Ok you guys. Pick up to three rifle calibers for your ideal North American big game battery. From Alaska to Florida. State your rifles' finish and scope size also. Justify your choices. Let's see what is popular and practical by this group of "average" hunters.

.270 Remington Ti, with a Leupold 6x42--Because I like it
30/06 Ruger M77, blued, Tang Safety with a 6x42--Because I like it
10/22 Ruger with Burris scope (Bigfoot Killer)- Because I like it

Being a confirmed Rifle Loony I could write a book from all my wants and desires for the perfect battery of rifles.<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

But I shall refrain from such a lengthy diatribe and just put down what my current battery contains:

1. - 6BR : Varmints and smaller deer- super accurate and miserly on powder consumption - My current one is built on a Rem. Model 7 Action with a #4 Douglas XX SS barrel@ 22 inches bedded into the factory Laminated stock. It wears a Weaver V10 2-10x 38 SS scope in Burris Signature mounts.

2. .280 Ackley Improved: For general purpose hunting from deer to elk--7MM Magnum performance with much less recoil and powder consumption.

Mine is built on a 1982 vintage Remington 700 with a 23 inch Shilen SS matchgrade barrel bedded into the factory ADL stock. Its topped with a Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40 with the Ballistic Plex Reticle in B-Square (don't laugh, they are cheap, light, and hold zero very well. Also, this rifle is shooting so well right now I'm afraid to turn a screw on it, lest I screw everything up) mounts.

3. .300 Remington Ultra Magnum:: Long Range shooting for deer to elk and more thump for bigger critters such as Grizzlies than the .280 AI offers.

The .300 RUM is fast, accurate, and has power to spare for any critter this side of a Cape Buffalo. Mine is a Remington 700 LSS wearing an older US made 30 MM tube 3-12x56 Redfield Illuminator in Burris Signature mounts.

Good Shooting,
HBB

30/06 with a 2-7x Leupold in a plastic stock and a 10-22 with a 4x Leupold....

Browning .22 auto (Belgian) - plingking and all the small stuff
.257 Roberts, Cooper 3x9 Redfield - everything short of elk and moose....
.375 H&H M70 Win...2-7 Leupold....big bears and anything else

AR-15 223 Rem Mine is a Bushmaster Varmint with free floated hand guard, flat top, and 18" barrel. It has a 3-9 B&L Elite on it. It's a sub MOA gun, short, and handy. Plus, the 20 rd mags are just the right size. I consider it the #1 varmint rig available.

300 Rem Ultra Mag Mine is a Rem 700 Stainless, in a Brown Precision stock, with a matte gray teflon finish on the metalwork. It has a 3-9x36 Zeiss Diavari. It is also a sub-MOA gun, and shoots everything from 150 gr cheapos to 200 gr Partitions to the same point of impact at 100 yards, every time. I've used it for Whitetail, Blackbuck, Caribou, and African game from Springbok to Zebra. I made a serious mistake buying this one, because I really can't justify buying much else for anything below Dangerous Game. I was thinking about getting something else for a Dall Sheep/Grizz hunt in a few years, but what else would be better? Oh well... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

22-250 for any varmit
7x57 Ackley Improved for deer to elk
338-06 for elk to moose or big bears with XXX,Partition,or Trophy Bonded Bearclaws

OK I'll play.

For yotes and such savage model 11 w/acu-triger in 223.
For everything up to cow elk 300wm in parker hale m1200.
For everything else ruger M77 tang safety 338wm.

tom

Here goes,

358 win in a short light 21"bolt, topped with a 1.75x5x 32 for everything east

280 Ackley in a 24" bolt for all things far away and not too big. a 3x9x40 with a balistic plex

338 win mag 24" for all things to big to shoot with #1 or 2. Mine has a 2x7x40.

If life was perfect all would be stainless with a good synthetic stock. Mine would all be rugers cause I like them.

NoKnees

"Pick up to three rifle calibers for your ideal North American big game battery."

Kimber Montana 308 with Zeiss Diatal 4x32 in Weaver Quad lock mounts. Rifle is all SS and composite. Use in all woods, mountain and open hunting as well. Total weight six pounds.

Kimber Montana 270 WSM for long range medium game. Zeiss Conquest 3-9 in Talley detachables. Would change out mounts as soon as I can get Weaver bases.

For dangerous game I have a couple of 375's. Suppose that I would take the old M70.

If "big game" means deer and critters bigger than deer, then ........


1.) .35 Remington, in a Marlin 336 carbine with Lyman receiver sight

2.) 7mm-08 in a Win. Model 70 FWT with Loopie 1.75-6X

3.) .35 Whelan in a Ruger M77 (tang safety) with Loopie 3X and an NECG receiver sight

Well I have alot of guns to choose from everything from a the .223 caliber through .350 caliber just lacking a 6.5. I can say all I really need is my old and worn .300 Weatherby fibermark that has a 4.5-14x50 Leupold on it when I pick this gun up I know that what ever I point it at falls over. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Are we to pick what we would get if we had unlimited funds, or what we already have?

Going on what I have, if I had to narrow it down...

AR15, 223, 20" Hbar, 3-9x40 scope.

30'06, 3-9x40 scope

338 Win mag, 3-9x40 scope.

.30-06 is all I need..
.257 roberts when the 06 needs rest
.30-30 when all else fails

300WM in a Browning A-bolt M1000 Eclipse. Matte finish, grey laminated stock - thumbhole design.

Deer and smaller -- 168 Barnes TSX at 3050 fps.
Moose and such -- 180 Nosler Partition at 3140 fps
Dangerous game -- 200 Barnes XFB at 2900 fps

Or just pick any one of those loads and have at 'er, and apologize to the animal for being over or under gunned. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

.257 Roberts or .25-06 for whitetail and antelope. My .257 has a 4.5-14x as it doubles as a varmint rifle.
.300 Win Mag for mule deer through elk. 3-9x scope.
.45-70 for moose, bison, and big bears. 2-7x scope.

In whatever finish you like.

Of course 3 rifles would seriously limit my fun. I�ve got Marlins in .30-30, .375Win and .45-70, and bolt guns in .257 Roberts, 7mm Rem Mag, .308 Win and .300 Win Mag. And I still "need" a couple more to fill in the gaps.

.243 for varmints & light big game - Mauser action, 26" barrel & Leupold scope.

Winchester model 94 .30/30 - for when I am in the timber & working in close.

.375 H&H for every thing else - commercial Mauser action, 26" barrel & Leupold 3X9 scope

I already have the .375 and my .243 is close to this. I only have to get the .30/30. Shucks, throw in a good .50 cal muzzle loader, 12 ga shotgun & a .22 rf and I would hunt the world with this battery.

Tikka T3 270 WSM for open country

Kimber Montana 308 for everything else except

Bxroad's old 338-06 (Colt Light Rifle with all the bells and whistles) for bears and such.

I'll pick the 3 rifles in my safe that I'm most likely to hang on to, no matter what.

1.) Pre-war Savage 99R .250-3000. It wears either a Lyman tang peep, or a Lyman Alaskan ( 2-1/2X w/Lee dot ). For deer/antelope and smaller sized critters.

2.) Ruger No.1A 7X57 w/Leupold 6X36. For deer/antelope up to caribou sized critters.

3.) Pre-64 Model 70 .375 H&H w/ Leupold 3X in QD mounts. ( also has Lyman peep and factory irons ). For big critters and bears. This rifle is probably the rifle I would be least likely to ever part with.

All are blue/walnut.

Jeff

Coyote Hunter:
I have a Marlin in 375Win that I inherited from an old friend. It had been fired about 20 times with factory 200's. I haven't found an accurate load for it with Hornady 225's yet. How do you load for yours?

25-284 w/Loupie 6x42mm for deer
pre-64,Win. 94 30-30 for thick brush
Rem. CDL 35 Whelen w/loupie 6x42mm for everything else.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Virgil B.

A flyweight in .260 or 7-08 in a short Remington action, with McMillan Edge stock. Weighs about 7# with a 2.5-8 Leupold VX-III with Boone and Crockett reticle.

A 30-06 all-arounder on a Model 70. McMillan stock, #2 Lilja 22" barrel. A 3x Leupold and a 6x42 Leupold in quick detachable rings. About 8-8 1/4 pounds.

A 340 Weatherby that I could use as a cross canyon elk gun with 200 grain bullets or in Alaska with 250 grain bullets for moose or bear.

All left handed, of course.

Only three??
From my current battery:
Marlin 336 in 35 Rem with Williams peep for deer, black bear, boar under 100 yds.
Tikka T3 in 6.5x55 w/ Leupold 3x9 for up to Elk at longer ranges.
Rem 700 Classic in 375 H&H w/ Kahles 1.5-5 for anything on the planet.
But I would be hard pressed to sell the 45-70,280 Rem 300 Win Mag and 257 Robts.

Here we go:

Varmints: 22-250 Weatherby SVR, 5-15 x40 Elite 3200.
Med-Lrg big game: 7mmSTW Sako s/s, Zeiss diavari 3-12x56.
Big and bad game: 338 win mag Sako s/s Khales 1.5-6x42.

