Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Of the big game cartridges, your bench warmers

It varies depending on the game and location, but I find that if my .30-06 is not my primary rifle for a hunt it is often the backup. This makes sense since the .30-06 will work well on about any game in North America. My .280 and 7mm RM get used as back-ups fairly often too.

I forgot all about this one: a pre-64 M94 with a Williams receiver sight.

I've killed the most deer over the past 20 years or so with a Marlin .30-30. Second place would go to my Tikka 595 chambered in .243. I do have a new 6.5 Creedmoor that is quickly becoming a favorite though so things might not be the same going forward.

My primary rifle might vary depending on what I'm after, but if I thought I needed to carry a backup rifle it would likely be a trusted Ruger 77 in 300 Winchester mag. It has been my primary rifle many times while traveling and never let me down.

Add another vote for the 30-06.

I don't have backup guns.

I used to have back up guns, but I backed up over them!

well this year 2019 i just plan on using my new to me inherited rifle by an old dear friend who was one heck of a gunsmith in Minnesota " Harold B. " a dandy Winchester pre-64 30-06 model 70. SO YA ME TOO 30-06 !

7mm RM backs up 338 WM
25-06 backs up 7mm RM
243 backs up 25-06

243 and 7mm-08 “loaners” and smaller shooters

Shhhh, fast twist and high BC bullets is a fad too...


30/30 in a Savage 99F.

These days first up is my Mauser 98 in 7x57,backup for it is usually another Mauser 98 in 257Rob.AI.

I do have another 98 that is chambered for the 35 Whelen when needed,it does treat deer bad when used out to 300 yards.

My 270 usually stays at home ever since i built these.

The 30/06 is always ready and the .270 wcf's are my carry. It has always been that way.

Never did that myself, but anything is possible.

One of my puzzles however is my flinter. I wonder sometimes if my balls are too small.

Could be. I hear that you gotta powder them. Apparently, that makes a difference.

I sometimes bring two rifles to our hunting camp, but never thought of one as "backup" - just another choice. But we do keep a "just in case" rifle in camp for anyone to use in an emergency, an ancient No. 4 Lee enfield .303. It even got used once when my brother came to camp with one rifle and left his bolt at home on the cleaning bench.

Unless rain is in the forecast, my Mariln .30-30 gets the starting spot.

The .30-06 usually bats second.

If the .35 Whelen is my primary, .30-06 alternate.

.300 Weatherby by 7mm Weatherby

7mm Weatherby by the other 7mm Weatherby

7x57 by .308 Win

.257 Roberts, why bother.

I use an 8x57 for deer, and a 350 Rem Mag for black bear. A .30-'06 is the bench warmer for both.

Neither do I. All of my rifles get taken into the field, some more than others. Factors such as woods vs fields, weather, and just how I'm feeling that day play a part in which one goes with me.

However, because I'm always tinkering with new loads, having a tried and true box of ammo sometimes is the limiting factor.....

GunLoony88, Same here for us (wife and I), we don’t carry a back-up firearm..... as we each, have “only one” hunting rifle. We always hunt together, so we could use the other’s rifle if the need arises! memtb