I’m Roberto Cameron—South Texas outdoorsman, mechanic, and entrepreneur who believes true happiness comes from experiences, not things. But in the hunting world, you need the right tools to carve out those moments that stick with you forever: the crack of dawn over a mesquite-dotted ranch, the steady breath before a perfect shot, the thrill of tracking game through rattlesnake country. My hunting rifle collection is a testament to that philosophy—each one a precision instrument built for a purpose, blending craftsmanship with grit. Picking a single favorite? That’s like choosing a favorite sunrise. Every rifle in my safe has a story, a purpose, and a place in the field. From the thunderous .338 Lapua to the elegant 7mm Weatherby Magnum, here’s why it’s a tough call, and why these tools make every hunt unforgettable.
The Philosophy: Rifles as Tools for Experiences
I’ve always said that life’s best moments aren’t bought in a store—they’re earned in the field, the shop, or the wild. A hunting rifle isn’t just a thing; it’s a key to experiences that define who you are. Whether it’s stalking a 800-pound Nilgai bull on a South Texas ranch or glassing for deer in Arkansas’ rainy Ozarks, the right rifle turns a moment into a memory. My collection—built over years of hunts across Texas, Arkansas, and beyond—reflects that. Each rifle serves a specific role, from big game to hogs, and each carries a piece of my story. But they’re not museum pieces. They get muddy, wet, and beat up, because that’s what tools are for: creating stories, not sitting pretty.
.338 Lapua Remington 700 XCR: The Big Game Beast
When my mind drifts to a favorite, the .338 Lapua in a Remington 700 XCR often takes the crown—especially for big game like Nilgai. This is the heavy hitter in my safe, a rifle built for extreme conditions with a stainless steel barrel and a synthetic stock that laughs at South Texas heat and dust. The .338 Lapua round packs enough punch to drop an 800-pound Nilgai bull, even through the shoulder’s tough hide and bone. I learned that lesson years ago on my first Nilgai hunt at a 3,000-acre ranch near Raymondville. The ranch owner, a grizzled South Texan, asked what I’d brought. I was proud of my .30-06 Remington 700 Sendero at the time—a solid rifle—but he warned me: “Don’t shoot the shoulder. Neck shot only, or that bull’ll run into the brush, and good luck tracking it with rattlesnakes.” He was right; Nilgai are tanks. Today, the .338 Lapua gives me confidence for long-range shots or thick-skinned game, its raw power ensuring clean, ethical kills. Paired with a Leica scope, it’s a precision beast I trust at 500 yards and beyond.
.30-06 Remington 700 Sendero: The Versatile Classic
Before the .338 Lapua, my .30-06 Remington 700 Sendero was my pride and joy—and it still holds a special place. The .30-06, a round that’s been dropping game since 1906, is a do-it-all caliber: deer, hogs, even Nilgai with a well-placed shot. That first Nilgai hunt taught me its limits against shoulder shots, but it also proved its worth. I took a neck shot at 200 yards, and the bull dropped clean—no chase through snake-infested brush. The Sendero’s heavy barrel and composite stock make it a tack-driver, steady in the South Texas wind. Outfitted with a Zeiss scope, it’s reliable and versatile, a rifle I’d grab for a mixed bag of game. It’s not the flashiest in my collection, but it’s a workhorse that’s never let me down.
.338 Remington Magnum FN Model 98: A Work of Art
For sheer beauty, my .338 Remington Magnum in an FN Model 98 action steals the show. This rifle, with its hexagonal barrel and gorgeous walnut stock, is a masterpiece of craftsmanship—something you’d almost hesitate to take into the field. Almost. I’ve hunted Nilgai with it, and it performs as good as it looks. The .338 Remington Magnum delivers nearly the power of the Lapua, with enough energy for big game at moderate ranges. I took it on a South Texas hunt last year, dropping a Nilgai cow at 250 yards with a heart shot. The FN’s smooth action and balanced feel make it a joy to shoot, and the Leupold scope ensures pinpoint accuracy. It’s a rifle that turns heads at the range and delivers in the brush—a blend of art and function.
