What are the pros and cons?

There are no cons. Thats silly talk.

I have 6 30-06s, didn't know there were cons.

Either FL resize or use different brass. I use nickel in one, brass in the other, or military and commercial.

Actually, it makes more sense that having a string of calibers sometimes, as each rifle can be set up in a specialist format or generic as you please.

Three 30-06's two 257 Roberts three 300 H&H mags, and two 9.3x62's . All different , so whats the issue?

The only con I can think of is some people, that obviously don't have a clue, will waste your time by asking you how you justify another rifle in the same caliber. Like you have to have justification to buy a rifle�.

I have 3 30-06's and three 308's. With the 30-06 there is no rational reason other than I just happen to like all 3.

I actually have a plan with the 308's. One is a lightweight Kimber for those times I need a lightweight rifle. One is a standard weight for general use. The 3rd is a cheap beater that I don't worry too much about it if it were to get stolen from my truck or fall off the ATV.

Some guys worry themselves sick over the differences between a 270 and 280. Personally I don't think there is all that much difference between most anything from 7-08 up to 375 magnum. I'd just as soon have multiple rifles set up differently in the same caliber than multiple rifles in different calibers. Saves time and expense on loading or buying ammo.

The only con I know of is that the chambers and throats may have different dimensions so the rifles don't respond the same to a specific load.

My experience is with two 257 Roberts. One with a tight custom chamber shows signs of high pressure with some factory loads and some frequently listed hand loads. The other has a looser factory chamber and requires above book loads to reach book velocities. Neck sized cases fired in the factory barrel will not chamber or chamber with great difficulty in the custom barrel. Safe loads in the factory rifle are too hot for the custom rifle so I use different load data and different brands of brass in each to keep them straight. Otherwise I have to full-length resize the brass and settle for 100+ fps less velocity in the factory rifle.

It is something that comes naturally with loonyism.

Who the f uck was it that said less is more. That guy knew nothing of loonyism....Just sayin..

There are six rifles in my safe that use .338 bullets.
I've got no good reason other than that's what I want.
Since I don't have to justify it, I don't try.

Cons? I have ten plus 270's in the house.

Full length resize Winchester brass, four different goto loads all 60gr of H4831sc. 130gr...Nosler BT, Barnes TSX, Barnes TTSX, and Hornady GMX. I have yet to find a rifle that would not shoot one of those loads into an inch, and most will do it with two.

I do have bullet weights from 85-160gr, multiple powders, primers and brass manufacturers for when I want to play.

I agree. 40 years down the road--hind site being 20/20, I could have done all my big game hunting and high power recreationaj shooting with two rifles. A 22" heavy barrel 308, and a 21" light weight 308.
In both cases, I would have headed another piece of sage advice,"Buy the best you can afford...and buy it once."

Doesn't everyone have more than one 22lr?

Rifle or ammo?

I have more than a few 30 calibers.

(2) 30-06's, (2) .270s, (2) .222's , (2) .243's
Lot's of good things come I pairs

This^^^^ Plain and simple.



Philthy-

You married? How many pairs of shoes does your wife have?

And don't race out and ask her if you want to stay married.

3 ea. .30-06; 2 ea. .270; 4ea. 30-30; 2ea. .223; SEVEN ea. .22LR' plus numerous others ranging from .218 Bee through 9.3x62.

I was warped as a child by a product of the depression (Dad). We got through WWII with a single shot .22 and rationed ammo. The LC Smith shotgun stock was wrecked and no replacement was available.

I could get by with one each .22LR, .22 centerfire, .308, shotgun, and a handgun. But why would a loonie want to do that?

Jack

I have had a number of duplicate-chambering rifles over the years, but it used to be worse. At one time had six .30-06's, including two bolt-actions, a lever-action, pump, drilling and single-shot. The two bolts were a NULA and a pre-'64 Model 70, so there really wasn't much duplication of rifle type. But also had four .250 Savages at one point, three of them Savage 99's. Also had three .25-06's for a while, but only briefly.

