What is your minimum rifle battery?
- Thread starter Poindexter
- Start date
Yes, reading comprehension is a dying, if not lost art...
interesting to me, in the RIFLE forum, in a thread asking what 4 RIFLES...
that so many people said 12ga shotgun....
Sounds to me like the OP has it pretty well covered already.
For a long range "reacher" for antelope and deer, many said .270 Win. My personal preference would be the .25-06. IF you handload, a 6.5-06 is even better, and both have advantages over the .270.
Lots of folks said .223, and if you are wedded to the AR platform, its fine. But if you are looking at a bolt gun, there's nothing a .223 does that a .22-250 cannot do, and some things a .22-250 just does better than a .223.
There is a huge amount of overlap in cartridges, and so there really isn't any wrong choices, just some that are more versatile, or better for a specific application than others.
Things like ammo availability, different action types, etc are important factors when choosing what best for your situation, but are meaningless when discussing the merits of specific cartridges and loads in comparison with each other.
Flat trajectory is also meaningless when discussing the round's performance after it hits. And before it hits, all flat trajectory does is make it easier for the shooter. Flat shooting rounds are more "forgiving" of range estimate errors (when shooting at big game size animals especially). For instance, if that deer/antelope/elk, etc was actually 350yds away, instead of the 275yds you thought it was, a very flat shooting round could still be a clean kill, where a very arched trajectory round might be a wound, or a clean miss, under the same conditions.
For those who know their round's drop, AND accurately know the range, flatter doesn't mean a lot. It's when you think your are right, but aren't that flatter helps most. And that's why we like it!
interesting to me, in the RIFLE forum, in a thread asking what 4 RIFLES...
that so many people said 12ga shotgun....
Sounds to me like the OP has it pretty well covered already.
For a long range "reacher" for antelope and deer, many said .270 Win. My personal preference would be the .25-06. IF you handload, a 6.5-06 is even better, and both have advantages over the .270.
Lots of folks said .223, and if you are wedded to the AR platform, its fine. But if you are looking at a bolt gun, there's nothing a .223 does that a .22-250 cannot do, and some things a .22-250 just does better than a .223.
There is a huge amount of overlap in cartridges, and so there really isn't any wrong choices, just some that are more versatile, or better for a specific application than others.
Things like ammo availability, different action types, etc are important factors when choosing what best for your situation, but are meaningless when discussing the merits of specific cartridges and loads in comparison with each other.
Flat trajectory is also meaningless when discussing the round's performance after it hits. And before it hits, all flat trajectory does is make it easier for the shooter. Flat shooting rounds are more "forgiving" of range estimate errors (when shooting at big game size animals especially). For instance, if that deer/antelope/elk, etc was actually 350yds away, instead of the 275yds you thought it was, a very flat shooting round could still be a clean kill, where a very arched trajectory round might be a wound, or a clean miss, under the same conditions.
For those who know their round's drop, AND accurately know the range, flatter doesn't mean a lot. It's when you think your are right, but aren't that flatter helps most. And that's why we like it!
Kimbercommander
New member
First off I dont know if you can have to many guns.
However, and yes I am a Peckerwood with to many guns living in the hills, if i had to pick a minimum of four this is what i would pick.
1) .22 Mag in a Ruger 10/22 platform - yes they are spendy but they are very, very effective out to 300 yards.
2) 25 -06 or a 6.5 Creedmore or Norma.
3) A .300 Win Mag in just about any thing that will be fed that round. Yes I am very partial to the .300 Win Mag.
4) IF I was to ever hunt bison or huge trophy bear and my .300 could not be used I would probably look at a .458 Lott.
This would be my list but for everything I have ever hunted I have used my .300 Win Mag. From deer to moose and everything in between. I have taken black bear, cougar, and a wolf with this and all died where shot. The moose took 2 shots to put down but the second was not really needed. I believe bullet choice and shot placement are key to hunting. Not really bullet diameter.
And if I could toss in a fifth rifle it would be a Ruger Scout in .308 just because they are such sweet handling rifles.
However, and yes I am a Peckerwood with to many guns living in the hills, if i had to pick a minimum of four this is what i would pick.
