still hunting in the future and if so I bet they'll still be having this conversation.
Great video again. That winchester is a stunning rifle in a classic caliber too. Keep the videos comin.
Thanks James
Nice video, good topic. Very well presented. Nice rifles.
Thanks Kent
G’day Tom I have two rifles one in .223 the other in .270 they are both m18 Mauser I think they are the best two rifles about,my .223 is for short to medium, the .270 is for medium to long they aren’t really the best looking rifles about but they are so consistent and reliable nothing else matters I love your videos, l have only just come across them you have some great videos easily to understand and follow 👍👍👍👍 keep up the great work
I have 3 rifles. But my go to rifle for big game is Savage 30-06 with 22” barrel, Boyd’s custom Stock and 3x9x40 scope. Not much of a conversation piece, but if flat out works on deer, big hogs and larger game as well.
That 7mm you have is a sweet rifle for sure!
My perfect rifle/cartridge comes in .257 Roberts, .308, 30.06, .270, 45-70, 44 mag, 357 Maximum, 6.5 Creed, 284 Winchester,30-30, 30-40 Krag,...aw heck if it goes bang it's my favorite what can I say so I guess I am a collector Tom. LOL. Good vid sir. Enjoyed it.
My dad loved his 22-250 and .270, he left them in IA with my grandpa before I was born, might need to take a trip up this year
Two fine cartridges!
Excellent content 😎
I love & own a couple 7mm Mausers!!
I think it is interesting that when you selected the Winchester model 70 your starting point was the ammunition. In so many ways the intended purpose of the rifle guides the ammunition choice and from that point you are already going down a path of specialization in some sense. Same with your selection of sights. In other words, by the time you have put your weapon system together it is designed to best fulfill it's intended purpose - even if that purpose [read specialization!] is to be a jack of all trades rather than master of one. Awesome vid as usual.
Edit. Watched further and you discussed cartridge choice and how critical it is to select the right one for intended purpose. Perhaps I should have watched to the end before commenting!
I thought you had a good point. This is one of those topics that you can approach it from so many different angles and that's what makes it tough to discuss a topic like this. It sort of what came first the chicken or the egg? It's more cyclical than linear because of the different variable are so inter connected but for me it always comes back to intended range. Long range rifles need to be set up different than short range even if using the same cartridge. And maybe because it is cyclical that's why I always end up going in circles in when I talk about such topics? LOL
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving 100% agree. Range plus what you are shooting at - static targets, big game, squirrels...
Can’t wait to see what the 03 a3 finishes out to look like in the end, they both look good
Well I made some progress on the FN and there was some awfully pretty walnut under all that stain.
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving maybe a light stain or if it’s good enough just a few coats of satin or high gloss clear.
I like a lower power scope with about 2 or 2.5X magnification on the low end for deer hunting in the bush. That way you can use the scope with your right eye and still keep a large field of view available with your left eye. If you can shoot with both eyes open it really helps, especially with a running deer. I also like short stroke levers so you don't have to drop the gun between shots. Semi autos are even better of course. BTW, you pronounce lever like a Canadian. I'm used to Americans saying levver. Thanks again.
That's a great conversation Tom. I'm setting up a browning blr 30-06 and a tikka t3x .308 as my med - large game rifles. I have some food for thought on hand... Im hunting in saskatchewan, mixed field and thick forest... Lever action with some heft in 3006 and this lightweight 308.. As for scope, I own a 3-9×50 that I may put on my 308 and purchase a low power 1.5-5(ish) scope for the 3006. The 3006 likes 150g and 220g bullets. Shorter range bush gun 220 g for moose, elk and hog. Then .308 for shots to 300 on deer/mule deer.
What am I missing? Any thoughts Tom
Mike that sounds like a pretty good plan! You could go with the 150gr in the 06 and have a longer maximum point blank range than the 308 and use it for longer distances. The down side to that is you would still need heavier bullets for the brush and larger game and those heavier bullets are probably going to have a lot more felt recoil in that Tikka even though it is 308? I would take the route you're thinking and it should work out great for you. P.S. I love the Browning BLR's!
Thinking is a good way to end up with a new rifle. 😀😀😀 Thank you for the video.
Ain't that the truth! LOL
That model 70 is beautiful. I have a small ring Chilean Mauser in 7mm I put a scout scope on and get moa with 150 eldx and a light load of 760. What loads do you like in the model 70
Qualify. 3 shot moa....if I do my part...was pleasantly shocked
Pretty much every bullet I have ran in this one has shot well. 139 and 160 gr Hornady's, 150gr Partitions, and 145gr Speer Hotcores. And I've bounced back and fourth between H4350 and IMR 4350 but I have yet to find that one load that you just know is the load. I've got some IMR 4166 that I've heard great things about for the 7mm08 that I want to try next. I know all of the loads I've tried work but I just haven't quite found what I'm looking for.
