A good hunting battery should have which calibers???

[Jeff Olsen]

Like many of you, my "battery" is not the result of careful analysis and measured, logical buying. Rather, it reflects SOME of the above, plus some impulse buys or wild hairs that turned out to be good rifles and thus keepers <grin>!

What I HAVE:

M700 7mm-08 Mountain Rifle
M7 .358 Win
M700 30-06
M700 338 Win Mag

Kimber Montana .325 WSM

Browning BLR .325 WSM

M700 Sendero 300 WM
M700P .223

Obviously, there's a lot of overlap there.

Just for fun, on another forum I go to I made the call that my M7 in .358 and the Kimber .325 WSM were my two rifles for the year. And a case can be made that that's ALL I really need. The .358 suits my blacktail hunting style perfectly; it just whacks 'em to the ground or if they run, they are leaving a fountain of blood. The .325 is good for anything, out to any range I'd hunt anything I'd hunt!

As it turned out the Kimber got all the action, killing a nice buck, bull elk, and ginormous cow elk, all with 200-gn Accubonds.

I could put together other perfectly reasonable pairings just from what I have:

7mm-08 and the .325

7mm-08 and .338 WM

.358 and 338

30-06 and 338

etc etc etc.

Well that's what I have, what I used this year, and what I think on the subject!

 

[jtoews80]

The 7 STW went away, replaced by a Wby Vanguard sporter in 257 wby. It shoots 1/2MOA. The 30-378 took a deer @300yds with a 200 grn AccuBond and it was very dead. I added a 223 stevens 200. So, NOw

223 Stevens 200
257 wby Vanguard
264 Win M70 pre64
264 PacNor Savage 111
308 win CZ 550 Laminated Varmint
30-378 wby Accumark
44 Rem Mag Henry Big Boy
12 Ga Benelli Super Nova

I want to replace the 7mm STW with a 7mm RUM, but will wait until spring to do that. I haven`t got a scope yet and I`m sure that thing will need either a very good scope or a brake and a Bushnell Elite of some sort. The Bushnell Elite I`ve never had trouble with, in my mind they are a high quality scope, but I`ve had or have¸leupold scopes and they are a bit better. I`m tinkering with reamer designs on a 6mm WSM Improved, but that will not be this year. The 338 RUM I had ordered never was added to the order because minimum order volume from Rem is astronomical and the order had already gone out. Our local guy tried and couldn`t do it. All he had was 338-378 accumarks and I don`t really need one of those. I could have two XCR 700`s for the same price.

JT.

 

[Richracer1]

All four of the Ultra Mag Calibers. :grin:

 

[jtoews80]

The RUM line is pretty potent. I'd love to add a 338 & 7mm Ultra, but really all I need to add is a 22-250, 6mm of some sort, 7mm & a big gun. 338 has the ballistics and 375's throw really heavy bullets. 416's well, I am not sure I need that much energy to target in North America ever tho it would be comforting to hunt Grizzly bear with.

Plan is to get 7mm, 22-250, wildcat a 6mm and maybe get a big bore. The thing with a big bore is that with a 30-378 and 200grn Ab's or 220grn Partitions is pretty fearsome, It is not far behind anything 338 energywise.

JT

 

[FOTIS]

Honestly I can get by with a


223
28 or 30 cal of some sort..... If you go mag like 300 RUM you're done

or you can add a 338 358 or 375 of some flavor for diversity.

 

[jtoews80]

I concur, I would go as far as to say a 22LR, (add a 223 if in flat varmint country) 30-30WCF & 12Ga for needed equipment on a farm and anything better is bonus. However, I enjoy the shooting sports and have to be careful not to overspend and get way out of hand with it. LOL, I could just keep what I have abd be outfitted for anything I'll ever hunt. I have my doubts I'll ever hunt africa, I would love to, but for the same cost I'll go on 4 guided hunts after Yukon moose or BC Elk.
As far as that goes I would love to take my dad to the Yukon moose hunting. If I can do that and maybe a good Elk or Sheep hunt in western Alberta or BC I'll have reached my goals. The amount of times I go well, that has yet to be determined......