7-08, 30-06, .338wm. CD

Remington 600 rebarreled in 7mm-08 and w/ "Old Classic #102" walnut stock from Richard's Microfit Stocks.
Remington 700 MTN in 280 blued but with Remington Lam'd stock from a 700 MTN LSS.
Remington 700 BDL/SS in 338WM - needs a McSwirly!
All with Leupold VXIII 2.5-8

RH

Belgium Browning T-Bolt .22 with 4x Leupold Rimfire Scope
Winchester Model 70 Stealth 22-250 with 6-20x Leupold
Weather Mark V .300 WM with Leupold Vari XIII 3.5-10x40

Everything I do would be covered, cept for waterfowling of course.

22lr and two 30-06's set up identically.

1. Rem 700 Lefty floated and bedded, .270 Win. w/160 Partions (redlined),2-7 Nikon, plum brown metal and satin hand rubbed oiled stock...because she's been around a long time.

2. Ruger #1, pure factory blue & walnut, 25-06, Ballistic tips and partions (also redlined), 4 -12 w/A.O. Weaver steel tube...cause she shoots a "death ray" way out there.

3. Winchester 1885 (made in japan, dammit),matt blue and satin walnut, .22 LR, 4.5 - 14 A.O. scope...cause it's the best shootin .22 I've ever owned.

Now, ask me about my wish list.....

The more I think about it the more sense that makes.

Chuck

browning 22 semi
22-250 remington
300 win mag sako

I have had a bunch of these 3 gun sets in the past. The "best" may have been 3 mark x. .223, .30'06 and a .375 all stocked and scoped the same.
Right now my modern set is a older M70 pusher in .223 Walnut blued varmit gun. A M70 SG in .30'06 and a old M70 pusher in .375.
My Old school combo is all Savage.
340 in .222 with a 8x Weaver
40 in 30/30 with 4x weaver
1899 in .38/55 with marble tang.
In Ruger #1 it is;
1B .22-250 w/ 8x32 Burris
K1A 7x57 4x burris
1H .375 necg peep.

As this is a big game battery, I will not cover small game rimfires, varmint, or predator guns.

A Ruger #1B in .25-06 with 2.5x10 scope for deer and pronghorns, etc at longer range.

A Win M70, Ruger M77, Mauser, or Sako M75 in .30-06 with 2.5x8 scope as a general purpose rig.

A Win M70, Ruger M77, or Mauser in .358 Norma Mag with 2x7 scope for bigger stuff.

I would keep the following without a second thought, - thats coz I've spent the last 20 years trying to find the perfect threesome and have finalised on the following rigs. And am happily married to the three of them.

20" SS tubed, Rem M7 (or Dakota 97) satin black chromed action 308 win match chamber or maybe new 338 fed with leupy 2.5-8x36
either glass or aged turkish exhibition stock for general eastern hunting. 150 grn TSX @2950 in 308 or 185 grn TSX in 338 fed @ est 2800 fps.

23" SS barrelled 7mm Dakota, match chamber, Dakota 97 satin black chromed aged exhibition walnut leupy 3.5-10x40 for anything past 400 yrds under 600 lbs. 150 grn TSX @3350 fps

23" SS barrelled, match chamber, Dakota 97 action satin black chromed, 338x68 wildcat, exhibition walnut,leupy 3.5-10x40 for anything over 600lbs at any shootable range. 210 grn TSX @ 3250fps.

The only one up for possible exchange would be 7mm Dakota for 30/06 based wildcat. 22" pipe- 165 grn TSX @ 3200 fps.
leupy 3.5-10x40.

valhalla here and now.

22lr
270 win
338 WM

Sako Finlight in 30-06 with VX III 1.75-6

Don't need anything else, just pick an appropriate bulllet.

Of course I have about a dozen other rifles, but I only think I really need them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

This is a toughy.

Theoretically a 270, 300 mag and a 375 would do it.

I do it with;

1. A pre war Mod 70 .30-06 blued with a Rimrock stock, Warne bases with the built in peep sight rear. Warne QR rings and a 3x9x40 oldstyle matte Vari-X 2.

2. A .30-06 SS Model 70 FW "All Terrrain" with the plastic stock. I added iron sights. It has Weaver bases and a new style 2.5x8 Leupold Scope.

3. A .338 Win Mag SS Model 70 Classic shortened to 23 inches with a KDF varmint brake [that was a waste of $200] I don't use. Iron sights added. Warne Premier bases and rings again with the built in peep. Scope is an old style Vari-X 3 2.5x8 Leupold. I had to change to a Mc Millan stock to get this gun to shoot to its potential.

Big game battery? Three guns only? North America only?

Hmmm...

Pre-64 M70 .30-06, standard weight barrel, Warne bases with built-in peep sight and QR rings. Leupold 6x42 with a German #4a reticle.

Pre-64 M70 .375H&H, ditto above.

Pre-64 M70 .25-06, ditto above.

Of course, it could all be done with the .30-06 alone. And, the .25-06 can do all but the heaviest lifting (big bears, etc.) easily; and the .375H&H can do all but the longest range stuff easily. Which is kinda the point on these picks; overlap, redundancy, familiarity of ballistics, etc.

They ain't flashy, but they'll work, ammo is available everywhere, and they all back one another up quite well.

1) Custom .30-06 LH M70, Syn/SS, VXIII 2.5-8, 7 lbs, 24" barrel
Deer/sheep/etc.

2) Custom .338 Win Mag LH M70, Syn/SS, VXIII 2.5-8, 8lbs, 24" barrel
Everthing else.

Both would have the same basic feel and trajectory. Could go both go up or down in usage. Ex. sheep with the .338 and moose with the .30-06. TTS

243
308
338

all with leupies

I think it'd be hard to beat the combo below.....

223 Rem
270 Win
338 WM

6mm rem in a Ruger 77 4x14 Weaver grand slam
264 Win Win 70 Nikon 3x9
35 Whelen Ruger 77 Pentax 3x9

The only 2 rifles I use for hunting anymore......

Rem TI 7-08AI with VXIII 2.5-8 for sheep hunting......6lbs ready to hunt.

Win 70 SS 338 WM in a McMillian w/VXIII 2.5-8. I use this rifle for everything but sheep.........8lbs 4oz.

JF

ruger 77 tang safety 22-250 remington 700 7 mm mag for everthing else and marlin 1895 45-70 with corbon 405s for the bears this is one bad dude.

I don't hunt dangerous game so here goes.
Mountian rifle in 260 rem, shooting 125 gr partitions for all pure der hunts.
Sako Finnlight in 300 WSM for critters bigger than deer such as moose and elk etc. shooting 180 gr Barnes at just over 3000 fps.
No need for anything smaller than the 260, no need for anything bigger than the 300 WSM.

1. 350 mag on a TI action wearing a 1.75x6 short tube leupy

2. 257 roy on a TI action wearing a 6x42 leupy

3. cooper VE in 223AI wearing a NF NXS.

geez, now all i need is about 10k...........

woofer

North: Merkel drilling, 20 ga. x 20 ga., over 9.3x74R. The shotgun barrels are for when the partridge show up but the caribou don't.

Plains: CZ 550, .270, 6x scope

Swamps, brush, etc: Savage 99F, .300 Savage, receiver sight

God forbid I was ever limited to 3 big game rifles but if I were these would be it.

Gun #1 would cover 95% of any big game needs. It is my custom 9.3x62 built on a P17 enfield with 2.5x leupold scout scope in detachable rings along with the original battle sights dilled out to ghost ring sights. Refinished with metal life finish and a kevlar synthetic stock with a 22" barrel. Loaded weight of just under 9lbs. With 286gr Nosler partitions @ 2400fps the ghost rings are dead on at 25, and 2" high at 100. The scout scope is 3" high at 100, zeroed at 200, and about 10" low at 300 yards. Muzzle to 300 yards there isn't anything on this continent that it won't bring down.

Gun #2 would be a long range affair. It would be a 338 RUM. Built with accuracy in mind it would have 26" barrel with muzzle break. Stainless with a lightwieght synthetic stock. Probably built on a winchest classic crf action. Scope would be a 3-12x50 burris black diamond with ballistic plex reticle. Shooting a 225gr Accubond @ 3150fps.

Gun #3 wouldn't really be needed but since I could have three it would be featherweight rifle in a medium bore for long days walking or climbing. It would also be stainless, a short action rem TI with 20-22" lightweight barrel, the lightest kevlar stock available with a lightwieght leupold compact 3-9 ultralight scope. The factory rem extractor would be converted to the AR15 extractor for more reliability. It would be a 7mm-08, 284, or 6.5-284 rem. Maximum weight reduction would be the numer one priority with this rifle.

6.5x55 win 70 stainless featherweight, Leupold 2-7 x 32 - deer, coyote, bighorn sheep, etc.

300 H&H win 70 stainless classic, leupold 3-9 x 40 - deer, elk, black bear

375 H&H win 70 stainless classic, leupold 2-7 x 32 - elk, moose, brown bear, anything else that need killin'


tq

I sold my .375 xtr 94 for that reason ..I couldn't get that rifle to shoot straight..

Robert

Does anyone notice a pattern here??..alot of .30-06..and .375 h&h's..I didn't notice many short-mags listed..with the proper bullets and bullet placement I think the .30-06 is damn hard to beat..I've never owned a magnum I simply haven't ran into a animal that could withstand a .30-06 with the above mentioned requirments..

Robert.....

I just don't think you could do any better....

.22 LR Ruger 10/22 Rifle S.S. - cuz I love rabbit hunting. Similar weight/size to my big game rifle so I can also get in plenty of inexpensive practice.