And those Spanish Mauser are highly underrated rifles. I always thought it was funny that manufactures down loaded their 7x57 ammo because of the small ring Mausers not being able to handle higher pressures but they never even loaded the factory ammo to the pressures that the standard service ammo was for those rifles, and we know they held up to it.
Yeah I know some people have loaded hot for those rifles but I don't see the point. I'm averaging 2560 with that 150 eldx out of that boat oar barrel. If I actually wanted to hunt with that gun that would be just fine. I was just expecting shotgun patterns and was pleasantly surprised
As a younger man with two children at home, I always thought in terms of a versatile trio of what I called "Lower 48" rifles. All based on what is in my humble opinion, the most elegant rifle made in America...the Ruger #1. For the youngest daughter, a 6mm Remington (10 twist barrel...LOL) was to be built for her. My son would have a .257 Roberts, and I would use the 7x57. You will probably notice a theme here and I'm sure you know this but the trio of cartridges are all very closely related as they're all based on the venerable 8x57 Mauser. I even considered having the #1 extractors modified for a rimmed version of the trio, there's just something about a single-shot action and rimmed cartridge combo! It all ended up being a pipe dream as the kids grew up and moved on to other interests (except for my 7x57, I did finish that one). Sorry, off-topic but will say this is another fine video Tom...keep 'em coming!
That's a nice dream but as you pointed out dreams change. But that's ok, it's good to have new dreams.
And yes I am very familiar with the cartridges you just mentioned. I have the 7x57 and .257 Roberts both in Featherweight model 70's and I have a brand new bag of 6mm Remington brass just waiting on a rifle. I thought that was a great idea you wanting them all in a No1 mainly because you can get them all in a no1 which is something you can't do with very many other rifles. And I'm pretty sure Winchester never chambered a Featherweight in 6mm so I have no idea what the perfect rifle for a 6mm would be for me but I'm keeping and eye out for it and have been for sometime now. But I'll find it one day.
Enjoyed this immensely yes this is the reason different rifles and different calibers were invented and I'm not prejudice if it goes bang it excites me lol but will admit my all time favorite will always be the 30-06 because of all the different makes and models it was chamber in a model 760 pump or 742 was a ideal tree stand and woods gun my Winchester model 70 shorter and Ruger 77 were ideal for hunting creek bottom pasture land and no it doesn't have to be a 06 for that but choose the rifle for your hunting condition and life will be so much better
I went through this versatility analysis many years ago. The rifle I chose was stainless steal, synthetic stock, iron sights, sling studs, bolt action. The caliber I chose was 30-06. I mounted a 3-9x40mm Leupold scope on it. What rifle satisfied all this was the Ruger M77 All Weather. I still think it a versatile rifle.
And I would have to agree with your analysis. That rifle in 30/06 with a 3x9 is about as versatile as it gets.
I own a Winchester 94 30-30 and Model 70 in 30-06. I like the Goldilocks 30 caliber and the classic rifles together. Nice her looms for my son.
308 and 30:06 are my idea of jack of all trades, as far as cartridges go you can not get any more versatile. Was this particular rifle too heavy? Was it the wrong scope? Was it the action type that bothered you? Could you just put on a lighter stock and/or change scopes and have a more versatile rifle? Your choice of a 7mm Mauser seems logical but not much better if any than 7mm08 or 270 and the scope 3x9 is what I put on all my hunting rifles. I like all the guns you chose.
Robert, I didn't think about it until I published the video but I really should have explained why the 5R wasn't very versatile. It's heavy. It has a 24in bull barrel and the stock is pretty heavy as well. I just assume when I was filming that it would be apparent how thick that barrel actually is because it's the first thing you notice when actually looking at that rifle but as I'm learning things just don't show up in video like I think they will. It looked like a normal barrel in the video. So no there isn't much that can be done to lighten it up, which is fine because I still enjoy it as a target rifle.
And you are right about the 7x57. There is no real practical benefit to it over any other cartridge especially with how I hunt these days. But when I was younger I really liked the heavier bullets and the 7x57 can handle heavier bullets than a 7mm-08 and because it's in between a long action and short action in length I could load those heavier bullets in it, seat them way out really close to the lands, and still be able to fit them in a magazine because rifles chambered in 7x57 are usually long actions and that leaves plenty of space in the magazine. I have to load the cartridges I use in the 5R one at a time because they're to long for the magazine. On a side note, that 5R has the same barrel as the Army's m24 sniper rifle and it has a 1 in 11.75 rate of twist for the best possible accuracy with .30 caliber 175gr bullets. But those 175gr bullets are a lot longer than most short action bullets which causes problems fitting them into magazines. Not a problem with the 7x57.
