one rifle to hunt in Texas only...

i know this is probably a repeat topic but lets try it. with lots of firearm purchases there are lots that are based off of 'bucket list' hunts, or best 'all around' guns/calibers, future hunts out west or in alaska... if yall could hunt inside the border of Texas only with one rifle/caliber what would your one rifle/caliber of choice be? mine would be ruger m77 .243, it just works.

270, and rifle to be determined

Pretty sure that it has to be a Tikka in 6.5 Creedmoor....

Savage model 110 pre accutrigger in 243

7mm08, Chanlynn 24.5" 1-9.5 twist barrel, stiller or big horn action, hs full block stock.
Or, Rem 700 LTR .308.

I would keep one of my 270's but miss my 243's. Both of them are common and popular calibers and ammo is available almost everywhere. Currently I use my mostly 270 to hunt deer etc., and the 243 mainly for varmints. I don't believe in collecting different calibers of weapons, I have others, but these are my 2 favorites for Texas hunting, so I have more rifles in these 2 calibers.

Of what I have a Ruger limited edition ultra light 308 with a 20 inch tube. I like some of the other rifles and calibers better but I want a light weight rifle If I ever hunt West Texas for free range elk or Audad which I consider Texas game animals. Or rebarrel the Remington 788 in 7mm-08 with a longer tube. Then again teh Cooper 65-284 is a great one IMO also

Glad I do not have to make that decision

If those two animals above were not in the equation then the CZ 527 in 6.5 Grendel without a doubt

270.

308

270

After hunting with lots of calibers for many years I have settled with a 308. I do all my deer, coyote, and hog hunting with it. I have been tearing critters up with it and only use Remington 150 gr. corelokts with outstanding results. Lots of good calibers out there though.

If I could only have one it would be a .308 because it's sexy.

If only one, 30-06. Fortunately, I have the choice of .243, 7mm08, 30-06, 45-70 or 30-30. I choose based on circumstances and what I've been shooting the most lately.

I would think you would have to include a Nilgai as a potential target animal to hunt in Texas. I would feel under gunned with a .243. I would have to say anything 30-06 would be a great all around caliber for Texas.

6.5PRC / .284win / 7SAUM either one of the 3.

223

270 then 3006. Ammo availability the 06 has many bullet weights to choose from.

50 BMG

go big or go home!!!

6.5x284 But, IF I had to be "normal" 30-06. Factory ammo loaded from 125gr. to 220gr.

.308.

308 in Savage 99, love mine.

If you can't kill it with a .270 you need more time at the range.

Given the sheer number of hogs in Texas, I’m probably building a quality AR10 in either 7-08 or .308. The only things that it would be limited on are nilgai and elk, and on those you just get closer and use a good bullet.

Remington Mowhawk 600 in 308

7mm08 would be my choice. Though, the .308 would be an excellent cartridge, especially if you are going to be going out west to hunt mulies or sheep.

.308 as well

.270 but .25-06 and .30-06 would work too.

I would have to pick my Tikka 270 wsm.

30-06 for all the above reasons.

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 270

7mm-08 for me.

Several others will work...6.5,.308, .270 all good choices, but my preference is for a short action.

270 wsm, extra insurance for aoudad and nilgai...all in a lightweight short action

.308

30-06 best all round rifle for what ever you are hunting in Texas. it has a strong pedigree. Good ballistics and ammo available at about every country hardware and feed store. will kill em close and can reach out and touch something.

Wilson Combat 6.8 spc as of right now it does everything I need it to do for Texas hunting, but my new 224 Valkyrie may take it's place if it can prove it's self this year.

.270 Win w/130gr

257 Ackley. If I didn’t reload: 25/06.

7mm-08. Any of several D.Dury customs we own. Stiller action. Jewel Trigger. Heavy contour match stainless bbl. We have 20" to 26" barrels and all shoot lights out. 3x12 Schmidt and Bender Scope with illuminated red dot in center of reticle.

Tikka T-3, 7mm-08, and my 162 gr hand loads. I don't even need to think about it.

my wife say's 30/06 and I say 270

I'm never normal when it comes to rifles, so i would say my 257 WBY.....i have two! But if i had to buy another rifle to do it all, it would be a custom 7mm-08!

270 has done it for me for 35 years. If I could only pick one it would be the trusty 700 I got when I was 14. Quite a bit of work done to it since then but still one I would go to if that was the limit.

I have a 7-mm-08 and it shoots really well, but if I could only have one, it’s my 30-06 Remington 700 BDL.

.54 caliber percussion.

For me it is my 30-06.

My Weatherby In .300 win mag


Texas has some big critters inside it’s borders. Elk, aoudad and nilgai are among the toughest.

Also great for squirrels

“There is no such thing as overkill, and if there is it doesent hurt”

I want to hunt Nilgai so I would have to go 338 Federal.

People forget there are a lot more animals here than just whitetail deer.


That’s why I get a chuckle out of the “ I’ll stick with my .243 “ comments.

Yes, and Nilgai is one toughest animals in North America and one of the tastiest.

308 or 280, one of each wouldn't hurt.

This caliber in a Ruger bolt

If you want one rifle that will do it all get a 35 Whelen. At 300 yards or less , it’s one shot an down!, You can eat clear up to hole I have all calibers. . This my go to .

/06 for sure......as all have said.