.308 Kimber Montana: Will do all my normal big game hunting and excels at the backcountry stuff I like most. Currently has a Leupold VX-II 1x4 but if I purchased the .375, I'd swap that over to the big gun and get an FX-II 4X for the Kimber.

.375 H&H Winchester Model 70 Stainless: If I have to add a third, this one will handle big bears and is similar in function to my Kimber yet not overly heavy for a .375.

.270
.338WM
.416

Send me an email and I'll send you my reloading and chrono result spreadsheets.

But basically Hornady 220's and AA1680 seems to work very well for myself and others.

Only Need 2 Rifles for Big Game:

308 Win with a 6x42 Leupie

375 H&H with a 1.75-6 Luepie (wish they made a fixed 3x)

BMT

Heck:

Do it all with the following:

Ruger 10/22, Luepie 3-9x40;

308 with Luepie 6x42;

375 H&H with Leupie 1.75-6;

Remington 870 12 guage; and

Ruger Super BlackHawk 44 mag

All in stainless please (except the 870)

BMT

My .300 win mag M70 with M8 6x36, matte finish. I shoot 200 NP. This is my go to rifle that I could hunt anything with. It has a Echol's Legend stock on it. I'm not afraid to scratch it and it can take any reasonable abuse. What can't I hunt with this?

I do have my grandfather's 7x57 FN that I hunt with when I won't be around horses or don't think it'll involve much abuse. It's got a 4x redfield. I could never replace it so it gets babied.

7 mm mag with 160 grain Accubonds for everything except brown bears.

.375 mag with 300 grain TSX for brown bears if I ever got the notion to spend that much money on one animal.

Both Stainless, Both with Leupold 2 1/2 - 8 x 36 scopes with B&C reticle. There is nothing like familiarity with equipment.
I like the smaller scopes because they don't bind as bad in a saddle scabbard, and the lenses don't bang into everything as easily.

6.5x55 or 7x57 for deer.

30-06 for moose & elk.

9.3x62 for bear and big moose.

Ruger M77 in 7x57 with a Leupold 2-7x for short to medium range deer and hogs.

Winchester 70 Fwt in .270 with a Leupold 3.5-10x40 for medium to long range deer

Winchester 70 in .300 Win with a Leupold 3-9x for long range deer, elk, moose & black bear.

I would try to avoid any confrontations with ole grizz.

For game that I'd ever hunt my current battery would do me fine:

Ruger M77 mkII stain/lam. 280 Rem. w/ Leupold 6X42

Savage M110E lam. in 243 Win. with (soon to be) Nikon Monarch 3-9X40

Remington M760 in 30-06 w/ Leupold VariX-III 2.5-8X

Remington M572 22 rimfire Bushnell 4X

Remington M870 Express 3" with Hasting 24" barrel scew in chokes.



I could get by with two Ruger M77 MkII's in 30-06 and 243 and or 308 and 223 both set up identically in size/stock/scope etc.

You might could get by with just a 30-06, and leave the rest of it at home. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

270wsm Tikka T3 stainless light w/2x7 It just happens to be under the Christmas tree.
375 H&H stainless w/4 power scope.
45-70 Gov stainless marlin GG. NO scope.

I normally carry a 270 win and have taken every thing but sheep and Mt goats in Wyo. with it.

My three on pre-64 actions would be 280 Rem/leo 6X42, 338-06w/leo 3.5X10 efr and 375 h&h w/leo 1.75X6 E. with a substitute of a 300 wby for the 338 if extra long range is called for.

Jeff you have a fine colection of guns very nice indead!!!

Well guys and gals I will probably start a flame in some people but considering the 30.06 and 270win has taken a lot of all game in Noth America and will continue to in the years to come. But my choice and only one gun would be my short fat
7mmwsm with Lost River Bullets at 3300fps 140gr that tacs in a Rem 700 24" Hart barrel and a LPS 2.5 to 10 can do it fine and better than the first mentioned calibers.

Well guys, I just back from wilderness rifle school. After serious consideration, my suggested battery would be: .22 hornet for any animal up to and including Alaska Moose. (we are talking 300 yards or less here). For big, dangerous game: 30-30 Winchester model 94. (150 grain premium bullets).

Here would be my three big-game rifle battery if I were to start from scratch today:

1. Primarily for deer and pronghorn, but could be used on elk too: 6.5x55 Swedish/any quality 3-9x scope, using bullets from 100-140 grs for pronghorns to deer, 140-160 grs for elk.
2. Elk-sized game and larger: .30-06/any quality 2-7 scope, using 180-200 gr bullets.
3. Things that bite back-- big bears (if I hunted them): .375 H&H/ any quality scope 1-5 variable, or fixed 2-3x, 300 gr bullets all the way.

A couple spins of the top turret'll get you to the 1k mark.....

1. Pre '64 Model 70 Winchester 220 Swift
2. Pre '64 Model 70 Winchester Featherweight 30-06
3. Pre '64 Model 70 Winchester Alaskan 338 Win Mag

223, 3006, and 338 Ruger MK II's is what I have. Shotguns too of course.

I'm very simply and like the just off the beated path.

#1.: Sporterized 96 mauser in 6.6x55 wearing a 6x36 leupold

#2: CZ 550FS in 9.3x62 with 4x leupold

#3: Anschutz 1827BT, 22LR with issued peep sights. I could do without my .22 if I had too, but I don't want to.

I use a wide variety of hardware but if I were putting together a two rifle battery just for North America it would consist of two rifles I presently have. A second generation Model 70 Super Grade 30-06 with Leupold 3.5x10x40 VariXIII in Leupold mounts and a second generation Model 70 Super Grade .338 Win. Mag. with a 4.5x14x40 VariXIII in Talley mounts. This combination will take anything that moves in North America or pretty much anywhere else. Let me have a third and I would reach for my Model 94 Black Shadow 30-30 with an old reconditioned Weaver K3 in Leupold mounts.

1) 270 Win., pre-64 Model 70 action, McMillan stock, Pachmayr Decelerator pad, 22" Half-Moon bbl., 2.5-8x Leupold Vari-X III scope, custom steel bottommetal, custom milled-steel scopemounts. Weight: 8 lbs.

2) 300 Win. Mag., Model 70 Classic action, 24" Kreiger bbl, McMillan stock, Pachmayr Decelerator pad, custom milled-steel bottommetal and scopemounts, Leica 3.5-10x scope. Weight 8.5 lbs.

3) 338 Win. Mag., Model 70 Classic action, McMillan stock with Pachmayr Old English pad, 24" Kreiger bbl., custom steel bottommetal and scope mounts, Leupold 2.5-8x Vari-X III with additional 400 yd. stadia wire from Premier reticles. Weight: 8.5 lbs.

AD

264 & 338

270 win Rem 700 ss synthetic(factory) 3.5-10 Leupold

338-06 Rem 700 matte black synthetic(Mcmillan) 2.5-8 Leupold

375 H&H Interarms Whitworth safari, walnut Leupold 1.75-6 in QD mounts

bizymocha,

That would be: #1-a quality .22RF
#2- a .375 H&H or AI
#3- a .223 Rem. or 22-250

Either a Winchester Model 70 or a Weatherby Sub MOA topped with a Leopold VariXIII 3.5 to 10 x50 or 4.5 to 12 x 50. All synthetic and stainless.

1. 22-250
2. 308 (Probably carry this 95% of the time)
3 338 Win Mag

a 7mm-08 and a 350 rem mag

have done all of my rifle hunting for the past 2 seasons with a blued/walnut sako .22 and a 1957 vintage savage 99 in .300.....
i don't feel any real need for any other rifles....

still, there's good reason for hanging on to the model 70 .243, and the sporterized mauser 30-06

1 22LR 2 270 win 3 338 win 4 12 guage

For hunting only north america,

I'd pick .270Win, and .338Win, and 12ga shotgun even though centerfire rifle was a requirement. Reason for 12ga is that in some states centerfire rifle are illegal for big game hunt such as deer. Also turkey hunting is classified as "big game" hunting in their state's regulations.

For world wide traveling hunter, go with the 30-06 and .375H&H center fire rifles.

223 bushmaster varminter ar-15 w/6.5-20-44 nikon monarch

7wsm browning abolt stainless stalker w/3.5-10-40 varix3 tact.

338 ultra with 3.5-10-40 vx3

i own 1 and 2 need to work on 3 later on

I'll go with guns I don't see me selling
Win M70 Classic SS 30-06 Leupold 2.5-8
Sako 375 H&H with McMillan Stock Leupold 2.5-8
Marlin 45-70 1895 with pistol grip XS sights Chrome Matt

I would pick my 700 mountain rifle in 7mm/08, and my CZ 550 FS chambered in 9.3x62. Biathlon Man and I got ours within a few days of one another and we are both very pleased with them. Those big old bullets look like Donald Duck orange juice cans.

I'd probably stick with a .270, 300 win mag and maybe a 375 H&H or 416 Rem. Mag for all of North America.

this is for big game.
I am assuming 22 LR is a must have and not considered for big game .
223, 270 or 06 (personal preference), 375HH
IF 22 is not a given, then
22, 243, 375

Finally had the time to scroll through all the posts in this thread. Most of my big game hunting is behind me--it will virtually all be deer and elk from now on, unless lightning strikes and I draw a desert bighorn tag. Anyhow, FWIW, here is my big game arsenal now:

.257 AI for deer and pronghorns (If I ever decide to hunt pronghorns again).
.30-06 for most everything, depending on how I feel on a particular day.
.338-06 Improved, exclusively for elk hunting with an elegant custom rifle.

