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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 521
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 521 |
I know this topic has been discussed in various forums many times, so apologies if some feel its redundant. That said, I think much of what is written on the campfire is redundant, because we like discussing it...
I've been acquiring rifles for a while and I notice that I have my favorites that get used and a few that are unscoped and will likely live in the safe.
As many have done, I'm thinking of selling the ones that don't get used so I can just get a few that I really, really, like.
I'm thinking I want three rifles. Once I get the core battery, I might go back to getting more (because its fun) but I'm leaning toward refocusing my dollars into three.
Calibers are the question.
I'm sure one will be a .260 or 6.5x55 - love the 6.5, covers all deer, hog, etc. needs. I have a .260 now. Like the history of the 6.5x55.
Next is a .30 cal - will either be 30-06 or 300 H&H. Leaning 30-06 because the more I shoot one, the more I feel it fits a great balance of recoil, effectiveness, large supply of available ammo. Like the H&H over the win mag because of history and tradition. I own one of each.
Lastly is an africa rifle. Specifically, buffalo. Don't think I will ever go after any other dangerous game. Thinking .375 or .404. Don't have one of these.
What would you do?
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,306 Likes: 2 |
This is what I did do when I was hunting a lot of big game.
7x57
.300H&H
.375H&H
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,471
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,471 |
I have thought about this a lot and I think for north America:
25-06
270 win
300 win
Dink
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 11,273
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 11,273 |
243 AI
7 Rem
375 H&H.
I'd make 'em stainless and McMillan stocked. 8lbs all up.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 39,266 Likes: 37
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 39,266 Likes: 37 |
With today's bullets - I'm thinking there's less and less real separation between sub 30 and 30 caliber rifles.
I don't know that there's much I wouldn't poke with a good .284/.264 bullet but would with a .308 diameter bullet.
I'd probably could be very happy with a 6.5 Swede/Creedmoor, a 338 WM (or 35 Whelen but that's me) and a 375 H&H as your Africa rifle.
All of this assumes I already have a good 22LR and a 223 varmint rifle of some sort.
Me
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 46,268 Likes: 2
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 46,268 Likes: 2 |
22 LR
308 Winchester
375 H&H
Gunner
Trump Won!
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,828
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,828 |
Well I have paired down my collection some years ago, right now, I have a 6.5 x 55 Sako Hunter, 7 x 57 Steyr Mannlicher Model M Professional (1976) 7mm Remington Mag Blaser R-93 ( my go to rifle for a few years now) 338 Winchester Mag Sako 75 SS and a Winchester M-70 300 WSM ( a safe queen). On loan is a 243 Winchester M-70. and a 30-06 Remington 760 Pump. I have one shotgun a 12 ga Vinci. I could live with just the shotgun and the Blaser and a couple of more barrels for it. Then again I could just do every thing with the 760, and not feel I was lacking in any way. That one as a 2 moa Aimpoint on it. one of the nicest field shooting guns I own. I am going to be doing more archery than I have been, you get 4 and a half month season in my part of CT and a lot of tags.
"Any idiot can face a crisis,it's the day-to-day living that wears you out."
Anton Chekhov
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 115,424 Likes: 13
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 115,424 Likes: 13 |
7.5lb 22-250.
7.5lb 7-08.
9.5lb 9.3X62.
Travis
Trump being classless,tasteless and clueless as usual. Sorry, trump is a no tax payin pile of shiit. My young wife decided to play the field and had moved several dudes into my house
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,653
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,653 |
You're Welcome At My Fire Anytime
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,114
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,114 |
I know this topic has been discussed in various forums many times, so apologies if some feel its redundant. That said, I think much of what is written on the campfire is redundant, because we like discussing it...
I've been acquiring rifles for a while and I notice that I have my favorites that get used and a few that are unscoped and will likely live in the safe.
As many have done, I'm thinking of selling the ones that don't get used so I can just get a few that I really, really, like.
I'm thinking I want three rifles. Once I get the core battery, I might go back to getting more (because its fun) but I'm leaning toward refocusing my dollars into three.
Calibers are the question.
I'm sure one will be a .260 or 6.5x55 - love the 6.5, covers all deer, hog, etc. needs. I have a .260 now. Like the history of the 6.5x55.