1) .22 Mag in a Ruger 10/22 platform - yes they are spendy but they are very, very effective out to 300 yards.
2) 25 -06 or a 6.5 Creedmore or Norma.
3) A .300 Win Mag in just about any thing that will be fed that round. Yes I am very partial to the .300 Win Mag.
4) IF I was to ever hunt bison or huge trophy bear and my .300 could not be used I would probably look at a .458 Lott.
This would be my list but for everything I have ever hunted I have used my .300 Win Mag. From deer to moose and everything in between. I have taken black bear, cougar, and a wolf with this and all died where shot. The moose took 2 shots to put down but the second was not really needed. I believe bullet choice and shot placement are key to hunting. Not really bullet diameter.
And if I could toss in a fifth rifle it would be a Ruger Scout in .308 just because they are such sweet handling rifles.
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Johnny Falcon
New member
.22LR, your choice of action
AR15 in 5.56
Bolt action .30-06
Done.
AR15 in 5.56
Bolt action .30-06
Done.
tubeshooter
New member
Budget minded rifle set for Alaska?
My choices:
1) 22 LR
2) .223
3) .30-30
4) .30-06 or .45-70
Plenty of combinations would work, but those are the 4 I would go with. I actually would prefer .45-70 for my dangerous game gun, but I think you would find a nice used '06 much easier and (at least somewhat) cheaper and not give up much. The only non-negotiable item would be #1.
My choices:
1) 22 LR
2) .223
3) .30-30
4) .30-06 or .45-70
Plenty of combinations would work, but those are the 4 I would go with. I actually would prefer .45-70 for my dangerous game gun, but I think you would find a nice used '06 much easier and (at least somewhat) cheaper and not give up much. The only non-negotiable item would be #1.
No dangerous game around here, so mine would be:
1. 22LR bolt rifle. An Anschutz MPR would be my pick, since it can be scoped, or used with apertures for target shooting.
2. AR15 in .223
3. Bolt action hunting rifle in a mid-range cartridge for varmints, deer- and hog-sized game. I'm thinking in 7mm, such as a 7mm-08, but a 7mm Mag is a very versatile cartridge for the handloader.
4. Lever action pistol-cartrridge carbine, e.g. Marlin 1894 .357mag or .44mag. Versatile, fun, and easy to load for, widely available factory ammo, and makes a good short-range woods and/or HD gun. Plus, I've been to a few handgun ranges where rifle-caliber rifles aren't allowed, so I could still have some fun there anyway.
1. 22LR bolt rifle. An Anschutz MPR would be my pick, since it can be scoped, or used with apertures for target shooting.
2. AR15 in .223
3. Bolt action hunting rifle in a mid-range cartridge for varmints, deer- and hog-sized game. I'm thinking in 7mm, such as a 7mm-08, but a 7mm Mag is a very versatile cartridge for the handloader.
4. Lever action pistol-cartrridge carbine, e.g. Marlin 1894 .357mag or .44mag. Versatile, fun, and easy to load for, widely available factory ammo, and makes a good short-range woods and/or HD gun. Plus, I've been to a few handgun ranges where rifle-caliber rifles aren't allowed, so I could still have some fun there anyway.
Been there
New member
.22LR Marlin 99M1
.223 Sako
6.5x55 Sako or Tikka
12ga semi auto
.223 Sako
6.5x55 Sako or Tikka
12ga semi auto
(Okay, no .22LR or shotgun...too bad.)
I find myself lugging a CZ 455, .22 Mag around a lot more than anything else, except when actually hunting coyotes or deer.
I subsisted with a .30-06 for many years and highly recommend it for Alaska, provided it's in a stainless bolt-action with a great synthetic stock.
The secret to flexiblity of a cartridge is handloading. We used 100, 125, 130, 150, 165, and 180 grain bullets for this fine hunting cartridge, loading for everything between crows and woodchucks to large deer and bear. I've killed red squirrels, skunks, crows, woodchucks, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, porcupines, and over 20 deer with a .30-06, Rem. 700 BDL.
(Now use .270 Win. for several years, but it's not as flexible.)
I find myself lugging a CZ 455, .22 Mag around a lot more than anything else, except when actually hunting coyotes or deer.
