A .22 of some sort
A 12 ga shotgun
A 30-06.
Most of what you need to get done in the lower 48 you can do with those.
A 12 ga shotgun
A 30-06.
Most of what you need to get done in the lower 48 you can do with those.
Top 3 cartridges every hunter should own
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T.R.
Member
22 MAG for small game and varmints.
30-30 for deer sized game within the foothills and forests.
.308 for long range and larger animals.
These are my picks, yours may be different.
TR
30-30 for deer sized game within the foothills and forests.
.308 for long range and larger animals.
These are my picks, yours may be different.
TR
Shanghai McCoy
Member
I'll just go with three of what I have on hand...
22 Mag for the varmints, there are better calibers but I don't own any.
30-06 because it will work, with the right loads, for pretty much anything in the lower 48.
45/70 because it, also with the right loads, should cover anything else I might hunt.
22 Mag for the varmints, there are better calibers but I don't own any.
30-06 because it will work, with the right loads, for pretty much anything in the lower 48.
45/70 because it, also with the right loads, should cover anything else I might hunt.
you chose 6.
While fun and useful in certain situations, the .17 doesn't do a whole lot for hunters, and certainly wouldn't be one of only 3 guns I could own. For a rimfire, the .22 LR has more usefulness, and is far cheaper to shoot. The .17 (HMR)excels at blowing prairie dogs up at 100-200 yards. For me, personally, this isn't worth sacrificing one of my 3 rifles for. A .22 rimfire can do what needs to be done within 100 yards, and a .223 or similiar will cover distances beyond that, while still being useful for larger game like coyotes and deer. If one is limited to only 3 rifles, the .17s aren't practical enough to serve multiple functions at a price point most are willing to live with, and thos coming from a .17 HMR owner who loves his.......but if I were to only own 3 rifles, it wouldn't be one of them
Aaron1100us
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My 3 are
.22lr
7.62x39
7.62x54R
.22lr
7.62x39
7.62x54R
sirgilligan
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.30-06 with these three loads:
110 grain load
165 grain load
220 grain load
There no need for any other rifles.
Now the truth be told, I only have three cartridges in my system (as of now):
.22 LR
5.56 NATO ( which includes .223 REM)
.30-06
If I had a .308 instead of a .30-06 I would probably do it this way:
.22LR
.243
.308
Because the .243's parent case is the .308.
110 grain load
165 grain load
220 grain load
There no need for any other rifles.
Now the truth be told, I only have three cartridges in my system (as of now):
.22 LR
5.56 NATO ( which includes .223 REM)
.30-06
If I had a .308 instead of a .30-06 I would probably do it this way:
.22LR
.243
.308
Because the .243's parent case is the .308.
shuvelrider
Member
There are too many calibers out there to just limit yourself to three. Debates like these are what seems to keep gun rags in print for so long, the same tired old writers regurgitating the same old questions about the "best caliber". That's the same as the annual fluff articles every year about the best rifle or pistol, please, no more " up on a pedastal praise" for the Colt 1911A1. My experience growing up was a very limited list of calibers/firearms I had to make do with, I didn't like that at all. The means became available to expand my gun accumulation which also meant different calibers to enjoy. Do I need them all, probably not, but I also would not want to limit myself to just three either.
1948CJ2A
Member
For North American big game hunting, I'll go with these:
1. 25-06 Rem (from varmints to deer to pronghorn, this is a great choice)
2. 7x57 Mauser (from deer-sized game to elk, hard to beat)
3. 300 Weatherby Mag (With the range of 30 caliber bullets, you can hunt anything from deer to moose to bear)
1. 25-06 Rem (from varmints to deer to pronghorn, this is a great choice)
2. 7x57 Mauser (from deer-sized game to elk, hard to beat)
3. 300 Weatherby Mag (With the range of 30 caliber bullets, you can hunt anything from deer to moose to bear)
X-Rap
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I'm with shuvelrider to me guns are like tools, I can't imagine having just one set of wrenches just because they will do what I need done. I sockets, combination, ratchet end, nut drivers, varying angled heads. I also can't imagine just one of each size either. Lots of tools in different sets for different applications.
Hangingrock
Member
.22RF
28Ga
338-06
28Ga
338-06
short barrel
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22Magnum, 45/70, and .50 muzzleloader.
Sunray
Member
The .30-30, .30-06 and .270 are three that do exactly the same thing. Mind you, it's more about the rifle than the chambering.
Anyway, for hunting all you really need is a shotgun. There's no game in North America you can't kill with a slug. There is no "Top 3 cartridges every hunter should own."
Anyway, for hunting all you really need is a shotgun. There's no game in North America you can't kill with a slug. There is no "Top 3 cartridges every hunter should own."
d2wing
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Can't take it too seriously. Nearly any centerfire will kill nearly any game in North America with lots of overlap. The exception would be Alaska Brown bears but the long time world record was killed with a .22LR. So no really wrong choices. But we are all entitled to like and dislike as we please. I think some choices are misguided like necked down cartridges shoot flatter and faster in some cases and that big and slow has more power than a modern cartridge but no sense knocking someone else's choice because they do work. And work great in the right situation. Some areas you can do everything with a shotgun. Some you need a 300 yard or more varmint gun.
