what is your favorite hunting rifle caliber

Y

yellowboy66

Inactive
Hi
My all time favorite caliber is the .45-70US, I own a total of five rifles in this romantic caliber some of my rifle are first generation others are of the modern type, I love to hunt with a single shot rifle in this caliber and have hunted in Alaska, Montana, South Africa and here in California.

Here is what I currently own

1- Winchester Hotchkiss, carbine number 1, circa 1879, military model,
5 round bolt action repeater, first bolt accion. (NRA condition good)

2. Springfield carbine (trapdoor) model 1873, manufactured in 1877, upgraded to 1884 specs at Springfield, buffington rear sight, my jewel has all the first generation tools and 3 piece cleaning rod (stored in butt) NRA good condition.

3- Martini Henry IV circa 1889, on this rifle a close friend manufactured a barrel sleeve to allow me to shoot a .45-70 round.
My Martini Henry I use for medium range long range cowboy matches at the gun club that I belong, the barrel sleeve can easily be remove to return the rifle to it's original caliber, the exterior of my Martin Henry is as issue with bayonet with matching numbers.

4. Browning 1886 5 Round lever action manufactured in circa 1986 one of 500 manufactured, 24 inch full octagonal barrel, NRA Condition excellent,

5-. Harrington and Richardson, 1873 (trap door) 45-70 Officer's short rifle manufactured in 1982
in excellent condition.

Sorry about not uploading photos but my system does not allow me to post photos.

Later

YB66
 
Sounds like nice rifles ! Was wondering though,how does a person decide if a caliber is romantic or not ???? :) My favorite caliber for hunting varmint's would be in the 22-250-243 range.....Big game a .270 and .300 Win Mag...
 
I like the 45/70 as well.

I have 4 guns chambered in the 45/70

1. Marlin 1895 Cowboy (JM)
2. Marlin 1895 guide gun (JM)
3. Marlin 1895 SBL (REM) This one is the one I am putting a suppressor on.
4. MR BFR with 10 inch barrel (all so has a 450 marlin cylinder)



I am thinking of adding an encore to the list as well.


my next favorite is the 357 magnum. From a 16.5 inch barrel I have taken many deer.
 
I own a total of five rifles in this romantic caliber
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I beg to differ; the 45/70 is not a Romantic caliber, it is a Cav Caliber, Army vs. the plains indians caliber.

Romantic calibers would be the .416 Rigby, 7x57 Mauser, .270 Winchester, and .470 Nitro.

Practical calibers are 30'06, 30-30, and the .22.

Workhorse calibers would be all the above Romantic Calibers, and the practical calibers, PLUS, the 300 mags, 308, and 223.

Romantic calibers are romantic because of Romantic writings ... Hemingway, Ruark, and Carmichel!

Other than Cav reactments, which I did in Colorado, no one knew what a .45/70 was until Marlin started horse trading with the Alaskans using the 45/70 lever guns for bear protection...

Sorry old boy, but the 45/70 ain't it!
 
My favorite woods rifle round is the .358 Winchester. I got a 99F in 1966 and used it with success in VT for a long time.

Of late I have been hunting more open land and the 30-06 is the favorite there.

I have other chamberings and have had a 243 since 1957 and use it for what it does best.
 
My grandfather knew what a 45/70 was and he was not old enough to be fighting Indians on hose back. He had an old sharps rifle that he used to kill a buffalo once about 40 years ago. It came with a ladder sight. He was good at hitting targets much father out with those sights than many people could do with a scope.

of couse I am a little bias here ;)
 
I've got two .45-70s, an Italian clone of the Sharps business rifle, and a thoroughly modern H&R Handi rifle.

My go-to hunting rifle is a Savage 110 in .30-06.

I've got a dozen or so in the locker that I rotate betwixt. Everything from those single-shot Handi's to the bolt rifles, to the leverguns. Everything gets its turn.

But, my go-to rifle is the .30-06.
 
I am owned by a wife. While I can afford many rifles, my rifle to income ratio has some discrepancies LOL. So I have to have only practical rifles in practical calibers. No romantic calibers for me.
 
Thirty aught six. :)

I don't own a hunting rifle, but from the time spent with my dad's Remington 700 BDL, I love the .30-06. That roar and thump let you know you sent something serious downrange, but it's manageable enough for a fast second shot if the first failed.

Extremely widespread and versatile too. Kinda like the rifle version of the .357 magnum in handguns.
 
So I have to have only practical rifles in practical calibers. No romantic calibers for me.
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Tell your wife that there is nothing more practical than a .470 Nitro, double rifle! You can hunt squirrels to Elephant ... how much more practical can you get dude?:D
 
Cartridges by category

WildBill45 Says:

Romantic calibers would be the .416 Rigby, 7x57 Mauser, .270 Winchester, and .470 Nitro.

Practical calibers are 30'06, 30-30, and the .22.

Workhorse calibers would be all the above Romantic Calibers, and the practical calibers, PLUS, the 300 mags, 308, and 223.

Romantic calibers are romantic because of Romantic writings ... Hemingway, Ruark, and Carmichel!
Click to expand...



OK WB45,

Got 3 rifles in your "Romantic" category.
Only one, a 22LR, in your "Practical" category.
My "working" rifle is a sporterized Mauser in 9.3x62.

PS: Think you should add a "Sentimental" category for my Granddad's M1 carbine.
 
Got 3 rifles in your "Romantic" category.
Only one, a 22LR, in your "Practical" category.
My "working" rifle is a sporterized Mauser in 9.3x62.
Click to expand...

You are missing the .470 double rifle???

The 9.3X62 is a helluva working caliber!!!:D
 
I really like the 45-70 and when the right one (that would be something appealing, practical and within my price range) comes along, I will jump on it. I have an affection for the .375 Winchester as well. It is powerful, well mannered and the 375's I've shot have been plenty accurate for the platform.

Otherwise, I’ve been contented with old, American .30 caliber stand-bys for as long as I can recall. My reloading of those cartridges is equally dis-interesting; I use H4895 in all of them. I do have a passing personal interest in the .223 and a professional interest in the AR/M16 family.

I guess flunked this thread, LOL. Can't pick a favorite.
 
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