Any shot you want: Three Centerfire Rifles for all big game, globally

[Nature Boy]

You need to change that!

I'm afraid if I do I'll want one and my list of wants keeps getting longer

 

[Forsaken]

22LR - Small Games
308 WIN - Medium, Large Games
50 BMG - XL, XXL & Big-and-Tall Games

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Jim, Remember the old adage? Beware the man with one gun?

Yes I do and another old chestnut is "the gun became part of his body". 40 years with one gun can do that.

 

[adcoch1]

So since varmits aren't on the list my first pick for little big game would be my cz527 in 7.62x39. Great for all the lesser deer and smaller hogs etc. Magic on porcupines too, but that story is for another time.
The next rifle would be my general hunting rifle, a 30-06 with a 3-9x40 Leopold, probably a tikka, but my old Savage 110 would work too.
The stopping rifle would probably have to be a bolt Winchester 1917 action in 585HE. Yeah i know, a double gives you an instant followup shot, but if i have to pull the trigger on that cannon i am gonna want to cycle the bolt first before i do it again.
My opinions...

 

[WestKentucky]

Call me crazy here, but I'm ripping it up revolver style. 686 .357 mag for whitetail down to wabbits. Any of the super magnums in an X frame would work, give me a 460 though. This runs from big Muleys up through bears. Would be good for a lot of plains game too if you can stalk in close. Then for the behemoths and maneaters I guess a BFR in 45-70 would do the trick, but I would not want old school loads, but rather the peppy modern stuff.

Since we are in rifle country though I will play that game too. Small to whitetail sized game I want a .243 (if only in North America it would be .204 Ruger). Stepping up a class to medium-large game I want tried and true 375 h&h (North America looking to 30-06) and for the dangerous game I'm looking to .338 lapua.

 

[Steve Cover]

I would happily hunt anything on this planet, from marmots to mastadons with my .300 WBY Rem 700 and appropate loads.

I've had a Weatherby Mk.V in 300 Weatherby magnum since 1968.
It was the first rifle I ever bought.
My idea was that I could load it down for smaller game and still have a long range Elk capability.
Unfortunately, this turned out to not be the case.
With anything less than near maximum loads, accuracy was horrible.
On the other hand, I was able to work up a 180 grain spire point that gives under 1 MOA at 300 yards.

Naturally this was off a bench rest. Field accuracy would be somewhat poorer.
But the cone of accuracy is still under one minute of Elk out to as far as I dared shoot.
I was happy.

My longest game shot was a large Rock Chuck that I shot one spring on a Varmint hunt shot with my 300 Weatherby Elk hunting load.
I had just worked up the accuracy load and wanted to test it at extended range in a hunting environment.

500 yard shot (Note exit wound)

Of course this was a lucky hit from so far away, but I had estimated the range well enough to calculate the hold over (~18").
Shot was taken over the hood of a pickup truck using my rolled up jacket as a rest in dead calm morning air..

I am a real fan of the 300 Weatherby, but was very disapointed that it could not be loaded down and provide the accuracy I wanted.

Steve

 

[Kano383]

.22 LR - Not a centerfire as per OP request, but one of the greatest rounds ever made, useful to keep your belly full almost anywhere in the world

6.5x55 or 6.5MS - Light and trim rifles, with heavy bullets that can take down anything on 4 legs. Easy to carry, ideal for all-around hunting

.375H&H or 9.3x62 - Whenever you need more punch on a regular basis. .375 has the largest variety of loads, but with the right bullet there is no buffalo who can tell the difference between that and a 9.3x62, which comes in lighter rifles. If you are hunting, and not backing up someone who may or may not mess up shots on humongous things, you don't need any bigger.

 

[NickEllis]

Enjoying the love for .375H&H in this thread. Significant uptick in popularity in the past years for this, probably due to a couple members here on the board. My choice:

.308 in M70, light and fast in an McMillan Edge stock.
.375HH in M70 action, Legend Stock for my do-all/everything stock. Typically shooting 225g hard cast for North Carolina, 250gr TTSX for western hunting.

I'm also playing with the idea of something on the light end, probably in 6mm for long range play. I've got the opposite problem of Mr.Borland: I've got the .375H&H (and love it), but want the .260Rem!

 

[jim in Anchorage]

OK I'll go out of the box a bit and say : .22 Hornet , .35 Remington and .358 Norma Mag I could live with. For rabbits to Dik Dik and even the local Blacktail at the usual 75 yards they are shot it is magnitudes quieter than a .223 . I have a Krico bolt gun that is VERY accurate with a 4-12x scope. The .35 Remington in my 600 Remington has a 1-4x Leupold and with 200 grain Corelocks will kill any Elk that walks out to 200 yards at least, I have shot big wild bore with it farther than that and they died very fast. In Africa it would be great up to Wildebeast up to 200 yards . For reaching out and smacking the largest of the African Plains game or Alaskan Brownies or Elk at 600 yards I have a custom .358 Norma that pushes a 250 grain bullet at 2800 or my favorite Nosler Partition 225 grainer at 2950 FPS ! Or 275 grain Woodleighs at 2600 fps for heavy stuff like buffaloe.

What did you build the 358 on? I have a 358 project in the works on a pre war M70.

