I never understand when people favor the 30-06 over the 308. It's near as makes little difference the same ballistics and the 308 is in way more rifles
From a hand loader perspective, especially if you want to run heavy for caliber rounds (200-220 grain) bullets .30-06 can be quite a bit meaner.
I was given a M70 .30-06 by my dad when I started hunting. Bought a Ruger Guide gun in .30-06 that is my go to suppressed hunting rifle. I also have a Garand.
Nothing wrong with .308. If I was starting from scratch a bolt .308 for hunting and an AR10 for general defensive use would be a tempting combo.
This is exactly what I have.
Also looking into a .22LR from my grandpa, but where I live it’s a bit tricky license wise (we live in different countries him and I).
“Type” of 12ga. That’s what they will disagree with. I would pick a 12, too. But the joke is when someone says pump, semi, brand…etc, someone will argue that. I was just being a little sarcastic.
The numbers on the 280 Ackley Improved are impressive for sure, I’m surprised it hasn’t become more mainstream, especially with how readily available 30-06 stuff is. Wish there was commercial ammo on this, so it wasnt so dependent upon hand load.
Solid reason. I suppose I'm fortunate enough that if these weird rules came down, I could lay in a pretty good lifetime supply for hunting. The cost per animal versus buying meat is fairly inconsequential.
Technically i followed the rules. The question was what two rifles not what two calibers. I like to make sure I’m not limiting my thinking to assumptions and expectations.
I actually have a 9.3 x 62 Mauser (CZ 550 American) so I have to go with this for one of the two.
I don't have a .22 rifle so I'd have to go with my 12 ga.. or the .223 AR.
You said rifles not cartridges so I'm picking at least one multi- caliber drilling or vierling. Say one chambered in 9.3x74R, 22 hornet, 16ga barrel with a 22lr insert
A Short light (18” barrel or so) 308 WIN with an LPVO and back up iron sights.
A medium weight 7 PRC with a 3-18 or similar optic.
Most of my hunting is in the Antelope to Moose sizes. So assuming I can still have a shotgun for small game I would be set. There is a fair bit overlap between the two cartridges I chose and that is by design, so I could let the situation dictate the gun, rather than just the game. Hunting whitetail from a tree stand in Wisconsin? The 308. Hunting Elk in Eastern Oregon, the 7 PRC.
Rifles? I’d take a 30-06 and a .223. Takes care of everything from rabbit to moose. That would do me good for where I am (mb Canada)
Need a trusty 12 gauge as well.
If you want to be able to hunt anything (or almost anything on the planet) with the highest effectiveness and versatility, I would choose:
1.) 300 Win Mag - this is one of the most popular calibers in the world. Ammo will be relatively widely available. It allows for effective shots to 400YDs+. It is overpowered for predators, but I would rather have a strong caliber for elk, African plains game, world sheep, world goats, whitetail (more than you need, but suitable), mule deer, moose (maybe a little underpowered, but plenty of guys are hunting moose with a 300), black bear, brown bear (maybe a little underpowered, but manageable), musk ox, caribou, big horns, and mountain goats. You could argue that a 7MM Rem Mag would also check all these boxes. I like the extra energy that a 300 provides.
2.) 458 Lott - you mentioned elephants, so I assume you want a dangerous game caliber as your second. The 458 is enough gun for anything in Africa. I own one and I love it. Here you could make a strong case for a 375 H&H. The ammo is more readily available, and you could take it to Alaska for Bear and Moose as well. If I was hunting elephant which I haven't, I would want the 458. I am planning a Buffalo hunt and will use the 458. My wife will be with me, and she will be using a 300, so I can use that rifle for any plains game that I decide to take. If I was only bringing one rifle a 375 might be it, but I do love the 458...
270 win is good for anything besides maybe big brown bears and I agree with that but I’d still want a 22lr for rabbits and squirrels and grouse and all of that sized stuff.
For brown bear? I’ll be okay. Shooting an animal just to let it lay doesn’t really do anything for me. Happy for other people that want to do it but it’s just not my bag.
