I think we've all read articles before by gun writers talking about rifle batteries. What combination of rifles to meet an individual's hunting needs. I've always found the articles and the opinion's of the writers interesting. I'd be interested to hear from forum members on what would make up there battery. Mine's below:

Winchester 70 Stainless Featherweight in 7mm Rem Mag. It was the first hunting rifle that I bought for myself rather than using rifles from my father and grandfather. It is my most versatile rifle with relatively light weight, flat frajectory and enough power to hunt just about anything in the lower 48. I've used it primarily for primarily mule deer but elk as well and taken as my backup rifle during pronghorn hunts.

Ruger No. 1 in .25-06. Set up with the older and longer Burris 4-12x Fullfield II scope it is my pronghorn and Coues deer rifle. Great open country rifle with a flat shooting cartridge.

Weatherby MkV Accumark in .340 Weatherby Mag. This is the rifle I purchased for elk hunting. The area I hunt in does have many open areas where shots to the far side of an open meadow or ridgeline seem to be the norm. the .340 shoots flat enough and has enough energy when it gets there.

223, 308, 375.

Nuff Said.

BMT

Pretty hard to beat that....

Now, this is a fun topic. . .

For serious work away from home

1) Sako AV .375 H&H Mannlicher with Leupold 2.5X8. Its light (8.5 lbs all up), handy and accurate. Initially bought for hunting Alaska coastal black bear, but its headed to Namibia in July.
2) Sako AV .300 Wby with 25" PacNor SS barrel and Zeiss Conquest 3.5X10. I've used this on just about anything in NA other than sheep (not been yet, but that's next). Took my finest game animal with it, a 51+ Rocky Mountain Goat. The gun is also about 8.5 lbs all up and is extremely accurate. Its been glass bedded and its wood stock has proved stable after being subjected to days of rain. It too is headed to Namibia.
3) So, what should come here? My .243, .25-06? Hmm, I can do everything with those that I can do with the .300 Wby. .22-250 or .22 BR? Well, these guns can cover a lot of ground, particularly my custom .22 BR (a rebarreled Winchester 70 Featherweight), but its a bit tough to load down to squirrel and rabbit velocities. So, its my old Sedgley 1885 low wall .22 Hornet. I can load it down to .22mag levels and kill small game (it is a squirrel killing machine). I can also load 40 gr. Vmax's up to 3000fps for whistle pigs to prairie dogs to coyotes.

If you don't mind, I think I'll list my playful 3 later.

Works for me, but...If it were that easy, what would you all have to argue about?

My 3 for Montana.

257 Roberts/115 Ballistic Tips

270 Winchester/140 Accubonds-135 SMK's

300 WSM/180 Partitions-175 SMK's

(A 204 Ruger or 223 would be nice)

I'm in the process of this right now.

I'm choosing:

.223 AI
7-08
.375 Ruger.

I'll have others but my plan is to make these three my "go to's"


Travis

Here ya' go.

1. Winchester M-70 Featherweight 25-06

2. Browning X-Bolt 7mm WSM

3. Marlin 1895G 45-70 Gov.

22-250 for coyotes and varmints

270 wsm for deer, antelope and the like

300wsm for elk, bear etc.

(I own all the above. 270wsm and 257 wbymag would be interchangeable)

If I was starting over, that would sum it up. The first two in Montanas and my 375 would be of the Ruger variety.

George

i've got all i will ever need being a varmint hunter i like to add a 4th

xp-100 221fb varmints out to 275yds
22-250 longe range varmint
270win deer
7mm mag anything bigger.

worldwide or just North America?

.22lr CZ452

.270 Win LH Rem 700KS

.338-06 LH Savage 110, heavily customized

Have no need for a .22 CF.

well, excluding 22s and cool milsurps that I just want to own, My 3 rifle hunting battery is shaping up like this;

Marlin 336/.35 Remington, my first real "deer rifle", for deer hunting in the timber

Custom Mauser action in 9.3x62, in progress, for elk

Next project for a hunting rifle I think will be another custom Mauser in 6.5x55, for deer hunting in more open areas

.22 LR - old Marlin bolt

30-06 - Rem. 700 SS

45/70 - Marlin 1895GSS

If I were forced to only have 3

.17 HMR, .257 Roberts, .338 Win Mag.

Or something like that.

