3 Cartridges to Cover Each Diameter

[Willieman]

Hi,

Not sure if anyone else thinks this way, but wondering if you could choose 3 cartridges in each diameter to cover as much ground as you could (velocity, bullet weight, etc.), while also choosing your favorites, which 3 cartridges you would choose in the following:

1. .224
2. .243/.257 (merged)
3. 6mm/.264
4. .277
5. .284
6. .308

Obviously, it's a bit ridiculous, but so are a lot of gun collections. I merged .243 and .257 out of personal interest and # of choices in those sizes.

For me, it's:

1. 22LR, 220 Swift, and 5.56/223
2. .243 Win, 6MM, 25-06
3. 6.5 creed, 6.5 PRC, 26 nosler
4. 270 WSM, 270 Win, 6.8 Western
5. 7-08, 7RM, 7WSM?
6. .308, 30-30, 30-06, 300 Win Mag (cheating here, as I know I need to fill this).

Note, this is more based on what I own and gaps I'm trying to fill. Italicized and bold are cartridges I don't yet own. Not saying I'd build it this way from the start. So if you see any major gaps here, would appreciate the feedback. My primary purpose is hunting/collecting (i.e., not precision bench shooting).

 

[WisBorn]

1) .224 = 22-250 rem, 223 rem, 224 Weatherby Magnum
2) .243/ 6mm = 243 win, 6mm rem, 240 Weatherby Magnum
2.5) .257 = 25-06, 257 Bob, 257 Weatherby Magnum
3) 6.5mm/.264 = 260 rem, 264 win mag, 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum
4) .277= 270 Jack, 6.8 western, 270 Weatherby Magnum
5) .284/7mm= 7mm rem mag, 7-08 rem, 7mm Weatherby Magnum
6) .308= 30-30 win, 308 win, 300 win mag, 300 wsm, 30-06, 300 Weatherby Magnum

Roy had some good ideas
How many 30 caliber cartridges

 

[edwardware]

I'm content with fewer small-bore, but I do like a medium bore. No large bore yet. . .

 

[JeffG]

Excluding rimfire, (17 Mach2, and .22LR),
.243 Winchester
.308 Winchester/7.62mm
.458 Win Mag Mostly cast bullets (bolt action 45/70 class)

I have a Yugo Mauser in 8mm that I press into service as a knock around gun, but it's in the .30 caliber class for the most part.

 

[BreechFace]

Not sure if anyone else thinks this way, but wondering if you could choose 3 cartridges in each diameter to cover as much ground as you could (velocity, bullet weight, etc.), while also choosing your favorites, which 3 cartridges you would choose in the following:

1. .224
2. .243/.257 (merged)
3. 6mm/.264
4. .277
5. .284
6. .308

243 is 6mm so #2&3 overlap.

1. [.224/5.56mm] 22LR, 5.56/223, 22 CM
2. [.243/.257/6mm] 243 WIN, 6ARC, 257 Bob
3. [.264/6.5mm] 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Swede, 6.5 PRC
4. [.277/6.8mm] 6.8 SPC, 270 WIN, 6.8 Western
5. [.284/7mm] 7mm/08, 280AI, 7 PRC
6. [.308/7.62mm] 300BLK, 308 WIN, 300 WM

The above goes along with the premise of good coverage of velocities/bullet weights for each caliber within the three choices.

My calibers I’ve settled on (other than milsurp use) are 224, 243, 284, 308, 35, 375, 452. And I’m probably going to get out of the 35cal eventually. With the above I’m set for everything I’ll ever need with great coverage.

 

[horsey300]

.22 LR, .22arc, .22cm
6arc, 6cm, .240weatherby (with a custom rig for the elr heavies)
6.5 grendel, 6.5cm, 6.5prc
6.8 spc2, 6.8 western, nothing else needed in this diameter
7-08, .280ai, 7prc
.300bo, .300sav, .300prc
.454casull, .45lc, .450 bm
.375ruger
.458socom
(Bold indicates my true minimum to healthily cover everything I would ever truly need and be content with)

 

[Anchorite]

Ehhh, I’ll play along and toss in my choices which may not be exactly responsive, but I think they would “do it” for me. I’ve got others, but these will “git it done,”

480 Ruger
.222/22 PPC
.270 Win (because everything from 243 up through 284 is, to me, redundant)
308W/375 H&H (for everything else)

Guns are a lot like golf clubs…..can’t really play a round with one club, but I can cover a lot of ground with a 3 wood, a 7 iron, a wedge and a putter in my bag.
Everything else depends on the ball.

