Want to thin things out a bit, pick 2 calibers for everything in NA, Deer and larger.

.243
6.5x55
7mm Rem
30-06
300wm
338WM

7mm Rem Mag and 338 Win Mag. If I would have built those two 20 years ago I'd probably be further ahead.

.338, loaded up or down as needed.

I half thought the same but was thinking 300wm

Yeah, I have lots of overlapping here. Problem is the the swede and the 06 are my favorite rifles, one being an 85 Finnlight and the other a M70 Featherweight classic. HArd for me to choose based solely on numbers...hence why I posted here.

Pick 2? You could accomplish everything on your list with a 300 win mag just fine. Or a 338. Or a 7 mag. Despite the 3 magnums you have the boring 30-06 has been getting it done for many years.

Perhaps focus less on chamberings and look at which rifle feels good in your hands and shoots well. I'd take a slow accurate 30-06 over a smoking fast 300 win mag that won't group well.

I could accomplish everything with a .243 if need be. Need doesnt be so Id like to have 2 rifles that may be BETTER suited to certain game or at longer distances. I could load a 338 down to to small whitetail levels but since im not limited to one rifle Id rather have another option that doesnt create such big hole or kick as hard. If I was only gong to have one id probably scrap all of these and get a 375.

All of these rifles are moa or better.

.243 and .300 Winchester.

30/06 and 6.5x55,06 will do heavy work 6.5 for lighter work and as you get older you'll use the 6.5 more because of less recoil. and as you stated their your favorites.

243 and 300wm

Just one

30-06

6.5 would do all I need, heck the 243 would too.

243
30-06

What Brad said...

This. The 338 would not see much use....unless you just felt like using it.


Yeah those 243's and 6,5's would make wonderful brown bear cartridges.....

Love my 338 and use it a lot. However, if going with two for NA, I'd say 243 and one 30 cal. 30-06 if you're keeping things inside of 5-600, and a 300 if you want more reach.

Like most of us here I have a lot guns that I have never shot or shot less than ten times.

I think about selling most of them off a lot but I have two boys that are hunters/shooters so I have been waiting to see how things go before I sell.

For me I'm mostly a deer and antelope hunter and only hunt elk every few years (thinking about changing this though because I'm getting older and elk tags are easy to get).

I've always thought a 243 win, 30-06 and a 300 win would get me by the rest of my life for big game rifles. I like to take two rifles with me when I travel so deer/antelope I could take 243/30-06 and elk I could take 30-06/300 win never being under or over gunned. I'll probably never get there but that's my thoughts anyway.

Dink

Im pretty much in the same boat right now. My boys arent quite hunters yet but that hasnt stopped me from securing a few pieces for them. I want to set the boys up with quality hunting rifle, shotgun, AR and handgun. The list may expand if one of them takes to hunting or shooting but I believe every man should at least own those.

My 2 boys are 4 and 7. AR's are done and last week picked up the 2nd M70 Classic in 30-06, one being a stainless and the other a Featherweight.

All that aside after moving from AZ to Iowa Ive found my centerfire rifles, especially the larger calibers only coming out to get a fresh coat of oil.

After perusing another thread on Scenar lethality, I'll probably stick with the swede as my medium game caliber. The Finnlight is just a sweet rifle and pairs well with that caliber. I probably should have omitted the 243 as I only use it for my long range/windy varmint gun when I think a shot might present itself that the .204 wouldnt handle as well.

Ive never shot anything outside of 500 but if Im truly thinning down to a pair, I think Im leaning 300WM.....just in case. is there anything a 338 does thats hands down better than the 300?

Yeah........ shoot a 250 gr Nosler Partition ....... and in brown bear country that's a "plus" for me...but Ive only killed two of them so what do I know ?

I am not one who thinks the 338 is some universe apart from a 300 magnum, but if we're playing games and picking "two" for everything I will take the 338 in brown bear country. I understand the shot placement thing.

The 7 RM handles everything else.

For over 40 years I've had a strong attachment to the 30-06 and the 338WM. It's good I spent so many years in Alaska, because the environ, makes those calibers more practical. While there I threw in the 375 H&H, and finally the 243. I don't see me getting rid of any of these calibers even when I get to the point where I don't/can't hunt anymore. Practically speaking anyone should be able to get by with a 30-06 for hunting throughout the majority of the world (as far as what most people are going to hunt).

I cant disagree with that. Just debating internally how often id be loading up or down going with each of them.

I'd keep the Swede and either the 300 or 338. The 300 or 338 for brown bear or moose and maybe elk, and the Swede for everything else.

