Complete suite for hunting?
- Thread starter andym79
- Start date
- Status
Jim Watson
Member
No.
.22 is fine for tree squirrels, rabbits, and varmints like rooks or pigeons (with safe background.) It might take one of the specialty loads like Dynapoint or Velocitor for your large hares.
7.62x39 is nearly as powerful as .30-30 and IF you have suitable expanding bullets and a reasonably accurate rifle, is good for our whitetail deer and other game of similar size and smaller.
.357 Magnum in a carbine is just adequate for deer at close range, fox if you can get close enough to hit him.
.450 Marlin is comparable to a heavily loaded .45-70 and even a .450 Nitro-for-Black express and is good for large deer, elk (US and Skan), and bear. Its trajectory is rather high and it is pretty much a close to very moderate range rifle... like the others you list.
I would use something else (other than .22lr) in every case for everything any of those calibres is suitable for.
If "all size game" includes travel to Africa or to northwestern North America where the game is bigger and the ranges are longer, you need better kit.
.22 is fine for tree squirrels, rabbits, and varmints like rooks or pigeons (with safe background.) It might take one of the specialty loads like Dynapoint or Velocitor for your large hares.
7.62x39 is nearly as powerful as .30-30 and IF you have suitable expanding bullets and a reasonably accurate rifle, is good for our whitetail deer and other game of similar size and smaller.
.357 Magnum in a carbine is just adequate for deer at close range, fox if you can get close enough to hit him.
.450 Marlin is comparable to a heavily loaded .45-70 and even a .450 Nitro-for-Black express and is good for large deer, elk (US and Skan), and bear. Its trajectory is rather high and it is pretty much a close to very moderate range rifle... like the others you list.
I would use something else (other than .22lr) in every case for everything any of those calibres is suitable for.
If "all size game" includes travel to Africa or to northwestern North America where the game is bigger and the ranges are longer, you need better kit.
berettashotgun
Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2005
- Messages
- 1,149
22mag, 260, 300something,375H&H and a 12ga shotgun which would of course cover a lot of bases.
Essex County
Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2005
- Messages
- 1,247
.22lr, .223, 243, .308 and 30-06.........Essex County
Preacherman
Member
When you say "all size game", you're talking anything from elephant in Africa to mice in your garage. That's a heck of a size progression! 
From small to large, I'd say you'll need:
1. .22 LR: for the mice and small varmints at close range.
2. .223 or .22-250: for varminting at medium to long range.
3. .308 or .30-'06: for all small to medium deer, antelope, etc. You can go up to elk-size animals with ease with these cartridges, and caribou and moose are not out of the question.
4. A heavy rifle for the really big stuff. My personal choice would be the .375 H&H Magnum, but some would prefer a stomper such as .458 Lott or .470 Nitro Express. Personally, I'm confident that the .375 will do the job, if I do my part and place my shots where they need to go.
5. 12ga. shotgun, for all bird hunting needs.
That would be my minimum "all-round" hunting battery. I'd add a decent revolver, probably in .44 Magnum, for close-range defence and other purposes while out in the field.
A good case can be made for cartridges in between these "stops" on the cartridge continuum, for specialized use against particular game or in particular hunting conditions. For example, a good .30-30 is a thing of beauty in woods hunting, and a .45-70 carbine is wonderful for hog hunting in close quarters. However, the above battery would get the job done if necessary.
From small to large, I'd say you'll need:
1. .22 LR: for the mice and small varmints at close range.
2. .223 or .22-250: for varminting at medium to long range.
3. .308 or .30-'06: for all small to medium deer, antelope, etc. You can go up to elk-size animals with ease with these cartridges, and caribou and moose are not out of the question.
4. A heavy rifle for the really big stuff. My personal choice would be the .375 H&H Magnum, but some would prefer a stomper such as .458 Lott or .470 Nitro Express. Personally, I'm confident that the .375 will do the job, if I do my part and place my shots where they need to go.
5. 12ga. shotgun, for all bird hunting needs.
That would be my minimum "all-round" hunting battery. I'd add a decent revolver, probably in .44 Magnum, for close-range defence and other purposes while out in the field.
A good case can be made for cartridges in between these "stops" on the cartridge continuum, for specialized use against particular game or in particular hunting conditions. For example, a good .30-30 is a thing of beauty in woods hunting, and a .45-70 carbine is wonderful for hog hunting in close quarters. However, the above battery would get the job done if necessary.