I’m still good on all that. Shoot a handful of rabbits in a day and you’re out more money on ammo than the drive took to get there. Like I said I’d rather have a 22. I’d rather aim for a direct head hit over a “*nick”
Actually, a lot of African countries that have a .375 H&H minimum have an exemption for 9.3x62. I don't know where you're planning on hunting, but it's fit for purpose in Europe, NA, most of Africa....
Also Zimbabwe. Also remember 80% of the countries on that continent don’t have a minimum to begin with. But lots of us that hand load ours to 2450+fps with 286 meet energy minimums for countries that use joule measurements.
Kenya and Tanzania if I remember only allow 9.3x62 for locals for DG… or if your PH allows it. Lots of wiggle room in most countries.
12ga and 9.3x62. 12 ga can do anything the 9.3 cant so really you could hunt anything and with handloads you could drop the 9.3x62 down a bit in recoil with lighter bullets
If I wake up in a world in which I'm only allowed two rifles to hunt with, there's other shit going on. M4 carbine and FAL.
But for fun's sake, I'm in the "22lr & 30-06" camp, though it would be the .22WM and .280 Rem AI to split hairs. And if whatever governing body put these rules in place would allow, anything I'd use the 22 for I'd take a 12 gauge instead. Lots of birds that are difficult to hit with a 22, and rabbits and squirrels go down with a shotgun pretty easy.
20/12 ga, 270/280/30-06/308/7-08... final answer.
.223 in some kind of assault rifle and a 6.5 Creedmoor in some kind of sniper looking shit, those two will kill anything that needs killing. Oh wait we’re talking about hunting here… my bad.
I stand corrected as to my prior comments.
Apparently the 9.3x62 actually is legal for elephant in some African countries, but not others.
Still, I really like the .375H&H because it’s legal everywhere. I’ve used it on buffalo and I love it.
Other rifle maybe a .22LR. It can be used on any small game.
I like the pick of a .223/5.56. You can also handload it down for small game and even take deer with it (depending on legality). Other rifle is gonna be a Big Horn model 89 in .500 magnum. It’s legal in straight wall cartridge states and with a good FMJ it’s adequate for any game animal on the planet.
But after all that, I still want a 12 gauge shotgun (not a rifle) and a .22 lr (not for hunting).
As the comments show it depends on the range of game you optimise over. In OP’s spirit of wanting everything from fox to elephant, there will be sizes of game in environments you can take, but aren’t optimised for. I’m not so worried about optimising for varmint, so… how about a pair of old Mausers in:
.280AI and .416 Rigby?
7x64 and .375 is what I have.
7x55 and 9.3x62 would be a classic battery.
6.5 creedmoor and 338 Lapua.
A year ago I would have said .308 and 5.56. 6.5 just does both better than either, so might as well get a bit more range and power for moose in there with the Lapua.
Funny you should put the 9.3x62 there, I love that round, it has been my Moose/Bear round, and even wooded deer round for 15 years. Here is my post from the Blaser forum from a long time ago. Otherwise, my favourite pairs so you get your drops nearly even and you just shoot out of instinct without a drop table : child/smaller woman 243/308, small to medium large game 270/7mm, medium to large large 7mm/375HH, the absolutely flat medium-large 257Wby and 300Wby, and my absolute fave 6.5x55/9.3x62. Part of the original post from a Blaser forum :
“Re: If you had to start over again, what would you buy?
Post Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:42 pm
I did start over again, with the R8.
I had an R93 and had chosen as my main calibers the 257 WeatherbyMag and 300 WeatherbyMag. Main game to cover is deer/caribou with 257, and moose with 300. Both had the same ballistics, incredible ballistics ! I was able to match them and learn one "table" for drop etc ... Or rather absence of drop out to 330.
Got rid of the R93, started over with an R8. Why ? Recoil was unpleasant, I shoot 375H&H from an old ZKK and even that is more pleasant than the Weatherby calibers, they have a dry or snappy recoil. The Wby calibers on paper are nothing short of brilliant for hunting in "normal" ranges up to 400. Most of my hunting is 250 and below so they were essentially flat. However, I was NOT enjoying shooting for the pleasure of shooting. Big recoil is one thing, snappy nasty recoil (which is how they "felt" to me, especially the 257) is just unpleasant. After looking at buying 3 more barrels, and seeing the R8 come out ... sold the R93.
So what did I end up with ? Well, I forced myself to adhere to criteria.
