Gaps in your caliber battery

[Blkram]

We have had a lot of fun discussing favourite cartridges, and rifle...
What caliber gaps do you have in your rifle battery? And why?

Myself, my main gaps are 243/6mm, and 8mm, under .458.
Why?
Because I have just prefered the 257 to the 243, and prefer the 338 to the 323. (I guess that I really should include the 303 British too)

Nothing wrong with the 243 and 323...just the way it has worked out. I am also into more modern firearms, as opposed to the military surplus rifles, and therefore didn't get into the 303 or 8x57.
If I had been introduced to either earlier, or used them first, the story may well be different.

 

[bkordon]

Interesting topic for sure.

My gaps are as follows: 22-250 and then 6.5X284, and then anything larger than 338. I personally have nothing against 243, but no desire either. I have owned a 25-06 and would consider adding one. The concern is the ongoing challenge of components. I expect it to get better, but at the end of the day, 6.5 will do anything a 25-06 will.
When looking at the larger calibers, I just have limited interest and application. Please don't judge me for that logic.

 

[JD338]

Good topic Gil.
For me I have the following...
22 Nosler
257 Roberts
280 AI
308 Win
338 RUM
35 Whelen
375 H&H
44 Rem Mag
45-70
For me the following would fill the gaps...
243 Win
6.5 Wby RPM
300 Wby
416 Rem (I had a 416 Wby Mag)
Of these, the only one that makes sense to me is...
6.5 Wby RPM
I'm pretty happy with the 308 Win as my woods rifle. The 280AI covers long range deer/antelope. The 338 RUM covers everything and the 375 H&H Mag for the big stuff.

JD338

JD338

 

[TexasLife]

not just a cartridge gap, but a complete caliber gap for many decades until the last 5 years.
about 10 years ago i didn't have any 30cals as i only had 1 26cal and 2 22cals. between the 10 to year gap i added 1 24cal, multiple 26cals, 3 27cals and 1 33/338cal (whichever way you look at it). in the last 5 years i've added a 28cal (2 actually) and haven't got into the quarter bores yet. so, as far as gaps go i'm missing the 25cal, 323/32cal with a gap up to .458 in rifle cartridges. in pistols i'm covered in 9, 10, 44, 45 and 50cals. no need for the 41's or 475's. might get a 480ruger though?

going by cartridges
5.56nato
243win
6.5gren
6.5creed
260rem
6.5prc
264wm
6.8spc
270win
7-08rem
7saum
300bo
308win
300wm
338lm
45-70gov't

pistol cartridges
9x19
357sig
40s/w
10mm
44mag
50ae

i don't hunt so many calibers/cartridges that don't utilize fmj or match bullets i skip due to low bc for the distance i'm wanting to shoot. no if i went with a 37cal, 408 and/or 416 there would be a few cartridges that are built/designed for elr i'd buy. i know who says you can't shoot a 458wm past 1k, but i'm not into mortaring with rifle cartridges.

 

[RL338]

I really don’t see any gaps the need to be filled
204 Ruger
223 Rem. 22-250 , soon to be 224 Wby
243 Win (handgun) , 6mm Creed
25 Creed (handgun) , 257 Wby
6.5 Creed
7-08 , 7mm RM
30-30 Win , 308 Win (multiple) , 30-06 , 300 Wby , 30-378 Wby
338 WM , 340 Wby , 338 Lapua
35 Whelen
375 Wby
416 Wby
44 Mag (handgun)
458 WM , 460 Wby
17 cal. bullets too small for my fingers , 204 is a treat
.270 , 8mm, 9.3 each of those won’t out due what I currently have.

 

[SJB358]

I don’t have anything 20 caliber or 416…. I’ll fix it someday

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

An interesting topic, I will bite. My gaps are as follows:

.244 - I just happen to like .224’s better for varmints and .257’s better for game
.264 - Would love a 6.5 Swede, have access to a .264 Win Mag
.277 - Gave my last .270 to a nephew for Christmas, may get another someday
.323 - Loved my 8mm Rem Mag, but it did nothing a .338 couldn’t do
.338 - Would love a .338 Win Mag
.366 - Got a .35 Whelen so….
.375 - Had one but sold it. If I can ever afford to hunt somewhere I need one, I will buy another.