 

[Gordon]

very much modified 1917 Enfield action. It is a Hannibal by A Square . It has a 1/10" twist barrel and can seat out the bullets for more powder space and I got it with 200 Woodliegh 310 grain solids ! Think about that sectional density for a while ! I fired up about 50 of those during the 25 years I've had it with IMR 4350 powder they reach 2500 FPS ! The key is the long leade and feed ramp which lets the relatively short Magnum case hold more powder when you seat out the bullets. These A Square guns are really refined to feed with out a doubt !
https://goo.gl/images/ocibRg

[/URL]

 

[tark]

I don't hunt, but one of the guys in my cigar club has hunted extensively in Africa. He used a .375 on everything, with solids, excepting the big cats. Soft points for those. His PH said that wounded Lions were followed up with a D/B large caliber rifle with softpoints, leopards, a D/B 12 gauge shotgun with rifled slugs or 000 buckshot. That situation rarely came up, and Jim said the PH made it clear that he would not be coming along if it did.

As far as a three gun battery I suppose you couldn't go wrong with 7-08, a .375 and a 458 Lott, but like I said, I'm not a hunter, so take that for what it's worth. (nothing)

 

[Gordon]

other rifles I mentioned I could live with as go to anywhere (I don't tho, none of these went to Africa nor Alaska)
.35 Rem Remington 600- a crazy accurate gun !

[/URL]

 

[Gordon]

Krico .22 Hornet
http://weckeundburdik.de/Waffen/Repetierbuchsen/lw296a.JPG

 

[MICHAEL T]

small game 25 06 next 308 then a double with and caliber from 4 to 5 that ends in Nitro Express If big eared long nose gray giants on list I go to 600 Nitro Express

 

[jeepnik]

I have a different take.
Ruger 1022 for small game.
Bolt .223 for varmits.
Marlin GS 45/70 for everything larger.

But, you all forgot shotgunning. Browning Citori 12 ga.

 

[morcey2]

257 Roberts (Already own one on a Mauser action)
30-06 or 8x57 (Own a whole bunch)
416 Ruger/Remington/Rigby (Probably won't ever own one unless I get the chance to go to Africa)

 

[the Black Spot]

6mm rem
444 marlin
500 nitro

 

[jim in Anchorage]

very much modified 1917 Enfield action. It is a Hannibal by A Square . It has a 1/10" twist barrel and can seat out the bullets for more powder space and I got it with 200 Woodliegh 310 grain solids ! Think about that sectional density for a while ! I fired up about 50 of those during the 25 years I've had it with IMR 4350 powder they reach 2500 FPS ! The key is the long leade and feed ramp which lets the relatively short Magnum case hold more powder when you seat out the bullets. These A Square guns are really refined to feed with out a doubt !
https://goo.gl/images/ocibRg

[/URL]

I find your Enfield .358 very interesting. In the 70's I bought a sporterized Winchester made 1917 Enfield someone put a Fagan stock on and rechambered to .300 Win mag. I had it rebored to .35-300 with some free bore as your 358. I can't tell you much about it as on the 15th or so shot the stock not just split it exploded.
I'd say you had much better luck!

 

[CptnAwesome]

I'd say I could take anything that needed taking with
1)22-250 rem
2)7 mm rem mag
3)50bmg

 

[Ks5shooter]

Ill go with what I have in my stable....
Winchester 94 7-30 Waters
Ruger M77 Red pad,257 Roberts
Ruger M77 Expresss Magnum 416 Rigby African

 

[chuckpro]

.22wmr
300wm
500 S&W

 

[tactikel]

.25-06
.338 Win Mag
.458 Win Mag

Will cleanly take anything from Pronghorns to Cape Buffalo.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Three rifles for big game? Two more than are needed. I certainly have more than that, but my 8mm mag would do fine for any game animal on this planet.

Now, if I were picking 3 rifles for ALL game, from squirrels to cape buffalo, it'd be my .22 Hornet, .25-06 and .375 RUM

 

[Steve Cover]

other rifles I mentioned I could live with as go to anywhere (I don't tho, none of these went to Africa nor Alaska)
.35 Rem Remington 600- a crazy accurate gun !
[/URL]

I have a Remington 660 in 350 Remington Magnum.
It is very accurate, and doesn't kick.... (It knocks you down and stomps all over you)... LOL
Carried it in the helicopter for a couple of seasons when I was flying the bush in Alaska.
I retired it for a 12 GA coach gun for my last several seasons.
The 660 is a great quick on target rifle in a reasonable cartridge.
But I chose the 375 for my list because of the longer range potential.

Steve

 

[Gordon]

I have a Remington 660 in 350 Remington Magnum.
It is very accurate, and doesn't kick.... (It knocks you down and stomps all over you)... LOL
Carried it in the helicopter for a couple of seasons when I was flying the bush in Alaska.
I retired it for a 12 GA coach gun for my last several seasons.
The 660 is a great quick on target rifle in a reasonable cartridge.
But I chose the 375 for my list because of the longer range potential.

Steve

the 660 Rem. .350 Mag was Col. Coopers "spark Plug" and also his "Lion Scout" rifle. I have seen and shot the original, and yes even in a good stock like his had it does smack you . That is why general shooting I like the .35 Remington, it is very mild , much less than the equivalent weight carbine in .308 Winchester. however as an emergency hunting tool the Lion Scout has much to offer the man hiking around in dangerous game country. 250 grain bonded .358" bullets at 2400 fps from a 20" barrel will cleanly take anything under African giant species up to 200 or more yards