Right now only have one .30-06 (the NULA), but have three .308 Winchesters, two .270 Winchesters, two .243 Winchesters, two .223 Remingtons, and seven firearms chambered for the .22 Long Rifle, though two are handguns. Oh, and two .25-35's, though one is a 15" handgun barrel for the T/C Contender, and six 12-gauge shotguns.

My worst case of duplication right now might be my pair of .45-70 trapdoor Springfields. But that's mitigated by the fact that one is an original rifle and the other a Harrington & Richardson Officer's Model.

Duplications to a hand loader can be about like having different chamberings. Each needs it's own COAL loads, the loads that gun likes, cases shot in that chamber, etc.

With all that, I'd just as soon have different rounds and that's the way I've gone. When I traded for my CZ AHR 550 9.3x62, I sold the 9.3x62 Shilen barrel on my FN Mauser 98 and replaced it with a 6.5x55 Shilen tube, 23" of course... I just didn't want two 9.3x62's. The throats were way different, etc...

DF

Good advice. Ignore the purses also.

Hmmm...

Words of wisdom and experience..?

DF

4 30-06 (2 custom 98 Mausers, a Springfield and a Garand), 2 270's, 2 45-70's, 2 223's, 2 7mm08's, 2 300WM's, 2 44mag's (revolver and lever action)and 3 22LR......yeah, I'm loony!

Same logic applies elsewhere and doesn't matter?
I have 3 cars
I have 7 fender's
I have 2 Gibson's
I have 4 amps
I have one wife though.

I have said prior, you can't play golf with 1 club and hunting is no different.
John

In a pinch you could get by with a 7 iron, the 30-06 of Golf.

But you would end up an extraordinary Hunter and suck at Golf?

30-06 beats the heck out of a 7 iron though

Not that I'm a loony, though. 2 '06s, 2 .270s, 3 7x57s, 2 6.5 CMs, 3 each .250-3000 and .257 Roberts, 6 .22s (2 are handguns), and 4 20g shotguns. Way off the pace compared to many here.

Naw, you not a Loony...

DF

I'm guilty of having a number of rifles (ain't talkin handguns or shotguns) in the same chambering and even more of the same caliber.

Pro - there are plenty from which to choose.
Con - there are plenty from which to choose.

AJD

Pros- my sons and I can use the same ammo. But, they're all full-length sized so they chamber in any of the rifles. I have found that an accurate load is often accurate in most all of the rifles.
Cons- it's easier to develop a load for a single rifle.

At one time I had three .308s. The 3 digit serial # Ruger 1A-B was for snap shooting in the timber, the Ruger 77 Mannlicher was my all round rifle and the Remington 700 Varmint was my South Carolina Bean Field rifle. Amazing how many of those 700 yard shots were inside 350 yards. The boys with the 7 and .300 mags could not believe the shots I made on whitetails. Of course they spent their money on fancy rifles while I spent mine on shooting and High-Power competition.

Lost the Mannlicher to a house fire, still have the #1 and sold off the Remington when I stopped hunting bean fields. These days my all-rounder is an Old Steyr Scout but I usually take one of two .257 Bobs afield for deer, varmints and small game.

I have 3 30-06s. The pro is I'm going to re barrel one for something else. I'm thinking a 7x57. Somewhat tempted to do a 35 Whelen or a 9.3, but pretty sure it's going to be a 7 x 57. Then I can address the next problem, having 3 7mms.

I have two custom Arisaka Type 38 carbines in 6.5mm caliber, its all part of being a gunhead. There is no cure, we are here to comfort you if needed.

I don't think there is anything wrong with multiple rifles of the same caliber as long as they are different cartridges and 1/4 bores.

Just sayin'....

I've got 3 250 savages, and im probably not done.

in a way, its a lot easier having more rifles than more cartridges. having reloading brass, dies, etc for a bunch of different cartridges is something im rapidly getting done with.

I hand load 25acp, 25-20, 25-35, 250 Sav, 250 Krag Ackley, 257 Roberts, 257 Roberts Ackley, 257 Roberts Ackley rimmed, and 25-06.

