Essential caliber list

My father all ways said you should limit your self to 4 kinds of ammo. He was a survivalist type of guy so he was all about keeping it as simple as possible.

He said you need:

1. Some thing for hunting big game such as Deer/Elk
2. Some thing to hunt birds
3. Some thing for defense in a hand gun
4. Some thing for plinking/practice.

Any thing beyond those 4 basics are just extra.




For me it is:

1. 45/70 for big game
2. 12ga for hunting birds
3. 357 magnum for hand guns
4. 17HMR for plinking (wish I had gone 22lr)

I have 19 guns and all of them are in one of these calibers.
 
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only ones I really love and they are the .410 and the 45-70....maybe cause I grew up with them.....Ever get a turkey with a 410? I have gotten several and it is a real thrill....Graddad would be proud.....
;)
 
If I had to absolutely whittle it?

1.) .22LR
2.) 12-Gauge
3.) 9x19
4.) .38/.357
5.) 5.56x45/.223
6.) .30-06 Springfield

I prefer .40 and .45 to 9x19, but the latter is far more ubiquitious.
 
.22lr, a centerfire handgun round, a centerfire rifle round, and a shotgun.

Once you get to centerfire, what cartridge you use isn't that important. As long as it meets requirements for whatever sport you're involved in, what you use is no where near as important as how well you shoot.

The exception of course is concealed carry when only a .44 auto mag will do.
 
As far as I'm concerned, I've got the essentials covered.

Ruger 10/22
Ruger m77 MkII .204
T/C Encore Pro Hunter 7mm-08 Handgun
Rem 11-87 12ga rifled
Glock 33 357sig

The only things I'd be interested in adding would be either a DW CBOB in 10mm or a SW 1006, an Encore rifle barrel in either 7-08 or 270win and an Encore rifle barrel in 22-250. None of those are essentials in any way. I would hunt anything in NA with one of the options I have now.
 
Essential chamberings:

.22 LR, .38/.357, .223 or 7.62X39, 12 ga.
These will cover just about everything needed.

Additions and alternatives to the above:

.380 Auto, 9mm Luger, .44 Mag., .45 ACP, .30-30, .30-06, .410 ga.

"Just because I want to shoot them sometimes" chamberings:

.22 short, .30-40 Krag, 6.5X55 Swedish Mauser, 7mm Mauser, .303 British, 28 ga., 20 ga.

I nearly added 8 mm Mauser to the list today, saw an old CZ K98 in the LGS for $170 but the crest was ground off of it. I'll think about it as I don't think it's going anywhere soon. I just like the old ones like that to be "as issued" even if they are beat up.
 
If you were to cut right down to basics all you need is a 22lr, 308/3006 and 12ga, although possibly a pistol calibre 9mm or 45 acp if you wanted a SD pistol.

Any more than that is really not that necessary, but I bet someone could justify the need for their 30-40krag or their 22 8mm Lebel.
 
I'm thinking about changing the title of this thread to "Essential cartridge list"
Click to expand...
Most - if not all did tend to read it that way didn't they? ;)


I'm still sticking with my .357 (.355 to .358) caliber as being essential.
 
I did neglect to mention that there was one ... one correct response to the title, and it wasn't the thread starter.

Gold Star, Hal. :cool:
 
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