Ranger Roberts
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.22 for small game
12 gauge
and for my last pick I'm torn. My instinct says 30.06 but I really love my 300 Win Mag. So yeah, my 300 Win Mag.
Edit: I just saw that the OP ruled out .22, so I'll strike that from my list and go with my 30-30. It's a great brush gun and in my area that is mostly what I have to contend with. I'll just use my 12 ga for small game.
Man it's tough to choose!!
12 gauge
and for my last pick I'm torn. My instinct says 30.06 but I really love my 300 Win Mag. So yeah, my 300 Win Mag.
Edit: I just saw that the OP ruled out .22, so I'll strike that from my list and go with my 30-30. It's a great brush gun and in my area that is mostly what I have to contend with. I'll just use my 12 ga for small game.
Man it's tough to choose!!
Well, I guess I'd go with:
7.92x57 (8mm Mauser)
20 ga
22LR
I can kill anything in North America with an 8mm so no need for anything else.
I can also kill anything with a 20 ga that you can with a 12, just not at quite as long a range. And it's a bit lighter to carry around.
a 22 is a 22.
Sarge
7.92x57 (8mm Mauser)
20 ga
22LR
I can kill anything in North America with an 8mm so no need for anything else.
I can also kill anything with a 20 ga that you can with a 12, just not at quite as long a range. And it's a bit lighter to carry around.
a 22 is a 22.
Sarge
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Centerfire only?
.223, 30-06, 45-70
All hunting?
.22LR, 30-06, 12ga.
.223, 30-06, 45-70
All hunting?
.22LR, 30-06, 12ga.
splattergun
Member
So OP modified his question to big game, no need for shotgun or rimfire.
30-06 covers any and every N American big game critter that I'll ever be likely to hunt at any range that I'm proficient.
.243 suits me fine for coyotes and other varmints, and fine for deer and antelope.
My muzzleloading barrel on my Mossberg 500 also does a number on most anything, but at shorter range than 30-06.
30-06 covers any and every N American big game critter that I'll ever be likely to hunt at any range that I'm proficient.
.243 suits me fine for coyotes and other varmints, and fine for deer and antelope.
My muzzleloading barrel on my Mossberg 500 also does a number on most anything, but at shorter range than 30-06.
JTHunter
Member
Hhmm - - interesting thought.
A .22LR is good on everything up to coyote in size, depending on the distance. It's also fairly quiet on its own so it is less likely to disturb other game animals (or the neighbors).
A .243 is a good, accurate rifle that can be handled by young and old alike. It can also overlap the .22LR and go down to groundhogs or up to a small elk (again, at closer range). Granted, a .308 or 30-06 would be better for the larger herbivores (elk/moose), I question if the .308 is enough gun for dangerous game except at dangerously close ranges.
A 12 gauge shotgun can overlap both the .22LR and the .308 when you consider its range limitations. It can take the same small game and varmits as the .22LR with "lo-brass" loads at close range (quail, squirrels), larger game (groundhog, coyote, pheasant, geese) at longer ranges with "hi-brass" loads, and, with a rifled barrel and sabot slugs, large or even dangerous game, but the latter at uncomfortably close range.
All in all, the .22LR, 12 ga., and .243/.308/30-06 will take care of everything in the Lower 48.
A .22LR is good on everything up to coyote in size, depending on the distance. It's also fairly quiet on its own so it is less likely to disturb other game animals (or the neighbors).
A .243 is a good, accurate rifle that can be handled by young and old alike. It can also overlap the .22LR and go down to groundhogs or up to a small elk (again, at closer range). Granted, a .308 or 30-06 would be better for the larger herbivores (elk/moose), I question if the .308 is enough gun for dangerous game except at dangerously close ranges.
A 12 gauge shotgun can overlap both the .22LR and the .308 when you consider its range limitations. It can take the same small game and varmits as the .22LR with "lo-brass" loads at close range (quail, squirrels), larger game (groundhog, coyote, pheasant, geese) at longer ranges with "hi-brass" loads, and, with a rifled barrel and sabot slugs, large or even dangerous game, but the latter at uncomfortably close range.
All in all, the .22LR, 12 ga., and .243/.308/30-06 will take care of everything in the Lower 48.
.357
.243
12 guage
Since 22lr has still not recovered from the panic buying, it shows a basic weakness, availability. So my new 22lr is a 38 spl/357 mag carbine. Very reloadable, very economical, in light 38 spl loads an excellent varmint gun, and with full power .357 mag. will take medium game. For longer distance, .243 is a flat shooting varmint to medium game capable round. You just can't beat the versatility of a 12 guage, from small game up to the largest North American animals, a 12 gauge with an appropriate round at close range is devastating.
.243
12 guage
Since 22lr has still not recovered from the panic buying, it shows a basic weakness, availability. So my new 22lr is a 38 spl/357 mag carbine. Very reloadable, very economical, in light 38 spl loads an excellent varmint gun, and with full power .357 mag. will take medium game. For longer distance, .243 is a flat shooting varmint to medium game capable round. You just can't beat the versatility of a 12 guage, from small game up to the largest North American animals, a 12 gauge with an appropriate round at close range is devastating.
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