 

[1948CJ2A]

1. .224 - 222 Rem, 22-250, 220 Swift
2. .244/6mm - 243 Win, 6mm Rem, 240 Weatherby Mag
3. .257 - 250 Savage, 25-06 Rem, 257 Weatherby (honorable mention - 257 Roberts!)
3. 6.5/.264 - 260 Rem, 6.5x55 Swede, 6.5-300 Weatherby Mag
4. .277 - 270 Win, 270 Weatherby, insert whatever else you want in this slim category...
5. .284 - 7x57 Mauser, 280 Rem, 7mm Weatherby Mag
6. .308 - 308 Win, 30-06 Springfield, 300 Weatherby Mag
7. .323/8mm - 8x57 Mauser, 8mm-06, 8mm Rem Mag
8. .338 - 338 Federal, 338-06, 338 Win Mag
9. .358 - 358 Win, 35 Whelen, 358 Norma Mag
10. .366 - 9.3x62 Mauser, 9.3x74R
11. .375 - 375 Ruger, .375 H&H, .375 Weatherby Mag

Added a little for funsies. Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to all!

 

[CowboyTim]

8x57is...what was the question again?

 

[mavracer]

At that point there are no gaps lol.
I have 4 different 22s, LR and mag for rimfires and 5.55 and 224 Valk for CF the only real thing the Valk does that the 5.56 can't is when you get past 600 yards and want to stay under Stanag mag length. If the 6mm arc existed when. I built it I would have probably gone that route.
Which would give me 2 6mms the ARC and Creed. Then I have a mess of 30 cal 30 Carbine,300 blackout, 30-30, 30/40, 308 and 06. Could probably get by plenty good with just a Blackout and a 308.
I just don't have a need to fill the gap between 243 and 308.

 

[Show Me]

A handloader has no gaps to fill. Let's say all you had was a classic rifle in 300 win mag and a classic revolver in .357 .
Proper selection of powder they could identify as several slower cartridges.

 

[Buckeye63]

Actually the .243 is 6mm

But in my neck of the woods the 243 Winchester
would work fine.
Years ago I owned a sporterized Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 … it had a 18.5 inch barrel, youth stock .. perfect little carbine

I had thought seriously of getting a 6.5 CM in a similar setup..
The long high sectional density 6.5 bullets 140-160 gr bullets penetrate deep …

30-30 is my go to hunting cartridge

 

[WestKentucky]

1. .224-223ai, 22lr, 223/5.56
2. .243/.257 (merged) 256win mag, .243 win, 25-06
3. 6mm/.264 6dasher sounds fun but I skip this one. 6.5 jap has its place as well. I dream of a 6mm wildcat on the 30carbine case.
4. .277 6.8spc is perfect in an AR. .270 win is great in a bolt rifle. The new 6.8 military round seems promising from what I hear from an armorer friend.
5. .284 7-30 waters is great in a contender, and I would love a 336 chambered in 7-30 waters. 7-08 and .280rem are great rounds for hunting. No need for the loud and obnoxious 7 mag east of the Mississippi. Doubt I would find use west of it either.
6. .308 30 carbine, 30-30, and 300 win mag. If there’s a reason to go magnum it had better be at least a 30 cal. Tiny bullet and huge powder charges seem awkward so this seems like the logical basement for magnum rifles.

 

[Peakbagger46]

.224 - .22LR and 5.56

-.264 - 6.5 Manbun (lightweight mulie rifle)

.308 - 30-06 beautiful balance of lightweight performance and manageable recoil and perfection from pronghorn through elk. Real freezer filler!

I respect but don’t want for the other bores.

