A good hunting battery should have which calibers???

[jtoews80]

I've been thinking recently, perhaps my hunting battery is overloaded in the 6.5mm-30cal region and totally missing the .177-.257 region and the 8mm up side as well.

I've got a winchester pre-64 m70 264wm, a savage 111 in 264 w/ 31"med.Palma barrel, a Browning A-Bolt 7mm STW, a Mk V 30-378, a CZ 550 Varmint 308 and a 44 Mag Henry rifle.

I think that the 264's, 7mm STW and 30-378 are covering the same ground. The STW is a very light barrel and rifle with 1-9.5"twist, not really a long range rig. For it's accuracy potential, a 7mm Rem Mag would do the same thing with less recoil and powder. The 30-378 is a great round, but almost to much velocity to be useful. Both could be replaced by a 264 and a 338LM or RUM and not lose any potential.

I've always loved my big magnums, but am starting to lean towards more useable velocity/weight ratio's. Or maybe I just need to get a normal chambering like a 25-06, 270 or a 280. Most likely the 25-06 would complement the already listed the best or a 6mm of some sort.
Or perhaps just stick with the 308 and a 180grn AB at 2650FPS.
Maybe, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

CC.

 

[jtoews80]

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.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

I have 6 rifles right now that I think cover my battery pretty well for everything I hunt from squirrels to elk.

.222 rem for varmints and coyotes out to 400 yards
25-06 for long range coyotes, antelope, deer out to 800 yards
7 RM for long range deer, black bear, elk out to 1K
300 WBY for long range black bear, elk out to 1K (back up rifle)
338 EDGE for anything that thinks its safe from 0- 1200 yards :lol:
45-70 for deer, black bear, elk out to 150 yards

I think a 25-06 would fit the bill nicely for you. I've used one in some way or another for the last 7-8 years now and have taken literally everything oregon has to offer besides cougar, sheep, and goats. Then again, theres nothing wrong with the 270 or 280, but I like to be different and glad I fell in love with the 25-06, it hasn't let me down yet!!

 

[Richracer1]

Only you can decide if your hunting battery is complete. I think mine is with the following:

204 Ruger
223 Rem
243
270 WSM
300 Sav
30-06 (maybe if my Uncle won't take it)
300 RUM
338 WM
338 RUM

I can alway change my mind, but I don't another caliber is "needed".

 

[Guest]

I got into this discussion with my brother recently. I think it comes down to what you feel you want to do with your guns. You can hunt everything from varmints to deer to elk with a 270Win, so it's a one gun battery. But you're ideal only at the middle of the spectrum. If I were starting out buying guns and wanted to be able to hunt deer and other thi-skinned game and the occasional elk, I'd start out like this:

First, I'd get a good, all around rifle, like a 270Win, 30-06, or 308Win. You can substitute any of several other calibers here, such as the 7mmRemMag or 280Rem, but I think you understand the point. I'd use this rifle for everything, and would not spend a lot of time hunting small varmints.

Second, I'd get a small caliber gun for varmints. I prefer .243Win, because the primary varmint around here is the coyote, but if I lived in prairie dog country, I'd probably opt for the 22-250. Any of several others would do, again, but you understand the point.

Third, I'd get a true big gun. Something like one of the biggest 300mags, or a 338 class magnum. Again, there are others such as the 9.3x62 or 35Whelen, but the point is, again, clearly to differentiate from what I already have in terms of available bullet weight and range of targetable game. If I had a 30-06 or 308, I'd definitely go for larger bore stuff, as I'd already have the 30cal arena covered. If I had a 270, I might move to a 300mag to be sure I could handle the recoil.

Beyond that, I'd start filling in the gaps. I'd get a quarter bore for long range white-tail & antelope work, and I'd get something in the middle magnum family (264-277-284cal) for longer range work on medium game and as a single gun for combo elk-deer hunts, maybe. There are a myriad of specialty use guns you could entertain once you have the three gun battery. Maybe a big bore lever gun for heavy cover hunting, or a short barreled rifle in 260Rem or 7mm-08 for easy carrying. The possibilities are nearly endless. Once you have the foundation built, you can do what you want within that framework.

That's just my opinion, based on how I bought guns, and what I'd do differently if I had it to do over again. Your mileage may vary.

 

[buckfever]

If you dont have anything in the .22 - 25 caliber you could buy a .243 and cover deer coyotes and the small stuff or buy two a 223 or 22 250 and 25 06 I would go with the latter because more is better when it comes to guns.

 

[6ppcar]

I would add a Big Bore.
375 H & H
45-70
450 Marlin
416
458 win mag.
I'm having a lot of fun shooting my Marlin 450 . It will be my go to gun this fall an winter.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Overall, Dubyam said it very well. For a long time, I did shoot everything with one rifle. A .270Win with 4x scope. 90gr hp for prarie dogs, and 150gr partitions for elk. Since then I've added a 22-250 for a varmit gun, .338 for a big gun, and the 7 STW for a long shooter. Beyond that core, I'm free to add, well, what ever fits my mood.