Next is a .30 cal - will either be 30-06 or 300 H&H. Leaning 30-06 because the more I shoot one, the more I feel it fits a great balance of recoil, effectiveness, large supply of available ammo. Like the H&H over the win mag because of history and tradition. I own one of each.
Lastly is an africa rifle. Specifically, buffalo. Don't think I will ever go after any other dangerous game. Thinking .375 or .404. Don't have one of these.
What would you do?
If Africa and cape buff are in your future and you are only going to bring one rifle, a .375 H&H is the obvious choice. With a soft up and solids down, you are equipped for anything. If you are going to bring a second rifle, add a .30/06 of the same make. If you believe that life begins at .40 (as I do), , I suggest a .416 Rigby instead of a .404, mainly because of ammo selection and availability. It shoots reasonably flat out to 200 yards and most PH's have a supply of .30/06. .375 H&H and .416 Rigby on hand from previous clients. As to Blasers, I have an R93 with multiple barrels (.30/06, .300 Win. .338. 9.3x62 and .375). Accurate rifle, nice trigger, travels easily, but it never seems to have the right barrel on it at the right time. If a Blaser is your choice, I recommend taking just one barrel. For a quality pair of rifles at a reasonable price, a Winchester 70 Featherweight in .30/06 and a Winchester 70 Safari in .375 is all you need. Buy the best glass you can afford and be sure you mount the scope on the .375 in QD mounts, just in case you need to use the iron sights.
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 592
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 592 |
22LR
223 Rem
30-06
Plain old vanilla
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,176 Likes: 2
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,176 Likes: 2 |
If you already have the 260 keep it. The 308 or 06 is excellent anywhere and anything I point at with one dies. Don't have a 375 and this is purely regurgitated from all the African forums I torture myself reading, they all seem to say bring a 375 for cape on down and let the ph carry the stopper.
I've been working the same scenario through my mind for awhile and I think you have a good list with:
260
30-06
375
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,735
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,735 |
223
30-06
375
I like boring proven rifles/cartridges.
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,776
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,776 |
223
30-06
375
I like boring proven rifles/cartridges.
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. � WARREN G. BENNIS
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,515 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,515 Likes: 1 |
The 375. If you are going to shoot only one buffalo then don't bother to buy a rifle for that one shot, ok maybe two shots. It would be much easier and wiser just to borrow one from your outfitter.
Get a 223 to practice with.
Get a good general-purpose all-around hunting cartridge. The only ones that are available worldwide are 270, 7 mm Remington Magnum, 30-06, and 300 Winchester. The 300 kicks too much for about 90% of hunters. Pick one of the other three. Spend your time and money hunting!
All else is vanity...something with which to preoccupy yourself and to distract you from the fact you are not hunting.
Last edited by RinB; 10/06/13.
“Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away”.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Posted by Brad.
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,373 Likes: 21
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,373 Likes: 21 |
This is what I did do when I was hunting a lot of big game.
7x57
.300H&H
.375H&H ^^^This^^^ Great minds think alike 
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston
Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,676
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,676 |
The 375. If you are going to shoot only one buffalo then don't bother to buy a rifle for that one shot, ok maybe two shots. It would be much easier and wiser just to borrow one from your outfitter.
Get a 223 to practice with.
Get a good general-purpose all-around hunting cartridge. The only ones that are available worldwide are 270, 7 mm Remington Magnum, 30-06, and 300 Winchester. The 300 kicks too much for about 90% of hunters. Pick one of the other three. Spend your time and money hunting!
All else is vanity...something with which to preoccupy yourself and to distract you from the fact you are not hunting. Spot on with that observation! I cannot argue with your choices either.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,587
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,587 |
.223
25-06 or 30-06
375 H&H
Rob
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,063
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,063 |
I guess I am in the same camp as Matt, proven and boring.  270 winchester 30/06 375 H&H
JOC was right. The 270 Winchester on a Model 70 is a great combination as is the 30/06 and 375 H&H
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 19,179
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 19,179 |
or 6.5x55 - love the 6.5, covers all deer, hog, etc. needs. Like the history of the 6.5x55.
be 30-06
Thinking 375
You answered your own ? 6.5X55.... if you handload!!
jwall- *** 3100 guy***
A Flat Trajectory is Never a Handicap
Speed is Trajectory's Friend !!
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