Tom

If I had to trim to three of the current battery I would probably go with:
.22 LR CZ 452 bolt w/3-9x
.257 Weatherby Ultra Lightweight w/4-12 Vari x II
.375 H&H Browning Stainless Stalker in McMillan stock w/ Burris 3-9 Ballistic Plex in QR mounts plus open sights

i already have trimmed. not because i wanted to.

.22LR
.22-250
6.5x55

Would like to add a .308 and .25-06 but money is beyond tight right now.

Ruger 10/22
Slicked up Rem 700 in .25-06
Win. 70 in .375 H&H

That ought to handle it.

This week it's

22LR Bruno Model 2
308Win Kimber Montana
9.3x62 Sauer 202

22 Mag
270 Win
300 WSM

I have an 11 rifle battery that could be pared down to a three rifle battery for here in Wisconny:

.22 LR
270 Win
45-70

338 Ultra Mag
7WSM
243AI

Dat dar iss a Looney's badd-ery.

BMT

With prudent loading I could make it just one. My #1 RSI 30-06, but don't tell the wife. What fun is just one rifle or just three for that matter.

222
308
375 HH

Fixt it for ya!

Ingwe

375 H&H

30-06

257 Roberts

All in M70's of some flavor.

that would work for me, too

OK Serious..

When I was doing a LOT of hunting, all over..the battery was:
7x57
.300H&H
.375 H&H

Ingwe

As a matter of principle I refuse to participate in this.






And I don't want HER to read it.

Those old timers still work don't they!

The youngest cartridge is now 85 years old!

Well if the house was on fire and I only had time to get one safe open, I would take the front row. Probably not the best choices and certainly not the most valuable, but the reason they are in the front row is I use them the most and would sorely miss them.

Remington 03 - 30-06
Ruger 77/22 - 22 Hornet
Ruger #1 - 220 swift
Win 70 - 22-250
Kimber M84 - 338 Fed
Win 70 - 300 WM
Remington Nylon 66 - .22

Yep! Always kinda liked the classics, and they served me very well indeed!

Ingwe

223, 270, 375... but I've outgrown the idea of a "battery" of any number.

I know what I want to hunt and a 22lr, 257 Rob and 270 Win will do it all for me.

Three guns period: Remington 870 12ga, BA 22LR, Ruger M77 MkII SS in 30-06.

Three centerfires: Ruger M77 Mk II 223, Ruger Mk II 30-06, Ruger Hawkeye 375 Ruger

.223 - looking for either a model 7 or Montana for lightweight coyote & varmint hunting (more walking than shooting)
.280 Rem 700 Mtn Rifle with VXII 2-7X33
.35 Whelen 700 Classic with Leupold VXII 2-7X33

If I had to it would be:

223
280AI
338Win Mag

I like that group right there. +1

smart man...

.22 LR-plinking and small game
25-06-varmints to deer
9.3x62-anything else

How about for lever fun. . .
(And if a lever operates the action, its a levergun...)

Y'all need to help me decide

1885 High Wall thick side .45-70 (350 gr. Hornady)
Model 71 .348 (250 gr.)
Model 64 Deluxe (170 gr Hornady)

And, the decider,

9422M Traditional (either 40gr Winchester FMJ or CCI 35gr.) vs. the Model 64

I've killed all manner of deer and small game with these rifles. Took the 71 on a bear hunt, but didn't score with it (shot a bear at last light with a .338-06 AI). All are open sights.

HS...you da MAN!! Hunting bear with a M71....A pard took one of those on a bear hunt with me, and I took a Sharps Jaeger in .38-55, we both got bears, but his was one he had to kill, acting pretty wonky for a black bear, when we skinned him we found an old .270 buillet balled up against his sternum...apparently he held a grudge...

Ingwe

Thanks, but I REALLY meant 222

Why, thank you suh! The Model 71 is the ne' plus ultra of leverguns. I can shoot 4" groups at 200 yards with Williams peep sights using 250 gr. Barnes originals. The only problem is light. Its going to Namibia in July, so I hope there's enough light for open sights for zebra and/or gemsbok.

So, you should know. I've seen your pics. Did you have enough light with your open sighted rifles in Namibia?

Had enough light to shoot nothing BUT open sights on three separate Safaris...you will have a ball....

Ingwe

Just don't go in the "Africa" forum, nor shoot anything REALLY big with it. Some will call you all sorts of names

Good luck. Sounds like a blast!

I dunno, three rifles for all my hunting needs...