One of our neighbour's sons guides for Bonnet Plume Outfitters, their website is worth looking at if for no other reason than to drool over the trophies( www.huntbpo.com ). I am not sure I can afford to go with an outfitter, but I want to go within the next three years. My dad is going on 55 this year and would be up to a good hunt. I will have to try to convince him to bring more than a 30-06 or 308 tho. He's been very convinced that is all the gun he'll need forever........

JT

 

[FOTIS]

A 223 rem loaded with 35 grain bullets and Unique or blue dot makes a 22 LR kinda obsolete....If you want to go through the trouble.....



Cartridge : .223 Rem.
Bullet : .224, 35, Hornady V-MAX 22252
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.260 inch or 57.40 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch or 558.8 mm
Powder : Alliant UNIQUE

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 28 4.80 1929 289 10350 2027 100.0 1.811
-18.0 29 4.92 1965 300 10869 2061 100.0 1.736
-16.0 30 5.04 1999 310 11375 2097 100.0 1.675
-14.0 30 5.16 2032 321 11876 2133 100.0 1.623
-12.0 31 5.28 2063 331 12378 2170 100.0 1.578
-10.0 32 5.40 2094 341 12881 2207 100.0 1.538
-08.0 32 5.52 2124 351 13387 2243 100.0 1.502
-06.0 33 5.64 2153 360 13897 2280 100.0 1.469
-04.0 34 5.76 2182 370 14412 2317 100.0 1.439
-02.0 35 5.88 2209 379 14933 2354 100.0 1.411
+00.0 35 6.00 2237 389 15458 2391 100.0 1.385
+02.0 36 6.12 2264 398 15990 2428 100.0 1.385
+04.0 37 6.24 2290 408 16528 2465 100.0 1.361
+06.0 37 6.36 2316 417 17071 2502 100.0 1.338
+08.0 38 6.48 2342 426 17621 2539 100.0 1.317
+10.0 39 6.60 2367 435 18178 2575 100.0 1.296

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 35 6.00 2273 402 17059 2353 100.0 1.336
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 35 6.00 2184 371 13752 2446 100.0 1.474

 

[jtoews80]

I'm loading 50 grn Vmax, and 22LR is cheap and easy. It's a Mcdonalds gun.

Jt

 

[jtoews80]

MacDonalds as in cheap, easy & common.

It really isn't worth reloading a 223 with 35 grn Vmax for me. Even the 223 Winchester ammo that Walmart had with a 40 grn JHP wasn't that bad, it was better than alot of surplus. Made gophers into red mist nicely.
I like the 22 rimfire for it's tinny greatness I guess. It isn't much of anything, but grouse, gophers, rabbits, squirrels and muskrats are all very easily inside it's abilities.
I've shot 22's alot, I have a M60 Marlin that I've had since I was 15. It has about 8,000-10,000 rounds thro it. The finish is worn almost right off the stock just ahead of the trigger guard. If it had an odometer it would have a few thousand km's on it. It used to travel with me every day down a 3-5 mile long trapline from early-mid november thro march from 1995 until 98 so it's got about 3.5 seasons on a average 4 mile line on it(3.5 X 4 X 120=1689miles or 2700km). That doesn't include all the trips out hunting grouse and just plinking.
I don't think I made all that much money on the trapline, I think I made under 1000 dollars per year at it(alot of money @ 16), but loved the wild and really enjoyed learning about the furbearers in order to catch them. The weasel, pine marten & Fisher in particular are facinating animals. Pound for pound they are ferocious, not kidding.

JT.

 

[Guest]

I would go with 3:
22 LR
22-250
270

and a 300 WM if I hunted out west.