I love this video! Several years ago I built my dream rifle. 15lb 300 win mag. High end high magnification scope, top tier rings, 20 Moa base, fancy bipod, rear bag. Sounds ridiculous for deer right? But where I was hunting I had 800 yard shots and regularly practiced that distance. Had no issues shooting a baseball at 600 yards. I had 100 yard walk to my hunting spot at the top of a hill that overlooked a spiderweb of pipeline right of ways. It was perfect. I made amazing shots year after year. Killed a pile of deer. And then I lost access to my hunting spot. Well back to hunting game lands and guess what, a 15lb rifle with a 28” barrel doesn’t play well for woods hunting. Now I hunt with an old wood stock savage 110 in 270 with a 3-9 scope. Things change. Good thing they make choices. But my new rifle swings around in the woods good and it’s easy to carry but I regularly practice at 500 yards with it so if the opportunity arises I could stretch it out a little. Kind of my Jack of all trades. Little older and a lot wiser
Hey Tom, we all have hearing loss. Do you hunt with ear pro? I have been using electronic muffs for years, and am glad I have saved what I have left.
I tried some a few years ago and I just didn't like them. They kept getting turned on by accident in my pack and the batteries would die. And I just couldn't hear right with them on. But I did try them. At that time I was having a lot of neurological problems and it my hearing a lot more sensitive. But thankfully it's not so bad now. And my hearing is pretty good except for being almost deaf at one particular frequency.
What stainless rings do you have on the 700?
It has taken me a while to get to this point but I now believe that a Winchester model 70 or similar rifle in 30-06 puts this whole debate to rest, especially if you are a hand loader. As you mentioned here it can be loaded down to .308 or stoked up and can effectively shoot bullets from around 100 grains all the way up to 200 or 220 grain all without burning as much powder or needing the extra barrel length of a magnum. I really believe that for any ethical hunting distance on any game in North America it can not be beat and puts all other calibers to shame in this respect. Take care Tom!
I can't fault anything you said there. And there's a reason the '06 is still so popular well over 100 years later. It just gets the job done.
It's a great choice, but not quite as " versatile" in that it makes a lot of noise and burns a lot of power. I went prairie dog hunting last Sunday. The rancher's wife asked me what I was shooting because her husband and son were coming in from working cattle and were going to watch the Super Bowl. I told her .243 Win. She told me where to go and said they never heard me shoot. I really wanted to wail away with the M1 Garand, but a moderate caliber got me access.
Similar problem where I salmon fish. I used to be the only one fishing there. In a span of 4 years the place is packed. No edicate just slaughtering and littering. Gotta maintain. Cheers for the video
Thanks Bob Joe. And it is funny how quickly a great spot can be depleted of any game.
I set up two rifles for every upcoming season as well. For instance, those stands that overlook the bean fields I’ll carry the Weatherby Mark V chambered in 7x61 S&H. For still hunting and stands that are back in the bush, I’ll carry my Sako 75 Bavarian in 8mm Mauser. Another combination might be my 270 A.I. For the bean fields and my 300 Savage for the bush. In the end, running two rifles gives me all the versatility I need by allowing me to specialize on the day.
For instance, is the wind wrong for hunting over the bean field tomorrow? If it is, then I’ll grab the lighter, faster, lower magnification, heavier bullet combo and head for the woods. Versatility.
And you touched on something there Michael that I'm not sure if I did a good job at explaining but it isn't just the cartridge or the rifle that makes something a better shorter or longer range rifle. It's the entire package including the optics.
And I have to say you made some very interesting cartridge selections there. I like it!
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving That’s right Tom; it’s the whole package.
Do you plan on still hunting a large tract of land? Then you need a light weight rifle that is conducive to all day carry. It should have good balance and stock geometry for snap shots like a shotgun. Vertical grips, beaver tail fore-ends, high combs and high magnification optics probably aren’t ideal. Think Winchester 94, Browning BLR or Browning BAR.
I've got a 5R Milspec .308 exactly like yours and it's one of the most consistently accurate rifles I've ever shot, under 1-MOA with everything I've put through it and sub-.5 MA with what it likes. My 5R will shoot right with my full custom rifle on Stiller action with Bartlein barrel in a Mcmillan stock. My versatile rifle is my Rem. 700 ADL in .308 that's bedded into a HS Precision stock (I got his rifle for Christmas when I was 15 in 1983, I killed my first deer with it and It'll likely kill my last as well)
Every time I see that model 70 I do another search to see if I can find one.
