The 5 Best All Around Rifles

Specialized rifles are great when you need to do the one thing that a rifle is made to do. But carrying more than one rifle at a time gets unwieldy, and having one rifle for each job gets expensive. Other rifles go for a more generalist approach and can do many things well enough to get by. Here is a Top 5 list of the Best All-Around Rifles that can handle just about anything that comes their way.

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AR-15

This should hardly be a surprise, because the AR-15 is the most ubiquitous gun in the United States. It can be everything from a .22 LR rimfire trainer up to a big bore thumper in .450 Bushmaster. The incredible modularity and level of market support for the AR means one lower receiver (the part with the serial number, and the only part that is legally the gun according to the ATF) can do just about anything an end user can imagine. And thanks to the massive market saturation of AR-pattern rifles, they can be found at price points to suit any budget.

If I had to pick one configuration to be the best all-around rifle, it would be something along the lines of a 5.56 NATO 14.5 to 16-inch barrel with a mid-length gas system, free-floated handguard, and collapsible stock with a low power variable scope, sling, and weapon light. That rifle, with appropriate ammo, can pull duty as a defensive gun, competition rig, hunting rifle (just not for big game), and recreational tool. And you can always add another upper if you need to do something different.

Ruger 10/22

Most of our shooting careers started with a .22 LR rifle, and for most of us in the United States, it was with a Ruger 10/22. I have many fond memories of chasing small game and tin cans with my own 10/22. There are certainly more accurate .22 LR rifles out there, and newer designs have better ergonomics in some ways (the bolt hold open is a real weak spot in the design). But despite those minor quibbles, the 10/22 is a ubiquitous design with a massive aftermarket. Spare magazines are common and reliable. The 10/22 is a classic for a reason and you would be hard-pressed to find an American gun store without some variant in stock. If the shooting task can be handled with a .22 LR, the 10/22 is up for the job.

Winchester Model 70

It is a safe bet that every hunting magazine has, at some point, published an article about what one rifle was the most versatile choice, or what one rifle a mighty hunter would choose if they could only have one. I side with the traditionalists on this one and would choose a Winchester Model 70 in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum.

The Winchester 70 has been called “ The Rifleman’s Rifle” and has achieved legendary status. The original pre-1964 Model 70 rifles used a controlled-feed action, but that changed to a push-feed action in 1964. Eventually, the company reverted to the classic controlled feed action with its large, robust extractor. That design feature endears it to the dangerous game safari hunting crowd, but those who hunt deer and other common things appreciate it as well.

As far as the caliber choice, the .375 H&H may be a little light for an elephant but can handle any other terrestrial mammal. And though it may be overkill for smaller game, being overgunned is infinitely better than being undergunned. It is not an inexpensive caliber but it is common worldwide and numerous bullet options can tailor it to different types of game. The .375 is only available in a few Model 70s, and the Safari Express would be my pick. It includes iron sights so no matter what happens to an optic there is still a sighting system on the gun. The matte blued finish reduces glare, and the Safari Express has double recoil lugs to keep the action firmly anchored in the stock. It may be overkill for whitetail, but if extreme versatility is the goal then this Model 70 can handle it.

Steyr Scout Mk II

Spot number four is traditionally the controversial pick on a James Reeves Top 5 list, and that placement continues here. Scout rifles are a bit of an anachronism today with their long eye relief scopes but the entire goal of scout rifles was the one rifle to do everything. The core of the scout concept is a handy and reliable rifle that is legal in all jurisdictions, powerful enough to take big game, chambered in a common caliber, and capable of self-defense use if the need arises.

Aside from the long eye relief scopes that are so closely associated with this style of rifle, the basic concept is a true all-arounder. I am firmly convinced that Colonel Cooper would have considered sighting options like low power variable scopes or red dot/magnifier combinations if they were available when he developed the scout concept. If you want to read more about that, go check out this article. Once a do-all rifle like the Scout Mark II is coupled with modern optics it truly shines. It is an accurate rifle ( my copy will put ten rounds into 1.5 MOA with a hot barrel) without being a heavy rifle, and comes loaded with nifty features like a handguard bipod and spare magazine hidden in the stock.

Steyr Scout Mark II can be a polarizing rifle. I am firmly in the camp of people who love this rifle. Some may think it looks odd, or may not understand why it hits a more premium price point. But once you shoot one in practical field and hunting scenarios it all clicks. The Scout is not a bench gun or ELR target rifle, it is all about functional accuracy and being a rifle that is easy to live with in the woods. Shots from improvised positions that would be difficult with a less-ergonomic rifle tend to result in hits with the Scout. If your hunts don’t involve a side-by-side, or if you want a hunting rifle that could still hold its own if pressed into a defensive scenario, take a look at the Steyr Scout Mk II.

HK-91 (& clones)

One of the schools of thought among older survivalists was that a 7.62 NATO battle rifle was the one gun to have. It packs enough punch to handle survival-ish tasks like hunting big game while primarily being a combat rifle. There are trade-offs with taking a 7.62 over a 5.56, namely the weight of the rifle and the reduced number of rounds that can be carried in a fighting load. But in open country, or in places with large animals, those downsides may be worth it.

Among the 7.62 battle rifles the HK-91 (or G3) is the standout. It’s indestructible, surprisingly accurate, and boasts mild recoil. Spare parts are common and spare magazines are cheap. Many manufacturers other than H&K have made their own iterations, ranging from very good license-built copies for foreign armies to very sad imitations or questionable builds made by “gunsmiths.” But with a little pre-purchase due diligence three worst can be avoided.

(Bonus) A Do-All Silencer

A rifle that can handle anything deserves a silencer that can match that performance. If I had to choose one silencer to do it all, it would be a modular can to cover the widest possible range of host guns. The SilencerCo Hybrid 46M fills that role perfectly. And while it can work with almost any caliber it is also a modular suppressor that can work in a long configuration for additional suppression or a short configuration for added maneuverability.

It is not the smallest or lightest suppressor, but it can run on essentially any host gun with a bore diameter of .460 or less. This means that 5.56, 10mm, .45 ACP, .338 Lapua, or even the mighty .458 Winchester Magnum are all compatible. It accepts both direct thread and ASR quick-detach mounts, or could even run with a booster assembly on a tilting-barrel pistol. The SilencerCo Hybrid 46M is the suppressor equivalent of a Swiss Army Knife, and can tackle almost any task. You can pick one up from SilencerShop.

Thanks for reading our top 5 “do-all” rifles. While they may not be masters of any one thing, they can do most anything that needs to be done with a rifle. What would your top pick be for a jack of all trades rifle? Let us know in the comments!

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