 

[JD338]

My perfect battery for NA-

22 Long Rifle
221 Fireball
22-250 Rem
257 Roberts
257 Weatherby
280 AI
300 Win Mag
338 RUM
35 Whelen
375 RUM
45-70 Gov't

If only 3-

22-250 Rem
280 AI
338 RUM

JD338

 

[jmad_81]

I got things pretty well covered. There is no .308 cal and more than likely never will be (if I was going to be limited to one gun I'd think about it).
.17 HMR
.223
.22-250
.243 Win.
.270 WSM.
7mm-08 (wifes)
.32 win.
.338 WM
.375 Ruger
20 Ga.
12 Ga.

If I had to limit it to three rifles I would go with a heavy .243, a light 270 WSM, or Weatherby, And my .375 Ruger. And the 12. Ga for the stuff with feathers.

Now My Wifes battery :lol: on the other hand would have to have my...opps I mean her .223, her savage 99 .243, and her 7mm-08. And a 20 Ga. for birds.

 

[jtoews80]

Careful, buying her guns is all fine and good, but she may buy you a really nice purse or dress of the same value :grin: :grin:

That happened to a fellow I knew in Manitoba, he bought his wife a commemorative Win 94 in 44-40 with the brass engraved receiver that was over a thousand dollars for her birthday. His christmas present was a dress worth 700 bucks........

On the flip side, I am not "allowed" to sell my CZ550 308 varmint because my wife loves it and can shoot MOA out as far as I've sent up targets for her so far(400yds).

JT.

 

[JD338]

Now My Wifes battery :lol: on the other hand would have to have my...opps I mean her .223, her savage 99 .243, and her 7mm-08. And a 20 Ga. for birds.

My wifes arsenal consist of VISA, MASTER CARD, OLD NAVY and VICTORIA'S SECRET. :lol:

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

VICTORIA'S SECRET. ???????????


You're set!

 

[Richracer1]

VICTORIA'S SECRET. ???????????


You're set!

I'd very much like to see their camo clothing line! :shock: :shock: :grin: :grin:

 

[JDMAG]

It's a new powder line. 2 powders 1 is real HOT :shock: and the other is a slooooow burn 8)

 

[jmad_81]

JD338 Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:55 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

jmad_81 wrote:
Now My Wifes battery on the other hand would have to have my...opps I mean her .223, her savage 99 .243, and her 7mm-08. And a 20 Ga. for birds.


My wifes arsenal consist of VISA, MASTER CARD, OLD NAVY and VICTORIA'S SECRET.

JD338

Yeah those happen to be called black mail in my house, I buy a gun and she goes shopping :lol: ... Only If I Could pick were she was shopping!

 

[BK]

My question is: Which calibers/chamberings should a well equiped battery include???

.177 .204 .224 .243 .257 .264 .277 .284 .308 .323 .338 .358 .366 .375 .416 .430 .458 .505 .....

This isn't to limit what one should have, just what combo would make one "well equiped"???




CC.

+ .311 (.303 Brit)
.333 (.318 WR)
.400 (Whelen)
.404 (Jeffery)
.470 (Nitro)

But, you could get by with an '06 with 180 Partitions (says the man who doesn't own an '06).

 

[jtoews80]

LOL, i figured it out. I don't own guns, it's more like renting them......

I have sold my 12 ga, and trying to sell my 308, 30-378 & 264 win. I love the reach of both the 264 & 30-378, but I want to replace them with a pair of Sendero's in 7mm & 300 RUM and maybe add PTG bolts with sako extractors and have the actions blueprinted.
I'll still have my 223, 257, 264 Pac-Nor and a few other barrels for my savage, I just got a 270 win barrel, soon to be a 270 wby barrel and have a 700 rem 7mm rem barrel to rethread that will become a 7mm rem barrel with savage threads. I'm getting the threading done at our local machine shop and will get Corlanes to chamber them. The 270 barrel is only 22", but it's easier to headspace a belted round in a savage and it will use the same bolt head. I've also got a 22-250 barel coming for the 223, incase I need a bit more velocity.

I am trying to get back a little more to having a few guns or particular models that shoot well for me. I seem to do better with one good rifle that I use all the time as opposed to even having several different types of rifles that I switch between. Not sure why, seems to work.

JT.