3- 30-06s
3- 308s
1- 300wsm

All my cleaning accessories, brushes and jags, look alike.

2 - 243's, 2- 25-06's, 3 - 30-06, 2 - 300 Win Mag. All shoot different loads, all shoot different bullets, all shoot different bullet weights. All are set up for different uses.
For example, one of the 243's is set up for my 4 year old grandson to use when we go to the range. He likes to make holes in the paper and ring the steel buffalo. Accuracy for him is minute-of-target and his big 'deal' is lack of recoil. The other 243 is set up for taking whitetails out to about 350.

L only own 2 30-06 rifles a Remington 700 and M1 Garand. My reason was economics. I load both rifles with 48 grains of H4895 and 150 grain bullets. The only differences is the M1 gets CCI 34 primers and the Reminton uses WLR primers. I no longer own a 358 so will may have to change my screen name.
358win

Yep. 3 Telecasters, 2 acoustics. (only 1 amp) 2 rifles, 3 pistols, 3 or 4 sets of golf clubs. several fly rods. I realize that I'm way behind in rifles and shotguns, but I'm working hard to correct that deficienc y

mmmm...duplicates would be:

two .25-20's
three .25-06's (two of which were inherited)
four .300 Savages
four .308's
three .30-06's
two .45-90's

First Prize- A 270 Winchester.


Second Prize- Two 270 Winchesters.


Did I get this right?

What my dad, Ingwe, said. I'm sketching out the specs for my fourth 7x57.

Next question.

When there just isn't enough different calibers in existence anymore ...

You have to start doubling up!

2(223s) 2(243s) 2(270s) 5(30/06s-(1cooper, 1FN Winny, 1 Husky Hipower, 1 Sedgley Sporter(Springfield Action)note one is a 30-03 1895 Winchester-so 06 kind of) 2(300Wins), 2(300Roys), 2(338s), and 3(375s) and I feel no looney status yet.

In reality it makes as much sense as having two centerfire in any two mid sized cartridges. In other words it makes as much sense as having a 308 and a 7x57. As looneys we want a wide variety of incremental change in the firearm itself. We should be buying rifles based on the game available and that we may encounter. In North America we have only 4 really large big game animals bison great bears moose musk ox and not 1 in 100 of us will even hunt them. The rest are non dangerous ungulates that can all be taken reliably with any mid sized cartridge from 24 to 30 caliber .

Which is why years ago, in a lot of households, there was just one .30-30 sitting behind the kitchen door. But still....

Lets see,4-.30-06's,3-.300 Mag's H&H/Win/Wby, 3-7mm's (2)7x57/Dakota,3-.270's Win/Wby,2-.338's Win/RUM,2-.243's Win/Wby,2-.35's Whelen/Norma.

The Whelen is being made.

Forgot 2-.22's .222 Rem and .22-6mm.

As someone just getting starting in hand loading, having more than one rifle in same caliber makes a lot of sense to me just for sheer simplicity of logistics!

But I'm also not a rifle looney either,so I'm probably not making any sense.

You're not a rifle looney......YET!

I have 5 30-06's, 4 bolts and an M1

Counting my Contenders I am near double digits on 223's. I always did like the rifle racks in the Sheriff's office in those old western movies, it is a look that is even better with AR's and SU's.

15 35 rems. and no, its still not overkill.

Pros = versatility - each can be configured to handle specific applications.

Cons = Keeping ones brass sorted. Not an issue though if one full length resizes.

Let's see...

30-30
303 Savage
300 Savage
308 Win
30-06

Can't see why I should only have one of those rifles in that caliber.

At one point, I had five .270s, but the fever passed, and I am down to three. Had either three or four 7mm-08s for a while, but they were mainly for the grandchildren when they visited or loaners for guest hunters. We still have five .22 rimfires and a couple of .30-06s.

I have been winnowing the stock in the gun room for a couple of years now, but even at its peak, there was very little duplication of rifles chambered for the same cartridge (other than .270s). I did have a lot of 7 millimeter rifles at one time, but only two were chambered for the same cartridge (7 mm Rem Mag).

