I write this in my personal quest for my perfect rifle. Let me define my personal rifle: A rifle to be my general purpose hunting rifle and my every day carry rifle.
I also posted this on the sister sight: THR
The first question to be answered is: does a general purpose rifle exist? Noted author and hunter Jim Carmichel does believe that they exist. In Mr. Carmichel’s book The Book of the Rifle he once wrote: “There is no shortage of all purpose rifles - where are the all purpose hunters?” Mr. Carmichel defines the all-purpose rifle as a rifle that will be convenient to the successful hunting of all North American big game. Carmichel further specifies that the all-purpose rifle should have the following qualities. The all-pupose rifle should be fast handling and accurate. Carmichel does not specify a weight limitation, but does provide a recommended cartridge list for North America that starts with the 270 Winchester and ends with the 30-06, the only magnum included in his list for a general purpose cartridge for North America is the 7mm Remington Magnum.
Noted author and shooter Jack O’Conner felt that the all around rifle should generally be a bolt action with a barrel length of around 22 inches. Mr. O’Conner felt that the ideal rifle should have low power optics and further specifies a four power range that were mounted in quick detachable mounts, to facilitate the utilization of fixed sights as a back up. Mr. O’Conner’s caliber selection starts with the 270 and includes the 308, 30-06 and the 7X57. Mr. O’Conner further elaborates that the rifle should weigh no more than eight pounds including all accessories. Mr. O’Conner does state the importance of a good sling on the rifle.
Let us further narrow our choices for the perfect rifle for me. Clyde Ormond’s Book Hunting states a rifle should weigh no more than 1/20th of your total body weight. That means for myself at a body weight of 191# my rifle should not weigh more than 9.55 # loaded and ready to go. I am going to choose a little more stringent standard. My hunting generally involves a lot of walking and fully intend on continuing this style of hunting. Further, I intend to hunt in the mountains. I want a rifle that is no heavier than 8 # ready to go. This is roughly a 15% reduction in the recommended weight. Mr. Carmichel states the rifle should be capable and convenient to hunt all game I intend on hunting. I will further state that I think the rifle should be capable of handling all situations that I will encounter while hunting.
My hunting trips tend to involve inclement weather. My luck is such that if I have planned a hunting trip, the weather will not cooperate. I am not going to complain because I have had some excellent success in inclement weather. I am going to specify that the rifle should be an all weather configuration.
The above specification have just ruled out all pump and auto loading rifles in current production. There are very few leaver actions that will meet my specifications.
At this point it could be suggested I buy a Winchester Model Classic Stainless in 375 H&H Magnum. This rifle weighs 7# 4 oz put a great Leupold 3-9 Compact Scope that weighs only 8.8 oz with rings mounts and a sling you come in under the maximum recommended weight limit (total weight should be around 8# 10 oz) and this rifle will handle anything that walks in North America.
While I agree that this is one solution, the biggest problem with that approach is that Mr. Carmichel specified that this rifle be convenient to all the game I intend on hunting. This rifle is less than ideal for hunting white tails in the thickets of the South, there are better choices for hunting antelope and while it would be perfect for hunting the big bears in Alaska, this rifle is probably awkward for Black Tail in the West.
Ideally the platform will have no greater recoil than 40 foot pounds this is about where I start to have problems on the bench. With anything that recoils about 30 foot pounds I really have to concentrate after the first 10-20 rounds. This requirement rules out all caliber greater than the 338 Winchester Magnum.
The game I primarily hunt is the Southern White Tail, I also hunt Feral Hogs the largest of which generally are no larger than 400#.
The land I hunt is primarily pine thickets and deciduous forest. I do hunt clear cut areas and right of ways where shots can be as far as the one is willing to shoot. I do not intend on making a shot that is longer than 300 yards on the really large game.
What kind on accuracy does this type of hunting require? If one assumes that a White Tail deer has a 8 inch kill zone and the longest shot I will take is 450 yards, that means my rifle can shoot an 8 inch group at 450 yards in field conditions, so lets say we want a 1.5 MOA rifle and this will give me a greater margin of error. A 1.5 MOA rifle will shoot a 6 inch group at 400 yards.
I would like to hunt antelope, mule deer, the bigger Northern White Tail deer, Black Tail deer, Cous Deer, Moose, Caribou, and Elk. I have no desire to hunt the bears, but I do fully intend on hunting in bear country. If I can avoid a confrontation I will, but I intend on defending myself if necessary.