 

[LoonWulf]

.22LR/.22-250AI

6x47Rem, 6Arc, .243win

250 Savage AI/257 Roberts (probably AI, havent had one yet)

6.5CM/264WM

skip .277

280AI/7mm Remington/28Nosler

30-06 out of sentimentality

 

[jmr40]

IMO there is too much overlap and no need to have all of those calibers. My personal picks if centerfire only:

I can realistically do anything I need to do with 223/5.56 and 308. I would need multiple rifles set up differently in each cartridge to be ideal, but those are the only ones I need

It's not a real need, but 6.5CM splits the difference exactly and is my 3rd choice.

If I ever needed anything bigger I'd go straight to 375.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I merged .243 and .257 out of personal interest and # of choices in those sizes.

There are a lot more .244" and .257" cal rounds than .277" bore.

As for "gaps", that word implies you are missing things in between things. There really aren't any practical gaps betwixt the rounds you already own, but you just plain have a dearth of >.30 cal.

From a guy who shoots 79 different cartridges and loads for 61 of them, I wouldn't recommend trying to add 3 different cartridges in each nominal bullet diameter just for the sake of having them. At the same time, I wouldn't walk away from (and personally haven't. Ever.) a gun you like because it was chambered in an obscure round or one there's no particular need for.

Being a collector of odd things does become logistically complicated, though. I speak from experience; these are all the rounds I stock and have at least one firearm chambered for at present-

.17 HM2
.17 Remington
.22 Short
.22 Long
.22 Long Rifle
.22 WMR
5.7x28mm
.22 TCM
.22 Hornet
.223 Remington
.220 Swift
.243 Winchester
.25 ACP
.25-20 Winchester
.25-35 Winchester
.256 Win Mag
.25 Remington
.25-06
6.5x52mm Carcano
6.5x51 Arisaka
6.5x55 Swede
7x57 Mauser
7mm-08 Remington
.280 Remington
7.35x51 Carcano
.30-30 Winchester
.308 Winchester
.30-06 Springfield
.300 Win Mag
.303 British
7.62x25 Tokarev
7.62x39 Russian
7.62x54 Russian
7.5x54 MAS
7.5x55 Swiss
7.7x58 Arisaka
.32 S&W
.32 S&W Long
.32 H&R Magnum
.32 ACP
.30 Super Carry
.32-20 Winchester
.32 Remington
8x57 Mauser
8mm Remington Magnum
.380 ACP
9x19mm Parabellum
9x23mm Largo
.38 Special
.357 Magnum
.350 Legend
.350 Remington Magnum
.351 Winchester
.375 Remington Ultra Mag
.38 S&W
.38-55 Winchester
.38-40 Winchester
.40 S&W
10mm Auto
10mm Magnum
.44 Special
.44 Magnum
.45 ACP
.45 Colt
.45 Win Mag
.454 Casull
.45-70 Govt
.50 AE
.500 S&W Magnum
.50 Beowulf
.50 BMG
.410 2-1/2
.410 3”
20 ga
16 ga
12 ga 2-3/4
12 ga 3”
10 ga 2-7/8
10 ga 3-1/2

 

[WisBorn]

My current rifles are chambered in.
22lr, 22-250 rem, 243 win, 30-30 win, 308 win, and 7mm rem mag. They certainly cover everything that I'm going to hunt.
I would like to add an additional rifle but the cartridge is the hard choice? If a lightweight rifle = I'm leaning towards another 308win. If it will be mainly a western states rifle = 300wm might fit the bill.
I have always wanted a rifle that would be capable for dangerous game in Africa. 375 Ruger or 375 H&H. This rifle has the least practical use, but I already have the bases covered.

 

[M65Man]

My entire life has been 16ga, 22lr, 30-30, 30-06, (I'd have a 300WM if needed), & just recently the 270Win. Simple, Solid, Successful!
Always wished I could hunt up North, Moose & Bear. From what I've learned in recent years, instead of the 300WM, which is what I would've had for the job, I'd choose the 338-06. Now there's a cartridge which has lot to offer!

 

[entropy]

.22 LR & .223/5.56
7.62×39 & 7.62x54R
is what I have.
The two mid bores I'd be most likely to add would be 6.5 Creedmor and 7mm-08. It's possible I might add a .30-06 at some point. I have tons of brass, dies, etc. Closest to a Magnum I'd go is a .300 PRC.