I gots to have a 22lr.
223
7mm rem mag.

This combo would do all I'll ever need.

If it was 3 centerfires, I'd hang on to my Whelen.

223, 6.5 x 55 338/06...

have a featherweight in 223, a custom one in 6.5 x 55, and a model 70 in 338/06...

Well, I'm tempted.
Top is 71
Next is 64 Deluxe
Third is Model 53 .32-20 Deluxe
Last is 9422M Traditional Tribute

I figure I could do an entire levergun safari, but since its my first, that would seem foolish. But, it sure would be fun.

I suppose, the top three would be most practical.

In thinking on this all my hunting needs have been served the past 20+ years or so by 3 cartridges,though I do play and hunt with others from time to time.....

270 Winchester
7 Rem Mag
375 H&H

One of lifes tougher chores is choosing between the 30/06, the 7RM, and the 270 Winchester.Luckily I don't have to so don't bother worrying about it until time to go hunting

Three, huh...

358 Win
325 WSM

and a good 30-06.

Or else 7-08, .338 WM, and a good 30-06.

Really I'd be fine with just a good 30-06.

Winchester 1894 in 30-30 WCF

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 270 Winchester

Winchester Model 70 in 338 Winchester Magnum

That's a neat choice for a 3 rifle battery ryoshi.

Fact is, there are lots of great choices. And every time I see a thread like this I can easily come up with a theoretical selecton that I don't actually have to commit to . And whatever I answer today, I'd probably come up with a different answer a week from today. My actual battery is extremely redundant and lacks at the caliber extremes for centerfires.

From what I actually have, I could go:

.22 LR - Marlin 39A
.300 WSM - LH Winchester M70 Featherweight or .30-06 Spr. - LH Ruger M77 MkII Stainless
.35 Whelen - Remington 7600

For now....
7mm-08 Ruger RSI stainless
270 WBY in a Wby Custom Shop Mark V stainless with bolt work by Kampfeld
405 WCF in a Winchester 1895 re-worked by Fred Zeglin at Z-HAT.
AMRA

My 3 picks would be :

DPMS 16 lite 223

Remington 700 stainless 7mm SAUM

Remington Model 7 Stainless brown laminated 358 Win.

These would get the job done.

Ken

Ken: Have we had this conversation before? Denver would not be happy to kow the 270 is not included.....

Denver knows I'm a 35 guy. I do like the flat shooting 7mm for the long shots and the DPMS is starting out to be my coyote rifle.

Ken

mixed = 12 gauge, 22LR, 30-06

rifle = 22LR, 223, 30-06

centerfire = 223, 30-06, 375

22 LR
243 Win
300 Win Mag

Marlin 39A, 336 and 1895. Really, those are probably one's I'd not want to live without; however, for necessity sake I'd probably get a CZ452 (.22LR), a Rem 700 (.300 Win Mag) and a Marlin 1895 (.45-70)

Another battery in just one caliber.

30 Carbine
.308 Win
.300 H&H

.223 Rem
.308 Win
9.3x62

1) Cooper 22lr rifle

2) Mcmillan legacy in 300WM

3) Custom build 375 H&H on a double square bridge mauser action with an exceptional piece of English walnut that's properly weighted.

Dino

22-250
6.5x55
444

Savage Model 10 Pred. 223 with a 2.5x8-36 VX3
Rem. CDL SF 260 wearing a Zeiss 4.5x14-50
Rem. CDL SF 300wsm wearing a Zeiss 4.5x14-50

For what I do:
22 mag
243 win. 55gr. BT's
308 win. 150gr. BT's

X2, There's someone who has all the valuable details in life figured out

A 3 rifle battery?

My needs are pretty much limited to Colorado, prairie dogs to elk. A .22LR is almost de rigeur wherever you live, so I�ll just pretend we are talking about centerfires only.

.22-250 heavy barrel
7mm RM

OK, that�s only two. Don�t need anything else but am blessed to have more.

my current battery is a 22/250 savage, 280rem 700rem,450 mar in a savage boltgun. my dream set is ruger 77,s in 223,270win 458ar hunt any where in the world IMHO Clint

Bob
280 Rem
300 Win

I can like that, very much.

Gotta say that makes perfect sense to me too Travis. Do you have a .223AI up and running??

Ingwe

If I had to shed my safe contents with the exception of three (not counting rim fires or shotguns), it'd be difficult but if I was practical I'd go with my Blaser R93 with scoped barrels in .25-06, ,30-06, and .375 H&H.