(Edited to add: I still have one custom build fermenting. If it comes to fruition, it might be my only big game rifle.)

.257 Roberts with 100 gr. bullets
.30-06 with 165 gr. bullets
.35 Whelen with 225 gr. bullets

It's funny how opinions change after 11 years...



That explains a lot.. I can see where age would make a difference in the equation..

6.5 Creedmoor.

Alright, I'm sold...

A good .22LR, bolt action, 6x fixed.
A 1:8 twist .243 Winchester, stainless, 3.5x10 variable.
A .300WSM, stainless, 3.5x10 variable, BDC or M1's.

Not Coyote Hunter but, I use 220gr. Hornady over 35 grs. Reloader Number Seven and cases trimmed to same length with Lee trimmer for uniform crimps.

WW brass
Rem 0-1/2 primer

AA1680 with 200 Sierra, 220g Hornady 220g Les Vollmer FP.

Three rifles, starting from scratch NA big game

22lr vintage Marlin 39 or win 52
I really like my 257 Roberts in a Ruger 77
A win lite model 70 in 30-06

But if Only 3 guns
22, 270, 12 gauge

.470 NE for varmints.

.500 NE for deer,elk,moose etc....

.600 NE for the big stuff.

My 270 Win Montana and my 375 H&H SS Win M70.

For big game I'll need a 308.

243, 257 Roberts, 7-08

A custom Mauser 98 takedown rifle with wicked Turkish walnut. That is custom fitted to me. Blued steel with 5 down in the magazine. Leupold 1" scope 2.5-8x32mm with 2 CDS dials to match the ballistics.

First barrel in .270Win. with Barnes 129gr. LRX bullets, 22" barrel.
Second barrel in.338-06 A Square with Barnes 225gr. TTSX, also 22" barrel.


Don't need a third. If only for want and not a need, a double rifle in the .375H&H class would be pure pleasure,

I'm too old and poor to hunt the big bears,or dangerous African game for that matter. So, I'm going to need a M700 based build in a McMillan Remington mountain stock.Edge fill. Chambered in 270 Win. Leopold 3.5-10X in Talley lightweights.

A matching M700 in the same stock,magnum fill,chambered in 338 Win mag. Same scope. Same rings.

50 cal in-line muzzy loader. For those places and seasons that don't cotton to my rifles.

223 for varmints
7 mag for deer
338 Win mag for anything bigger

What EdM said

For big game hunting I'd pull the following out of the safe.
> Tikka T-3 Hunter 6.5x55mm w/ Zeiss 2-8x42mm Duralyt

> Sako AII Hunter 308 WCF w/ Swarovski 4x32mm

> Sako AV Custom 338 Win. Mag w/ Leupold 2-7x


I'd like to think I could hunt big game the rest of my days with these rifles and my Swarovski 8x30 SLC binoculars.

StarchedCover

My rifles;
4 22LR rifles. One was my dad's and one my uncles. 2 were bought by me. I love them all.

50 cal flintlock made by an old friend now sadly passed on. He left it to me before he died. I have killed only 1 deer with this rifle so far.

62 cal flintlock. Made by me. (not passed on)I have killed antelope, deer elk and one moose with this rifle.

222 SAKO.1-14 twist. Super accurate with 50 gr bullets. Good for coyotes and prairie dogs, and many other small animals.

5.56 AR-15. Best coyote rifle I own. Very accurate and very good if the coyotes are not alone.

25-06. Mauser made my me. It was made for another good friend who also is not sadly passed on. Killed deer and antelope. He killed elk with it too before he died, but I have not killed elk with this one.

6.5X54 Mann/Scho Started as a bare action. Made by me. Iron sights. Cool classic rifle. Nothing killed yet with this one.

6.8 SPC AR-15 Made by me. 34 kills on deer and antelope so far.

270s. 3 made by me. 1 made by Winchester (m95) My oldest Mauser is the 1st rifle I ever made, when I was 12. it's on it's 3rd barrel. Lost count of the number of kills I have made with my 270s.

308s. FAL. Ruger-SR7.62 and Mossberg MVP The Mossberg and the FAL have both been used to kill deer, antelope and elk.

30-06s. 1 Scout on a Mauser, made by me. One BLR. One M-1 Garand. All have been used for hunting and all have killed game. The scout has made 11 kills with 11 shots so far.

300 H&Hs. One M70 and one Mauser made by me. Both have killed deer and one has killed elk.

AK-74. Made by me on parts kit from Russia with an American barrel. Killed deer and antelope with it.

8X57 Mauser made by me. Killed elk and deer with it.

9.3X74R. Ruger #1 Deer, Antelope, elk. This one is getting to be one of my all-time favorites.

375H&H Mauser. Made by me. This one is on it's 2nd barrel. I have killed so many animals from 5 pounds to 1500 pounds with this rifle that I can't count them.
_________________________________

My Justification for them;
I like them and they all work well! That's all the justification I need or even want.
_____________________________________
These are what I have now.
I have owned and used many others, but most are now sold off. These are what's left. I doubt any of these will be some anytime very soon.

So you are saying, If you saw bigfoot, you would kill him???? How can you do that??? Kidding

I know two men who hunt everything in NA with Weatherby 300s. Deer, elk, moose, bear, everything. Both are multimillionaires who could afford to have many rifles. I've known and hunted with them for over 25 years and they have hunted with nothing else.

My 3 caliber choice.

XBolt hunter in 25-06 with 100gr TTSX and Leupold 3-9x40
TIKKA superlite in 270 Win with 140gr Accubonds and Swarovski 3-9x40
XBolt stainless in 300H&H with 180gr Accubonds and Leopold 1 3/4-5

Call me old fashioned with just a Marlin 336, in .30-30, and a pre-'64 M70 FWT, in .30-06, for big game.

My other chamberings are equally old fashioned: .22lr, .357mag and 12-gauge. But I can find ammo virtually anywhere.

Three rifles.

First, a Kimber Montana 223.

Then my Transition M70 twins, the 7 pound 280 and 7 1/2 pound 9.3X62.

My three would be

1. M70 pre 64 fwt, 270 wood stock. Leupold 6x36
Deer, antelope, elk in flat country
7.75lbs

2. Reminton Ti, 270, Leupold 6x36
Deer, elk, bear in the mountains
6.25lbs



3. Mauser custom. 338 mag, synthetic stock. Leupold 2-7
Elk, bear, moose, deer in the mountains
7.8 lbs

35 Remington
270 Winchester
223 Remington

If this includes only NA big game hunting (not varmints or practice), then I'd go with two nearly-identical 30-06:

Main Win70 FWT with Brown/Bansner/Rimrock stock (pre64 or stainless Classic), Leupie 6x36 duplex

Backup Ruger MKII stainless with zytel stock, Leupie 4x


I would load Barnes 130TTSX for most things, Nosler 150 ETips for bigger things, and reserve the option to run Partition 180 for anything. And I would stock pre-sighted Leupie 4x in QD rings for both.

243, 270(both MT's) and a 300 WSM(Sako A7/McEdge).
(counterclockwise)

For North America, really don't think I need 3, got a 270 Win and 300 Weatherby that pretty much have me covered.

300 Weatherby - Rifles, Inc Strate, Zeiss Z5 2-10x42 Ballistic Reticle. 180 grain Nosler Partitions. (Bottom Rifle)

270 Win - Faux Rifles, Inc Strata (custom Remington with McMillan Mountaineer Stock), Leupold VX-2 3-9x40 Ballistic Recticle. 130 grain Barnes TSX bullets. (Top Rifle)



If you want to include Africa in this equation, then you can add my CZ-550 in 375 H&H and I pretty much am covered the world over.

T3 .300 WM





T3 .308





Colt .223



Those 3 rifles easily cover anything I am going to hunt, using a centerfire rifle, anywhere

Scorpion AR-15, .223 Wylde, 16" BHW barrel, Leupold 2x7 Firedot 4 reticle.
This one for all varmints, including the two legged kind.

Remington 700 Mountain Rifle in .30-06, SS with laminated stock, Leupold 6x42 Heavy Duplex.
Most any big game in North America.

Shiloh Sharps Model 1874, Hartford Model, 30" heavy octagon barrel in .45-70, barrel sights.
Heavy hitter out to 1,100yards.

Ed

All model 70s: 243 with a Leupold Vari-X 3 in 2.5x8; a stainless 30-06 with another Vari-X 3 2.5x8 and a 375 H&H with a VX3 1.5x5. With that battery you are pretty much set for any big game anywhere in the world--and you can buy ammo pretty much anywhere in the world, too.

I have those rifles already and none of them are finicky to load for.

22LR Ruger 10/22 of some sort with a Super Sniper 10X MQ
AR-15 7 twist barrel with Super Sniper 1-4 Illuminatti
Tikka T3 308 with Super Sniper 6x MQ

Lots of good choices made

.22 rimfire is not for big game, so I would assume its a given in any man's battery.