The easiest way to work this out is to start with the minimum caliber necessary and work up. People with more experience than myself state that the minimum energy for White Tail is 1000 foot pounds and this energy should be delivered with a bullet with a sectional density of no less than .210. The same sources would suggest that the minimum for Elk is 1500 foot pounds of energy with a sectional density of no less than .270. Most experts also recommend that the minimum caliber for Elk starts with .264.
In the standard calibers the 6.5X55 Swede is the base caliber that can meet these requirements. In the short action calibers the 260 Remington meets the requirements set forth. In the magnum calibers the 264 Winchester Magnum easily meets these requirements, the 140 gr bullet has a sectional density of .287 higher than the 180 gr 30 caliber bullet with an initial velocity of 3100 FPS the 264 Win Mag has retained energies of greater than 1500 foot pounds at 400 yards. In the newer short magnums the 270 Winchester Short Magnum easily meets these minimums.
The above paragraph establishes the minimum caliber requirements. The next choice is which caliber not only meets the minimum requirements, but can perform the above mentioned task at a minimum, conveniently and ideally will perform all the task well.
An additional caveat is; the ammo should be available at major retailers. This rules out the 6.5X55, 264 Winchester Magnum, the 7X57, the 8-06, the 8 mm Remington Magnum, the 338-06 and the 338 Winchester Magnum. This is not really a problem because that leaves us with the 270, 280, and 30-06 in the long. The 7-08, 308 and the newer 338 Federal in the short actions. The 270 Winchester short magnum, 7mm short magnums and the 30 caliber short magnums in both the Remington and Winchester offerings. The 7mm Remington magnum and the 300 Winchester and Weatherby magnums are also available.
Additionally since so much of the hunting describe happens in heavy cover the barrel length should be restricted to 23-24 inches. Because of efficiency issues this really rules out the 300 Weatherby magnum. Since a lighter rifle is desired the heavier recoiling calibers are less desirable.
Noted rifleman, author, and warrior Colonel Jeff Cooper recently stated expressed the following thoughts.
I agree that a rifle should have good handling characteristics, be maneuverable and easy to carry.
Continued
I also posted this on the sister sight: THR
The first question to be answered is: does a general purpose rifle exist? Noted author and hunter Jim Carmichel does believe that they exist. In Mr. Carmichel’s book The Book of the Rifle he once wrote: “There is no shortage of all purpose rifles - where are the all purpose hunters?” Mr. Carmichel defines the all-purpose rifle as a rifle that will be convenient to the successful hunting of all North American big game. Carmichel further specifies that the all-purpose rifle should have the following qualities. The all-pupose rifle should be fast handling and accurate. Carmichel does not specify a weight limitation, but does provide a recommended cartridge list for North America that starts with the 270 Winchester and ends with the 30-06, the only magnum included in his list for a general purpose cartridge for North America is the 7mm Remington Magnum.
Noted author and shooter Jack O’Conner felt that the all around rifle should generally be a bolt action with a barrel length of around 22 inches. Mr. O’Conner felt that the ideal rifle should have low power optics and further specifies a four power range that were mounted in quick detachable mounts, to facilitate the utilization of fixed sights as a back up. Mr. O’Conner’s caliber selection starts with the 270 and includes the 308, 30-06 and the 7X57. Mr. O’Conner further elaborates that the rifle should weigh no more than eight pounds including all accessories. Mr. O’Conner does state the importance of a good sling on the rifle.
Let us further narrow our choices for the perfect rifle for me. Clyde Ormond’s Book Hunting states a rifle should weigh no more than 1/20th of your total body weight. That means for myself at a body weight of 191# my rifle should not weigh more than 9.55 # loaded and ready to go. I am going to choose a little more stringent standard. My hunting generally involves a lot of walking and fully intend on continuing this style of hunting. Further, I intend to hunt in the mountains. I want a rifle that is no heavier than 8 # ready to go. This is roughly a 15% reduction in the recommended weight. Mr. Carmichel states the rifle should be capable and convenient to hunt all game I intend on hunting. I will further state that I think the rifle should be capable of handling all situations that I will encounter while hunting.