The alternative grouping would be 223 AI, .284 (as much for the rifle it's in as the cartridge), .375 H&H.

257 Roberts (have)
338 Federal (have)

9.3x62 (want)

Back in the 50's, Col. John George wrote an article for the Rifleman titled "Three Little Rifles." For worldwide use he picked a Winchester 69a, a Model 70 in .300 H&H and another in .375 H&H.

Reckon I'd be inclined to go for the same mix, but replace the H&H with a .300 Winmag or even an '06.

If I was allowed a fourth, it would be a .223 of some sport. And every one of them would have a front sight and a base for a receiver sight as well as Leupold scopes in the 2x-7x range.

Gotta have a rimfire, though!

My only 3

.280
.300 wsm
.338 wm

Leaving out rimfires and Shotguns:

1: bolt action 223, either savage or a marlin 4x14 leupold

2. not sure on this one, either a Browning BLR in .308 or a Remington 700 in 30-06 both wearing a 2.5x8x36 Leupold

3. Marlin 1895G 45/70 XS Ghost Ring and Front Post.

True be told I want both of my number twos

22 LR and 12 Gg a given..

My CF rifles:

.223 CZ 527
7mm-08 Cooper
300 H&H custom pre-64..

I think I am set, sorry to drag up an old thread, newbie member.

250 savage
300 savage
35whelen


And if you want just a little more put Ian AI behind all 3

My three would be...

Sako Bavarian Carbine in 9.3x64. Small little thumper great for deer to bear. If it was imported I would own one, but it is not.

Weatherby UL in 257 Roy. Should be effective on varmints up through deer and give some needed range.

Marlin 1894 in 45 Colt. I just love the 1894 Marlin. It is legal for deer in Ohio and simply fun to shoot.

10/22 And 12ga as given a must!

223
270 or 30/06 (endless debate)
338

All tikkas with a 2.5-10

It is unlikely in the extreme that I'll ever outside the US and even Alaska is highly doubtful.

Thus my "three rifle battery" would look like this:

.22 LR
7mm RM


Yes, I can count. That combo sufficed for 20 years, small game and light varminting to elk.

scottfromdallas - just came across your post and like minds think alike. Rather than than the .257 Bob I have a .25/06, .338 Federal and the 9.3X62. Pretty much covers a lot of critters. Homesteader.

17HMR

.30/06

.375 H&H

Pretty much doing this now. Going to be:

223
6.5 Creedmoor
30-06

All will be customs on 700 clones in McMillan stocks.

These are what I have settled on...mainly as I enjoy using them.

Top to bottom.

1958 ZKW 465 22 hornet
1950 model 21 7x64 Brenneke
1958 model 5 22 lr

22LR

338 Fed

375 H&H

That, and a 12ga, and I could do everything I'll ever do.

For me here in N.C.

.22LR Henry

.30-30 Marlin 336

.30-06 Stainless Ruger UL boat paddle

Gotta have four rifles, three CFs:

22 LR
243 Win for varmints to deer
270 Win, probably my 70 FW (because it pizzes Ingwe off )
375 H&H Mine is a Ruger MkII Magnum

But this is an exercise that blows my brain apart. I can't imagine not having a .308, .30-06, 7mm, 223, 338, etc., etc., etc.

Seriously doubt that I will ever get down to three rifles...rock on!

Not only that mudhen, but who would want to????

my 3 rifle battery choices for centerfire cartridges, out of my collection of stuff, would be...

1) 243 Win - for it's dual purpose role (and either my Ruger #1 or my Remy M700)
2) 7mm STW - for its long range accuracy prowess in my Sako 75 SS
3) 416 Rigby - for anything big, in my Ruger M77 MkII Magnum rifle.

Whew, thread from the basement.....

223 - 75 Amax
260 - 123 Scenar
7RM - 162 Amax.

Might even get down to 2.

223- 75 Amax
270- 140 NAB

After giving this some thought, I'd say to the ideal 3 rifle battery would be 1. A relatively low power rifle with readily available ammo for small game. 2. A rifle adaptable to a WIDE variety of game(basically yotes to elk) once again with an easy to obtain ammo supply. and 3. an "Oh [bleep] that things got some teeth" rifle for knocking down things that need to be knocked down NOW.

That being said...

1. 22lr
2. 270 Winchester
3. 458 Winchester Magnum

22 l.r.