For Big Game in NA:

.243 Win
.270 Win
.338 WM

Two rifles setup the same in:
7mm-08 / 7X57
.338-06

My answer almost 12 years ago has essentially not changed, the only caveat would be:

2 qty 7-08's

-or-

2 qty 270's

-or-

2 qty 308's

-or-

2 qty 30-06's

Coupled with a no.2, 24" bbl'd 300WSM (or whatever) with Hubble Scope.

I suppose the only two hunting rifles I own right now would suffice:
-300 win mag(200gr Partition or AB)
-6.5X55 Swede w/some variety of 130 or 140 gr bullet.Probably an AB,NP, or maybe the new Hornady ELD-X?

Of course, the likelihood of these being my only two rifles follows an inverse geometric progression with the amount of time I spend on the 24hr Campfire.

Duracoated savage 110 30-06 with a Leopold 3-9. Firmly believe that chambering can effectively kill everything in North America with the right bullet selection from short to longish range. I know suuuupppeeerrr boring but true. Did I mention I'm putting together that exact gun this winter.

MM

Tikka T3 - 7mm-08
Browning X-Bolt - 300 Win Mag
CZ 550 American Kevlar - 9.3x62 (in brown bear country), Ruger M77 Hawkeye 358 Win (my favorite of all my rifles) if not

Subject to change!

Rem 700 22.250 26" 8/12 twist hart stainless.factory wood (1962) 8x20x40 lupy w/turrets
Rem 700 25-06 mcmillan left hand 3.5x10x40 lupy Rem 700 280 mtn. factory kevlar left hand. 3.5x10x40 lupy

6.5 Creedmoor
30-06
50 cal muzzleloader
Creedmoor and 06 built the same with McMillan stock, stainless barrel, good trigger and scope. Both about 7.5 lbs

I could live with a 7-08 or 308 for everything

[email].243, 270, 45-70[/email]

A lever action 30-30 with a fixed 4x for everything 150 yards and in and a 7mm Rem Mag in some sort of bolt action with a 3x9 on top for everything else.

That said, my current battery is a Glenfield M30 in 30-30 with a 4x Bushnell and a Remington 760 carbine in '06 with a 3x9 Winfield in flip mounts.

Dad put that 760 together like that back in about '62 or '63, it still works.

Funny seeing this, 12 years ago it was the 264 Win Mag and 338 Win Mag.

Today,

6.5 CM
280 Ackley
300 Win Mag
(I do have a 338 RCM that will fill in nicely too)

270 and 375


7 Mashburn and 375

30/06 and 375

280 and 375.

7 Rem Mag and 375

I'd take #2

If I'd have done that 20 years ago I bet I'd be a little further ahead....

.223
.30-06

Ruger M77 All Weather Hawkeye .308, 2-7X33 LRD
150 Accubond
165 Accubond
180 Accubond

I get the concept, I just can't see the need for a 375 H&H in North America. A "world battery" yes, NA no.

Brad: I wanted one medium bore for here and Africa. I could build a 375 as light as a 338.

I don't know the difference between 338-250/225,and a 375 250/270. They cut the same swath.

ruger no 1 in 25/06 for stuff up to deer size and a custom mauser in 8mm mag for everything else

Bob, one of the better writers did a piece on brown bears years ago.. He talked with a number of Alaskan guides about the calibers they used or saw used on the big bears..

They felt the .338 was good, and the .300, but a real difference in dropping when one stepped up to the .375.. O'Connor used the .375 when he made his first brown bear hunt... Apparently he felt the 06 or .270 were not quite enough..

I agree, Bob, and were I inclined to a Medium Bore I'd go to the 375 over the 338. However, I see no need for either, and would be more inclined to pair a heavier 300 Mag (or your Mahburn) to a lighter, smaller 270.

Lot's of ways to do this...

bigwhoop, #1- Ruger 77/22,stainless/laminate, 2-7 scope
#2- Win.70 Featherweight, .223 Rem.,3.5-10 scope
#3- Win.70 stainless/synthetic,.338 WM,3.5-10 scope

I wonder how these choices would change if either

1. You knew you were going to get a shot at the biggest mule deer/elk /whitetail of your life OR

2. You laid down the price of a new pickup to go Stone's sheep hunting?

RinB, As for myself...... no changes! memtb

Sure, I'll play. I'll just pick guns I've actually got, since speculating about random alternatives is a hole with no bottom.

Gun 1: Kimber Super America 7mm-08. Leupold 4.5-14 side focus CDS for a scope. Rhodesian sling. Accurate, light (roughly 7 lbs for the whole rig) and capable of shooting a wide range of bullet weights. The fancy scope makes it long range capable and facilitates changing ammo as needed. Pleasant to shoot. Would cover the bulk of hunting opportunities and look good doing it.

Gun 2: Winchester m70 supergrade in 7mm magnum. Same scope and sling. A heavy rifle for elk and moose. Heavy enough to make the 7mm mag pleasant to shoot. Again, looks good doing it.

Gun 3: Browning/Miroku 1886 in .45-90. Skinner barrel peep sight and front sight. Limbsaver nitro installed. Rhodesian sling & leather lever wrap. Your basic nitro express lever gun. Capable of driving a 400/405gr Woodleigh or Barnes Buster at 2150 ft/s or a 425gr Northfork solid at 2060 ft/s. If you need it dead before it gets to eat you, this is the gun. Limited to ~200y range both by sights and the ballistics of the .458 projectiles, but completely deadly with that range. Octagon barrel is schnazzy. Also the ballistically superior option for hunting deer in Ohio for some ??? reason.

If I could add one more gun, I'd add a .375 H&H to have a long range option for bear and bison, but the .45-90 is a perfectly acceptable alternative with a three gun limit.

Gun 1. Remington 700 BDL 243win Burris Euro-Diamond 2-10x44mm ballistic Plex scope.

Gun 2. Remington 721 300 H&H Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40mm duplex scope.

Gun 3. Ruger M77 Hawkeye Guide Gun in 375 Ruger Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36mm duplex scope with Alaskan Arms quick detach rings and a NECG Ruger Peep Sight Ghost Ring sight.

222/223 bolt gun in good walnut with a 3-9 or 4-12 at 8.5 pounds or so

30-06 Pre-64 Fwt with a fixed 6 at 7.25 pounds or so in a good synthetic

35 rem in a 760 with a trim 2-7

I'd still choose the two rifles in 30-06 with no regrets.

Holy old threads Batman..

10/22, not for big game obviously.
223 Tikka SWFA 10x, not for big game either.
30-06 for big game.



"30-06: When you've absolutely, positively, run out of give a schit about rifles"

Only 3,

I have 8 rifles to choose from. As well as 12 handguns and 3 shotguns. So I'll just pick three. In the 25 caliber I have three, A Remington 700 BDL in 25/06 (it's to heavy to hunt with) a Ruger M77 RL ultralight in 257 Roberts Ackley improved and a Kimber 84M in 257 Roberts. Of those I'd have to choose the Kimber, The next step up I have a Remington 700 ADL in 270 Winchester as well as a Weatherby ultralight in 270 Weatherby Magnum of those I'd have to take the Weatherby. I also have a Remington 700 BDL chambered in the 7MM Remington Magnum. It's also heavy so I don't hunt with it anymore. However, it has a gorgeous walnut stock so I won't get rid of it. Then we go up to the 30 caliber I have a Winchester model 88 chambered in 308 Winchester and a Remington 700 ADL in the 30/06 of those two I would choose the 30/06. Because it's the most accurate rifle I have.

So my choices are the Kimber in 257 Roberts, The Weatherby in 270 Weatherby Magnum and the Remington in 30/06.

Usually only feel compelled to carry one. A 16 or 20 bore Ithaca 37 pretty much covers the bases, including small game. Sometimes urban encroachment necessitates less noise, so I use a .22 short.

I could get by just fine with a 20-22" 223 and a 22" 30-06. If you add a 3rd rifle it gets complicated in a sense.

223
270, 30-06
338 win mag, 358 Norma, 375 H&H, Ruger, or Weatherby.

I find just about every medium bore over 30 cal superfluous.

winner.

chicken dinner.

And for gravy. Those two rigs, similarly scoped throwing similar BC's at similar speeds, might be a pair of aces.

Wow, near a dozen years old thread. Some who posted, are now gone. Some old choices, may have since changed.

So three rifles, excluding shotguns............

First, on the list would be 22 rimfire. Not sure if I know a perfect choice. Have an Austrian Voere Lux that was presented to me in my youth. Has adjustable sights, but the original scope is now lacking. Worn but still shoots well. Maybe my fixed sights CZ. Tack driver without any optics out to around 50 or so yards. Would need optics for me to push further. But I would be plenty happy, as is, without scope.

Second, would be 5.56, in a M4 carbine platform. Likely would stick with my KAC SR-15E3 Mod 2 w/ Aimpoint micro T-2. Anything, fight for my life, and anything you'd want to shoot 223/5.56.

Third, would cover medium, large, and anything dangerous. 9.3x62 would be my choice, likely my Sako Black Bear, because it has worked very well for many years now. Still not sure on scope. Been running S&B, but I've always disliked the bulk of high-end scopes on a handy hunting rifle. Maybe a simple Leupold would be ideal and make that choice better for me.

Think I could stick with the above three, for the whole world, not just NA. The M4, would likely be ruled out in places, but the 9.3 should work for everything. The costs for real big stuff in those places, likely would not preclude finding the green light to employ that chambering.

WTF is a North America big game battery?