I haven't seen much of anything come up lately that I'm interested in. There is definitely a gun shortage right now, and then I get really depressed when I finally see one of the few rifles I'm interested in and then see the price with it. I used to see these from time to along with the 257 Roberts but I haven't seen either in awhile. Hopefully things get back to normal soon?
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving Those featherweight 257s are a dream as well. Alas I will likely end up with a 7mm-08 featherweight, not that it is a bad choice at all I just wanted something a little different.
Well, Tom, if Simple Living was easy it would be popular. The message that this video leaves us with is that a versatile rifle is the simple solution, but the best solution is to have a specialized rifle for all situations. It sounds much like professional hunting with high limits on the number of rifles to buy, which is not Simple Living, and which is not cheap. Simple Living is selling a rifle every time that you buy a new one (didn't you say that yourself at one point?). That's hard. Very tough to live by. Love your videos. Make you think...
All very good points Jean, and thanks for pointing that out. I have been getting off track from the direction I personally want to be going in. As for the number of rifles, I don't think one is needed for every situation but I think having 2 helps. I know I didn't do the best job explaining this but it isn't that a single cartridge or rifle can't do it all because it can. But it's tough to set up a single rifle and cartridge for both short range and long range.
As for myself and simple living, I have been trying to figure out how to get myself back on the right track. I wanted to do some fishing and gardening videos but not because I necessarily wanted to do videos on those things but because those are the things I wanted to do for myself to help improve my own quality of living. But I have struggled to find the time for either much less to flim those things. With that said we do find the time for the things we value so I'm just going to have to figure out how to do more of those things. Like you said if it was easy it would be popular.
I had this conversation two weeks ago with a coworker who wants to get into hunting and target shooting.
I'm a bow hunter with two bows, 70 lb and 110 lb draw, with three sets of multi weighted shafts and variety of arrow heads.
I told him he'll need three or four rifles. One or two for the twenty caliber family and definitely two for the thirty caliber family. Also look for thirty caliber stocks that can add weights.
Think of the stocks as chassis's to hold multiple engine's or barrel's.
With any luck he'll only need two bolt's for the twenty caliber family and three bolt's for the thirty caliber family.
Funny you should mention archery because I just told someone that bet men had this same conversation while sitting around a fire making arrows back in the stone age?
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving That never gets old.
I've found the 243 winchester is best for me where I hunt, most shots 100 yards or closer but have strength it out to 260 yards no problem. It's light with a 3x9x50 scope.
Hay I have a cool idea for you !
I have a 6 mm - 284 win which you can rechamber the rifle you have now for this .
This a super killer 24 cal rifle .
I guess if I could pick only 1 rifle to hunt bigger size game, from deer to larger critters, near and far, woods to open country, it would be a 30-06. Just my choice, there are a lot of good choices out there.
I suspect I would be making the same choice if we're talking all critters!
I have never hunted in white tail country back east anywhere so I may not know what I am talking about, but it seems to me that hunting in dense woods wherein shots will be 100 yards or less a 30-30 would do nicely.
I am a Oregon hunter of the coast range.
I tried twice hunting Pennsylvania so I found a wide range of guns can be used .
I found power lines to watch for deer with up to a mile to watch and I walked through brush to jump deer and I walked through hardwood forest when you walk - stop and glass for deer looking at you .
My first PA hunt I carried a 7 mm Rem mag which was just fine I felt for this hunt.
My 2nd PA hunting I took the Mark 5 Weatherby ultra light in 300WBY mag to cover all shooting.
I say dead is dead so I never believe a gun is to big .
Deer hit by a 300 WBY mag always pancake belly flops dead ! it's the most stunning death on deer to be seen .
The deer even body expand and water turns to mist off the deer when the 30 cal bullet from the 300 WBY mag passes through a deer.
Just be sure to load all 300 mags with Barns TSX bullets to stop bullet blow ups.
I load for deer for the 300 WBY mag is a Barns TSX 150 grain at 3400 FPS .
All.my thinking caused a
338 win mag , rugar m77 ii zytel
444 marlin 444p outfitter ,, Jm, of course for the up close stuff...
And a 22 mag over 20 guage ...
