The 2 gun limit kinda comes from the idea some place in Africa you can only have 2 rifles, I thought I would be lol to try to stick to that rule. And I limited cartridges that fit in a mauser style action. I picked bolt actions because they seem legal in most states, off course there many other laws like needing a shotgun or like the straight wall cartridge laws.Historically, I do more coyote calling with a rifle than anything else. In many years, I call coyotes around 100 days per year, at least 50 days, whereas we only have 10-14 days of rifle deer season here. Such, I tend to consider a distinct separation between a “deer rifle and a coyote rifle,” rather than a “deer and coyote rifle,” differentiating a vicious calling AR in 223/5.56 and a fast 6mm bolt gun for deer. So immediately, I want to change the rules and have a 3 rifle battery, one for coyotes, one for deer, and a big gun for everything else.
Unfortunately, I have to go against my better judgement in most years when choosing my “big gun.” In general, I am quite confident a 7-08 or Mauser, 7RM or 6.5 PRC, and cartridges in this spectrum would be absolutely efficient and even ideal for any North American Big Game. If I were living just down the road from these hunting spots, instead of a full day’s drive (or more), I would choose something different than I do now in these circumstances. I always default to upsizing my rifle choice because 1) I have limited time to scout and limited time to hunt, so I have less control over when and where I get a shot on game, and will not have the familiarity for how game may travel to nearby concealment after a shot - so I want to anchor quickly, even if I need to take a bit longer shot than I might otherwise desire, and 2) inevitably, there’s a lot of money invested in tags and travel for out of state hunts, so capitalizing on opportunities when presented comes at higher stakes. I can control my circumstances on my land at home in KS, so I almost always end up shooting under 50 yards, unless otherwise desired. Alternatively, for out of state hunts, I practice to at least 800 yards to be ready for 600-700 yard shots if presented. So instead of a 7-08 or 6.5 PRC, I default to something much larger, 300win mag as my minimum.
My third complaint about the restriction of these particular rules, naturally, is the simple fact I really like rifles, so condemning myself with only 2 rifles would take away dozens of rifles I dearly enjoy.
Within the constraints of the game - I wouldn’t necessarily love either of these for all uses, as I consider only 2 rifles for these tasks to be making far too many concessions - but these are my two picks:
• 243LBC custom AR-15 w/ 20” barrel
• 300 Win Mag custom bolt action rifle with 24” barrel
How about the 375 Ruger it's gaining in popularity?.223 and .375 H&H.
Anything I couldn't kill with .223 should be covered by .375 H&H. Plus, it would give me reason to get a .375 H&H.
The nice thing with the 375ruger is it open up more rifles that can fill the 375 bug.How about the 375 Ruger it's gaining in popularity?
Nothing wrong with the .375 Ruger, I've just always wanted a Win. 70 Safari in .375 H&H, (read too much Capstick and Finn Aagard as a kid) and have no reason to justify the cost. Even when I was looking for a moose rifle, I went with a Ruger 77 in .300 Win. Mag. One dropped into my lap for next to nothing.How about the 375 Ruger it's gaining in popularity?
The 2 gun limit kinda comes from the idea some place in Africa you can only have 2 rifles, I thought I would be lol to try to stick to that rule. And I limited cartridges that fit in a mauser style action. I picked bolt actions because they seem legal in most states, off course there many other laws like needing a shotgun or like the straight wall cartridge laws.
thinking more 4 guns would be perfect.
1. Rimfire of choice
2. 223/243
3. 375 or a 7mm rem mag.
4. 12ga shotgun.
I keep saying I'd sell off most guns and buy maybe 4-5 for everything, but one I only have about 20 guns not many worth much anyway. Can't get much for them around here ever since the no private sale stuff.That one little word - “Perfect” - tends to be the bane of my existence.
It’s always interesting to challenge ourselves to thought experiments like this, adopting a paradigm which doesn’t suit our own.
I looked around in 2008 when I moved, which at the time meant effectively closing one moonlight gunsmith shop without a clear view at the time whether I would sustain the business in the new location, and I realized I simply had too many guns. My collection had grown organically for about a decade - I was smithing and dealing, and had worked for auctioneers for a while which gave access to thousands on thousands of guns in a multi-state area, so I bought a great number with “investing” in mind (which largely did pan out well for me). I had literally hundreds of guns, for most of which I had no use. I had found myself a collector/investor, which wasn’t a passion, and I owned a lot of firearms (several of some) I didn’t really want, but “gun guys” seemed to think every gun guy should have. So I selectively sold out over a couple of years, “simplifying my life.”
During that process, I kept finding myself putting certain rifles and revolvers back into the safe because I had used it for this or that hunt here or there. I realized at the time I had taken game with - imbued memories upon - nearly a hundred rifles. But none were really “my rifle.” Lots of girlfriends, but no wife. So I set about converting some of my investment gains into a multi-upper AR-15 and a custom switch barrel bolt action for big game. The intention, of course, to create two rifles with extreme versatility which could serve all of my needs forever onward.
Unfortunately, neither plan panned out for very long. My count isn’t back into the hundreds yet, and I’m certainly not collecting/investing any more in the way I had before - no guns I don’t want...
BUT... now it’s worse... now, I can’t so easily part with them...
Every gun I build/buy now is “perfect.”
you need a reason?it would give me reason to get a .375 H&H.
Im here also kinda....Id maybe go .22 nosler if going with a full size bolt gun, amd valk in a mini or ar..223 and .375 H&H.
Anything I couldn't kill with .223 should be covered by .375 H&H. Plus, it would give me reason to get a .375 H&H.
jmr40,A 22 centerfire for varmints. I'd choose 223, but there are arguments for others. For everything else in North America I don't think it really matters much with the possible exception of the big coastal brown bear in Alaska. Anything 26 caliber and up will kill em all with proper bullet choice. It's really personal preference. I'd choose one of my 308's if only limited to 2 because I know I'll never hunt the big bear.
And considering the roughly $20,000 price tag for the chance to hunt the big bear; if I ever do have that opportunity I can afford a 3rd rifle if I can afford the hunt. And it'd likely be a 375 Ruger unless I just fell into a deal on something in 375 H&H that I really liked.
This one maybe?I think most of us would like a three rifle battery over a two rifles. I remember reading an article about a four gun battery for North America. ...