r/canadaguns • u/MasterpieceWise7742 • Jun 24 '26

Buy recommendations Best “do it all” rifle

I’m looking for advice on the best rifle for doing a bit of everything. The main use I’m looking for is coyote and deer hunting as well as a lot of target shooting.

I totally understand everyone is going to have a different opinion on cartridge but I’d love to hear what everyone thinks for my situation.

I currently own sks and a 10/22.

Let me know your thoughts! TIA

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u/DoYouGetSarcasm Jun 24 '26

Cartridge:

For hunting deer I'd say 308. 556/223 is often considered too small to do ethically (but some people do, also it's illegal in some places, look up your hunting regs). But 556 is fine for coyotes and much cheaper for target shooting.

So if you're doing a lot of target shooting consider the amount of money you'd spend on 308 vs 556. If you target shooting in 556 saves a bunch of money You could spend that bunch of money saved on a second rifle in 308 to go hunting with it.

Rifle choice:

Hunting rifles should be light (and depending on range need less magnification), you don't want to lug around a 12 lbs rifle. The things that make for a food target shooting rifle make it heavy. It's really a personal preference thing on where in that middle ground you want to land, i can't help you out much there.