Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Help me thin my rifle battery.

no 30-06? the ones 3 through 8 have the most over lap.

VaHunter,

In my area I can shoot 500+ yards at groundhogs. There aren't as many groundhogs where I am hunting too. I am not sure if it's the coyotes or some changes in agriculture. What I will probably do is take both out when the weather warms up and see which one I prefer for longer shots.

Lose this colour and replace this colour with either a Brno 21 or a Husqvarna 146 in calibre of choice.

This pretty well sums up my feelings also.

As far as the 260 for elk - a resounding yes, at least Idaho elk don't know it isn't enough cartridge. If anyone asks just tell them you are using a short version of the 6.5x55.

drover

My Take;

22LR... keep a .22LR for sure

22 Magnum
22 Hornet
221 Fireball

Choose one of these three. If You keep the Hornet 'K' it


222 Remington
223 Remington
204 Ruger
22-250 Remington

Whatever works for You... is it a stainless rifle, heavier barrel, lighter for a walking varminter, an action You prefer? Whatever works for You... But keep one maybe even two if You're not sure or maybe You want to cover a couple of bases, ie. walking varminter and a 22-250 for longer ranges?



243 Winchester
6mm Remington
260 Remington

Again, is it stainless, an action, a cartridge preference or nostalgia? Whatever works for You as Your deer rifle... But pick one, they all work for deer.

Maybe start by trimming one from each category.



Mule Deer, Antelope and Elk... Pick up a .270 Winchester. Recoil shy, avoid the Magnum suggestions.

There You're done,

Jerry

edited to add;
Oh and I agree with drover the .260 will work in lieu of the .270 Win.

Yep, then add a 30-06 and he'd be set...

roninflag,

I used to have a 30-06. Then I got rid of it because it kicked as much as 7mm Remington Magnum. Then I got a 280 and soon rid myself of the 7 Mag. A 7mm 08 lead to getting rid of the 280. I found out I hate recoil.

I agree my varmint gun battery has the most fat to trim.

I have an idea. Grow some balls and sell some stuff. But I can guarantee you.....you'll buy more than you sell. I've tried it several times and failed and I'm trying it now. FUTILE!

I'd keep the 22 LR and the 223. I'd sell the rest and get a 30-06. I know that you had one before, but I think you'd be able to manage the recoil if you do four things:

1. Get one that's a little heavier than the typical Campfire flyweight (say about 8 1/2 pounds scoped and ready to hunt).
2. Put a really good recoil pad on it, like a Pachmayr Decelerator.
3. Shoot ammo with lighter bullet weights, like the 130- and 150-grain Barnes TTSX.
4. Make it a point to shoot this rifle every time you go to the range, as your recoil tolerance can drop off if you don't shoot that often.

A 270 with 110-grain TTSX ammo would fill the same niche if a 30-06 is completely out of the question.


I'm going through the same thing. In addition to watching recoil, I also want rifles chambered for ammo I can get in any big-box store, especially if airline travel is involved, as it's just a matter of time until they lose either your rifle or your ammo. That rules out a lot of things, but it rules IN cartridges like the 308, 270, and 30-06. You may not be able to find the exact 308/270/30-06 load you want, but almost any load you do find will clobber the game you're thinking of hunting. Start looking at ammo selection in every single place you visit that sells ammo and you'll see what I mean. Some stuff is a LOT more available than other stuff...

I've also learned that from there, you have to adjust how you think about all of this stuff. There's a big difference between hunting trips and range trips--for one thing, there are no do-overs on game. If you're on an expensive hunt, then you want to score if you get the opportunity. You'll have some serious coin if you thin the herd like you're talking about, so I'd invest in Leupold scopes with the CDS system for any centerfire rifles you end up keeping, plus a pair of Leica binoculars and a Leica rangefinder. Then I'd get out into the field and start making sure that I could run the optics in a way that lets me find game, then range it and hit it quickly.

Finally, buy yourself the best boots you can find. Hunting trips suck if you cripple yourself with boots that aren't exactly right and you have trouble walking by Day 2.

Don't ask me how I know that.


Okie John

Good God why?

P.S. I only read the title of the thread.

This

Call me crazy.

Of course, muzzleloaders are a different story....

You're one looney, deranged, crazy mofo.

Happy?

Of course I'm happy.

I'm crazy....

I'd keep the .22lr, the 221 fireball and the .260. I might consider changing out the 260 for a 7/08 or 270, as has been mentioned over and over again.

I would add a 270, get rid of the little stuff and buy a Rock River varmint AR. The Rock River AR will shoot 1/2,groups.

Keep:
22LR

Keep One of these:
22 Magnum
22 Hornet
221 Fireball
222 Remington
223 Remington
204 Ruger
22-250 Remington

Keep one for deer:
243 Win
260 Rem

Then add one of these:
.308 Win
30-06 (shooting 180 Partitions)
(I cannot in good conscience recommend a .270)

I am not sure I could handle the '06 cartridges at this point, but I do like the list.

Jstuart,

I have no experience with the Brno 21 or Husqvarna 146, are they Mauser copies?