Ready for anything from Alaska to the southern tip of south America
Daniel it sounds like your thinking put you in a pretty good position! That's a nice well rounded set of working guns. And I agree you can handle anything that walks in North America with that, and for that matter anything that walks on the planet! LOL
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving
Was looking at your model 70 videos because I got an Alaskan statehood commemoritive 25 year anniversary model,
338 win mag
Being a manufacturer date of 1984,
It seems to be a mix of pre 64, and post 64,,,
Original controlled round feed, and rear barrel sight,
With a screw on front sight blade
@@danielravenstar4442 The changes on the post 64's were to cut cost and keep Winchester competitive with less expensive guns like the Model700 and that cost cutting really showed in the early post 64's. But there were certain models that Winchester charged extra for like the Alaskan, Safari, and Super Grades that Winchester made sure were made to a high standard like the pre 64's were. And by 1980 Winchester has really improved the fit and finish on all of their rifles but the special models like the Alaskan were still a step above those.
What do you think of single shot like a Thomson Center
Rex, I haven't used a TC yet. I love the No1 and single shots in general but I just haven't tried a break action rifle yet. But I do love the fact that you can change barrels on the T.C. and I suspect I will have one before it's over?
I had to change out the pin that the barrel pivots on and the head space bushing. It has been right on the money since for hunting .
I have 4 rifles, a shotgun, a handgun. 1 rifle, the M4A3, is in 5.56 x 45 mm NATO (.223 Rem.) I have it for self-protection and feral hog hunts. In my area, it's a bit customary to hunt feral hogs with those and there is a business near Lake Texoma who will rent you AR-15s and take you up in a helicopter ("Get in the chopper!") and you hunt hogs from the air. All you need is "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones or "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival to complete the ambience.
My other 3 rifles are in .308 Win. I never considered 308 a specialized round, I thought it was more general but all of my rifles can be used hunting. I have an AR-10 in .308. It is balanced, super-accurate, so many ways to carry. But it is the heaviest gun at over 12 pounds. It does not feel heavy to me. What feels heavy to me is my Mossberg MVP 308 Long Range Thunder Ranch (in Kuiu Camo.) it is between 10 and 12 pounds but feels heavier because the balance is difference because it has a bull barrel, which puts some weight forward.
The lightest gun is my Mossberg Patriot, which weighed under 8 pounds. I have not used it much because it kicks like a mule, being such a light polymer stock. Just this morning, I put in a MTD Chassis and adjustable but stock that I got. Fits like a glove. I will have the folding adapter. This makes it a breeze to take the bolt all the way out for cleaning. And I put on a Vortex Venom 5x-25x/ 56 mm FFP scope and a 6 inch picatinny rail, Harris bipod, so, I have added some weight and it might be close to 9 pounds. I need to weigh it.
To me, a 7 mm Mauser might be more special, especially in finding ammo. Whereas, you can find 308 everywhere. And across the world, 7.62 x 51 mm NATO.
So, for me, the weight and design of the rifle might lend more to philosophy of use. Or, just personal preference.
I have read the memoirs of one of the most prolific modern snipers, Nicholas Irving, AKA, "The Reaper." In service, he shot an SR-25, a semi-auto in .308 Win. His sniper team leader shot a .300 Win Mag that kept jamming and causing problems in spite of the religious devotion to cleaning that they did. For some reason, the sand box played havoc with it.
I plan to get new groups and new zero on the Patriot in the new chassis. I have heard that brings lots of improvement and I watched your other video about accurizing where you did some judicious sanding on the wood stock to free up the binding and torque that was happening when the barrel and even the front of the action heated up. If it works out, the Patriot, originally meant to be a hunting rifle, might just become my hunting rifle. I am a big strong guy and I think if I can shave some weight, that will good. The public land I hunt on is overgrown like crazy. You hike in and over and around stuff, leaving orange ribbon flags along the way. And then hike your way back out.
Hay I have a AR 10 I did in 6mm - 284 win and 2nd upper in 6.5 - 284 Norma, can you guess how these would flatten a pig !
@@Lure-Benson Update, I did get the Mossberg Patriot zeroed in the new Chassis with a Vortex Venom scope. Averaging 1 MOA at 100 yards with a hot and thin fluted barrel.
Yeah I have a special rifle I built which is a AR 10 with a upper in 6mm -284 win and a upper in 6.5 - 284 Norma .
That this a super deer killer
Now you got my attention with the 6mm-284. I always thought that was a great cartridge. Which I thought the 284 win was a great cartridge but it just never really caught on? Can't say that I know anything about the 6.5 - 284 Norma.
❤❤
I have a 6.5 PRC target rifle. It has a 26 inch heavy barrel. I have trouble shouldering it. I’ll probably never shoot it off the bench.
But I bet it's really fun to shoot from the bench?
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving As long as the large rifle primer supply holds out.
People overcomplicate things. .243 to 30-06, with a good shot and a good bullet = dead deer. People living east of the Mississippi hunting deer with magnum calibers tells me a lot about their hunting education.