I guess 30-06 or 308 and a 375 HH and done. If you want a third add a 223 or 243 for smaller deer and such but a 30-06 or 308 will kill those too.

Africa too.

338 Win mag, 270 WSM

For NA hunting? My 280AI with 160/162 grain slugs atop a bunch of H4831sc or RL22. I don't hunt brown bear,Interior or coastal, so I don't require a big bore thumper.

Given criteria that this is for "big game" which means I can exclude small game, predators and varmints, my choice


Left handed 308 win (left handed 270Win or 30-06 will work just as well)

375 H&H if I could get one in left hand config.

last, a slug gun(12 or 20ga) for the states that don't allow high power center fire rifles to hunt big game, ie deer.

I got this one in a pawnshop for $600 OTD. It shoots MOA to 200 yards with cheap Federal factory ammo, and I'm growing irrationally fond of it.



Build Sheet
Barreled action: Ruger M-77 Mk II in 30-06
Stock: Bell & Carlson, not sure which model
Scope: Leupold 3-9 with CDS, standard reticle
Work: Glass bedded, free floated, maybe a trigger job
Stock Finish: Hillbilly Krylon paint job that's starting to wear off
Metal Finish: Whatever comes from Ruger, but I'll paint it dark gray some day
Sling: Cheap Latigo copy
Weight: 8.5#

I like it so much that a near-twin in 338 WM should be here in a few days. Those two rifles are my battery, and probably will be for the rest of my hunting career. If forced to add a third rifle, it would be a clone of the 30-06.


Okie John

Nice rifle okie john. Like that stock paint job. Just looked on B&C's website and don't even see a stock for Ruger 77's listed.

I think they quit making them.


Okie John

Bummer. It's hard to find a synthetic stock for Ruger MKII's and Hawkeyes without a cheekpiece on them. I also have a stainless MKII .30-06. It's a left hand bolt with factory gray laminate stock.

My choices would be:

257 Wby
MkV 26 inch barrel Laminated stock Leupold 6.5X20

300 Win.

Model 70 Extreme Weather factory synthetic stock 4.5X14 Leupold

375 H&H
Pre 64 model 70 with factory wood stock and a Leupold 6X

"Big game" is specified so I'm omitting the obvious rimfire(s). The first two below are in the safe after much thought.

243 Montana (twisted by PN for 105 hornys exclusively) under a 3-9x42 that tracks.

30-06 Hawkeye All-Weather under a Leupy 4x. (1:10 handles 220's).

Don't know on the third. Hard not to want a rattle canned 458 Win or 375 H&H Mauser with a receiver sight after reading Shoemaker's stuff. In reality, the '06 will likely handle what I need of the big stuff and I'd be better off going the other direction with a handy 223 bolt twisted for 75's.

22-250 set up for all around varmints.

Lightweight 7mm-08 for hikes, woods hunting, and most deer & piggy situations.

300 WBY for everything else.


So far, this has served me well from varmints through elk.

Lot of different opinions on this.

I could wrap it all up with a 30-06 or a 280. I have both and AI variants and can't say which I like best. If forced I could get along with just one of them and be content and quite confident hunting anything short of brown bear.

What worked for me 11-1/2 years ago when this thread was started still works.

That said, I enjoy using different rifles and have added quite a few to my collection since then, but none do anything I couldn't have done with what I had back then.

From what I already own ........

1. M700 sporter 223 / VXIII 3.5-10 / 22" Brux 1:8" / Bansner
2. M700 faux TI 257 Roberts / VXIII 2.5-8 / 22" King 1:10" / TI takeoff
3. M700 35 Whelen sporter / VXIII 2.5-8 / 23" Lilja 1:12" / Brown Precision

All's I'm seeing there is your jackrabbit line-up...

Well, I got rid of my 375H&H. I found it way overkill for anything in NA, which this thread implies. A lot of guys seem to think they need a big 375 for NA game animals. More power I guess. The biggest rifle I now have is my 8 pound all up 338WM (top rifle in pic). Semi custom with gretan stainless barrel, midnight blue cerakote, brown poundR stock, built on 1954 H&H model 70, 5 round capacity when loaded up. Gets the job done on anything in NA. The next rifle in the picture is a 1957 model 70 270 fwt in Mcmillan hunters compact stock. Metal and finish all original:



Along with my 1956 30-06 fwt. If these 3 won't get it done, it can't be done with anything else either...

Nice rack.

varmint's would call for a 222 Rem

predators I have a 243 for

deer and elk I'd trust to my 6.5x55. It's mod 70, modern one and handles heavy loads well. Have shot two elk with my 6.506, one shot and out. Deference between it and a 6.5x55 on a modern action isn't much!

I have a 308 and 30-06 but limit them to shooting cast bullet's. I think most would agree that for North America, lower 48 anyway, that a whole bunch of different cartridge's would be more than adequate.

Funny thing about elk cartridges, lot's of people go with the 300 mag and 180gr bullet's. Lot of other's thing they need their 338 mag. In the state of Oregon, the smallest cal allowed for elk is a 243! Boy, lot of wiggle room there! :-)

7mm Rem mag: Ruger stainless steel, 1.7-10x42mm
325 WSM: Kimber Montana stainless steel, 1.5-6x42mm
375 Ruger: Ruger stainless steel, 1.1-4x24mm

These would be my picks for big game. I like overlap, and I Really like medium bores.
If I had another 1.7-10x42, it would go on the 325 WSM.

If only one rifle to do all NA big game:
338 Win mag, Ruger stainless steel, 1.7-10x42mm & 1.1-4x24mm
It currently has a 1.5-6x42 which would work.

I actually did that a long time ago, without trying. My old beat-up Ruger in 7x57, and my .338WM will pretty much cover it all, and while I have a lot of rifles in the safe, these are the ones I grab when something needs killed. The .338 is an FN commercial action in a McMillan stock, M70 style safety, etc.

.. Only three? That's not fair! I can't decide which three of about eight that qualify for big game (small game & varmint stuff isn't included). But if it were down to three calibers I guess I'd say .25, 26, & .30. A .25-06 Ruger Mod. 77 VTMKII with a 6-18x Leupold... A Kimber sporterized Mod. 96 Swedish Mauser, 6.5x55 in a Bell & Carlson stock with a 3.5-10x Leupold. At .30 cal. it depends on where I am and what I'm hunting; either a Marlin 30AS .30-30 with a 1-4x Leupold or a Savage Mod. 10 in 300 WSM with a 3.5-10x Leupold. That battery will cover just about anything I would hope to go after in N. America. Chalked up lots of deer, a few pronghorn and one nice mule deer, and someday would love to fill an elk tag with that aforementioned 300 WSM.

Don't need three. .308 will handle everything in NA.

I have s Steyr Scout with a Schmidt and Bender 1.5-6x42 mm scope on mine.

For NA BG, I subscribe to the late Allen Day's school of thought. Two identically set up .30/06's (although Allen preferred the .300 win mag). Cause stuff breaks and a .30/06 is all you need for NA big game.

If you really want two different calibres then I am with bsa, a .270win and a .338win and you are set.

If I was choosing 3,

-my ruger 270 or my montana x2 30-06 as my all around rifle that I'd do 85% of my hunting with, I've used these on everything from deer to elk to moose with great success.

-kimber montana 308, with Swarovski z5. This is what I take when there's lots of hiking and climbing involved, it's dropped several sheep with authority so I'd hold onto it even though there's some overlap, I like having a 6lb rifle around.

-the last one is hard, I've got 2 schools of thought going on here, part of me thinks that my 375HH is fairly essential given my location and the Bears here but a 22 is also something I can't really do without so I guess I'd bring my old ruger 77/22.

Mr. Day communicated the same pairing (270 & 338) to me as well. I've made good use of a 338, just need to get around to picking up a 270.

22LR
30.06
12 guage shotgun.

all you ever need really for NA game.

I don't need three. A Sringfield Armory M1A in .308 is now my first choice for where I like to hunt deer, with my custom mauser in 30'06 as a possible second choice.
The M1A wears a Leupold 1.5-4X VX2 Scout Scope. The '06' wears a 6X42 Leupold FX3 with the Heavy Duplex. E

All you need is a 6.5 Creedmoor, it will kill anything. You don't even have to aim. Just shoot in the general direction.

Boy, you would think so, wouldn't ya? The Creed is completely acceptable for Mammoth at 1000 yards, but a 7-08 or .308 is inadequate for deer past 300 yards.

You can shoot down satellites with a 6.5 Creedmoor. Tanks, no problem!

Exactly what my Dad said 45 years ago. I didn't listen to him, I had to buy lots of guns. Now, I'm getting back to those 3 and going on more hunts. Bob

It would have to be;

Left handed model 70 400 Whelen, Lyman 48 or Redfield 2 3/4x PCH. 400 grain Woodleigh bullet.

Left handed model 700 KS Mountain rifle, 300 H&H, 3-9x Leupold Vari-x II. 180 or 220 grain Nosler Partition

WR Pape 256 Mannlicher, Lyman 36 and 160 grain Woodleigh RN or 160 grain Sierra SMP.

I might switch out the 256 for a TC Renegade 62 cal with a patched round ball for those weapons restricted hunts and the 300 might get swapped out with a model 70 converted to left hand, in 308 Norma Mag, once owned by Col Askins.

OK, for NA big game:

Spend the $'s to get one really nice 270.

When you actually have $27,000+ to book a coastal brown bear hunt, buy a 375 but not until then.