Now that's impressive!

The only con I see is duplicates taking up space and money that you could use to own different rifles firing a multitude of cartridges that all do exactly the same thing as each other.

I'd love to own 15 rifles in 35 REM - and all MARLINS!

These are the ones that I have duplicates (some more than one "duplicate" :))
Rifles:
22 Rimfire
22 Hornet
222 Rem
243 Win
25/06
270 Win
7mm Rem Mag
30 Carbine
30/30
308
30/06
300 H&H
350 Rem Mag
35 Whelen

Handguns:
22 rimfire
32/20
9mm
38 Special
357 Mag
45 ACP

Shotguns:
20 gauge
12 gauge

There are a few gaps in there that are filled by "singles" and some that have FAR more than just one extra (i.e. a good collection of 22 rimfires, 222's, M-1 carbines and Garands) but I feel like I've got it pretty well covered...however there's still some a little room in there for a few more.

Did my wife put you up to asking that question?

If I happen to have more than one gun of a caliber, it is ONLY for research. You know, to find out which gun shoots the best. When I find out, I sell the looser. If the looser has a great action and stock, it gets a new barrel. Then, of course, the research starts over again. Sometimes they are so close that I have to flip a coin to see which one to sell. By the way, those are the ones I would sell on 23HRCF. The real bad ones are sold to relatives that I don�t like! With the bad gun I always send a five shot target shot at ten yards. The target is marked with ammo info but no distance info.

I believe there is a lot of truth to that statement right there. I grew up in a family where a 20rd box of -06 or .308 lasted a long time.

A real rifle hunter could ( and many do) manage just fine with a .22lr and a centerfire, from .243 to 30-06, south of Alaska.

A gun nut is different. Not wrong, just different. And that's OK, at least by me.

Sycamore

Only two at present both Swede's a CZ 550 and a Carl Gustav 96 Mauser which are the best of both worlds as I've always had a soft spot for old military weapons.

More than one chambered the same.Two in 25-06,the other 25 cal.is 257 weatherby its completely different.Do have five different 30 cal.Seems Im a little short on 25s.Been thinking about a nice lite 250 Savage.Plenty for Texas deer in the woods.

I always liked the concept of a pair of .375's, one on SS and the other blued and wood.
Never did it, but am still warm to the concept.
John

Seems like a good pair for same cal would include in a light, short guise paired with a heavier, long-barreled set-up.

Same caliber..... but different. Savage 99G takedown (1926)Savage 99T (1940) and Savage 99EG (1953)They are all 300 Sav, but distinctly different. Wouldn't have multiples of same model.
(unless it was a reeeely good deal)

I not only have a number of rifles in the same caliber, I purchased two identical new SS/walnut Model 70s 30-06s just because... CP.

I only had 2 30-06's about 25 yrs a go, a 1903 custom I was putting together and a stock M700 BDL. One day I walked into a little gunshop a buddy owned, he'd get some of the damndest stuff in trade for stock. behind his counter was a paper grocery sack full of GI 30-06 brass . I asked him about it and he said "oh I cleaned a guys 22 auto for it". Yeah a little over 1500 cases ,I bought it from him for $20.. No such thing as too many 30-06's. 3 Springfields, a model 700 ADL carbine from the 1 st year of production and a M7600 because I allways wanted to try one. There were others that came and went some good and some not so good. Been a gun whore all my life, got more use and fun out of it than the interest off any passbook savings I ever had. Needs and wants have allways had different meanings, been pretty happy I live where I can choose what to do about both. If it was up to "O" I wouldn't have those choices and all I would really need to do as an older person is die so his gov't could steal my assets. Keep buying guns and ammo. Magnum Man

Golf sucks. Waste of a perfectly good gopher pasture.


Kaiser Norton

Ammo

and componets

I have 2 338 WM and 3 30-06s

But

My babies have taken the 30-06s

Snake

"Golf is a mental disorder." - Edgar Rice Burroughs

HuntnShoot,

That sounds like an interesting idea! Say a 308win in sporter weight hunter rig, and a long barrel varmint/target rig!

