You get only one bolt gun- which caliber do you pick?

[beachhead40]

i would pick the .308 strey scout

 

[cmstuard]

30.06 with a 22LR as runner-up.

 

[avboiler11]

My choice is 260 Remington.

That said, a 284 Winchester built on a long action is probably "better".

 

[den57]

Remington 700 in .338-06 ......

 

[X ring]

.270

 

[gunman41mag]

3 0 8 W I N C H E S T E R

 

[waldron1305]

Im going with a .308.

 

[Justin Case]

If only one, then I would go with the .30-06.
If I could have a 2nd, it would be the .22LR.

Both offer a variety of bullet sizes.

 

[SILVERBACK]

QUICK Q, does anyone have a picture of small game, shot with [ light load ] by the ever popular .308 or .270 round. Just wonder if my, or any other peoples round caliber wouldn't change.

 

[Excalibur]

One bolt gun. I'd take a Mosin carbine

 

[mjelder]

300 wsm
runner up
.308
honrable mention
.22

 

[MontereyC6]

DTA SRS Deployment System with .308, .338LM & .510 Whisper barrels. :-)

CRAP! I was just going through this thread cause I was going to post the same dang thing!( I will add a suppressor for the .510 Whisper, though)

 

[257robertsimp]

7mm Rem mag

 

[forkliftdave]

I would go with my 308. That is a hard choice

 

[fastwally]

Mine of course. Rem 700BDL in 7mm mag in 1969 vintage.

 

[Citizen711]

I always get a chuckle out of threads that are almost akin to asking "you can choose only one 'do it all' drill bit, what would it be?" The answer depends on a number of factors including what size hole you want to drill, what material you are drilling, how deep you want to drill, do you want a through hole or not, etc, etc, etc. Similar factors apply to gun calibers and I suggest there is no such thing as one "do it all" caliber which is why so many different calibers exist in the first place. The reality of "one size fits all" often ends up being "one size fits none".

There are plenty of answers to the OP's question. If yours is, "I would stand there scratching my head and then walk away with no rifle at all, because there's no one bolt gun that is best at everything," that's fine. Most people wouldn't avoid choosing a gun at all, just because it won't satisfy every need. It's a valid question. There's just no purist approach to this one.

Me, when I think bolt action, I think little need for fast follow-up shots. When I think of little need for fast follow-up shots, I think something with a decent punch and good mid- to long-range performance. Then, as with most guns, I consider cost and flexibility of the ammo.

I would choose .308.

 

[hammer24]

Another vote for .243. Extremely versatile and extremely flat shooting.

 

[TiminMishawaka]

Hands down 30-06.