Thanks RobinNH

If firing 220 grainers out of a 30-06 I will effectively not have real need for a 338. And don't need a 375 as i wont be hunting anything that big. Which means that I have effectively limited myself to a max or a 220grain .308 bullet.

My reasoning is that with only three rifles I must try to eliminate overlapping wrt intended use. if there is a 338 in the collection and i consider a 250grain bullet my max wrt bulet weight, I can also load 185 of 200 grain to do the job of the 30-06.

Having the next smaller caliber in my collection be a 7mm I have something that can cover what a .270 will do and a .30 cal will do. I think the jump from .284 to .338 is such there is not a gap in between that cannot be filled by either a 160 grain .284 or a 200/185 grain 338. Add to that the fact that a 284 with 140 grain bullet will largely eliminate the need for a .270

Now the .284 I would probably go for a 7mm rem mag. So I will have something that can reach out there. The 338 in a win mag, with bigger kick for the occasional big antelope like kudu or eland.

That leaves space for one more. The one I will use most often. That being on the smaller antelope. The 7mm mag will be heavy gun. The 338 will be a heavy gun. So I want something lite and handy. So that leaves .24 .25 and .26. Of those the .25 (in 25-06) would need a 24" barrel to be sensible. So would the .243 . And besides the .243 is a bit light to be a handy, small antelope, walkabout rifle.

Which led me to .264 (in .260Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5x55) , and since it is not a magnum cartridge it will not be overlapping with the the intended use of the 7mm rem mag.

So that leaves me shooting
95gr to 140gr .264
140gr to 175gr .284
180gr to 250gr .338

Thats how I figure it covers the spectrum

Just found this site... Look under species. They have recommended calibers
http://www.sahunting.co.za

While I think that this will work for SA I think It would also cover every american situation...

Please feel free to tell me where I am missing the something. that afterall is why I post this. Feel free to criticize.

Last edited by Andre123; 05/24/12.