Three calibers for the rest of your days

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jagdpanzer347

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Hypothectically, let's say you were limited to three rifle calibers for the rest of
your days. What would you pick and why? After a fair amount of thought I have chosen .22LR, 5.56/.223Rem and 7.62/.308Win.

.22LR because it is so useful, accurate and fun. Also great for training new shooters. 5.56 because I find it a useful and available intermediate round. Also because I am a big AR15 fan. 7.62 because with a bolt or semi it will do just about anything I would ever need a high power rifle to do. As a bonus my two centerfire choices are obviously highly supported by the reloading supplies manufacturers.

As an aside, the three I would hate to give up are 7.62x39, 7.62x54r and 30/06. Really like to shoot those AK/SKS rifles and Mosins. At least I could rebarrel the M1s to 7.62!

-jagd
 
The same I have right now, because I can never afford an AR or an FAl, so I';ll stay with 7.62x39mm, 303 Brit, and .22lr - don't count the 7.62x54R, as I rarely shoot it anymore.
 
I'd have to agree with you on the caliber choices, jagd. You could do anything you want with those three. A wide variety of commercial loads should be available in any local store for them. I've often thought about simplifying to just those (but it's never going to happen, although I wouldn't lose too much sleep over giving up .303, and 7.62x39).

You could do even the first two calibers with the same AR15. Heck, you could buy an AR chambered in each of the three.

22LR is definately a must have because it's so cheap, easy practice, highly accurate and a great small game round. You can buy a rifle with any kind of action chambered in this round.

.223/5.56 is a great HD/SD round, highly accurate, and a good varmint round. It's also lightweight and easy to store/pack. Lots of good bolt action, single shot and semi-auto rifles chambered in this round.

I thought about 30.06 for the third, it's highly versatile, very common and good for any N. American game, but since I have a real fondness for battle rifles(especially the FAL), I'd choose .308/7.62x51. It's a real close second to 30.06 in almost every category. Lots of good bolt action, single shot and semi-auto rifles chambered in this round.

Bonus for me: since my M1 has been converted to .308, I could still keep my favorite rifle. :)
 
JUST THREE !!!!!!!!!!!!

:what: For my low end how about .22 magmun. for use in both pistol and rifle, ditto for the .44 magnum, I have a .44 Ruger Deerfield & Ruger Super RedHawk, and IMO the best close quarters combat round the .45 acp. for GLOCK 21 pistol and Thompson semi-auto. That would be my choices for my wants and needs. :cool:
 
Hypothetically, were I limited to three rifle calibers...

1. .22LR
2. .30-06 Springfield
3. .45-70 Government

About covers the bases for me. :D
 
22lr for practice, training, and small game.
.243 Win for everything from varmints up to small deer.
.300 Win Mag for everything else in North America. It'll duplicate any 30'06/308 load and then some.
 
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Your Hypothetical choice clashes with my reality............ I have ALL of the calibers mentioned above:rolleyes: - and more than a dozen others as well, :evil: + dies, bullets, brass and primers and an assortment of powders for all that would give my homeowners insurance carrier a case of hives if they knew about half of it:neener:
Marvelous Fantisy you got here:rolleyes: - but ain't playing ;)
 
.22lr
.223
.308

Tough choice on the last one because I actually prefer the .30/06,,,I just own more rifles in .308.
Guess I should also add that I would also keep a 12 guage and a 9mm handgun.
 
Okay,

Pistols.... 9mm, .357/.38, 45 acp

rifles.... 22, 30/06, 45-70

Sorry had to be inclusive....:D
 
Interesting. Certainly .22LR as a training and plinking round. Probably .30-'06 instead of .308, so as to get the heavier bullet weights available in that caliber. And for the high end, dealing with nasty stuff with teeth, either .45/70, if I were only worrying about relatively short ranges, or (my preference) .375 H&H Magnum as an all-round "heavy", with a ballistic profile very similar to .30-'06, and decent power out to 300 yards or more.
 
.22 cal, for small game
30-06, because you can load such a variety of bullets in it
.50 cal, black powder because I could make the powder myself if needed.
 
.22lr
.223 Rem. / 5.56x45 mm Nato
.30-'06 Springfield

And while no-one is looking. . . . I'm tossing my Guide Gun in .45-70 Go'vt. into my dufflebag! :evil:
 
After numerous hours of research, deep soul searching, and attempts to convince myself there may be a better 3 than jagd suggested, I've come up with the following perfect three for me.

.22LR
.223
.308

Great minds, ya know. :D

S/F

Farnham
 
Don't need three.

Assuming I can handload I'd go Hornet in lieu of the .22RF. No need for body shots on small stuff. I don't eat heads, anyway. Can take turkeys and stuff up to deer. Come to think of it the Hornet would be enough for everything I'd likely ever need to do.

Still, it would be nice to have a .300 Win or WBY.

Forced to pick a third, I suppose .223/5.56 ammo would allow for recreation with the M16s.

Sam
 
.22LR, 5.56/.223Rem and 7.62/.308Win

While I might have the same choice as you, I really don't like the way how it is said:

you were limited to three rifle calibers for the rest of
your days

This is really somewhat too discouraging. Limit by what? The liberals might use this as a strategy: first limit your choices, then wipe out your rights. We have to stand firm and cannot accept this tone, to do so, please first don't say it from our own mouth!:neener: We should not discourage ourselves first! We did an excellent job in ending the AWB, we cannot let that or similar things back again!

May I suggest that we consider changing the title of this to something like: What are the three most favorite/practical/whatever rifle calibers in your lifetime? That sounds much more positve!:D

P.S.: though I like these above three calibers, I really love trying different calibers!
 
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