Wonder if it would be considered silly setting up two 308win the same way, you know as a back-up rifle?

That's really how I ended up with a tang safety Ruger 77 RLS (ultralight, 18.5" barrel with iron sights) and a Cooper 52 Classic, both in .30-06. Sure there is overlap in application but the rifles are very different and get used in different situations much of the time. It is also nice that both shoot the same handload very well.

Yep 2 270s, 4 308s and 2 7x57s and various other rifles. Reason for multiples is rifle brand and configuration.

7 each-.30-06 & .45-70. Wow, didn't realize it till I counted them up!

I only have multiple rifles in interesting and useful calibers .......



.277. ......... .284 . ....... .308 (caliber not cartridge)



WHY? Because I like them, no one else has to like/agree.

Well I have a neighbor that hunted a lot and he hunted all over the world, he said to me one, I was very young at the time 13 years old that, he dose almost all his hunting with a 7mm RM, since there was little dangerous game hunting left, this was the 1960s, and when he died, all his guns when to the local gun shop to be sold, he had just three rifles a pair of 7mm RM well cared for but shot and hunted with and a 375 H+H, I seem to recall that JOC traveled a lot with a pair of 270 Winchester M-70, reasoning being if one should break the hunt can go on with out a hitch and simply ammo . I had a lot of guns chambered for the same cartridge, I don't anymore, then again I don't hunt like I use to either or shoot as much as I use to !

More than one rifle in the same caliber? A DAMN good START!

(2).270 Win (2) 7 RM (2) 300 WSM These are my favorite calibers and they are zeroed for different loads and have different scopes and stocks.

Also have other rifles including a stainless 30-06 that I like a lot.

Actually caliber is the diameter of the bore,There are many 308 caliber rifle CARTRIDGES.308 Win,30-06,30-30 yada yada yada.

True but there is a reason for a little ambiguity.

I answered the OP ? Correctly and yet protected the family 'jewels'. <G>

4 in 222 mag and it is still not enough...

Schrapnel where do you get brass for that cartridge today?

Crap!


Ive only got three .223AIs�.


But I can feel good about them because they are all about the new fangled materials�stainless and synthetic.

I keep searching and have gotten well over 1,000 from various sources, all Remington of course...

Aah.....OK thanks!

That's good stuff right there...don't know how I missed that before.

HnS: A bit of glib humor directed toward my sentimental favorite...

I use it for the same reasons some hunt with muzzleloaders..I like to be handicapped sometimes.

When I get over it, I grab a 7 magnum.

Yeah this is along the lines I was thinking. Classy choices too! I think the '06 is a viable LR cartridge, and a perfect short- and mid-range one too. I can even see the benefit of #3 gun, set up for cast bullets only, and #4, set up with light bullets and light for youngsters.

I'm enamored with 30-06! The funny part of that is I detested the round for decades, because it was 'overkill', and the yay-hoos all shot 30-06 when I was growing up. They have been replaced in my mind with 300 RUM shooters today.

Bob, I like that: the 270 Handicap. Worth getting custom brass made!

HnS: If you wanna make things really tough on yourself,top the 270 with a fixed 4X.

This may be the ultimate expression of mediocrity on the CF....unless of course you have a 30/06 similarly outfitted.

Hey wait! I got one of those, too!

Shrapnel, you should open a petting zoo stocked w/ your gun collection. I would definitely make the trip and bug you for a fishing lesson while I was there.

mike r

When I used to sell/trade them off to fund the next project, I never kept more than one in a given chambering. I seldom trade them off any more, so have ended up with multiples in same chamberings. Currently, there's multiples laying around in 22 LR, 223, 7x57, 270, 30-06, 300 H&H, 9.3x62, 45-70 and 45 ACP.

Bob, I've done my best and longest shooting on game with my fancy variable left on 8x. In fact, I just left it there last season, even in wooded areas. 8x seems to 'fit' me.

The majority of the animals I've taken, 4x would have been ideal. Too bad they don't make a 4-8x variable in a light, trim profile with good glass. 8x is plenty for making good shots at big game at 600, and 4x gives plenty of FOV, even at spear-range.