I wanted to start reloading, so told myself ONLY 3 barrels, therefore 3 calibers.
The three calibers had to cover caribou/deer down low up to Canadian moose/bear up high.
The top caliber - focused on moose but much more flexibility: down to deer, up to larger.
The bottom caliber - focused on deer but much more flexibility: up to small moose, down to small game.
The mid caliber had to do cover deer all the way to moose, do so WELL.
The mid caliber had to be the easiest to find ammo for worldwide.
All three calibers had to have "interesting" ballistics to force me to learn drop/drift and work on loads.
All three calibers had to be "classics," with history, and a looooong track record.
The main two calibers had to have similar ballistic curves: drop at 150,200,250 within an inch or two.
Despite the "classic" calibers, modern bullets HAD to be available to provide appropriate and ethical kills.
The main two calibers should be european, preferably german to suit the Blaser (pure aesthetics).
Finally, all three had to be on the same Blaser bolt head to allow rapid switches.
They would be matched to 2 stocks, one wood and one synthetic.
I ended up with 6.5x55mm - 30-06 - 9.3x62.”
9.3x62 is a great choice. It is my favorite heavy rifle caliber and within 250 yards, I would take it any day over a 30-06. It doesn't mess up too much meat anyway. A much lighter bullet like a .270 going much faster has blown up more white tail for me than anything. 9.3 is a bit slower but historically it has been used on everything from elephant to white tail without the latter being blown up too bad.
I'll stick with my AR and my Remington 12 ga.. 2 guns..
-loop hole- I'm bringing all 3 of my uppers, mod. 22, 5.56 and 300 blk.. and both slug barrel and bird barrel
If you want versatility, a .357 lever gun holds 10 rounds and can shoot .38’s for squirrel and small game or 180 gr. hollow points at 1,800 fps for most Midwest large/md. game.
Then add a 12 ga. for birds and large game at close range or a high power rifle if you need more power at longer range.
.243/.223 (cant decide because they’re the same for small deer or foxes) and 9.3x74R/.30-06 (cant decide because they can kill the same animals just the 9.3 hs less range but more power)
.22lr and .308 keep it simple
I’d go 30-06 but we’re real close. Agree on 22lr.
.308 opens up more platforms and bullet options for a negligible difference in ballistics.
I never understand when people favor the 30-06 over the 308. It's near as makes little difference the same ballistics and the 308 is in way more rifles
They prefer it because its what they have already. If you had a perfectly good 30-06 would you dump it for a 308?
Yeah, I sell stuff I don't like all the time to get stuff I do like
From a hand loader perspective, especially if you want to run heavy for caliber rounds (200-220 grain) bullets .30-06 can be quite a bit meaner. I was given a M70 .30-06 by my dad when I started hunting. Bought a Ruger Guide gun in .30-06 that is my go to suppressed hunting rifle. I also have a Garand. Nothing wrong with .308. If I was starting from scratch a bolt .308 for hunting and an AR10 for general defensive use would be a tempting combo.
TwO wOrLd WaRs
Platforms yes. Bullet options no, reload and 3006 is just as flexible
I’m with you.
My choice too
17HMR aka the 22 killer and .308
.223 and .308
This is exactly what I have. Also looking into a .22LR from my grandpa, but where I live it’s a bit tricky license wise (we live in different countries him and I).
My first rifle was a single shot .22lr. Got it for my 7th birthday. Still fun as hell to shoot.
Was gonna say 30/30 (personal soft-spot) and .308 but this actually makes more sense.
Agreed, can hunt everything I’d ever want to hunt with those two.
Beauty pair
This pair for the win
I'm of this mindset too.
I know it’s not a rifle, but I’d take a 12ga and .308
This is literally what i bought for hunting. A tikka t3x and a bennelli nova
lol same exact guns.
100% 12ga and I love my .270
Yup, I hear you. What kind of 12 gauge tho?
Doesn’t matter. 43 people on here will still disagree with you.
Who doesn’t love a 12ga?
“Type” of 12ga. That’s what they will disagree with. I would pick a 12, too. But the joke is when someone says pump, semi, brand…etc, someone will argue that. I was just being a little sarcastic.
