If you could pick one...

[bearcove]

Just a little background, I'm a journeyman pipe welder, with the future full of overtime paychecks.

I'd like to get a good single shot rifle that would be good for any north america game, not including brown bear. Lived in alaska for 7 years and have that covered. I am now in new mexico. 300 yards is a reasonable normal shot here. Probably just like you guys in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, the Dakotas Or Idaho. I been thinking of moving to Id and might do it even if I don't have a job.

I like 38-55 but it needs a 1-12 twist to stabilize the bullets I think make it really versital. The 45-70 is common,thus economical Already have encore barrels 15, 20 inch, dies brass ...

If you could pick a rifle...

Under 8 or $900
Under $1500
Who cares? I do but I like nice toys .

This would be either for black or smokeless but moderate, but would consider either or both. NO BIG BOOMERS I have litle kids and a wife that would also hopefully shoot it.

What do you think?:castmine:

[bearcove]

Paper patch is good! forgot that.

If you have women, valentines day is coming. For some reason they think it is important.

Don't have a clue here on Bearcove Ak. Have felt the results of forgetting. :twisted:

[MT Gianni]

Not that heavily into Single shots but MT has many more pipelines and gathering lines than ID as does WY. Gianni [gas measurement tech]

[Razor]

Uberti Hi walls (38-55) start about $850
http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,4653.htm
that's my next one..
Ballards and Hepburns are gorgeous but cost MANY yankee dollars !!

Razor

[jhrosier]

I have a Browning 1885, in 45-70 that I picked up used & cheap a couple of years back.
It shoots smokeless with cast boolits or jacketed bullets very well. I have not tried black powder with it.
I looked at a new Uberti 1885, in 45-70 for $850 at the local gunshop.
It seems to be well fitted and finished.
I am planning to order the Uberti in 30-40 Krag shortly. It will be a cast boolit gun for me, but the 30-40 should also be an adequate caliber for big game with heavy boolits or jacketed bullets.

Jack

[45-70marlin]

Look at the Ruger NO.1, I have one in 45-70. think you might like it.

[rockrat]

If you want one good for 300 yards and good for about everything you are talking about, then I would look for a Ruger #1 in 35 Whelen. full Power loads, down to light plinking loads using pistol boolits, for kids and wife.

[lovedogs]

You're asking a lot, especially if you want to stick with a SS rifle. The big bores will reach to the 300 yds. you mention but will have LOTS of drop. The suggestion of the .35 Whelen isn't bad. What game do you want to hunt? Will you shoot sillywets? Do you want to shoot lots of cast or mostly jacketed bullets? With the 300 yd. range I'd forget the big bores. If you are going to stay with game smaller than elk a good .270, 7-08, or 7 mag would work well. But those aren't really great choices for cast. The good ol' .30-06 is hard to beat and could cover all your bases if you don't mind using a caliber that is as common as dirt. If you can limit your game shooting to more like 200 yds. a good .45-70 would work and is unbelieveably versatile, and the brand choices and configurations are large, also. If money isn't much of an object you can get about any .45-70 you wish. I know the lowly H&R Buffalo Classic doesn't have much snob appeal but my wife and I use ours a lot, both to hunt and in competition. So far no one we've found can outshoot them. They are simple, inexpensive, and really quite good at getting the job done. There are others I'd like to have just 'cuz. But I'll never get rid of my BC; I think that highly of it.

[wiljen]

358 Norma Magnum would be about perfect. Brass can be made from 338 or 300 Winchester and you can use from 158gr bullets all the way to 250gr hammers.

[725]

I'm with lovedog. H&R .45-70 can be downloaded with 9 grs Unique and a roundball, all the jacketed stuff and cast up to and beyond 500 grs. Smokless or Black Powder. Gives an extrodinary range of choice and performance. If you don't like H&R (hard to believe for the cost / performance analysis), I would go for a Ruger #1 or #3 in .45-70. Whatever floats your boat. No bad choices I can see.

[357maximum]

One more vote for the 35 whelen

[boommer]

buy a 45-70 H@R buffalo CLASSIC and then also buy H@R TARGET 38-55 also get the Williams fp sites with target knobs set of 38-55 dies and your at 900.00$ those H@R'S WILL SHOOT !
The 38-55 is a little finiky but if you use .379 bullets and taper crimp that will purdy much solve your chamber problems that guys were having. I have both the 38-55 just took a little work it now shoots just a hair over inch at 100 if I was to put a scope on it that might tighten the groups. the one thing is to is only shot black loads out of this guns never tried the white stuff in them.

[218bee]

I would go with a Ruger No1 in 30/06 or if you could find a used one in 280 Rem
Just my opinion, but two classic cartridges that I believe would meet your needs.

[SPRINGFIELDM141972]

Another vote for the 30.06 I can't imagine not owning one. You can load as light (47grns) to as heavy (220+ grns) as you want. Besides, you can find brass at about every shooting range, so its economical too.

Regards,
Everett

[Blammer]

358 winchester :)

[buckshot&brass]

buy a 45-70 H@R buffalo CLASSIC and then also buy H@R TARGET 38-55 also get the Williams fp sites with target knobs set of 38-55 dies and your at 900.00$ those H@R'S WILL SHOOT !
The 38-55 is a little finiky but if you use .379 bullets and taper crimp that will purdy much solve your chamber problems that guys were having. I have both the 38-55 just took a little work it now shoots just a hair over inch at 100 if I was to put a scope on it that might tighten the groups. the one thing is to is only shot black loads out of this guns never tried the white stuff in them.

Two for one. I like the buffalo classic.