MachIVshooter
Member
While I own rifles in many different chamberings, I would say that the following would be the ones that make a well-rounded gaming arsenal:
Marlin 917M2 .17 Mach 2 for small game
Howa M1500 .223 for varmints
Remington 700 .25-06 for medium game
Remington 700 .30-06 for large game
Remington 700 .375 RUM for dangerous game
Marlin 1895 .45-70 for bear
Of these, the rifle that has taken the most game (by a wide margin) is the .25-06 with 117 gr. Sierra's. It is the perfect deer and antelope gun, and acceptable for elk with good shot placement. The farthest a critter ever ran after a hit with this cartridge was about 15 yards. The .25-06 combines good power with an extremely flat trajectory, and has a solid reputation for accuracy in all rifles. It can easily push the 117 gr. pills at 3,200 FPS.
Marlin 917M2 .17 Mach 2 for small game
Howa M1500 .223 for varmints
Remington 700 .25-06 for medium game
Remington 700 .30-06 for large game
Remington 700 .375 RUM for dangerous game
Marlin 1895 .45-70 for bear
Of these, the rifle that has taken the most game (by a wide margin) is the .25-06 with 117 gr. Sierra's. It is the perfect deer and antelope gun, and acceptable for elk with good shot placement. The farthest a critter ever ran after a hit with this cartridge was about 15 yards. The .25-06 combines good power with an extremely flat trajectory, and has a solid reputation for accuracy in all rifles. It can easily push the 117 gr. pills at 3,200 FPS.
Darth Ruger
Member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2005
- Messages
- 525
This is a good opportunity to ask a question. I don't know anything about the .17 calibers, other than being very accurate with a flat trajectory. But if we're talking hunting small game, wouldn't a .22LR be better? I thought the .17's are only for varmints, because they are explosive on impact. I guess that's okay if you can be sure of a clean head shot. But with squirrels, for example, if you're hunting for meat for dinner, I've heard some say the .17's aren't a good choice because of the risk of too much meat damage. Is this wrong?
MachIVshooter: Does the 917 take .17 Rem, 25 grain Hornady Hollow Point spitzer bullets?
Because apparently they leave the barrel at 4040 fps, that is so damn fast. And they are still travelling at 2644 fps 200 yards fro mthe muzzle.
Thats a good small game or target practice rifle!
Apparently in that combo has a power of 906 ft/lbs not bad for a .177!
Because apparently they leave the barrel at 4040 fps, that is so damn fast. And they are still travelling at 2644 fps 200 yards fro mthe muzzle.
Thats a good small game or target practice rifle!
Apparently in that combo has a power of 906 ft/lbs not bad for a .177!
Vern Humphrey
Member
A complete battery would be:
1. A .22 LR, for small game, some varmits (crows, for example), plinking and target comptition. My Kimber M82 is a great example of a .22 that has filled all those roles, including winning money at silhouette.
2. A .22 Centerfire for those varmits with heavier bodies and shot at longer ranges. Personally, what I use in Arkansas is a Kimber M82 in .22 Hornet. For western states, I'd want at least a .223.
3. A .30-06 will handle anything in North America, from coyotes to brown bear to whitetails to pronghorn with the right loads.
4. A 12 gauge shotgun, preferrably a 3" chamber and interchangeable barrels and chokes. Mine is an Ithaca M37 with the 2 1/2" chamber and it has taken everything from squirrels, rabbits, dove and quail, to Canada geese and whitetail deer. If I were buying a new gun, it would be a Remington 870.
1. A .22 LR, for small game, some varmits (crows, for example), plinking and target comptition. My Kimber M82 is a great example of a .22 that has filled all those roles, including winning money at silhouette.
2. A .22 Centerfire for those varmits with heavier bodies and shot at longer ranges. Personally, what I use in Arkansas is a Kimber M82 in .22 Hornet. For western states, I'd want at least a .223.
3. A .30-06 will handle anything in North America, from coyotes to brown bear to whitetails to pronghorn with the right loads.
4. A 12 gauge shotgun, preferrably a 3" chamber and interchangeable barrels and chokes. Mine is an Ithaca M37 with the 2 1/2" chamber and it has taken everything from squirrels, rabbits, dove and quail, to Canada geese and whitetail deer. If I were buying a new gun, it would be a Remington 870.
gbran
Member
Darth Ruger
Re: 17's.