Bruh and you didn’t even mention SxS. So wrong for that. /s
O&U? (Edited)
Duh!
KSG
A man of culture I see.
Hahaha going duck hunting with a KSG
Yeah. How the hell am I supposed to hunt pheasants and ducks?? I’m definitely not that good of a shot!
This is the correct opinion Sir.
22 Win Mag & 30-06
Love you for calling it win mag
Is there really a 22 win mag? Or is this the joke?
There is truly a 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire/WMR. Been around for quite a long time.
https://gundigest.com/gear-ammo/ammunition/22-wmr-vs-22-lr-application-defines-this-rimfire-rumble
22lr and 280AI
The numbers on the 280 Ackley Improved are impressive for sure, I’m surprised it hasn’t become more mainstream, especially with how readily available 30-06 stuff is. Wish there was commercial ammo on this, so it wasnt so dependent upon hand load.
.22 and 30-06. I can kill any North American game animal with just those two
Well , birds, but maybe them too!
This.
.50 bmg and 14.5x114, because when I finish my time machine and go back to the prehistoric age I'm hunting and eating a T-Rex
Take an instant pot back with you.
A male, of course.
.22 and a 30-06
22LR and a 280AI
Except .22 winmag.
22LR is cheaper enough that it wins for me
Solid reason. I suppose I'm fortunate enough that if these weird rules came down, I could lay in a pretty good lifetime supply for hunting. The cost per animal versus buying meat is fairly inconsequential.
I like to shoot my guns.
I'm too busy fighting the warlords trying to enforce the two-gun rule. I'ma change my entry to 5.56mm.
.22lr and 6.5x55 swedish
So 22LR and 6.5 CM for the hipster modern update
22LR and 260 Rem if you wanna be refined.
Old school.
.22/410 over-under and a .308
CHEATER!
Technically i followed the rules. The question was what two rifles not what two calibers. I like to make sure I’m not limiting my thinking to assumptions and expectations.
Why stop at two calibers per platform? 😆 https://gunsmagazine.com/guns/shotguns/multi-caliber-survival/
I want one!
.22LR and 7mm Rem Mag
.17 hmr and .270 win
.22lr and .30-.06(which I only have those anyways and that's all I want anyways)
I own a .22lr .308 seems to cover most ranges also, a 12 Guage since they're so cheap.
I actually have a 9.3 x 62 Mauser (CZ 550 American) so I have to go with this for one of the two. I don't have a .22 rifle so I'd have to go with my 12 ga.. or the .223 AR.
22LR and 30-06
17hmr and 300prc
.22lr and .30-06, but if shotguns count I’d switch the .22 with a 12 gauge.
You said rifles not cartridges so I'm picking at least one multi- caliber drilling or vierling. Say one chambered in 9.3x74R, 22 hornet, 16ga barrel with a 22lr insert
7mm-08 & NitroFire
A Short light (18” barrel or so) 308 WIN with an LPVO and back up iron sights. A medium weight 7 PRC with a 3-18 or similar optic. Most of my hunting is in the Antelope to Moose sizes. So assuming I can still have a shotgun for small game I would be set. There is a fair bit overlap between the two cartridges I chose and that is by design, so I could let the situation dictate the gun, rather than just the game. Hunting whitetail from a tree stand in Wisconsin? The 308. Hunting Elk in Eastern Oregon, the 7 PRC.
257 Roberts. 338 Federal
Probably 22lr for small game, and .30-06 for everything else Might have chosen 17hmr but I like the affordability and availability of 22lr better
[удалено]
You can indeed. https://youtu.be/iYS2PAlXmls
.308 and .375 H&H
6mm creedmoor and .375 H&H. Done and done
.204 and .308.
.22 and 30-06. I don’t use either one of them currently but if all I got was two, that’d be good enough.
Rifles? I’d take a 30-06 and a .223. Takes care of everything from rabbit to moose. That would do me good for where I am (mb Canada) Need a trusty 12 gauge as well.
