Remington Model 700 30-06-Robar-McMillan-Best All Around Hunting Rifle
This semi-custom piece has proven to be a great all-around rifle for me. It will probably be sufficient for anything I hunt the rest of my life.
There are few subjects that will turn otherwise soft spoken, mild mannered and polite sportsman into spitting, finger pointing, yelling fanatics like the question of which is the best bullet caliber. Well, I am smart enough to avoid that issue here but I will share with you what I think is the best rifle set up.
The rifle pictured above started as your basic Remington model 700 ADL chambered in 30-06. Why 30-06? Because that is what the old man shoots and I have never been convinced that there is anything better. Now, as I have explained to my wonderful wife all these years, each species and geographic region requires a specific firearm and then there are self-defense weapons that are different but also necessary which is why we had to have that very large, very heavy and very expensive fireproof safe lag bolted into the concrete of the master bedroom closet. Obviously I am not advocating just one rifle but if your wife is not as wonderful as mine and you could only have one, this would be my suggestion. Did I say that my wife was wonderful?
Anyway, I bought this rifle to build an all weather hunting rifle that could be used on anything in North America. First thing we had to do was find out if it shot. The master, or Jaba The Hunt as I like to call him, took it to the range and proclaimed it an exceptional out-of-the-box shooter. Once that question was answered I took it to Robar in Phoenix. Since the rifle already shot consistent sub 1 inch groups at 100 yards I didn't really need or want to do anything drastic. They coated the bolt with NP3 and the action and barrel with Roguard matte black, spent a little time on the trigger and then put it in a pillar bedded, free floated McMillan fiberglass stock. That's it. We didn't even cut and crown the barrel. It didn't need it. They finished it off with a Leupold Vari-X III 3.5 to 10 power scope.
A closer look at the important parts. Clean, simple, durable and it shoots like a house afire. What else do you really need?
What else do you really need? Well, how about an exact duplicate rifle in .375 H&H magnum of course. An equally impressive rifle but a thumper that is perfect for elk. I really should do one in .308 to complete the set, don't you think?
That is my rig and I gotta tell you, I like it very much. I know I could spend more money and there are lighter configurations available on the market but I have carried this rifle for seven years now and I don't think that I can do any better. I am fortunate to have found something that works for me. I know guys that are still searching for that one rifle/caliber combination that they are comfortable with and can rely on. If you have not found your "best rifle", good luck and keep looking.
Wade Nelson
Editor
Sorting through the fads and fashion of the outdoor equipment industry to identify and promote the very best wilderness gear for high end recreational users, backcountry professionals and government agencies.
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