My hunting trips tend to involve inclement weather. My luck is such that if I have planned a hunting trip, the weather will not cooperate. I am not going to complain because I have had some excellent success in inclement weather. I am going to specify that the rifle should be an all weather configuration.
The above specification have just ruled out all pump and auto loading rifles in current production. There are very few leaver actions that will meet my specifications.
At this point it could be suggested I buy a Winchester Model Classic Stainless in 375 H&H Magnum. This rifle weighs 7# 4 oz put a great Leupold 3-9 Compact Scope that weighs only 8.8 oz with rings mounts and a sling you come in under the maximum recommended weight limit (total weight should be around 8# 10 oz) and this rifle will handle anything that walks in North America.
While I agree that this is one solution, the biggest problem with that approach is that Mr. Carmichel specified that this rifle be convenient to all the game I intend on hunting. This rifle is less than ideal for hunting white tails in the thickets of the South, there are better choices for hunting antelope and while it would be perfect for hunting the big bears in Alaska, this rifle is probably awkward for Black Tail in the West.
Ideally the platform will have no greater recoil than 40 foot pounds this is about where I start to have problems on the bench. With anything that recoils about 30 foot pounds I really have to concentrate after the first 10-20 rounds. This requirement rules out all caliber greater than the 338 Winchester Magnum.
The game I primarily hunt is the Southern White Tail, I also hunt Feral Hogs the largest of which generally are no larger than 400#.
The land I hunt is primarily pine thickets and deciduous forest. I do hunt clear cut areas and right of ways where shots can be as far as the one is willing to shoot. I do not intend on making a shot that is longer than 300 yards on the really large game.
What kind on accuracy does this type of hunting require? If one assumes that a White Tail deer has a 8 inch kill zone and the longest shot I will take is 450 yards, that means my rifle can shoot an 8 inch group at 450 yards in field conditions, so lets say we want a 1.5 MOA rifle and this will give me a greater margin of error. A 1.5 MOA rifle will shoot a 6 inch group at 400 yards.
I would like to hunt antelope, mule deer, the bigger Northern White Tail deer, Black Tail deer, Cous Deer, Moose, Caribou, and Elk. I have no desire to hunt the bears, but I do fully intend on hunting in bear country. If I can avoid a confrontation I will, but I intend on defending myself if necessary.
The easiest way to work this out is to start with the minimum caliber necessary and work up. People with more experience than myself state that the minimum energy for White Tail is 1000 foot pounds and this energy should be delivered with a bullet with a sectional density of no less than .210. The same sources would suggest that the minimum for Elk is 1500 foot pounds of energy with a sectional density of no less than .270. Most experts also recommend that the minimum caliber for Elk starts with .264.
In the standard calibers the 6.5X55 Swede is the base caliber that can meet these requirements. In the short action calibers the 260 Remington meets the requirements set forth. In the magnum calibers the 264 Winchester Magnum easily meets these requirements, the 140 gr bullet has a sectional density of .287 higher than the 180 gr 30 caliber bullet with an initial velocity of 3100 FPS the 264 Win Mag has retained energies of greater than 1500 foot pounds at 400 yards. In the newer short magnums the 270 Winchester Short Magnum easily meets these minimums.
The above paragraph establishes the minimum caliber requirements. The next choice is which caliber not only meets the minimum requirements, but can perform the above mentioned task at a minimum, conveniently and ideally will perform all the task well.
An additional caveat is; the ammo should be available at major retailers. This rules out the 6.5X55, 264 Winchester Magnum, the 7X57, the 8-06, the 8 mm Remington Magnum, the 338-06 and the 338 Winchester Magnum. This is not really a problem because that leaves us with the 270, 280, and 30-06 in the long. The 7-08, 308 and the newer 338 Federal in the short actions. The 270 Winchester short magnum, 7mm short magnums and the 30 caliber short magnums in both the Remington and Winchester offerings. The 7mm Remington magnum and the 300 Winchester and Weatherby magnums are also available.
Additionally since so much of the hunting describe happens in heavy cover the barrel length should be restricted to 23-24 inches. Because of efficiency issues this really rules out the 300 Weatherby magnum. Since a lighter rifle is desired the heavier recoiling calibers are less desirable.
Noted rifleman, author, and warrior Colonel Jeff Cooper recently stated expressed the following thoughts.
I agree that a rifle should have good handling characteristics, be maneuverable and easy to carry.
Continued