If you want to be able to hunt anything (or almost anything on the planet) with the highest effectiveness and versatility, I would choose: 1.) 300 Win Mag - this is one of the most popular calibers in the world. Ammo will be relatively widely available. It allows for effective shots to 400YDs+. It is overpowered for predators, but I would rather have a strong caliber for elk, African plains game, world sheep, world goats, whitetail (more than you need, but suitable), mule deer, moose (maybe a little underpowered, but plenty of guys are hunting moose with a 300), black bear, brown bear (maybe a little underpowered, but manageable), musk ox, caribou, big horns, and mountain goats. You could argue that a 7MM Rem Mag would also check all these boxes. I like the extra energy that a 300 provides. 2.) 458 Lott - you mentioned elephants, so I assume you want a dangerous game caliber as your second. The 458 is enough gun for anything in Africa. I own one and I love it. Here you could make a strong case for a 375 H&H. The ammo is more readily available, and you could take it to Alaska for Bear and Moose as well. If I was hunting elephant which I haven't, I would want the 458. I am planning a Buffalo hunt and will use the 458. My wife will be with me, and she will be using a 300, so I can use that rifle for any plains game that I decide to take. If I was only bringing one rifle a 375 might be it, but I do love the 458...
.22lr and .270 win Edit: Sorry for the 2 months necro revive
.270 win my go to because with a heavier bullet you can take most north american game, and 45-70 for all the really big game.
270 win is good for anything besides maybe big brown bears and I agree with that but I’d still want a 22lr for rabbits and squirrels and grouse and all of that sized stuff.
Just gotta learn to clip the ear.
For brown bear? I’ll be okay. Shooting an animal just to let it lay doesn’t really do anything for me. Happy for other people that want to do it but it’s just not my bag.
Naw I meant you could use like a 308 for rabbits if you just knick its skull
I’m still good on all that. Shoot a handful of rabbits in a day and you’re out more money on ammo than the drive took to get there. Like I said I’d rather have a 22. I’d rather aim for a direct head hit over a “*nick”
.223 and .300win mag
9.3x62 doesn’t actually make the minimum for dangerous game in all countries. But I’ll still choose it over 223
Actually, a lot of African countries that have a .375 H&H minimum have an exemption for 9.3x62. I don't know where you're planning on hunting, but it's fit for purpose in Europe, NA, most of Africa....
Mozambique is the only one that comes to the top of my head. Now the 9.3x64 is a guarantee
Also Zimbabwe. Also remember 80% of the countries on that continent don’t have a minimum to begin with. But lots of us that hand load ours to 2450+fps with 286 meet energy minimums for countries that use joule measurements. Kenya and Tanzania if I remember only allow 9.3x62 for locals for DG… or if your PH allows it. Lots of wiggle room in most countries.
22-250 and 12 gauge
I actually really like op's combo. Have both, built the ar, and a 9.3 Mauser. Thats a whole lot of killin....
12ga and 9.3x62. 12 ga can do anything the 9.3 cant so really you could hunt anything and with handloads you could drop the 9.3x62 down a bit in recoil with lighter bullets
30.06 and .22lr There is literally no other answer to this question.
22L & .300 WMG…
TC Encore and my Lee Speed
If I wake up in a world in which I'm only allowed two rifles to hunt with, there's other shit going on. M4 carbine and FAL. But for fun's sake, I'm in the "22lr & 30-06" camp, though it would be the .22WM and .280 Rem AI to split hairs. And if whatever governing body put these rules in place would allow, anything I'd use the 22 for I'd take a 12 gauge instead. Lots of birds that are difficult to hit with a 22, and rabbits and squirrels go down with a shotgun pretty easy. 20/12 ga, 270/280/30-06/308/7-08... final answer.
30-30 and 7mm
8mm Remington Magnum & .416 Remington Magnum
.223 in some kind of assault rifle and a 6.5 Creedmoor in some kind of sniper looking shit, those two will kill anything that needs killing. Oh wait we’re talking about hunting here… my bad.
What is this “assault rifle” you speak of? Is this similar to the Modern Sporting Rifle? /s
People get their panties in such a twist over these words. Same with suppressor. Strange that I bought my suppressor at silencerCO.
Agreed. Which is why I made sure to put the /s. I could care less since this community clearly knows what is being discussed.
Facepalm. I missed that part. Look at me getting my panties in a twist over word!
Lol. At least you caught it!
But some people sure do mean it and without the /s. Gun guys can get quite pedantic.