Since we cover the whole scale of game, I'll pick 3 that I have to cover the whole range:

1. Savage 22LR Mark II BV with a Leupold 2x7 scope.
for squirrels, rabbits, etc
Rifle- because it is (1) accurate (2)pretty
Scope- dependable, right size.

2. Savage 116 SS/Syn 300wsm with a Leup VX6 3-18x50 Firedot CDS
for everything larger than rabbits and smaller than brown bear
SS/Syn because it's what I prefer.
300wsm because it does the job nicely, more than needed for much North American big game, but I'm ok with that.
Scope- CDS for long shots. firedot for low light shots.

3. Nosler M48 Outfitter 375ruger with VX-3L 3.5-10x50 CDS
for grizzly/brown bear and other big animals.
Synthetic stock and cherakote barrel for hunting in cold, wet weather.
Scope choice- sometimes a longer shot is necessary.
QR mounts- for when/if it's necessary.

Yeah, my answer above is predicated on if money didn't factor into the equation.
I will likely never do a brown bear hunt.
I have the 375 for Africa. Taking it for the first time in June.

I'd love to hunt brown bear, but for $27K I could hunt a cape buffalo and every plainsgame animal I want and have change left over.

My wife and I are hunting plainsgame this time, but hope to go back in 3 years (or if/when I can save up) for a buff.

The easy answer is that we already have and leave it at that.

In thinking on this more, a great choice was made by Eleanor O'Connor.

A 7x57 covers 99% of need
A .30/06 was her big rifle which she used up to Elephant using 220gn FMJ's, but the OP states NA as the hunting perimeter, so again, Eleanor may have it right.

.243
7mm-08
.30-06

6MM (243, 243AI, 240 wby) 50 - 105gr
7MM (7mm-08, 7x57, 7mm Rem Mag, 7 wby) 120 - 160gr
8MM (8mm mag) 170 - 220gr

With that being said if I could only have one no doubt 06

.243
7mm-08
8x57 is my big rifle .

My hunting battery over the last 30 years or so has generally been comprised of rifles in the following three categories;

1. A .223, .22-250 or .243

2. A .270 (Winchester and/or Weatherby)

3. A .300, .338 or .340

I usually have a rifle or two (or three or four ) in each of the three classes, but could make do with one of each.

Slingshot
BB gun
Pellet gun

I believe in the old saying that you don't need to buy your second rifle until you buy your first reloader.

With that in mind a 338-06, 338RCM, 358 Winchester, 350 Remington Magnum or 35 Whelen can cover a lot of ground. Everything else is just filler.

I'm probably going with a Howa Mini in 223 with a straight 6x or 10x SWFA scope.

A 358 Winchester in a Ruger All Weather Hawkeye with a Burris Veracity 2x10 scope.

And a 1886 Browning 45/70 with peep sights or a 760 Remington rebored to 9.3x62 with a 1x6 scope.

Guys with families and short on money need to be looking at some of these guns with options in my opinion.

A Savage in 25/06 with a 338/06, 35 Whelen or 9.3x62 barrel added later would have about everything covered big game wise. A CZ 455 22lr could add a 17 HMR or 22Mag barrel later and have all the rimfires covered. A AR15 could add a 300 Blackout barrel and 22 conversion kit.

That's a bunch of different options with basically 3 guns.

Currently have a model 70 Featherweight .270 in a McMillan Edge for a lightweight.
A nicely customized 1909 Argentine in 30/06, probably destined to become a 338/06 or 35 Whelen
And a 375 Ruger African
Should cover pretty much anything, anywhere.

Anyone amended their choices in the interval?

It’s interesting how few 7 mags are listed.

Yeah, everyone probably just switched to 6.5 creedmoor and retired the rest.

Laughing.

Sure seems that way, does it not?

Nope.....no changes since ‘05! memtb

We are revoking your rifle looney status.

I’ve already been “banished from the kingdom”! Exiled for blasphemy! I’ve been a “one gun” hunter for many years! memtb

Who needs 3 rifles for NA?
M70 FWT in 270 with 3-15 SWFA. varmints to moose. I'm so ashamed.

I dearly love the 270.....you were speaking of “grains”, weren’t you? memtb

Well, that was 15 years ago.

What would I change? I've added quite a few rifles since 2005, including .ARs in .223/5.56, .300BLK and .308 Win and bolts in .223, .243 Win, 6,5 CM, .280 Rem, .30-06 and .338WM. Have a Savage waiting for me to decide on a barrel. Maybe/probably 6.5 PRC but .375 Ruger keeps popping up in my mind.

Today my list looks like this:

6.5 CM or PRC for whitetail and antelope (Better ammo and bullet choices than .257 Roberts)
7mm RM or .300 Win Mag for mule deer through elk.
.375 Ruger for moose, bison, and big bears.

Only need 270gr for Africa and I've decided I'll never make it back. Oh well, the H&H is a great coyote gun.

17 HMR-Savage Bushnell 3X9 trophy- for trigger time and vermin

6.5 Creedmoor- Ruger American Rifle SWFA 6X -for everything else cause that's all I got!

.22
308
12ga

Simple-- 30-06

Yep......very effective on coyotes! memtb

For big game in NA, my main quarry is Pronghorn Antelope, Mule Deer, Elk and Moose. Hope to hunt Caribou and Bear in Alaska some day. So, here's what I use most of the time:

25-06 & 280 Rem. : Antelope & Deer

338WM & 35 Whelen : Elk & Moose

I don't need (3) rifles for NA, as I would use any of these for every animal NA offers, including the big bears and Caribou I hope to hunt.

If forced to choose, my two rifle battery would be the 280 Rem & 35 Whelen. If given the luxury of three, I would add a 223 for cheap practice/fun with my Ruger African.

I also agree with some of the posters that it could all be done with just a 30-06. But I own many rifles and the OP asked for a three rifle battery. I also think that while the 30-06 is capable of doing it all nicely, I don't feel it's the best for each category of animals. I don't feel the need for that much power while hunting deer and antelope, and I would prefer the larger calibers I mentioned above for elk, moose & big bears. These are just 'my' preferences.

I use a Leupold VX3i 2.5-8 matt/duplex on all of my hunting rifles.

I use both SS/syn and blue/walnut finishes on my rifles. I like both.

I'd start with a good lever action. I'd go with a Marlin Cowboy in .44 magnum or .45-70 or possibly the Guide Gun in .45-70. Those choices all attach the magazine to the barrel with a hanger rather than a barrel band which I've found to be more accurate. The rifles are for short to medium range hunting in cover. They are also good for hitting things real hard if you need to. I'd want a light sporter in something between .270 and '06, long action or short. That does almost all of everything else.

The third gun is a puzzle. It may not be needed in most cases. It depends on what you hunt, where your focus is. I would consider an AR-15. With a fast twist and heavy bullets, it'll kill deer. My Ruger MPR will keep 5 70 grain accubonds inside 3/4ths of an inch at 100 yards. Holes frequently touch when I'm shooting the 60 grain Nosler ballistic tip factory load. It is .. flexible. I'd consider a muzzleloader if only because some hunts legally require it. My favorite remains the old TC Big Boar in .58. I regret selling mine. If you hunt long range a lot, then maybe a very large 7mm, .30, or .338 is called for. The only one I've messed with is the STW. If money weren't a consideration, I'd also look at a .338-.378 in the Weatherby Accumark. Something throwing very heavy bullets fast and far for elk .. or anything smaller. I suppose the final consideration would be a .375 H&H. Nostalgia, I guess.

Tom

Some lack reading comprehension. It's "Pick Your Three Gun Battery fo NA BIG GAME", not which three guns I can live with to hunt everything?

It can vary from where you hunt. Some will need a shotgun, straight walled cartridge or muzzleloader to hunt where they live, others will not. Some can use 22 centerfires, others cannot. Some hunt in thick cover and a traditional lever action works great, prairie or mountain hunters would think a Marlin 336/Winchester 94 is next to useless.

For strictly big game where I live and hunt, Something in the 243/25-06/6.5Creedmoor/270 range would be the light, a 308/30/06/300WSM/300WM would be the medium, a 338WM or 375H&H would be the heavy.

I currently own a 25-06 and a 6.5 Creedmoor - pick 'em. I own both a 308 and a 300WSM - I'll take the 300WSM. I have a 375H&H. If I could only have one - 300WSM. I mostly hunt deer & antelope - could live with either the 25-06 or the 6.5 Creedmoor.

I have shot big game for over 50 years with many different calibers.
They all work, but I could have used one gun, ------a 30-06.

With confidence!

'96 Swede sporter 6.5 x 55 (Burris 2 x 7)
Win 70 Fwt in '06 (6x fixed B&L)
JPSauer Mauser 9.3 x 62 (4x fixed B&L in claws with original irons beneath)
Picked these choices in the '70's..still works for me.

22 s,l,lr Marlin 39M vari-x ii 2x7. for small rodents, birds where legal. Scope is labeled 2x7. It's a 2-7 with 28mm objective and larger ocular.
22 mag marlin 783 with VX-Hog 1-4x20 with pig plex for larger rodents, small predators, and rimfire only lands(hogs).
30-30 Marlin 30TK with VX-1 1-4x20 Shotgun scope with heavy duplex walking/flushing/sneakin-around-like-an-indian-hunting-rifle for deer, hogs, targets of opportunity.
Savage 10 243 w/VX-1 3-9x40 for open range deer, hogs, varmints, vermin, etc... and hopefully pronghorn some day.

