The Old Three Hunting rifle question

[the muleskinner]

For the hypothetical trip I would take the 25-06, the 30-06, and the .338 win mag. They would all be Sakos, and they would all sport Schmidt & Benders. If you've got the money for this trip you could afford it. Harris bipod on the small gun. No bipods on the other two. Shooting sticks would be nice though. I would carry factory ammo that I could replace easily on this cross country venture. It doesn't make much sense to zero your gun with ammo you could run out of.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

So, then, why is the.22 Hornet listed? That's a big game caliber, now?

No, it's not. I don't know why it's in the poll, but just because it's in the poll doesn't mean you have to choose it. But as noted above there is confusion in the OP, since he said "hunt anything you want", and then listed very specific game (all large-very large). So now we have confusion from the get-go (or, ab initio, for John ), plus two pissin matches! The thread is circling the drain, lol. Too bad, because it's a good question. Obviously, I was kidding about people thinking that the question implied poaching with a .22. Probably should try this thread again eliminating "hunt anything you want" from the question, or leaving that and eliminating the specific list of game.

The .308 will work fine I'd bet for hunting large scary brown bears - Just so long as you're a pretty fur piece away or up in a tree when you shoot. For tracking a wounded one, I'd prefer a different kind of .308 - a 7.62mm mini-gun!

John, I agree with you about hunters mostly being philosophers of sorts - I know I am. I always wondered why dad kept mowing the lawn when it didn't need it.

 

[Monkybrainz]

Hello new to the forum as of today, but i had to vote!!( i like ta vote.) i went with 243 win , 30. 06 but if a sks 7.62x.39 (paratrooper model, folding stock, shorten barrel, flash suppresor, 30 round clip, ) was on the list i woulda just picked that for all around anything rifle. hunting or defense. but i still love my .243 stevens..

 

[John828]

The thread is circling the drain, lol. Too bad, because it's a good question.

Yes, it is and yes, it is. Perhaps poorly constructed but worth consideration. That's why I answered the thread. For a minimalist or a poor man, a three gun centerfire rifle collection would be a dream especially for the poor man, so the poll has some merit.

I still stick with my original selection of .243, .308 and .338 WM. And here is why: the .243 would be great for varminting and deer, the .308 would suffice for all the rest, but in the Alders or really thick bush, I'd really want the .338 for big browns (maybe the venerable .375 H&H.)

 

[mavracer]

.223 and 30/06 but would just as easily take a .308 and I'll have to use my 45/70 for the big stuff.But would easily take a .375H&H or Rigby.

 

[K3]

Went with .223/.308/.375HH.

A lot of this is 6 of one and half z dozen of another. Those 3 provide nice coverage of anything you'd encounter in NA with a fair bit of overlap.

If I was to choose one, it would be a 300WM. Prolly cause I have one and handload for it. I can make varmint ammo or 220gr big boy stoppers if I like. The bobcats I've taken with my 180gr loads didn't have noticeably different pelt damage from ones I've nabbed with smaller stuff. *Shrug*.

Just not sure I want to be equipped with anything that recoils in the slightest on a night where I might load the truck with 30 or 40 'yotes. Still waiting on a night like that though....

 

[Art Eatman]

Not that it's my selection, but the .22 Hornet's a good coyote cartridge.

.243, '06 and then the .375 H&H for the big bears.

 

[KINGMAX]

Ditto ~Z

 

[czarjl]

.223t
.30-30 (lever gun)
.308

Write in for .22lr has to be the most common for anything but large game.

 

[Big Bill]

25-06, 300 WSM, and a Winchester 30-30, just because they don't make it any more.

 

[357sigRog]

1. .243 with 100gr core loks 2. .270win with Federal Vital Shok 150gr nosler partitions 3. It is not listed but I would take the 35rem with Hornady leverevolution 200gr elast tips.

 

[paintballdude902]

i went with the .30-30 .30-06 and .375 but it would really be

.30-06 .45-70 and .260

but .45-70 wasnt there and i want a brush gun with me so i had to go with the .30-30

i know that the .260 and .30-06 are close to each other but i can load really light rounds and have an awsome small critter gun

 

[TCB in TN]

I went with the .223, 30-06, and .375. I would use common factory ammo as we are traveling it makes a boatload of sense.

 

[deacon8]

I chose 22-250, 7X57, and 30-06. I would handload for all three. Actually, I only really need a 7X57. I wouldn't hesitate to use it for everything in North America...except for small game. Hey, I need a .22 lr for rabbit, grouse, and practice!

 

[federalfarmer]

.22 mag

.270 win

.375 H&H

hmmmm looks like 3 I have purchased. Although one really nice .300 win ......

 

[monkyboy1975]

.243 Win for the smaller stuff, 30-30 for the rifles that are made for it and 30-06 for the big stuff. Would take the .220 swift for the smaller critters, but it's not listed.

 

[warriorsociologist]

I voted .223, 7x57, and .30-06...

But what I wanted to vote for was:

.223
7mm-08
.30-06

- close enough.

 

[K-Dirt]

My choice:

22-250
280 Remington
300 WSM

I'm surprised the 280 didn't get more votes. If I shot right handed, I'd own one. I'm not sure I'd get rid of my .30/06 to get it though.

 

[tango2echo]

1) Ruger 77/22mag

2) Ruger 77 .308

3) Mossberg 835 12ga 3.5"

All you ever need. Period.

T2E

 

[tango2echo]

+1 for the .280 Rem. One of the best, most over-looked rounds out there.

 

[NickEllis]

I selected .223, .308, .375HH. Just spent a year shooting the .375HH, and gosh if its not the sweetest shooting round I've had yet.

Lots of Montana deer and coyotes have been taken by the .22 Hornet down in the coolies by ranch boys I know out there.

 

[doctorxring]

.

243 Winchester
35 Whelen

And I could get by fine with the Whelen alone
comfortably.

.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

+1 for the .280 Rem. One of the best, most over-looked rounds out there.

You got that straight. .280 Rem would be my choice of caliber if I could have only ONE centerfire rifle for all hunting the world over for the rest of my life.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

270, 30/30, 30-06

 

[Legionnaire]

If .22LR had been in the poll, my vote would have been: .22LR, .243 Win, and .30-06.

Since it wasn't, I voted: .243 Win, .308, and .338 Win Mag.

If I could have included a .22LR (which I consider a "must have"), I'd have happily selected a .30-06 as my high-end caliber, giving it the edge over the .308 because of its ability to handle heavier bullets. Since I have to pull up the bottom of the scale, I'll bump the top as well ... which would allow me to take the .308 in a lighter rifle than I would select for the .30-06.

But if selecting from my safe:
.22LR, .243 Win, and .30-06.