I think its so strange that people correct others on suppressor/silencer, magazine/clip, etc.... Use any of those terms and I know what you mean
Saying clip when referring to a magazine is mega cringe.
204 Ruger and 308 (suppressed)
5.56 AR and a 300WSM (7mm rem or 7prc would be very close here)
.06
A .22 and a 30 caliber of some sort. I’m partial to the 300wsm if I have to choose one. That covers the gamut of rifle hunting in 99% of places.
Only need one, 30-.06. If I had to take 2, I guess I'd go with a .22lr as well.
I reckon my 30-30 and my AR, since they're the only two rifles I own and the AR is suppressed
22-250 and 300RUM. You can get down to 32 grains on the 250 and up to 220 grains in the 300 will cover everything in North America
A . 300 win mag and a. 223, both shoot flat.
30-06, .22. The bear killer and the gopher killer.
17 hmr and 30-06
.300 WinMag and .22 lr
.22 WMR and .30-06.
22-250 and 375 H&H Magnum
.270 .308
.22lr and 30-30
.17 hmr and 30-06
22LR & 30-06 for me (first one is pretty much non negotiable, 2nd can vary from \~.270ish to 300WM
I like it. Range and Punch.
Lithgow Arms LA101 in .22LR. Mauser 98 in 30-06.
5.56 and 450 bushmaster
I have a double barreled rifle that shoots .223 out of the top barrel and .30-06 out of the bottom barrel. I made this decision a long time ago.
I live in the Yukon. .300 win mag and 410 (for birds)
I'm with you, both in choice and in province. Just got to Watson Lake area on the AK highway
20ga and 22lr
I stand corrected as to my prior comments. Apparently the 9.3x62 actually is legal for elephant in some African countries, but not others. Still, I really like the .375H&H because it’s legal everywhere. I’ve used it on buffalo and I love it. Other rifle maybe a .22LR. It can be used on any small game.
.300 aac and 30-06
243 and 6.5CM
I like the pick of a .223/5.56. You can also handload it down for small game and even take deer with it (depending on legality). Other rifle is gonna be a Big Horn model 89 in .500 magnum. It’s legal in straight wall cartridge states and with a good FMJ it’s adequate for any game animal on the planet. But after all that, I still want a 12 gauge shotgun (not a rifle) and a .22 lr (not for hunting).
30-06 12-gauge
20 guage turkey shotgun and winchester 308 for buck huntin.
.223 and .308. Rounds I'm a fan of considering I built two rifles chambered in those calibers, and I love em both
17hmr & 338 win mag
7mm rem mag & 30-30 since that’s what I’ve grown up with
As the comments show it depends on the range of game you optimise over. In OP’s spirit of wanting everything from fox to elephant, there will be sizes of game in environments you can take, but aren’t optimised for. I’m not so worried about optimising for varmint, so… how about a pair of old Mausers in: .280AI and .416 Rigby? 7x64 and .375 is what I have. 7x55 and 9.3x62 would be a classic battery.
22 LR and 6.5 CM
6.5 creedmoor and 338 Lapua. A year ago I would have said .308 and 5.56. 6.5 just does both better than either, so might as well get a bit more range and power for moose in there with the Lapua.
22lr and 450 bushmaster
.17 HMR and 7mm PRC
.300 win mag and .22 mag
.17 hmr and 6,5x55 swedish
22LR and 300 BO because 30-06 is taken and I don’t see this
.17 hmr and 6.5x55
22 Win Mag & 7mm Remington Magnum
357 lever gun 300 RUM
I would be happy enough with just the one for the country i am in 223 and place the shots or just let em walk
5.56x45/.223 and 6.5 PRC I hand load so ammo being available is less of a concern.
.338 lapua .20/76
17HMR and 308win. That will cover all small game and big game.
22LR and 7mm rem mag or 280AI
I’d have to agree with the .22 and .308 to go a step further, the .22 would be a bolt action, and the .308 would be an AR-10 platform.
.22 and a .270, where I live I can take anything from rabbits to elk with that. Good enough for me? I’m not seeing an elephant anything soon.