I moved to a 6mm Remington back in the late 80s. It will kill anything in Texas and is light and quick.
6.8SPC duplicates and bests 6mm loads. Just as good in a AR platform.

7mm08 throwing 140 TTSX for "everything" in TX. For 95% of "everything" in TX give the the 140 Accubond.

My name says my choice

For me it would be a .260 Remington!! Great all around rifle. you can shoot 100 grain all the way to 140 grain bullets. Can't beat it in my opinion.

30.06 Even though the 6.8 is my go to rifle.

7MM REM MAG

I'm really beginning to like my 6.5CM, but my old .270 (that I unfortunatly no longer have) would be just the ticket as well. As for which rifle, as I would only have one, I would probably go for a custom build.

My main rifle has been a Rem 700, 16" in 300 blk out for 4-5 years now. I plan to switch to a 308 this year, but I need to get it up and running.

If you shoot an adequate hunting caliber with a good hunting bullet, the round will do it's job with good shot placement. I think it's often less about what caliber you shoot, but how well do you shoot that caliber with the rifle you are shooting. Work on being proficient with the rifle you have, and everything else will take care of it self.

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight, wood grain, .30-.06. Just gets it done anywhere with any game.

270

yea i honestly may have to withdraw my first choice of .243 and go with same gun in .270 now that i think on it a little more and have read the input from yall.

270 for me.

Nilgai??? I would venture to guess that 90% of the hunters in Texas have never seen one, and will never get a shot at one. But if you need a rifle for that animal, I would also throw in an elephant gun, you never know when an African elephant might escape from the local zoo and you need to be prepared.

Back to the 270, I bet a well placed neck or brain shot would drop him in his tracks.

90% of Texas hunters have never seen a mule deer, pronghorn or elk inside our borders either

Kinda like saying “since I haven’t seen it they don’t exist”.


Nilgai are free ranging in the southern coastal part of the state, are a commonly hunted animal. Hell, TPWD even does draw hunts for them.


There are more animals to shoot here besides whitetails and hogs

my Wilson Combat 308

Browning X-Bolt in .270 is one of my favorite.

30-06

270

7mm08, 140 grain

AR10 in .308

Whats coming to be my do all go to is a BACO US made M70 Ult Shadow 270 wearing a Sporter stock. It just shoots where I aim it, unless I'm not doing my part. Was gonna change scopes this year from the VT 30mm Viper HS 2-10x44 to a 30mm HS 4x16x44 but the only hunt distances planned so far does not require any change in scopes. Might be able to get the M70 XTR Fwt 7x57's ammo supply put back in shape would be the only change I can see worth using on the tiny lease near LaGrange. Life has got to slow down cause I ain't keeping up worth a damn at this rate.
Ron

My Browning 270

308

270 for me.

Killed plenty of Nilgai with my 30.06. Best caliber of all time!

270 or 30-06 TCA Prohunter

257weatherby for me

I have a Remington 700 in .270 and a Ruger no. 1 in 25-06. I would be happy with either one of those as a Texas universal.

.6mm would be just fine for me. I've hammered almost 70% of my TX game with it. As usual, it's all about shot placement.

there are a lot of really good calibers that could be considered for all native game in Texas. 30-06, 270, 7-08, 308, 25-06, 6.5 creedmore, etc. etc. When I bought my 7mm Remington mag, I knew at some point I would get my dad's old sporterized 30-06. But back in the day, the 30-06 was the universal all around gun since you could buy ammo in a very wide variety of bullets, at any small town hardware/feed store or borrow from a friend or neighbor if the stores weren't open. Now days, take your pick of your favorite...

25-06

Another vote for the 30.06

270

I love the 270 but the 30.06 is where my heart is.

30-06 for sure!

30-06

The 30-06 would work for me.

.6mm? The .223 has a new rival.

Just 1!?

Against the grain, give me an AR in .556. Deer, turkey, yotes and pigs...it’ll hunt

If it’s for medium size game, my vote goes to 30-06

30-06, nuff said.

Give me a 260 Remington and some 143 grain ELD-x bullets and H-4350 and I'll be set for anything that walks or crawls!

I hunt may too much small game, furbearers and such to have my 1 gun be a large caliber rifle. .22 Magnum for me.

.308

I have taken over 100 animals (deer, hogs, coyotes, 2 turkeys) with the .308. Since variety is the spice of life, I have strayed and also taken deer with everything from the .223 to 12 Gauge Slugs and I come back to the .308 every. single. time.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

25-06

270 or 308

I have a wide variety of rifles and calibers, but love my .270 Winny.

For what I hunt, I would have to go with my 7-30 Waters. Winchester 94 and Contender carbine.

30-06 because I own 4.

I bet against myself getting thru all five pages, but I managed it. Not as many surprises as I might have guessed.

One rifle (cartridge, really) to hunt Texas? Make me choose and I'll select a round that I've hunted with but do not now nor have ever owned. The .30-06 Springfield can get it done on the bigger stuff and only rarely be undergunned and (due to moderate velocity and proper bullet choices) won't savage the smaller stuff. Hard to argue with anything with a track record like it has...

Mark

Probably no wrong answer for most people. I've shot many of the "standard" calibers through out my life and they all did their job. Settled on the .308 for the last 10 years. No particular reason but it does every thing I need.

6.5x47 143 grain ELD-X pushed by 36.3 grains of Varget. Shoot'em in the neck!

Remington Model 700 chambered in .270 Winchester.