223 Rem

308 or 30/06

Those will cover anything I ever want to hunt.

drover

If I were limited to only 3 it would be....
CZ-452 .22RF

REM-700 BDL 30-06

Browning 1886 SRC 45-70

.22-250
.308
.338

Perhaps not my favorites but playing the 3 rifle game this should cover 98% and I'd be OK with it. Six would be better :-) just sayin

I love these threads!
My 3 cartridge battery would be
.22lr
.223Rem
.300 Win
There would be many rifles in these cartridges I could live with but I do like My Ruger 77/22 a lot and My Remington model 700 XCR II's are some of My favorites.........Hb

I'm in this boat. Beware of the man with more than 3 rifles... He may just know how to use them...

Given that I like overlap and ubiquity in my caliber choices, mine would be:

243
30-06
375 H&H

That pretty much covers everything from varmints to elephants with ammo available most places game is hunted.

Simple is better in my book.

If I had to choose only 3 I would have heart failure and I felt my head starting to explode thinking about it...

243 (8 twist will shoot 70gr - 105gr)

270 (does a lot of things well)

300 win mag (180 - 200gr what won't that kill?)

Nothing real fancy but it will do what I need it to

Apart from the target rifles, I don't need three. Not saying I don't have them; just that I don't need them. GD

223, lightweight 308, heavyweight 308

.17 HMR (easier to find ammo)

.270 WSM

.358 Norma Mag

I don't know if it's right or not but it works for me.

Of course I have plenty of other calibers but if I had to rely on just three.........

That'll do nicely. The 223 doubles as a "22mag" with suitable reloads. Make the HW 308 a switch-barrel and get a Creed barrel.

I pretty much only hunt Roosevelt elk, and my three are:

7STW
300H&H
30-06

I'm pretty sure they'd work for deer also. And bears. And moose. And. . .

But, if I was going for versatility

260
7STW
375WBY

223 / 5.56x45 in a 20" AR of some type
7mm Rem Mag in SS Ruger M77 Mark II with McMillan Stock
338 Win Mag in SS Ruger M77 Mark II with Pacific Research stock
---------------------------------------------------------------

Lever gun
.32 Special
.348 win
.405 win

Continental
6.5x55
8x68
9.3x62

British
.244
.300
.375 all H&H

Belted American
.264
.300
.338 All W-W

Standard American
.222
.257
.30-06

Modern rave
.223AI
6.5 Creed
.300 Blackout

Metro sexual
.270 Win
.270 WSM
.270 Bee

While it's almost blasphemous to consider only three rifles I'd choose these.

221 Fireball or 222 for varmints and fur and with cast bullets it could be loaded down to 22 LR performance. I thought long about a 22 LR but in the end decided the 221 or 222 would offer the versatility of a rimfire as well as a varmint round. Left handed of course and topped with a 6x Leupold in QD mounts. A receiver sight zeroed for the cast bullet load would round out the package.

6.5x54 Mannlicher Schoenauer 1903 with a claw mount 4x Zeiss, Hensoldt or Nickel scope and a Lyman 36 sight. If I have to be limited to three rifles they're not going to be run of the mill. They'd have to be something interesting, at least to me. I would willingly suspend the left handed requirement in regard to a MS. The coolness factor tips the scales enough to override the fact it's incorrectly handed.

And of course to no one's surprise the third one will be a left handed model 70 in 400 Whelen. Lyman 48 receiver sight and a Weaver 2.5x or 3x post and crosshair.

1) 223
2) 7mm RM
3) 375 H&H

All bolt guns

22lr,223,270

This goes with the automatic 22LR, it doesn't count.

I would coin flip between my 8T 22-250AI and 8T 6mm Rem.

After than, the 7 pound 280 Rem and the 7 1/2 pound 9.3X62.

Easy.

For my purposes, as a MI small game and deer hunter, I could do really well with:

Ruger 77/22 with Burris 2-7x Rimfire scope
AR platform .223 with 10x scope for varmints/coyotes
Winchester 70 FWT in .308 with a Leupold VX-3 2.5-8

Oddly, all reside in my safe, but they have company, because life would suck if limited to 3 rifles.

1. 220 Swift
2. 25-06
3. 35 Whelen

I'll take mine long and thin, like my woman. You other fella's can have the short and fat one's.

280, 308 & 300 WSM

6 years later, I haven't changed my mind a bit...