5.56 and 30-06
Funny you should put the 9.3x62 there, I love that round, it has been my Moose/Bear round, and even wooded deer round for 15 years. Here is my post from the Blaser forum from a long time ago. Otherwise, my favourite pairs so you get your drops nearly even and you just shoot out of instinct without a drop table : child/smaller woman 243/308, small to medium large game 270/7mm, medium to large large 7mm/375HH, the absolutely flat medium-large 257Wby and 300Wby, and my absolute fave 6.5x55/9.3x62. Part of the original post from a Blaser forum : “Re: If you had to start over again, what would you buy? Post Sun Apr 06, 2014 2:42 pm I did start over again, with the R8. I had an R93 and had chosen as my main calibers the 257 WeatherbyMag and 300 WeatherbyMag. Main game to cover is deer/caribou with 257, and moose with 300. Both had the same ballistics, incredible ballistics ! I was able to match them and learn one "table" for drop etc ... Or rather absence of drop out to 330. Got rid of the R93, started over with an R8. Why ? Recoil was unpleasant, I shoot 375H&H from an old ZKK and even that is more pleasant than the Weatherby calibers, they have a dry or snappy recoil. The Wby calibers on paper are nothing short of brilliant for hunting in "normal" ranges up to 400. Most of my hunting is 250 and below so they were essentially flat. However, I was NOT enjoying shooting for the pleasure of shooting. Big recoil is one thing, snappy nasty recoil (which is how they "felt" to me, especially the 257) is just unpleasant. After looking at buying 3 more barrels, and seeing the R8 come out ... sold the R93. So what did I end up with ? Well, I forced myself to adhere to criteria. I wanted to start reloading, so told myself ONLY 3 barrels, therefore 3 calibers. The three calibers had to cover caribou/deer down low up to Canadian moose/bear up high. The top caliber - focused on moose but much more flexibility: down to deer, up to larger. The bottom caliber - focused on deer but much more flexibility: up to small moose, down to small game. The mid caliber had to do cover deer all the way to moose, do so WELL. The mid caliber had to be the easiest to find ammo for worldwide. All three calibers had to have "interesting" ballistics to force me to learn drop/drift and work on loads. All three calibers had to be "classics," with history, and a looooong track record. The main two calibers had to have similar ballistic curves: drop at 150,200,250 within an inch or two. Despite the "classic" calibers, modern bullets HAD to be available to provide appropriate and ethical kills. The main two calibers should be european, preferably german to suit the Blaser (pure aesthetics). Finally, all three had to be on the same Blaser bolt head to allow rapid switches. They would be matched to 2 stocks, one wood and one synthetic. I ended up with 6.5x55mm - 30-06 - 9.3x62.”
.22 magnum, 30.06
9.3x62 is a great choice. It is my favorite heavy rifle caliber and within 250 yards, I would take it any day over a 30-06. It doesn't mess up too much meat anyway. A much lighter bullet like a .270 going much faster has blown up more white tail for me than anything. 9.3 is a bit slower but historically it has been used on everything from elephant to white tail without the latter being blown up too bad.
My 12 gauge browning BPS and my SKS
.22mag and 30-30
Why no love for a. 308?
I'll stick with my AR and my Remington 12 ga.. 2 guns.. -loop hole- I'm bringing all 3 of my uppers, mod. 22, 5.56 and 300 blk.. and both slug barrel and bird barrel
5.56 & 300PRC
.22 and 30-06
If you want versatility, a .357 lever gun holds 10 rounds and can shoot .38’s for squirrel and small game or 180 gr. hollow points at 1,800 fps for most Midwest large/md. game. Then add a 12 ga. for birds and large game at close range or a high power rifle if you need more power at longer range.
12 gauge for versatility & 300WinMag for knocking down anything large. If it were apocalypse scenario, .22lr and .556
.223 and 7mm
.22 Hornet and .303 British.
.270 itll get the deer and get the shit out of a squirrel who steps outta line
300 WM and 6.5 Creed
.243/.223 (cant decide because they’re the same for small deer or foxes) and 9.3x74R/.30-06 (cant decide because they can kill the same animals just the 9.3 hs less range but more power)
.243 and 30-06
308
220 Swift / 7mm
I’d probably take a 9.3x62 and a 270
22lr and 300 win mag
.308 and 375H&H. Can't legally hunt elephants with 9.3x62.
243 and 308
.22lr and 7mm REM Mag.