With your battery, I would probably add a varmit gun next. 22-250 or .223rem. As for the 30-378 shooting too fast, I'd go to 200gr AB and use it as my Big Gun.

6PPC also has a great idea about a true big bore. I'm sure you would find plenty of use for one of those up in Canada.

 

[Savage99]

.22 LR
.223, .22-250 or 243. Varmints with ricochet resistant bullets
7mm WSM or similar for longer ranges.
.308 or similar for lightweight woods and mountain rifle.
Other big bores for heavier game.
20 ga for upland-grouse.
12 ga all around

 

[jtoews80]

I think a 243 Varmint 700 SPS could be the next purchase, as the 338 Ultra ordered in march is still no-show. Most likely, the 7STW will find a new home, recoil and a very light barrel don't offer enough to keep it. It's a great gun, just doesn't offer enough to keep it. ANd after that, I'll have to see.

Unfortunately, I get bored and turn over my collection every 3 or 4 years. I have got the 7 STW, 30-378, 44 & 308 for sale and I'll see what sells. I won't sell at a loss, so it won't be a bad thing. I will have to replace the 30-378 with a 30 cal magnum if it goes. I lean toward either a 300 win mag (and a complimenting 338 Ultra) or a 300 Ultra on it's own. No idea what'll happen.

CC.

 

[YoteSmoker]

22LR
204, 22-250, 223, or 220 swift
7mm mag, 280, 270, or 30-06
12 gauge for upland hunting/slug only deer hunting

338 or bigger for Africa/Alaska big dangerous game
416-700 nitro for cape buffalo/elephant

 

[Guest]

.22 Hornet
.243 Win
.264 win mag
8mm rem mag
9.3x64 Brenneke for critters that fight back!

:grin:

 

[Greg Nolan]

If I would chose a perfect battery of hunting guns it would change pretty often.
I would choose a varmint rifle, a light deer rifle, a heavy deer rifle, a elk rifle and a big and nasty rifle.
The hard part is that there are so many choices.
I have too many overlapping calibers now but almost any caliber that falls into the ranges I suggested would work just fine for almost anything a person might want to hunt. "BUT" having a few in each group makes for a lot of long exciting evenings deciding JUST WHICH ONE to take just before the hunt.
Good Hunting
Elkhunt :grin:

PS: The 338 RUM with 225 gr Accubonds is the ultimate weapon!!

I could sell all the rest of my rifles and just use this caliber but what fun would that be ?? :lol:

 

[bullet]

That is hard when as Greg said we have so many choices. My favorite battery is:

22-250
30-06
300Wby
375Wby

 

[FOTIS]

Mine is:


223
270 Wby
30-378 Wby
416 Wby

will be adding a 45-70 fun gun/timber gun soon.

 

[tjen]

I can hunt anything in North America with a:

224 222rem
277 270win
358 358win/whelen?

How ever more important to me is a better selection of rifle action types and barrel lengths. So yes I want more than three rifles.

 

[taylorce1]

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.

I could make do with just 3 caliber rifles out of what you have listed up there.

.224 would be a .223 Rem for all my varminting needs.
.308 would be a .30-06 nuff said, but I'd still prefer my .270 just can't argue with the versitility of the old 06.
.375 would be either a .375 H&H or what I have a.375 Ruger not really into hunting Africa as much as wanting to go to AK, but I have big bears covered as well as most of Africa if I ever got the chance to go.

I could do everything I want to with those three calibers. Luckily I don't have too! :grin:

 

[RMiller]

I have a 30-06 and a 500 S&W.

The 500 is a H&R Handi-rifle. I shot a moose with it in August.

I have a Brown Bear tag for next spring and I cant decide if I want another larger rifle for the one bear hunt. Maybe a 375 or 45-70 or 458 or 416 or 338 or 300 ultra.

Maybe I will just take the 30-06 or 500.

The only rifle caliber under 30 cal that I have shot big game with is the 22-250 and 223 on deer.

 

[jtoews80]

I got a guy looking at the 7 STW tomorrow and somebody wanting the 30-378, but am not sold on selling the wby. my local merchant has 2 used accumarks in: a braked 270 wby and a 257wby with a 12.5 inch LOP. the 257 is a year old, but the stock fits my wife(not a bad thing as she likes to shoot) I would need a new stock to use it myself. I need to sell the 7 or I can't afford anything. I am not going to lose money on it, or I'll just keep the rifle. I can have it threaded for $80 and a brake is about 120 from Vais. 200 bucks is half way to a scoped savage 111 in 7mmRM, almost not worth keeping it.

CC.

 

[SJB358]

This is a hard one, but here goes for me.

22 Magnum
22-250
358 Winchester
270 WSM
300 WinMag
338 Win Mag / 35 Whelen

I would think with those I would be covered for everything I will ever hunt. I am glad I don't have to give any of my others up though. Scotty