Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Give advice on two rifle battery

Yeah, this last is what was originally suggested to me. I think one of the things is that I have done a poor job communicating what I am really trying to accomplish and what I intend to do with these rifles.

You could almost say one if for hunting everything and, to a lesser degree, light 'tactical' fun at the range. The other is pretty much purely about long range target shooting for fun and training.

They are not both hunting rifles. Someone suggested an F class rifle, and this is probably pretty close to what I had in mind for the second gun. If hunting is 'practical', then the second is very much not that. The first is primarily 'practical', secondarily 'tactical'.

But even with that said, yeah, I don't realistically need a 300 or 7 mag. Though I can load them down, that is a reality I need to really think on and balance any downsides with just the fun of having that much power at my disposal.

Honestly, I really liked hunting with my 375...it was fun.

It it was 1 rifle, a .30/06 or .300 Winchester.

For 2, I'd consider the .25/06 and the 7mm Remington Magnum if the lower 48 is a definite and the .300 Winchester if you want the keep the hunting door ajar.

The .25/06 will cover all the light end and creep into "opportunity territory" and the 7mm Remington is a do all as far as you can do it cartridge.

Either way, both rifles will feel similar and have the same bolt throw. Both should be scoped the same so they are twins.

John

I'm no writer, but the goals that you state for your 2 rifles don't sound realistic to me.

I've run through 50 rounds of rimfire and 5 rounds of 25-06 (and some honey-do's) since my above post. I can and do shoot right here at the house, and I still wouldn't have hours in the day or week for what you propose.

But... You're not me, and if you can swing it, it still seems that you need at least 3 rifles for your stated purposes...

'Keep the hunting door ajar'

I like that! It pretty much sums up the way I think about these things.

That constant possibility of 'what if' that keeps you pushing forward to do more than you thought possible.

I used to have a lot more, but I traded them all in for a couple kids

The 8 year old, btw, would gush over your avatar, being a serious Maiden fan....

For a carry BG rifle i'd look very hard at a 270 WCF from NULA for a long actioned rifle.And a 6.5x284 NULA for a short one.With TTSXs you could handle just about anything on 4 legs in NA and not have the recoil of a 7mm mag or the 300 mag.You might actually enjoy shooting it.
NULAs are expensive.But weight wise quality wise and everyother wise you will be all done.
If I had followed my own advise I could have saved an awful lot of money...
For playing around double duty stuff.
I'd look at something like MontanaMarines bigger rifle in a 6.5x47 Lapua.I like MMs set up on that rifle and a 6.5x47 kicks less than a 06.Dont give up much of anything to a 06 at a grand either..
We shoot 6.5x47s all summer long at 1000 BR matches and do very well.Figure 2000 to 2500 rounds of BR accuracy before you need a barrel change.

dave

One rifle and I would also go with a 270 or 7/08.

Two rifles and I would go with a 243 paired with a 30-06 or 300 WSM.

Did someone already say that?


grin

Yeah, or pretty close to it!

It is easy to make the correct choice, as there is only one. Get two 222 Remingtom magnums and when you get a little extra money buy a third...

Hard to beat an 8 twisted 243 for target shooting and most of your NA hunting. For slightly bigger game, a 280ai will fill things out nicely.

318 Westley Richards and 6.5X55 would put you in good stead.

Is there a factory 243 that comes with an 8 twist?

I kind of like this pair. Plenty of brass and commonly available ammo and components. In the 7 RM category lots of stuff will work but I would not want any odd ball rifle looney cartridges. Too hard to find ammo on hunts if you should need it for some reason. But in truth there's a bunch that will work on anything.

The 7 RM is a legit LR cartridge, recoils moderately and kills anything on the continent. The 243 does the other target/varmint/light game work.

Personally I would not want just one rifle in the 7RM/30/06 class...planned BG hunts are expensive in time and/or money.If you have a last minute problem with a rifle you should have another ready to go right away that you trust and shoot well.

I know of faactory 1/9 twists.
Are you truly stuck on factory?

Bob,
Common sense and practicality is not the purpose of the "innernet", although you did allow a second cartridge into the conversation if only to appease the OP.

There was an article series (very briefly) about 40 years ago (Don't recall the Mag) whereby 2 writers took opposing views on a cartridge.

I think the market is ready for a new series.

John

Ha! I haven't seen Maiden since the late 80's....Lol I couldn't resist Eddie with a sniper rifle when I first saw it.

Since you have the 8 yr. old, either get a 223 or 243 twisted 1-8. Then get a 7mmRM and call it good. If you ever find yourself wanting larger, replace that old 375. You will have all the bases covered....

30-06 and 243 Win.

John I am sure you have noticed that I tend to "lump" cartridges by class...won't deny there are differences but for myself results have been pretty much the same with various cartridges within the "class", i.e., everything I shot ended up dead.

For me it's always been more about the hunting and less about the gack,but I became a rifle nut anyway.

As to a new, more contemporary series, how about a 300WSM and a 6XC....I could live with that.

+1

The 300WSM should not be overlooked.

It does a lot, with manageable recoil.

A case of do as I say . . .

I guess when the 7 Mashburn went SAAMI I missed it.