After much selling, I am down to a ....


1. 257Robt M700 faux TI with FXII 4x
2. 270 Win Weatherby Vanguard with VXII 3-9
3. 30/06 M700 faux TI with FXII 4x

The 30/06 may or may not become a 35Whelen. Either way, this should cover all my big game hunting needs. A couple others are in the safe as well, but these will do the anything I need.

223 4X

7MM STW 3-12X

308 2-7X

1) 22lr

2) 223rem

3) 308win

1. 223 with an 8 twist, could download to 22mag levels. 75gr amax for long range targets, and 40gr NBT for varmints, 60gr partitions for deer in the woods.

2. 270 Win. Open country hunting and mountain hunting. Pronghorn through elk. seems to work even when the bullets bounce off!

3. 9.3x62 , timber elk, bear, moose. African game
5 rounds in the mag. modest recoil and rifle weight.

If I literally had to go the rest of the way with only 3 rifles and considering food/survival/ease of getting ammo and overall cost to shoot. They would be:
Ruger SS 10/22 for small game. ease of use cost to shoot and simple to work on.

My slicked up Rem. 700 SS BDL/synthetic stock 30-06. The shear flexibility of this most boring cartridge cannot be denied. 125 grain through 220 grain bullets allows the user to do lots of things.

Last would be my Model 70 SS/synthetic classic 375HH. Just allows you to hunt any animal on the planet with not too much punishment and very effective and proven results for a 100 years.

BUT, I would like one accommodation to this list....My 28 inch Rem. 870 12 gauge for everything else you might need to do. YMMV

.223, .270 Win. & 30-06

250AI, 308 win 1:12 and 3006 1:10 well last year

I'm actually doing this right now. I've sold most of my guns besides the ones I've gotten from my grandpa but those don't get shot. I'm down to a 17-204 for fur, 7mm mashburn for antelope on up, and my 12 gauge for birds. I am adding another mashburn I guess but it will be the wife's so she quits trying to steal mine.

Not sure how a 6 year old thread comes back to life. 3 guns is a tall order, I haven't been able to wind my 30-06's down to three. I don't really see me buying more but who knows, I like my
Winchester mod 70 Classic Stainless 243
Winchester mod 70 Classic Stainless 30-06
Sako 375 H&H in a McMillan stock.
But I couldn't get rid of my
Marlin 1895 45-70 custom
I could probably live with these. But what's the point?

223
300 Savage
358 Winchester

Big game only or rimfire and varmint guns or?????

Only way I am getting down to 3 guns is a SHTF scenario, so it has to be a suppressed 10/22, an M4, and a FN/FAL.

I constantly cull center fire rifles in search of the perfect 2 rifles. For my location and hunting interests all I need are 2. This year I will land with a 6.5x47 and a 280ai. This gives me a mild and heavy option for deer/hoofed critters. I always lose money selling my synthetic cf rifles. The plan is to stop culling them once I find the perfect pair. I love 22lr's and own several. If I was forced to choose one 3rd rifle I would probably go with a 17hmr.

.22
6/47
7 Dakota

If I went back through all the 3 or 4 rifle battery threads I have posted on, I doubt any of the rifles would be the same.
My choices "now" would be:

1. 22LR

2. 35 Remington

3 30/06

Recently I've been considering simplifying to my .270, a backup, lighter .270, and .22lr. Proceeds from all the others going to paying for a lifetime of components and powder.

I could get by alright with a .22LR, .223 and .30-06 but I sure don't want to.

I have those two and a couple more.

Just the 2 270's would do it all...

I have a light 270 stamped "260 Rem" and a heavy 270 stamped "7mm Rem Mag". Then a third 270 that's actually stamped 270 Win.

And I can't bring myself to get rid of any of them...

I guess this means I'm done???

Just means you're number-confused.

None of my rifles use batteries. I have more than three though.

For BG continent wide,a light 270 with 22" barrel (nothing longer),about 7 pounds. Serves double duty in brush and open nicely. Everywhere from Maine to Alberta and the Rockies.

A 7mm magnum of some stripe weighing 7.5-8 pounds,24" barrel ( nothing longer)...longer distances, maybe. Bigger animals. Overlap with the 270 to a certain degree. The advantages come in with higher velocity, heavier bullets, flatter trajectory etc etc. Where I used to use a 300 magnum but don't anymore.

In that genre I don't mind overlap.