I had a friend that used to hunt deer with a 300 Win mag. He was one of the ones that I talked about in the .270 video that had lost deer with the .270. He decided then if there wasn't much left of the deer then he couldn't loose it. And I have to give him credit he never lost one with it. LOL. But the funny thing is it never did that much damage to them. Basically the bullet would just blow through the deer with very little energy transfer and there where many times when I saw more damage from my .308.
But it does amaze me at how many do hunt with a mag here. I can see a place for some of the really flat shooting mags but that's only in special circumstances like bean fields or powerlines. But other than those special situations I agree there's no need for a mag for deer.
I didn’t know you had a health issue over. Tick. Bites. It would be very helpful to other hunters if you could. Give some advice. From your experience
That's a good idea Dominic. I do need to talk abut it just to make other hunters aware of it because it still isn't very well know.
The 30-06, 270 Win, 280 Remington, 7MM Rem Mag or similar cartridges meet the definition of versatile cartridges. So, can you now eat red meat?
Agreed, they are all very versatile.
And I can't eat most red meats. I can eat venison but I have to eat a little at a time until I get used to it again. If I go for awhile without eating it I have to start over with a little at a time (one bite a day then two and so on). I wanted to try squirrel and rabbit this past winter but I never got a chance to hunting so both of those are still a big question mark. But if I can go long enough without getting bit by the tick that causes it I should he able to eat red meat again one day?
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving Good luck with everything. I couldn't imagine not being able to eat red meat.
Move to Alaska. 😉 No ticks up here. 😃
In some way I regret having more than one rifle. When you have one rifle it is your go to rifle, no matter the situation you pick it up. With multiple rifles it adds choice and overthinking which may ruin the experience.
I'm ok with two but after that I agree it gets tough. And I still from time to time think about going back to just one. I don't think I would regret it if I did?
A Remington model 7 on 7mm-08 with 2x7 is close to perfect deer in my mind and don't own one . I always end up and buying something else my 06 is working just fine.
For the very first rifle I bought new I couldn't decide between a .308 or 30/06. I loved the .308 and thought it was perfect for deer but I finally decided to get the 30/06 just in case. Today, I would get the 7mm08. But they will all get the job done.
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving The only advantage I see in the 06 over the 308 is the ability to handle 180 to 220 grain bullets better. Deer are not that tough of a critter to put down. If you have the opportunity to hunt elk , the 180gr bullet in 30-06 is an old classic for elk.
Tom, you said you were "surprised" at the accuracy of the 03 with such an old barrel. Understood. However my custom Model of 1896 Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 has a receiver date of 1912 and is < 1 MOA all day long with commercial ammo. Now that was a surprise lol. Let's see ya send some down range from that beautiful 308. Would love to see groups out of that one too.
And the reason your 6.5x55 shoots so good is because it's also a low pressure cartridge. I just don't think enough people appreciate those low pressure cartridges?
And I'll have to do a video on the .308 one day because it really is a shooter. I shot a 5 shot group with it once that was so small I couldn't even measure it.
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving Now that is a small group !! Quick story on the Swede. I wanted that cartridge to deer hunt with but went through three old Model 96's before I found one that would put all 3 shots almost in the same hole at 25yds with open sights. That's the one I chose for my project gun. Did I ever show you a picture of it?
7 by 57. Brilliant. Cartridge 708. Brilliant. Cartridge. As well. Who. Ever. Developed. Those. Cartridges got it. Right. No doubt.
What I always found so interesting about the 7x57 is that it was one of the first cartridges developed for smokeless powder and after all of this time it's still one of the best. And the 308 was a modified 300 Savage. They just made the neck longer and the 300 Savage was also one of the early cartridges. They definitely knew what they were doing back then.
I think you picked a fine do-all rifle. In fact, I think heavy magnums are largely overrated, even with large and dangerous game. Three facts lead me to this conclusion. First, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game DOES NOT RECOMMEND magnum cartridges for bear (grizzly, brown bear, kodiak). They say a .308 is just fine, and even the .270 Winchester or a 7mm-08. Given the responsibility they are charged with to ensure hunters and people in general are safe, that is saying something. This agency has been saying as much for well over a decade (perhaps longer).