7mm Weatherby Magnum Mark V Lazermark: The Deer Slayer
When deer season rolls around, my 7mm Weatherby Magnum in a Mark V Lazermark is my go-to. This rifle is a stunner, with intricate woodwork that makes it worthy of a trophy buck. The 7mm Weatherby Magnum round is a flat-shooting laser, perfect for the open fields of South Texas or the hilly Ozarks. Last deer season, 2024, I took it to southeast Arkansas, where it poured rain like I’d fallen into the Mississippi. Muddy, soaked, and battered, the rifle performed flawlessly, its Leica scope cutting through the fog for a 180-yard lung shot on a 10-point buck. The Weatherby’s recoil is stout, but its accuracy and power make it ideal for deer at long range. It’s not a princess—I don’t baby it—but it’s a rifle that feels like an extension of me in the field.
.22-250 FN Model 98: The Hog Hammer
For hogs, my FN Model 98 in .22-250 is a favorite, especially for precision shots. This high-velocity round is a scalpel, perfect for headshots on feral pigs rooting through South Texas pastures. A few years back, I dropped a 200-pound hog at 150 yards with a clean brain shot—no tracking needed. Another time, I took a small buck at 140 yards, the .22-250’s flat trajectory making it a breeze. The FN’s smooth action and sleek walnut stock give it a classic feel, and the Swarovski scope turns it into a sniper’s tool. It’s not my biggest caliber, but it’s a lucky rifle—one that seems to bring clean kills and good hunts every time I carry it.
Quality Scopes: No Compromises
A rifle’s only as good as its optic, and I don’t skimp here. I’ve seen guys drop thousands on a custom rifle, then slap on a budget scope that fogs up or loses zero. Not me. Every rifle in my collection wears a premium scope—Leica, Zeiss, Leupold, or Swarovski. These optics are crystal-clear, rugged, and hold zero through rain, mud, and recoil. My .338 Lapua’s Leica has tracked Nilgai at dusk, the 7mm Weatherby’s Leica cut through Arkansas fog, and the .22-250’s Swarovski made a 150-yard hog shot feel like point-blank. A quality scope isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for ethical hunting. If I’m investing in a rifle’s craftsmanship, the optic has to match—end of story.
Rifles as Tools, Not Trophies
Some hunters treat their rifles like museum pieces, polishing them for the gun cabinet. Not me. These are tools, built to get dirty. That Arkansas hunt in 2024? My 7mm Weatherby was caked in mud, soaked through, and still shot true. I’ve dragged the .338 Lapua through thorny South Texas brush, scratched the .30-06 on rocks, and let the .22-250 bake in the RGV sun. They’re not princesses—they’re meant to take a beating and keep performing. That’s what makes them special: the dings, the wear, the stories etched into their stocks. A rifle’s beauty isn’t just in its wood or steel; it’s in the hunts it’s seen, the game it’s taken, the experiences it’s built.
The Verdict: No Single Favorite, Just Favorites
So, what’s my favorite hunting rifle? I can’t pick one—it’s like choosing a favorite hunt. The .338 Lapua Remington 700 XCR is my big-game beast, unstoppable on Nilgai. The .30-06 Remington 700 Sendero is my versatile classic, ready for anything. The .338 Remington Magnum FN Model 98 is a work of art that shoots as good as it looks. The 7mm Weatherby Magnum Mark V Lazermark is my deer-season star, elegant and deadly. And the .22-250 FN Model 98 is my hog-hammering lucky charm. Each rifle, paired with a top-tier scope, is a tool for creating memories—whether it’s a Nilgai dropping in the South Texas brush or a buck falling in Arkansas rain. They’re not just things; they’re my partners in the field, built for the experiences that make life worth living.
Follow my adventures on YouTube, TikTok, and Skreebee for more hunting stories, gear reviews, and South Texas grit. Got a favorite rifle or a hunt to share? Hit me up—I’m always ready to talk shop.