Narrow caliber selection down to best 5

[streetstang67]

With all the calibers out there for rifles, its hard to see why so many different ones are really neccessary...if you were limited to only 5 rifle calibers, which would you choose and why?

If 5 isn't enough, which 6 or 7 or....

 

[wanderinwalker]

Well, I'll try.

My preference, in no particular order:

.30-06 for all-around hunting. This really shouldn't need much explanation.

.223 for smaller stuff and generally putting holes in paper targets. Low recoil, cheap(ish) to shoot and generally wickedly accurate.

And a .22LR. Add .50-caliber muzzleloader for fun-factor (though not really part of your question per se) and I'm happy.

If I foresaw anything bigger than an elk or moose hunt in the future, I'd tag a .375 H&H to that list too. Always think that it's a neat old gun, but I've got no money and no use for one!

 

[das028]

30-06 or .308

.223/5.56

.22lr


pretty much covers everthing

 

[junyo]

Agree on 22LR & .308 & add 270Win, 45-70, and .450 NE

The .270 as a flexible intermediate for stuff too big for the .22 and too small for the .308. The 45-70 for dangerous North American game and the .450NE for any elephants or water buffaloes you stumble across.

 

[Brian Williams]

I would like to have a matched set of Winchester Compact Classics in 22-250, 7mm-08, 358 Win, that would cover most of the Critters in NA with the same model rifle and action. Then I would have a 357 mag and 45/70 that would be just for hoots.


So the list
22-250
7mm-08
358 Win
357 mag
45/70


Honorable mention would be a 218 bee and 22lr




On the other hand, a 22 Khornet for small stuff, a 41 mag lever for hoots, a 6.5 x 55 for big stuff and a 35 Whelen for the bigger stuff and a 416Rigby for when you want it dead right now.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Easy. The five that cover the entire spectrum with minimal overlapping:

.22 LR

.223 Rem.

.30-06

.45-70

.50 BMG

Find a situation that can't be handled with one of those!

 

[DogBonz]

my five

.223
30-06
300 Win
375 H&H
50 BMG

That's all folks

 

[highlander 5]

HMM let's see........22lr 223 30'06 44 mag (pistol/rifle combo)
375 H&H mag and 45/70 I think that will cover all the bases

 

[mpmarty]

My fave five

45/70 (handload 300gr @ 2300fps)
7.5X55 Swiss or 308 depending on whose hardware I'm using
7MM Rem Mag or .264 Win. Mag
22/250
22 rimfire

 

[Dionysusigma]

.22 LR
.223 (5.56x45mm)
.308 (7.62x51mm)
.408 CheyTac (more info here)
.50 BMG

Hit everything from 1-2100 meters, and be able to take down everything from paper, to squirrels, to deer, to elk, to people, to light vehicles.

If I'm paying, then .22, .223, 7.92x57 Mauser, 7.62x39, and .50 BMG.

 

[killzone]

My list

My list

6.5
270win
7mm Rem
308Win
300 RUM

 

[Bwana John]

.22LR
.357 mag
12 guage
.30-06
.375 H&H

 

[sm]

.22 lr
30-30
30-06
45-70

These 4 have worked for me, not given much thought for what a fifth one would be.

 

[cslinger]

.300 Win Mag for those long range big game shots.
.308 All purpose
Thutty Thutty Because you just aren't a real 'Merican without one.
.223 Varmint, etc.
.22 Small Game/Practice/Fun

 

[NateG]

Okay, I'll play along...

.30-06 - can do pretty well just about anything a rifle can do. Other calibers can fill niches better than the -06, of course, but there isn't much that can do all that the -06 can do.
.22LR - cheap practice and squirrel hunting
7x57 - I love this cartridge (second to the -06) and it's my wife's deer rifle
.45-70 (don't actually have one of my own, but if I only get 5, it makes the cut. today, anyway )
Last one would be one of: .30-30 (gotta at least mention this one), 7.62x39 or x54R, 6.5x55, and one of the 7mm or .30 magnums.

 

[azrael]

hmmm...Alot of good choices here

.22lr

.223 just because everyone has that ammo


7.62x39 (I have several AK kits)

308

45/70 for those skeery things that go bump in the woods

 

[220_Swift]

Lets see, I would pick:

22LR- Plinking, and small game
220 Swift- varmints
270 win- medium size game
338 Win Mag-Big game
45/70- Close range gun for medium to big game

 

[El Tejon]

Calibers, like firearms, are merely tools. What is it that you wish to do?

Once you answer that question, only then can answer what is "best".

Take off your shoes and define your terms, then you can wrestle with "what is best".

 

[vmfrantz]

I'd pick 22 lr
223
257 roberts
30-06
338 lapua

 

[fzj80]

Cost of ammo not a factor...

.220 Swift
.30-378 Weatherby
.338-378 Weatherby
.408 CheyTac
.45-70*


If cost were a factor...

.22LR
.30WCF
.300 Winchester
.375 H&H
.45-70*

*Always near me. No matter what.

 

[Gordon]

.375 H&H -it can do it all!

I like .300 Weatherby ! I been using it since 1975 and it is a super star that can do it all!

30-06 - it can do it all too, better than a .308 but not in semi autos!

.22-250 - a MAJor step up from a .223 , I have one that has a fast twist and a couple Varmint guns with normal twist.

.223- best semi auto cartridge and a good varmint caliber.



Hard not to include .22 Hornet, .45-70, 30-30, 7mm Mag and Mauser, 8mm ,.303, .270 Winchester and .264 Win, .257 Weatherby, .25-06 and all kinds of others!

 

[SDGlock23]

5 huh? I dunno but for an all-around versitle rifle I'll keep my 35 Whelen.

For small stuff, the .17 HMR is just sick fun.

.17 HMR (small stuff)
.308 Win. (avg. stuff)
35 Whelen (all-around classic, versitile)
.45-70 (a classic)
.50 BMG (cool factor)

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

I've already put my money where my mouth is.

.22lr, various platforms
.223, various platforms
6mm Remington
.30-06, various platforms
.338 Winchester magnum

These will handle any game in North America & most, if not all, on the planet.

What would I get? Probably a 6.5 Swede, though the LHB requirement is gonna be tough. Possibly a .50 BMG, but no big deal if it doesn't happen.

900F

 

[EdLaver]

6.5mm grendel (seen what it can do to a watermelon @ 400 yards)
.223 (all out rugged round, light-weight, fairly cheap in price)
.30-06 (for big game)
.22lr (for small game)

that covers everything rifle for me.

darn almost forgot the BIG boy.... .50 BMG! Just in case I have to really REACH out and touch something.

 

[savage sam]

Calibers:
.22 LR (plinking, range, small game)
.223 Rem. (plinking, range, social purposes, varmints)
.300 Savage (DEER)
.30-06 Sprg. (general big-game hunting)
.458 Win. Mag. (dangerous game)

Rifles: (in order)
Ruger 10-22
Bushmaster 20" AR-15
Savage 99
Ruger 77
Winchester 70 Safari Grade