^^^^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^^^^

At one point in most of our lives, that's the train of though we all go through. BTDT. I used the 300WM for a long time. In fact, it was my only rifle for about 5 years. I got tired of the recoil and sold it. Dropped back down to the 30-06 and kept a 338wm too. Found the recoil of the 300wm gave me more of a headache than the 338 even. BTDT, not going back down that road... Also, if you already have a 300WSM, you don't need a 300WM. By your post above, it's pretty apparent you want to scratch that itch. Go for it, it's the only way to get it out of your system. Trust me though, you'll be going back to the 30-06 and similar cartridges after you tire of getting beat up by the 300WM...

Duh, that's the obvious answer right there...

The .30-06 and .338 Win Mag.

Not on your list but; Now that I have a .300 Weatherby in a M70 I am thinking about buying a .270 Winchester. I have long thought that would be a great pairing for what you suggest.

I dont have 300WSM, jsut the 300WM and 338WM. I havent ruled out the 06, jsut seems tha the 300 or 338 may be better suited the largest or more dangerous game. Recoil wont be much of a bother as I cant foresee it being used all that much. Im likely going to use the Swede for everything up to and including Elk. Maybe when the time comes I'll decide to bring the bigger rifle for Elk but right now my mind is saying Swede.

yeah, I already have rifles and reloading components for the above calibers so Id just as soon stick with those.

pretty much where Im at right now.

If I were trimming down to one, the 06 would be my choice.

Keep the Swed, and 06 or the 300! my pick!

For darned sure.

If you handload for both you could easily load a great 160 in the 7mm and a good 225-250 in your 338. Both would serve as great back ups to one another. Bob has mentioned cleaning out his stuff a few times and if I did those two would be the last men standing. Well, my 7 would be the Mashburn but the 338 would be old faithful.

If you can handle the recoil a 250 from a 338 is Ballistically pretty close to a 30-06 with 180.... so anything you'd hunt with the 30-06 would die just as handily with the 338. I know it's a lot of bullet but same Partition that Bob mentioned in the 338 takes deer pretty easily. For awhile I was on a binge hunting with my 338... wouldn't both me to only have that one rifle either.

I could probably get rid of all of my rifles and hunt with just your 338 as well....

warpig: I would not load up or down in either.

In the 7 RM I'd load a dependable 160;and in the 338 I'd load a very good 225-250.

I think you would be done. That's my view anyway.

.338-
I'd load a Barnes 160 ttsx for deer, pigs, goats, and sheep. 160-200 for black bear, and a 225-250 for moose and big bear. Elk any of the above.

Try that with a .243.

These would be the cartridges my choices also. I think the 7 RM and 338 WM cover deer size and larger exceptionally well.

My personal pick of bullets, provided they shot acceptable in my rifles, would be the 225 TSX or TTSX in the 338 and the 150 TTSX or the 145 LR TTSX in the 7mm.
If these did not work for my rifles, there is no shortage of great bullets to choose from in these calibers.

I would keep it very simple, one load and one bullet for each rifle.

If I am ever overcome by logic and do a rifle purge, rifles in this cartridges will be my keepers.

If you were starting from scratch, I would agree with Brad....


But since you're starting with rifles you already own, you really answered your own question



Both of those are as classic as you can get and they're already your FAVORITE rifles. Sell either one and you'll REGRET it. Use either one and you're sure to ENJOY it!!!

6.5x55
8x68s

If these were commercialy available in a rifle that I would own....I would buy both

If I read the OP correctly, he is looking to sell and keep two and you suggest two not on his list

Ed, it's a given... an OP will give specifics, and 1/2 will ignore those.

Since I don't live in Bear country, from the OP's list, I'd have to go with the .243 and the 7mag.

And if I had to make a choice from the Rifles I currently own, I'd go with my 7x57 and my .264 Win Mag.

I must have been more logical then, than I am now. The 243 and 06 were the 2 calibers I started with

That's a fact and I expected it. In his defense, the 6.5x55 is on the list.

I'm rarely in bear country, and it's not grizzly but I don't want to count them out just yet. Maybe one of the kids will decide not to college

Since you have already decided to keep the 6.5x55, you are down to making one more choice.

If I had a 30-06 that I loved (as you do), then I'd just keep that and move on in life.

I live and hunt in grizzly country... I pack stuff like the 7-08 and 308.

.243 and .300WM...

6.5x55 and .300WM form your list.

Personally .270 Win & 8x57...but that's just me.

270 and 270

Ok, ok......243 and 06

Sell them all, and start over.

I'd be looking at a 6.5 Creed for 90% of your hunting, and a 300wsm for the rest should the need arise.

243 and the 338.

Why not.

6.5 X 55 and 338 Win Mag. Heck,I hunted deer with the 338 for a few years. They never complained. A fella could make do with it alone. But what fun is that?

I have a 6.5CM as well, not really much of a hunting rig though. The 300WSM was a consideration but it seems the 300wm may be more versatile with a larger range of bullet weights?

I could in fact get by with just a 338 but I dont find all that pleasant to shoot. I understand there will game that the 338 would be considered the optimal choice from what I have listed but I also know that those gma animals will likely make up less than 10% of my hunting. Thats why Im playing with the idea of 2 calibers.