 

[Armorer 101]

If you build switch barrel/combination guns you may not need a lot of different rifles.
I have built three, an Armalite 308/260 AR-10 T switch upper with QC tactical mount, a M-70 Classic in 7mm Rem Mag / 338 Win Mag and a Martini Cadet 357 Super Mag / 225 Win Mag switch barrel.
Here is just one set

 

[BreechFace]

If I were to just cover my bases on usability, my calibers would look like this:

22LR
5.56/223
280AI
300 BLK or 7.62x39
308 WIN
375 Ruger

The 280AI is overlapped by 308 WIN but I just love that cartridge. But it could be culled out and if I just had to make a choice I would choose the 308 WIN due to the platforms available that shoot it.

The list above covers everything in a pretty good fashion.

 

[CptnAwesome]

1. .224 - 22lr and 22-250 Rem

2. .243/.257 (merged) - 240 Wby Mag, 257 Wby Mag.

3. 6mm/.264 - 6.5Cr, 264 Win Mag

4. .277 - 270 Wby, 270 WSM

5. .284 - 7mm-08 Rem, 7 Rem Mag, 28 Nosler (7RM and 28 if I had to choose 2. Pretty sure I could sweet talk my way into being allowed 3 )

6 .308 - 30/06 Spr, 300 Wby Mag

 

[CptnAwesome]

There are a lot more .244" and .257" cal rounds than .277" bore.

As for "gaps", that word implies you are missing things in between things. There really aren't any practical gaps betwixt the rounds you already own, but you just plain have a dearth of >.30 cal.

From a guy who shoots 79 different cartridges and loads for 61 of them, I wouldn't recommend trying to add 3 different cartridges in each nominal bullet diameter just for the sake of having them. At the same time, I wouldn't walk away from (and personally haven't. Ever.) a gun you like because it was chambered in an obscure round or one there's no particular need for.

Being a collector of odd things does become logistically complicated, though. I speak from experience; these are all the rounds I stock and have at least one firearm chambered for at present-

.17 HM2
.17 Remington
.22 Short
.22 Long
.22 Long Rifle
.22 WMR
5.7x28mm
.22 TCM
.22 Hornet
.223 Remington
.220 Swift
.243 Winchester
.25 ACP
.25-20 Winchester
.25-35 Winchester
.256 Win Mag
.25 Remington
.25-06
6.5x52mm Carcano
6.5x51 Arisaka
6.5x55 Swede
7x57 Mauser
7mm-08 Remington
.280 Remington
7.35x51 Carcano
.30-30 Winchester
.308 Winchester
.30-06 Springfield
.300 Win Mag
.303 British
7.62x25 Tokarev
7.62x39 Russian
7.62x54 Russian
7.5x54 MAS
7.5x55 Swiss
7.7x58 Arisaka
.32 S&W
.32 S&W Long
.32 H&R Magnum
.32 ACP
.30 Super Carry
.32-20 Winchester
.32 Remington
8x57 Mauser
8mm Remington Magnum
.380 ACP
9x19mm Parabellum
9x23mm Largo
.38 Special
.357 Magnum
.350 Legend
.350 Remington Magnum
.351 Winchester
.375 Remington Ultra Mag
.38 S&W
.38-55 Winchester
.38-40 Winchester
.40 S&W
10mm Auto
10mm Magnum
.44 Special
.44 Magnum
.45 ACP
.45 Colt
.45 Win Mag
.454 Casull
.45-70 Govt
.50 AE
.500 S&W Magnum
.50 Beowulf
.50 BMG
.410 2-1/2
.410 3”
20 ga
16 ga
12 ga 2-3/4
12 ga 3”
10 ga 2-7/8
10 ga 3-1/2

You sure you didn't miss one???

 

[caribou]

The 3 diameters I used to make a living with a rifle;

#1 .22LR

#2 I use a .308W for now, a 7.62x54R for many many years.....most any.30 cal center fire, from M1 Carbine to .300Win Mag, dosen't matter much on what side of range you want, what evers accurate, and you can place the shot correctly.
Fact is, .243Win is damn near as perfect as a .30-06.....

#3 12 gauge