I know 6x fixed is the preferred here on the fire for many with much experience. To me it seems like a compromise. Maybe I'll set my optics to 6x and run them that way this season, to test thoroughly the hypothesis.

Vegas ain't that far...

38-40's...

Are those Ubertis?




Travis

You make me laugh, when you coming back for more shooting???

44-40's...

220 Swifts...

He needs powder.....

Shrapnel, be careful what you wish for! Las Vegas to Bozeman 835 miles. Late fall wolf hunting near Bozeman, possible. What kind of powder do you need? Those cowboy shooting irons are amazing, all I have is the hat and some modern era lever guns. Thanks for the pics. If Travis shows up will he drink all the beer and steal my hat?

mike r

Way to upstage everyone, Shrap! I gotta go change shirts. Should get a bib for when I'm on here.

7, 30/06's
5, 30/40's
3, 30/30's
Don't remember how many 22RF's

Worse.

I'll eat the hat and steal your beer.

Please bring some Unique. I'm running low and HawkI keeps making fun of me.



Travis

Late September?



Travis

How about fishing the Bighorn on Labor Day weekend?

Taking the family camping that weekend.




Travis

30-06...

You need a Sako '06....and ditch the M70 if that's what it takes.


You do have some Finnish 222 Mag brass.....

Nope, I had to go look, I do have some Herters I found while Prairie Dog hunting in June. It was in your truck by your wallet...

That was Big Steve's wallet.....

Philthygeezer: No "cons" what so ever!
The more the merrier I say.
For instance, I currently have and shoot 11( eleven) firearms in caliber 223 Remington alone!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Me too. Even in the woods I seldom go below 6X.

QUALIFIER -
In States where you have a 3 or 4 pt. minimum on a side, the higher X comes in very handy at times.

One example, I have posted pics of a 6 pt buck with 17 1/2" inside spread. In Ark that buck would not have been legal w/o at least one eye guard. I watched that buck pushing a doe for quite some time before I could see anything other than crab claws.

Probably would not have seen one of them at 4 or 6 X.

Something's missing Clarkm. Ah, I've got it, where's the .256 Winchester Magnum? Really nice list though. I'm thinking more .25's are in the mix for me later on down the road.

Right now for me:

"30" caliber; four total(.308 and .312)
two .30-06 one Sigarms, one Rem 700 (at Rem for trigger recall)
2 .303 Brit, one sporterized #4MK1* and one Ruger #1

.264
two 6.5x55, one military Mauser, the other a bbl for the Sigarms rifle above (does that count as another rifle?) Both of these are "shooters", imagine that, in 6.5x55. Whoda thunkit

.22
two in .22 LR, one Ruger takedown and a Nylon 66

Seeing as how Shrapnel included some revolver/rifle combos

.257
One Marlin .256 winmag Levermatic with a companion Ruger Blackhawk
One Kimber of OR 25-20 with a companion cylinder for the above Blackhawk

I "need" a companion rifle in .357 Mag, maybe a Ruger 77/357 for my S&W. Then, I will almost feel complete. Until I get my hands on one of the Lipsey's .327 Single Sevens!

MD, I was quite surprised to not see multiple 9.3's on your list. Did I overlook something?

Am I starting to approach qualification for living in a loonie neighborhood yet?

Excellent idea.

One should also be in stainless/synthetic for bad weather.

What are the pros and cons?
Phi..,

Im a big believer in identical pairs. Especially when it comes to handguns or 'modern' rifles. Should one break, you have another and the broken one becomes a spare parts source. The writer John Taffin even sugests a pair of pairs. Not such a bad idea either.

O

Now that is funny!

The trouble is I'm trying to get a rifle in every caliber. Then having so many 30-06's and 223's and 6mm's gets in the way in the gun safe's...

Prairie dog shooting is one area where I'd suggest multiple rifles in the same caliber is a great idea, espicially if they shoot the same ammo well.

This year in the annual cousins' dog shoot, I brought two 6mm's and two 223's. That was perfect.