 

[TexasLife]

with the 30tc being a creed i guess i could go 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 30creed, ie 30tc for all gaps and maybe 20cal. if wikipedia is correct, then the 30tc is the parent case? 30tc has (listed) about 1,400psi less on max pressure than the creed line, but close enough. 250savage is close to the creed, but has more body taper like the 22-250rem. i know, most of you already know this info

 

[NYDAN]

In all honesty, I have all the rifles that I need. In fact, I have more than I need. But historically I have had a woodchuck rifle, such as a 22-250, which I don't have now. However, our woodchuck population has been decimated by the coyotes, so I don't really need a varmint rifle anymore. My 6.5 CM, or .22 WMR revolver, can fill in if the need arises. If the urge for a new rifle becomes overwhelming, I suppose I would look at a .22 centerfire.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

I have been fortunate to have used, owned, shot most things from 222Rem to 35Whelen. Instead of getting different calibers- cartridges, I seem to have gotten a couple of duplicates. One of each will be given to my son, grandkids or nephews. Some calibers I would not own again just because they are not appealing to me and have found others work as well. One I have gotten away from but would get to fill a void so to speak is the 25-06 Rem. Killed several deer with it and a few groundhogs. Just me.

 

[FOTIS]

No gaps whatsoever! Just huge overlaps!

 

[salmonchaser]

At the top end I go from 338 to 375 and then jump to 458. I had a 577 double for a while but find I probably need a good stopping rifle. There are a few gaps but there are quite a number of gaps of places and things to have hunted.

 

[1100 Remington Man]

While I see a one rifle battery insufficient a three rifle battery for big game has been and has worked for me in North America. To be honest it could be a two rifle battery is really enough. The only thing I see wrong with a one rifle is if something would break you are down to zero. I see no gap in my rifle battery for big game. If one wanted a one rifle battery I see the one from 30-06 to any 300 Magnum would do and while a little much for small deer or antelope, I would go hunting Brown Bear with a 30-06 if that’s all I had with a quality bullet as many have shown this to work well.

 

[IdahoCTD]

The only calibers I dont have, between 17 and 45, are 17, 20, 9.3, and 423. I do have a 8x68 but havent ever shot it. I can see myself picking up a 17 of some flavor, most likely a 17HMR, and building a 404 Jeffrey if I go back to Africa for buffalo. I doubt I'd build or buy a 20 or 9.3.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I would go hunting Brown Bear with a 30-06 if that’s all I had with a quality bullet as many have shown this to work well.

Me too. I have several .30-06’s too and frankly have a tough time justifying anything larger for where I hunt.

That could change if they reintroduce grizzlies, but even so, I would not feel under gunned with a .30-06 and appropriate bullets.

Besides my rimfires which see lots of use, I could certainly get by with my .22-250 or .220 Swift and .30-06 rifles.

 

[grry10]

A 6.5X55 or 260 Rem, 8mmX57, and a .348 Win would fill the gaps nicely.

Like the .30 T/C in this post many calibers in reloading manuals still reflect IMR-4320. Since this is a discontinued powder it would be nice to see what is next inline for accuracy. I have a pound or two left but am not wasting time trying to develop loads with it.

 

[xphunter]

The only remote gap would be a 338 of some kind...
I don't really consider it a gap though

 

[Vince]

Here’s my cartridge list for anything I might want to do. I still need to add a .416 of some sort.
Rifle Only:

.223/5.56
6.5 Grendel
6.5 Creedmoor
.338 Win Mag
.375 Ruger
45-70

Thinking the .375 should be a .416 of some sort.

Vince

 

[RL338]

Thinking the .375 should be a .416 of some sort.

Or both

 

[Aussie Wanderer]

I find myself regularly playing this game as I think about what’s in the safe. If it was a calibre gap, it would be something quarter bore. My issue is I have safe queens that very rarely get shot and very rarely hunted with. I have a few go to rifles that almost always come into the bush. It’s a campfire topic where we consider a 5 gun battery to cover our current and future needs. As a reloader, the choices are essentially limitless if you can get the brass. I’d like a 6.5rpm but the brass is hideously expensive here ($350 for 50 cases) but that would make my 260 and 7mm08 redundant, both cartridges I have a great fondness for.

I have bought rifles just because some cartridges are worth playing with for intellectual curiosity.

I don’t have a gap, just not enough time