17Mach2 works on squirrels marginally (experience speaking). 17HMR is too damaging, but they now have a 20 grain bullet that is supposed to be less destructive, but I have no experience with it. The advantage to the 17m2 is that you can take longer shots than the 22lr with flatter trajectory and usually more accuracy. I have the Marlin 917m2s and a Thompson Contender in 17m2 and I do hunt and eat squirrels with the 17m2.
Re: 17's.
17Mach2 works on squirrels marginally (experience speaking). 17HMR is too damaging, but they now have a 20 grain bullet that is supposed to be less destructive, but I have no experience with it. The advantage to the 17m2 is that you can take longer shots than the 22lr with flatter trajectory and usually more accuracy. I have the Marlin 917m2s and a Thompson Contender in 17m2 and I do hunt and eat squirrels with the 17m2.
Darth Ruger
Member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2005
- Messages
- 525
I see, thanks.
MachIVshooter
Member
Depends. .22 LR can be very damaging too, it just depends on shot placement. Consider that most small game animals have very little worthwhile meat in the chest/abdominal area. The .17 M2 is more destructive than .22 LR, but the damage is still pretty local, especially with shots over 50 yards. The exit wound on a cottontail rabbit at 50-80 yards tends to be about 1". But the M2 is accurate enough for 100 yard head shots on still targets. For hunting squirrels in dense woods, a .22 short is probably best. But out here, there is not a whole lot of forest-just endless plains. The .17 M2 with HP or soft point bullets would be, IMO, a perfect small game round.
Now .17 HMR (and especially .17 Rem) pretty much destroy animals weighing less than 5 pounds. My .17 Rem. is used almost exclusively for praire rats.
Darth Ruger
Member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2005
- Messages
- 525
Is anyone making M2 ammo with HP's or SP's?
I'd go 45/70 instead of .450 Marlin. PMC sells a loading for the 45/70 that basically duplicates the single .450 Marlin load. Besides that load, there is also a wide variety of other ammo for the 45/70 to choose from.
I'd probably go a little higher on your .30 cal rifle. Maybe .308 or 30-06. Or, you could go with something like 8mm, 7mm, .270, or 6.5x55. Something in that general class.
I'm not completely sure what .357! means, but assuming you mean .357 Mag and if you're choosing these guns exclusively for hunting, I'd pick .44Mag over the .357.
Here's my revised list. Other than wing shooting, there's not much hunting you couldn't get done with it.
.22Lr
.308/.30-06/.270/7mm/8mm/6.5x55 class rifle.
44 Mag revolver
45/70
I'd probably go a little higher on your .30 cal rifle. Maybe .308 or 30-06. Or, you could go with something like 8mm, 7mm, .270, or 6.5x55. Something in that general class.
I'm not completely sure what .357! means, but assuming you mean .357 Mag and if you're choosing these guns exclusively for hunting, I'd pick .44Mag over the .357.
Here's my revised list. Other than wing shooting, there's not much hunting you couldn't get done with it.
.22Lr
.308/.30-06/.270/7mm/8mm/6.5x55 class rifle.
44 Mag revolver
45/70
Andym79;
If what you're looking for is the most versitility with the fewest guns, this is what I'd go with:
.22 lr, either 6mm Rem or .257 Roberts, .30-06, and .338 Winchester magnum.
If Africa is included, then due to caliber restriction laws, you may wish to bump the .338 to the .375 H&H magnum. For practical purposes though, either will serve.
As Mr. Humphrey states, if another gun were to be possible a centerfire .22 would be an excellent addition. My choice would be the .223 Remington.
To totally round out the battery, a 12 gauge shotgun and a .357 revolver would complete nicely.
900F
If what you're looking for is the most versitility with the fewest guns, this is what I'd go with:
.22 lr, either 6mm Rem or .257 Roberts, .30-06, and .338 Winchester magnum.
If Africa is included, then due to caliber restriction laws, you may wish to bump the .338 to the .375 H&H magnum. For practical purposes though, either will serve.
As Mr. Humphrey states, if another gun were to be possible a centerfire .22 would be an excellent addition. My choice would be the .223 Remington.
To totally round out the battery, a 12 gauge shotgun and a .357 revolver would complete nicely.
900F
MachIVshooter
Member
Not yet, but I imagine it is just a matter of time since there are already such bullets available and being used in the HMR.
- Status