Is that three yet? Didn't think so.
Ruger Mark II 223 w/Nikon prostaff5 2.5-10x40 just because. May need a 7-08 or 270 just in case...and a sporterized 03a3. And for some reason I think I need a Swede....and a deuce...and a Hornet?
Oh..and shotgun with little scope and slugs for shotgun only lands.

This is the 'Fire. Reading comprehension is not required.

You are correct about where you hunt affecting your choices. If I lived back in Iowa I'd put my .375 Winchester on the list. In various other restrictive states it would be my .45-70. If I lived where I could hut pigs by the sounder I'd have my .308 AR on the list.

We hunt Colorado for antelope, deer and elk and Wyoming for antelope. I could easily go back to using only a 7mm RM, as I did for the first 20+ years, but that wouldn't be as much fun. Centerfire .22 are not legal for big game in Colorado but they are in Wyoming. Mine is a slow-twist that shoots 40g bullets best and 50g OK so I wouldn't choose it for big game rgardless. But take your pick of the bolt rifle mix: .243 win, .257 Roberts, 6.5CM, 6.5-06AI, .280 Rem, 7mm RM, .308 Win, .30-06, .300WM and .338WM. The 6.5CM and 6.5-06AI are heavy barrels so I wouldn't choose them for anything longer than short carry work - definitely no humping the mountains after elk. And my bolt .308 is a short barrel - a joy to carry but not as well suited for the big stuff as some of its brethren. I have a Savage action with no barrel that will likely become a 6.5PRC or .375 Ruger later this year so add those to the mix.

Questions like this are fun to ponder but the truth is you don't need three different rifles for light varminting to whatever. A .30-06 can do it all. As did my 7mm RM for 20+ years.

I don't really think a person could build a battery for big game without having a .270/7mm/30 caliber rifle in that battery. If you have any one of them, then you have enough rifle for anything you NEED to do because today's bullets will handle anything from any of them close enough to ideally that it makes no difference.

Beyond NEED, want is a whole other motivation and does not bow to NEED nor does want recognize limits of need. If I NEED to I can kill any big game with a .223 which is one of the smallest commonly legal for big game cartridges.

I didn’t realize that “legal” was part of the requirement! If that’s the case, I withdraw my .22 rim fire as one of my choices! memtb

Sigh...only 3?

223
243
270

I had a hard time choosing from the ones in my gun closet that are waiting patiently for their turn to go hunting. So I chose groups of rifles with a theme. I could hunt all of North American game with any 3 of these and not feel handicapped.

a Finnish trio:
Sako Finnbear AV .25-06 Rem Leupold 3.5-10 - open country deer and pronghorn, anything smallish and far away
Sako Classic AV .35 Whelen Zeiss 3-9x50 - big critters in the bush
Sako L579 Deluxe .308 Win Zeiss 2-10x42 - everything else

or:
A Czech trio:
Brno 22F fullstock carbine 7x57mm Leupold 2.5x Brno QD mt.
CZ Brno ZKK 600 Greisbach Custom .30-06 Kahles 2-7x Talley QD
CZ 550 AHR custom .375 H&H Kaps 4x Talley QD

More Finns and an Italian:
Sako 85M Bavarian 7x64 Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 Leupold QD
Sako 85L Kodiak .375 H&H Leupold VXIII 2.5-8 & Leupold QD mount
Chiappa M92 carbine .44 magnum Lyman receiver sight

Exotic but capable German Italian & Austrian:
Krieghof trumpf Dural Drilling 16x16/7x57R & insert barrel .22 RF mag. w/Kales 3-9x40 in claw mounts - One gun to do it all
Beretta Silver Sable O/U 9.3x74R S&B 1.5-8x42 / EAW QR mounts For anything big or fast moving
Mannlicher-Schoenauer Model NO 7x64 Fullstock carbine, Double set triggers, scope in claw mounts and good iron sights.

The USA candidates:
Ruger Mk II M77 Stainless .30-06 with canoe paddle stock, Zeiss 3-9x40 and NECG peep as backup. - for pretty much anything, anywhere
Marlin guide gun Stainless 1895 .45-70 - For big stuff in the bush
.. I have no other American rifles, but perhaps no more are needed!

Someone actually read and understood the OP's request.

"Pick up to three rifle calibers..."

223
6mm
7SAUM

Remington model 7-7mm08
Husky 4100 -30-06
custom mauser-375 H&H

Ruger #1 257 Roberts
Ruger #1 3006
Remington KS Mountain Rifle 375 H&H

Win 94 30-30 for brush or short range (under 120 yards) hunting (peep sight)
Ruger m77 markII stainless 30-06 with 3-9 Meopta for non brushy longer-range big and dangerous game (200 grain partition for large/dangerous)
Win Model 70 Classic 375HH for when/if I want to leave the 06' at home, which would be very rare

Ruger 10/22
Remington 870 12 gauge
Tikka T3 30.06


Not that I limit myself but this list could cover hunting in North America.

Remington M700 BDL/1970’s vintage in .25-06 with Leupold M8/6x36mm

Ruger M77MKII Hawkeye satin finish in .30-06 with Leupold FX2 4x33mm

Mauser 98 Custom/Cerakote & Bansner stock in .338WM with Leupold FX2 3x20mm

35 Whelen

7x57

223/556 for smaller critters.

If I say 7mm-08 & .338-06, does that mean I have to get rid of my 3 - .308's, the Marlin .35 Rem, the 7x57 Montana and a couple .357 mag carbines?

For the US, 22lr, .30/06, .30/30.
For the world, swap the .30/30 for a .375.

This thread started years ago

Yep a lot can change in 15 years.

As for me if I had to choose 3, I'd go with a .243 Win., a .270 Win., and a .30-06. That would do it in NA in my opinion. But since I don't have to choose just three, I have 11 other calibers. But if I'm in a rush to grab a rifle and run for the deer woods it's usually my .270 Winchester or now my 7x57 might get the call. Just depends on how i feel. But through the years that .270 has gotten the call about 3 to 1 over any of the rest. It just works.

22-250
25-06
8mm Rem Mag

6mm rem
264 win mag
35 Whelen

Fast twist 22-250
7 mag
338 Win mag

Big game hunting negates prairie dogs and squirrels, I assume we are talking deer sized upward. Like most of you I have many guns to choose from but I think when you look at terrain, time of year and game hunted the caliber picks itself.
my long range choice is a McMillan stocked Shilen 8mm Remington Magnum with a 4X14 Valdata scope with handloaded 220 grain Swift A Frames or 200 grain for smaller game for open country long range out to 500 yards is my personal limit.
Next up for Alaska or any heavy cover with dangerous or potentially dangerous game including large boar hogs a Hogue stocked Ruger Alaskan in 375 Ruger with a Leupold 3X9 Patrol scope with an illuminated reticle using Hornady 250 Grain GMX bullets.
I would want at least one AR that would be a general purpose rifle good for everything short of Elk on up. That would be my Ozark Specialties 6.8 SPCII AR with 120 grain Nosler Accubonds with a 1X8 Zeiss conquest on a one piece mount. That is hog medicine for sure and works magic on deer as well.
Obviously there is some cross over but this would be the best battery of what I have right now to work with.

Out of what I own for big game:

25-06

30-06

338-06

From what's in my safe:
Tikka 260
30-06 built on a 700 action
Ruger Hawkeye 35 Whelen

30-06 Spr
348 Win
358 Win

Thanks, Dinny

For three rifles I'd pick a .25-'06, an 8x57, and a 416 Ruger. That covers all bases. If I had to cut this down to two it would be a 6.5-'06 and a .375 H&H.

I'm using 7x57 and 9.3x62 these days and feel I'm covered well but I do love shooting 22s so if 3 guns is the call then there it is.

22-250
270 win
338 win mag

3 bolt guns: Stainless/Synthetic

.308win carbine at 20-21” with 150-165 cup/cores
.270win sporter at 23” with premium 130’s
.338wm mag sporter at 22” with 210 premiums

308 Win.
270 Win.
556 Bust a cap

12ga, 204 Ruger, 300 Ultra.

7 Wby

Tikka T3 in 308

Marlin GG in 45-70, just because I like to carry it when wearing a cowboy hat.


mike r

Fieldcraft in 6.5 creed
Stainless 700 in 375 H&H

The three I use:
1: Up to mule deer-.25-06 in a H&R Handirifle with a Redfield scope
2: Up to moose/elk-.308 in a Ruger GSR open sights.
3: Up to anything on the continent-.338 RCM in a Ruger M77 Hawkeye open sights

If I had to, I could get away with only the .308, if I had to pick two to cover everything I’d take the .338 and either of the other two, with the .25-06 being better for antelope and whitetail at longer ranges.

Three for big game -- favorites of the ones I have.

1. 6.5 Creedmoor Kimber SS 2.5-8x36 Leupold

2. .30-06 M-70 FW or Kimber SS 2.5-8x36 Leupold I can't decide between the two

3. .338 Win Mag M-70 Classic SS 2.5-8x36 Leupold


I also have a Ruger .223 Hawkeye SS All-Weather UL with a 3-9x40 Leupold for varmints and a Kimber .375 H&H SS Talkeetna with a 1.75-6 Leupold for I don't know what.