Second, and more interesting in my opinion, back circa 2014, the Canadian Arctic Rangers picked a new rifle for polar bear made by Tikka called the T3x Arctic and it was/is chambered in .308 Winchester. Not only that, since then, Tikka has released the Arctic in only one other caliber. In other words, for something as specialized as carrying a rifle in the arctic to hunt or otherwise dispatch polar bear and polar bear only (the largest and deadliest bear on earth), there are only two calibers that Tikka uses for the task: the .308 Winchester and now softer and flatter shooting 6.5 Creedmoor. If the BC and SD of the right 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge is good enough for polar bear despite its decreased mass, unless we're shooting between mountain tops, I can't imagine really "NEEDING" anything more. The only possible exception I can think of (and I am only guessing) is that hunters in Alaska and the lower 48 might prefer the heavier mass of a .308 for hunting large animals because I imagine it passes through such game more easily to leave a blood trail.
If that's not the case, however, considering how closely .308 and 6.5 occupy the same space in today's world, the 6.5 Creedmoor may still be enough, and that is certainly the case for black bear, white-tailed deer and, in my opinion, the largest larger Cervidae. The larger polar bears typically weigh in at approximately 1540 lbs, but the record was 2,209. If polar bears are huge (and they are), the largest moose in North America are even slightly larger with the largest on record weighing in at 2,299 lbs. Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife provides the legal restrictions on hunting moose in their state. This is what they stipulate when it comes to caliber selection:
"Cartridges:
"Firearms with .17 or .22 caliber rimfire cartridges may not be used for deer, moose, or bear hunting, except that .22 magnum can be used for deer hunting.
"Shotguns using shot loads cannot be used to hunt bear or moose."
Clearly 6.5 Creedmoor is legal to hunt moose with, and coupled with Tikka's specialized polar bear gun being only chambered in .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor (the lightest cartridge for dangerous game I am aware of), 6.5 may now be counted among the greatest do-all rifle calibers. There have been some hunters who have criticized its use on white-tail deer, and all I can say is that they are misguided. I don't know if it comes from the firearms industry or just old fashion thinking that only considers BC and SD without understanding that KE = 1/2mass X velocity squared, but certainly 7mm or even 6.5 Creedmoor appears to be up to the task in my opinion. Would it be the best choice for a specialized gun hunting (and not just fending off) North America's largest animals? Probably not. But they certainly could be used for those purposes despite conventional thinking, and that makes those calibers perfect do-all rifle cartridges in my opinion (especially when you handload). In other words, there is an argument to be made for most going back to one rifle. Many consider the .308 or .30-06 as do-all cartridges (and they are). But a 6.5 creedmoor has less energy than a .308 inside 400 yards, so it's even better for closer shots on smaller game and proven to be more effective at long-range (having more energy beyond 400-500 yards). Given the right bullet selection and bullet placement, 6.5 might be the winning one-gun hunting solution in states that permit its use. Living in Ohio, I can't even hunt deer with anything but a straight-walled cartridge, so I don't even own a 6.5 Creedmoor and thus do not have a dog in the fight. But if I lived elsewhere, that might be my one rifle solution.
I am an Alaskan and a Alaska bear hunting guide from 1989 to start of covid which ended my Alaska business.
Not one pro bear hunting guide here will ever tell someone to use less than a 338 win mag for our bears .
You need to understand all the AK game biologists came from schools in Eastern coast states and they aren't hunters, I have meet so many of them who are complete clueless book smart fool ! .
These people working at the AK game department are only into wildlife study's not guns , not what kills AK game
Just because a person works for a state game department won't make these people experts in hunt or guns and ammo .
The best. Shots. At. Game. Can. Happen. In a split second. And will never be repeated. If you have. To much time to think of it. That’s a fact.
Agreed!
Just buy a ruger M77 in 270 and end the discussion kill anything out to 600 yards no problem and if your old or weak get a feather weight
Guess I’m a collector... 😂
I became one a long time ago!
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving The wife told me to find a cheaper hobby. I'm still looking. 🤔🤷♂️😂
Running this video at 2.0 speed and still pulling my hair out waiting for him to get to the freaking point already!!!
Mark, step away from the Mt.Dew and it'll be ok? LOL
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving LOL, I just gave you a thumbs up because I deserved that!! Soo funny. I'm trying to give this guy some feedback, I really like him he just needs to cut the rambling in half and make a video that hits some points and then let up go back to living our lives!
@@markr5132
Lol! "This guy" and "him" are of the same guy.... "Tom Rivers" 🙄 Keep up the good work Tom, love your video's.
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving Tom, keep up the video's (but 1/2 the length) you have a love for guns that we all can hear coming threw!
@@markr5132 I had to laugh when I read your first comment because I almost didn't post this video because I was rambling and I knew I was. And even with all of that rambling I still didn't explain it very well and left out some important points. One thing I have figured out is that when I ramble it's because I still haven't quite figured out how to explain something. But if I keep rambling enough it might all click for me and for everyone else? Sort of like the proverbial light bulb going off. And then sometimes it doesn't. LOL
I like the two-gun approach. For me, it's a Marlin 336 in .30-30 and a Remington Model 700 in .30-'06.