375 H&H.23-25" barrel. Weight of 8-8.5 pounds.

Don't care about covering target and varmints...that's incidental practice shooting only.Use all kinds of stuff. Only BG hunting counts.

Well then you only have TWO .270s!!!


Jerry

I'm down to only two centerfire rifles.
A Ruger American 223 stainless synthetic and a Winchester model 70 308.

I used to have many more, but I wanted money for other hobbies and these seemed like the most practical to keep.

22LR

220 Swift

220 Swift (maybe a 22/250)

Varmints beware

When I'm thinking practical:
Winchester 94-22 22lr
T/C Black Diamond 50cal
Sako 30-06

But if the sky is the limit...
Anschutz sporter 22lr
NULA in 257 Weatherby
Sako Deluxe in 375 H&H

I'd be okay with:

22LR

223

280

All 22's aside:

6.5x55 bolt (if you need to ask ...)

338WM bolt (ditto)

450-400 double (just to fondle and polish while watching TV)

if only I had the $ for that last one....

Years ago it was 22, 22-250, 30-06.
Then 22, 223, 30-06
For a while it was 22, 243, and a various 300 mag. Now I have cycled back to the the 223 and 30-06.

The older I got the less I like recoil.

25-06
7mm RM
375 H&H

Or, at least that is my latest attempt at the three rifle battery

After you sell those (next week), then what will your 3 rifle battery be???

2R Lovell, 6mm Lee Navy, 9.3 BS.

I'll say.

My own 3-rifle battery consists of .22lr, .30-30, .30-06.

In my safe today...staying All American...

.257 Roberts (Rem M7MS)
7mm SAUM (Rem AWR)
.375 H&H (Montana 1999)

Or, if I want to stay with just one rifle (Merkel Helix, 3 barrels on 2 actions):

6.5x55
7mm RM
9.3x62

I'm really impressed with the Helix. The design and fit works for me.

Regardless, why stop at three?

22 lr
30-06
223

I don't think I have played lately. Time changes things. Age and health are directly related to time. What I have left to do with a rifle can be done with a good:

.22 LR

.223

.308

My bolt .223 is new. If it doesn't pan out, I have a .243 that is a twin to the .308 that will do nicely. Colony pests are thin in our country. Dad managed to almost 90 with only the .22 and a .30-30.

Jack

.22 RF, .257 Roberts & .35 Whelen.

243

264 WM

25-06

OK, I decided to play (FWIW)

CZ 455 American combo (.22 LR & .17 HMR)
Custom .257 AI (Krieger bbl, Mex Mauser action & Rimrock stock)
Pre-64 Model 70 Fwt. .30-06

Already have the latter two and will probably move ahead to acquire the first one after I get a couple of builds that are in the works squared away...

This would be my dream 3 gun battery.

.22 Newton
.256 Newton
.35 Newton
That about covers it, in grand style.

.17hmr
257WBY
338WM

These three covered all of my needs for years before turning into a rifle looney.

All my big game hunting could be handled nicely by two rifles.

#1 for many years has been a Remington Model 7KS Custom Shop in .350 Remington Magnum. firearms44 found this one for me on GunBroker with a BuyNow of $800.00. It is a joy to hunt with..weighs exactly 7# ready to hunt. I wish it was blackened stainless but from what I have read only two stainless .350s were ever made.

It currently has a 1.75-6 Leupold on board but that will be getting changed to a 2.5-8 with a B&C reticle I recently found.

With bullets from 150 to 250 grains it can be tailored to handle anything from coyote to brown bear. My standard load is the 220 grain Speer HotCore FP at 2600 fps.




#2 rifle is a Remington 700 CDL stainless/fluted in .257 Weatherby. It is equipped with a 6-18 Shepherd scope and is just used when the shots are probably going to be long... Gun is .5 MOA accurate. Can be used for everything from long range varmints to elk. One day the wood stock will be changed out to a synthetic...



Steel at 3-600 yards...




Last rifle would be for smaller game. Would be a .223 and would be torn between a bolt gun and a AR... For hunting I usually prefer a bolt so would probably opt for the Tikka that I traded Mackay Sagebrush for. Stainless with a 1-8 twist and synthetic stock... Doesn't shoot light flatbased bullets at all but starting with 52 grain BTs up to 75s it is a tack driver... It also has a 6-18 Shepherd on board...





Those three would do it for me as far as hunting anything I'll ever hunt goes...

Bob