I subsisted with a .30-06 for many years and highly recommend it for Alaska, provided it's in a stainless bolt-action with a great synthetic stock.
The secret to flexiblity of a cartridge is handloading. We used 100, 125, 130, 150, 165, and 180 grain bullets for this fine hunting cartridge, loading for everything between crows and woodchucks to large deer and bear. I've killed red squirrels, skunks, crows, woodchucks, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, porcupines, and over 20 deer with a .30-06, Rem. 700 BDL.
(Now use .270 Win. for several years, but it's not as flexible.)
Father Time
New member
4 Rifles for the "hunter"
1. Basic targer/marksmanship = 22lr (everyone needs at least one)
2. Small game through medium game hunting rifle = .243 (second choice would be 22-250)
3. Medium through large game = .270 win (Can take any game anywhere in North America)
4. Can be whatever you need to fill a percived "gap" in the previous three.
Something to think about for the 4th rifle:
A accurized and heavy/bull barreled .223 for long range training/shooting.
Why .223? Because ammo is very available/inexpensive (thanks to the popularity of AR-15's) and the little .223 round will force you to get good at the fundamentals of long range shooting (like calling wind, understanding drop, velocity loss at range etc)
1. Basic targer/marksmanship = 22lr (everyone needs at least one)
2. Small game through medium game hunting rifle = .243 (second choice would be 22-250)
3. Medium through large game = .270 win (Can take any game anywhere in North America)
4. Can be whatever you need to fill a percived "gap" in the previous three.
Something to think about for the 4th rifle:
A accurized and heavy/bull barreled .223 for long range training/shooting.
Why .223? Because ammo is very available/inexpensive (thanks to the popularity of AR-15's) and the little .223 round will force you to get good at the fundamentals of long range shooting (like calling wind, understanding drop, velocity loss at range etc)
armsmaster270
New member
So far my minimum is:
Delton Echo AR-15
M-1 Garand in 7.62 Nato
FN action 300Win Mag
Browning A Bolt Stalker 7mmWSM
.303 Enfield MK3Mod1
Remington 740 30-06
Marlin Lever action 30-30
Ruger 10-22
Delton Echo AR-15
M-1 Garand in 7.62 Nato
FN action 300Win Mag
Browning A Bolt Stalker 7mmWSM
.303 Enfield MK3Mod1
Remington 740 30-06
Marlin Lever action 30-30
Ruger 10-22
I am almost there
bolt 308
bolt 22lr
Semi 9,3x62 more and more this is my gun" love the calibre everything just drops, pigs, moose and a bear, synthetic stock so no worries
I do have to contend with a 6 gun limit by law and having two shotguns aswell I only have one spot left
it is going to be a lever action in 357mag, for stalking small deer and badgers
when finances will allow the 308 bolt will be replaced with a switch barrel in 223 and something more (probably 9,3x62 and have that scoped and have the semi with only the reddot
bolt 308
bolt 22lr
Semi 9,3x62 more and more this is my gun" love the calibre everything just drops, pigs, moose and a bear, synthetic stock so no worries
I do have to contend with a 6 gun limit by law and having two shotguns aswell I only have one spot left
it is going to be a lever action in 357mag, for stalking small deer and badgers
when finances will allow the 308 bolt will be replaced with a switch barrel in 223 and something more (probably 9,3x62 and have that scoped and have the semi with only the reddot
Right now I have .22s and a .270 for bigger stuff. That's it. Kids are expensive! I do have more than 1 .22. However, in NM, .270 is as big as you need to go. It's flat shooting, has available varmint bullets, and doesn't recoil enough to knock your teeth out. If I had to pick one gun, though, it wouldn't be a rifle. It would be my 870.
silvermane_1
New member
see my sigline 
Twenty-Two Long Rifle? Are you kidding me? All you can "hunt" with a .22 are rodents, squirrels, rabbits, and big bugs - certainly nothing a propertied Republican Gentleman would ever consider eating. As for shooting another fellow predator, that is simply not done, out of professional courtesy.
For any and all North American game, I would be happy to settle for .223, .308, and just for fun, .45-70.
For any and all North American game, I would be happy to settle for .223, .308, and just for fun, .45-70.