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My choices would be Sporterized Springfield 1922 M2, Winchester M/88 .308 and Winchester M/50 vent rib modified choke.

I agonized over putting my M2 Springfield down as the .22 in my triumverate, versus my BRNO #2, as I dearly love that rifle. But I forced myself to think in practical terms and the BRNO got the nod by reason of its lighter weight and scope along with its being equally accurate. If I started making exceptions I would also start rationalizing the addition of more guns to fill niches (both real and imaginary) and the Three Gun Battery concept would explode into a far reaching collection. Oh sh*t, too late - it done happened!

I also owned a BRNO #1 at one time, it had the fanciest wood of any BRNO I'd ever seen. I don't believe I ever shot that rifle, I let a co-worker talk me out of it several years ago. I've also owned two Anschutz Stutzen mannlicher stocked rifles with DST, one with M/54 action and my current one with M/64 action. My Springfield 1922 which is nearly 100 yrs. old will outshoot everything, even my Winchester M/52 Sporter !

Winchester 72 (tube feed version of the 75) .22
Winchester 70 Fwt '06
Winchester 50, 12 ga
I am not a Winchester nut! Honest. But I thought long and hard about this 3 gun choice and went with reliabilty as job 1, durability, and accuracy somewhat lower on the scale. I have some nice rifles of Euro heritage, a couple beautiful old SxS's but the nod just has to go the most dependable, and almost 60 years without a hiccup for these 3.

If I had to go to 3 that I own it would be Browning A5 magnum 12, 30-06 Vanguard, and 452 American 22 LR. What would be the fun in that though.

Since the OP specified an "old school" 3-gun battery I'd go pre-64 Winchesters in a:

- Model 52 Sporter (scoped 22 rimfire); a Model 70 carbine (pre-war 270 Win with G&H scope mount); and a Model 12 pump (12ga M choke).

These would cover all my bases in Montana, bunnies to bulls and turkey.

I already have a "3 gun battery."

Ruger 77/22 All Weather (boat paddle) with open sights.
Remington 870 12 ga 28" bbl., matte black finish with African Walnut stock.
Winchester 70 Stainless Fwt 308 Win (open sights to be added).

Throw in my Ruger Security Six 4" Stainless 357 and all bases are covered.

Probably not strictly "old school" but none are dialers and all are pre-1984 designs.

I'm not sure if my KS Mountain qualifies as old school. It's only 30 years old but if it helps I'll just shoot old school bullets from it. For a shotgun the pragmatic side of me says my 870 12 gauge. I shoot it well and it will handle anything. The romantic in me says my Cogswell and Harrison 12 would get the nod.

As for the third, I'll cheat and take a lefty Charles Daly 222 with a chamber insert for 22 LR.

I started out with a 30-06 Remington Model 721, a 12 Gauge Remington Model 31, and a .22 lr Remington Model 24. My brother is still hunting with the first two.

My current 3 gun battery would be my Edge stocked pre 64 30-06, Ruger 20ga. Red label and Remington 541T

When I was a kid I was given a 1947 Brno Mod 1 .22, a beautifully finished rifle which would routinely group 5 rounds into 1/2" or less at 50 yards. I've shot truckloads of rabbits and such, and won various competitions, with that little rifle. It would be on the list.

I also had the use of a 20 ga Fabrique Nationale sidelock SxS. It has long gone, but I'd have it again.

I also had the use of a Marlin 1893 in .30-30, Sporting Rifle (26" half-octagonal barrel, 1/2 magazine, shotgun buttplate, pg stock) with a peep sight. It is mine now, and I still have it.

I have a lot more now, and each has its role, but I guess I could scrape by with those, 40-odd years later.

3 guns? Very painful! Since I shoot clays every week, I’d have to include my Browning 725 Field, which could do for any shotgun work. Typically, a .22 would be the second thing needed, but I have a .22 Hornet Browning Low Wall that I just can’t let go, so if the third one is a “deer” rifle, the Hornet will have to fill in for the .22. My two best deer guns now are my 6CM Fieldcraft and a 6.5 Gendel Howa Mini. Either will work, but the Grendel is a very practical do-all cartridge for this area, with a long barrel-life expectancy, so I’d probably “take my profit” on the FC and keep the Howa.

Not sure how I could bear the loss of my 98s, mostly FN commercials. Might have to re-think my deer rifle pick…..

When I started high school in 1971, my 3-gun battery was a No.4 Mk1 Lee Enfield .303 British my maternal grandfather had sporterized, with which I killed my first several deer (using my hand loads), an Ithaca Model 37 Featherlite 20 ga., and a Stevens Crackshot 26 .22 rimfire single-shot passed down from my paternal grandfather. I still have all three.

After college, it was a first gen Browning BLR .308, with a Bushnell Banner 1.75-4.5x20, with which I've killed 156 bucks and around 60 does, a Browning A5 12 ga. with 5 different barrels, and a Browning BL-22 with the Redfield 4x, 3/4" tube rimfire scope. Still have all three.

Now if I had to pick three, it would be a Winchester Classic Stainless Featherweight .308 with Leupold 1.75-6x32, a Mossberg 500 12 ga with choke tubes, and the same Browning BL-22 with Redfield 4x.

My father owned a Model12 12ga, LE Jungle Carbine 303 and a 22 semi auto of some sort. He used the 22 the most for potting grouse.

I'd have to have four ...... 7x57 (or 30-06) for BG, 20ga SxS for grouse, 10/22 for plinking and 222 or 223 sporter for whatever.

Winchester Model 9422 my folks gifted me when I graduated from HS in 1973.
Winchester Super-X Model 1, first new shotgun I bought for myself when I was in the army in 1976.
Ruger M77 270 WIN my wife bought me during the first year we were married, 1978.

All three have been, and still are, dependable firearms.

Find the whole 3 gun battery idea just as revolting as " if you could have only have 1 azzholes" .most mechanics have more than a crescent wrench too..mb

While these types of threads are always good for pondering, I am of this mindset also.

When I first started hunting, a Ruger 10/22, Winchester 1300 12 ga, and a Remington 700 BDL in 270 was all I had. I could certainly get by with that list, but why?

CRS somehow I can't see you giving up your 338-06 for the 270 or vice versa or your antelope rifle either. Some allways try to justify arms minimalism for whatever stupid reasons. mb

I can certainly understand the thought process for some, if money is tight, limited space, or one feels overwhelmed with their toys.

On the West slope of the Canadian Rockies,
. My Grandad's time B 1895
He was overgunned
30/30 Winchester model 94
.303 British- Lee Enfield Sporterized war1/surplus.
My Dad's time b 1930
.22 Cooey
Model 94 30/30 or 303. British
Husqvarna 30/06 or .270 Win
My time b 1958
.22 Brno or Cooey
25/06 model 700
A .270 wcf / 30 06 of some sort

3 guns, yes , painful .
Pre64 model 70 featherweight in 270 Win
Remington 870 Special Field 12 gauge
Browning a-bolt 22 .