I could get by fine with just the Model 700, though.
"A .30-'06 is overkill for woodland whitetail," some would say. Mine isn't, because I handload, and have a 160 grain FTX over H-4895 load that averages 2.400 fps out my 700's 24" barrel. That 24" barrel insures I get the full benefit of full-tilt powder charges behind 180 grain homogenous copper bullets, too.
At 8.75 pounds in field-ready trim, a day at the range "position shooting" from standing, sitting, kneeling and prone, firing M2 Ball duplicate loads with 150 grain FMJ bullets at 2,700, doesn't turn my shoulder in to ground sausage. That load out of my Model 700 gives me about the same felt recoil as I got shooting full-power .257 Roberts from a 6.35 pounds bare Browning A-Bolt Medallion I used to have.
Some that similarity in felt recoil is due to my Model 700's additional weight, but some of it is also due to a bespoke Grade 2 walnut stock with a high, thick, parallel comb that fits me to perfection.
Out in the hunting field, that weight is handy in controlling arc of movement, whether I'm in close cover and need to thread a bullet through shrubbery from an unsupported standing position, or I'm out on the Wyoming prairie, "slung up tight and prone" and taking a 175 yard poke at a pronghorn, or I'm doing an "across the draw" shot with a 20 mph wind blowing over the barrel perpendicular to the bore. I'm willingly sacrificing what I perceive to be a little portability for what I perceive to be a lot of improved field shootability.
The long barrel doesn't bother me in thick cover. I use a 28 gauge superposed gun for upland bird and small game hunting, often in thick cover, with that shotgun being more or less the same overall length as my Model 700 is.
In thinking about what I wanted my Model 700 to be, I though often about an old Model 1903 Springfield based sporting rifle I once owned. It weighed about 8.5 pounds bare, being made as it was when scopes weren't in common use by American hunters, and having aperture sights, in lieu of a scope. The fellow I inherited that from used it to hunt on five continents and it was the only rifle he ever owned. He claimed it was the only one he ever needed to own. When he went to Africa, if "the big stuff that bites back" was on license, he simply rented a "stopping rifle" from his hunting company, rather than owning one himself. For everything else, from pronghorns to pigs to moose and Alaskan brown bears, he deemed the .30-'06 "just about just right."
While I could get along fine with just my Model 700, I get along a whole lot finer by having a Marlin 336 in .30-30 as well. If I cared about shooting gophers and the like, I'd likely need another Remington Model 700 in .223, but I'm not keen enough on varmint shooting to justify another rifle and another caliber to load for.
Then again, I could probably get along fine with a rifle like a Winchester Featherweight Super Grade in 7mm Mauser, too. Or, perhaps something like a Model Seven CDL in 7mm/08......
It's funny how little we actually need vs how many choices there are out there. But it sounds like you are set and you touched on something that I need to make sure I mention in a future video on the 30-06 cartridge. It really is as versatile as they say but you need to reload to get that versatility out of it. A 160 grain bullet at 2400 f/s is absolutely perfect for the woods but you aren't getting that with factory ammo. And as you pointed out your rifle is setup perfectly for when you want to reach out there. And that sounds like one fine rifle! Thanks for sharing that.
And i was a little torn on this video. I didn't want to give younger hunters the impression that you have to have 2 rifles, but it sure is nice to have a light weight low recoil something for the woods like your Marlin.
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving I don't think anybody, young or old, would come away from viewing your video with the impression that one HAS to have more than one deer rifle. What I got out of it was that it's NICE to have more than one. I tried to follow that theme in my comment; that I could get by with just my Model 700, but it's nice to also have that more specialized tool in the form of my Marlin 336.
On the subject of the .30-'06, I agree wholeheartedly that hand-loading is the key that unlocks it's vaunted versatility. If I didn't hand-load, I'd be inclined to think that something in the 6.5 Swedish /7mm Mauser class would be ideal; either those two rounds, or their newer, short-action near-'nuff ballistic twins, like 7mm-08 or .260 Remington.
In other words, take handloading out of the picture, and my "one rifle" would probably have been something like your Model 70 in 7mm Mauser.
Parenthetically, there's another aspect to why thinking in terms of handloading led me to .30-'06 in the end, and it was simply that I've been shooting the cartridge, off and on, since I was 18, and I am heavily invested in the cartridge in terms of a stockpile of powers and components to load for it.
I could make it work, and it made economic sense in my case to do so. :)