300 and 338 Win mags for the win.

Gunner, were men outta the same mold!

7x57
.300 H&H

How bad is 300WM going to smash my face with one of these:
http://www.sako.fi/rifles/sako-85/85-carbonlight

That's actually pretty good advice. Both use the same powders too. The 300 WSM is really just a big Creedmoor.

You're consistent Casey

It says 6.16 lbs if I did the math correct. By the time you get a scope and mounts on it along with a sling and some ammo your looking at 8lbs or more. I wouldn't be a bit scared of that if the stock was didn't pound my face.

7mm Remington with heavies.

You bet beretz, I know my 300 like no other center fire, sometimes I think it knows me too.

"Put the lotion in the basket"

We must select crayons from the box presented, and color inside the lines please.

Why thin...

But 243 and 338... would do just about anything with the 243 though... and if I really wanted for the biggest US stuff, I"d go 375 or 416 something insteda of 338...

Yep. Next 338 I get will be the '06 variety.

This is the 24HCF!

There is no need WHATSOEVER to relate your reply to the original post.

Are you new here?

Smart Ass. GFY.





( Smiley face icon, in case you actually read this...)

BWAHAHAHA, that was great Poobs.

I have a standard 85 finnlight in 300 win and it's not bad even with 200 grain partitions.

I wouldn't want it much lighter though and sometimes wish I'd just bought it 30-06.

Dink

.243 & 06

30.06 and 338 Win Mag

.243AI Win and .300 Wby Mag.

The Swede and the 300Win.

.30-06.

Done.

243 and 30-06 but I'm easily pleased

.243 and any of the 4 largest.

There ya go; nothing wrong with those for anything in NA, and if they're yer favorite rifles anyway...

That was my first thought, jsut debating the use of the 06 on the biggest or most dangerous game. Could it work? Im Sure. Just not sure if its the best choice.

All that being said, Im not ready to thin out yet but when I do Im fairly certain I'll keep the x55 and either the 300WM or 338Wm, just cant decide between those 2.......and keep the 06 as a backup to both

Well now you are making it easy If you are going to keep the 6.5X55 and the 30-06 as back up and just need to pick between the 300 and 338, I'd pick the 338 win mag. The 300 is a great caliber but if my choice was predicated by own a 30-06, I wouldn't need the extra range. The 338 is a fantastic cartridge that packs plenty of wallop out to 500+ yards.

243 because coyotes need killing, in a fun way.

This would be my pick. Both are common enough that you could find ammo most places if your handloads ended up missing five states away from home.

I would probably load one bullet for each and get to know that load in that gun like it had eyes. Modern technology has made both better than they were when they started out.

A 200gr. Nosler would do in bear country and the .243 seems like a better fit on the lower end for antelope, deer, coyotes and such. This from a .270/.375 kinda guy.

This is what I have, the .243 with various loads for everything from bunnies to deer, .300 only sees 180 gr partitions and is for when elk are on the menu.......

But I also mix in a .260 and a 7x57.

I been thinking about this.

You should just sell me the finnlight....

Dink

With the excepton of the 338, they'll all become Finnlights someday. Jsut need to wait for someone such as yourself to start liquidating their stockpile. Seems like you always have Sako or Steyr up for grabs.

Well, let's see. Only two?
OK, the 30-06.
Oh, TWO. OK, the 30-06.

Good thing I have 2 30-06

I can see some merit in this. Set one up using lighter 130-150 gr. loads and the other 180-200 gr. for example. Or one with a frangible cup and core and the other a bonded or mono.

Another thought would be to set both up for the same load depending on the game hunted. That way one could be primary and the other a backup.

Rifles particulars have always been more important to me than headstamps, you already stated you like the M70 and Finnlight, so go with the swede and 30-06. Hell you would probably be able to get it done with just one of those, but a backup isnt a bad idea.

The 2nd 06 is a M70 Classic Featherweight, bought for my now 7 year old. Hes got a few years before he'll get it so for now it just sits and looks pretty.

I imagine if I ever travel out of state for hunting Id bring backup rifle just in case. The Swede is staying and right now im leaning 338WM for the 2nd. The 06 would be a great backup to both in a pinch.

warpig602, .338 WM, dump the rest!😁 memtb

6.5x55mm and a 338 Win. Mag.

StarchedCover

I'm a fan of sub .30 caliber cartridges. I can't see anything in NA surviving a direct hit from a 175 Partition from a big 7. for that reason I'd go 7mmRm and .243Win. 160 or 175 Partitions and 95gr NBT's.

243
30-06

From fox to elk your set!

Thanks for all the replies.

Keeping the Finnlight in 6.5x55 and the M70 Sporter 338WM.




and the M70 Stainless 06 as a backup