You get to select a trio of cartridges to handle all of your hunting needs.

.204 Ruger
.280 Ackley
.375 H&H

North America, .22-250, 25-06 and .300 WM
World wide, .25-06, .300WM, ,375 H & H.

The Globe???

223 Rem
30-06
375 H&H

Exactly!

To clarify, three cartridges to handle all of your personal hunting needs, which can encompass the globe but might simply be your home state if that's all you ever want to hunt.

Good list, but could replace the 223 with 22 mag

My globe has gotten pretty small.

.22LR
.223 Rem
7mm-08

Can and am doing it with one, though I’ll never make it to Africa……if large volume shooting of varmints isn’t on the agenda! One cartridge/rifle gitt’n it done since 1990……legal for the Big 5 in most of Africa, and does everything I could ask for from Pronghorns through moose with the occasional coyote or Prairie Dog included. Shoots flat enough to cleanly take game well beyond my 600 yard (under perfect conditions) self-imposed limit! 😉

Heck, I left out ☹️ the potentially most useful cartridge available …..the 22 LR! 😉 memtb

.223
7mag
375 H&H

30-06
30-06
30-06

22 lr or .22 mag (I have cartridge adapters to shoot 22 lr in a 22 mag rifle)
30 06 or .308
375 Ruger or H&H

For me and what I hunt,

.22LR
.223
.308

Old70

With that clarification, this list is perfect for me.

22LR

223 Rem

375h&h

223 Rem, 300 Win Mag, 416 Rem Mag

Have rimfires, will give 3 centerfires:

243Win
308 Win
338Win Mag

Worldwiwde and considering ammo availability.

223
7x57
375 H&H

Ditto!

.243 Winchester, .280 Remington, 9.3x62 Mauser

22
223
280 AI

I was going to open the thread and type something like "3 cartridges? Are you nuts. These threads are stupid! Blah, blah, blah", or something to that effect. Then, I thought posting that would mean one of two things. 1) I'm just virtue signaling that playing along is somehow beneath me; or, 2) I somehow lack the mental capacity or imagination to play along with a simple and entertaining intellectual exercise.

I couldn't get it down to just three. Agree with 22LR and then I need ten or so more. It doesn't happen this way in nature. Try counting how many different roses there are.

22LR
.308 Win
.375 H&H

I could do this thirty times and come up with 30 different answers, but I'd imagine most of them would include 22LR.

I have no doubt that someone will come along and do it anyway.

In my world:
.22LR
.22 Hornet
6.5x55

Hunt the globe:
.30-06, depending on how well hidden and how far away someone puts it, then maybe 6.5x55. I've had this globe since college and I'd hate to part with it, but admittedly am curious to see if an '06 would blow it up.😁

This. Feel free to replace the 375 with my 378 Bee. Either will do.

I'm good with this, but military rounds aren't welcome everywhere.

222 and 7mag would fix that.

22-250
270 win
458 win mag

223
257 weatherby
308

Or

222
6.5x55
30-06

For you classy dudes.

22LR
257 Weatherby
45-70

22 lr
6mm rem
.30-06 improved

22LR
223
308
These 3 would cover my needs.

22 LR
30-06
12 Gauge

Really surprised nobody has mentioned 12 gauge yet. Probably one of the most versatile cartridges out there. Aren’t any of you wing shooters?

223
270 wsm
375 Ruger

375HHmag
458WM
500NE

(Just in case I picked up the wrong one at the time.)

.22-250
.270
9.3x62

22 LR
270 Winchester
375H&H

That looks pretty good to me. No reason you couldn't it done anywhere with that trio.

17 WSM
12 gauge
30-06

I agree with Ted

Mine too although I could easily substitute a 30/06 for the 308

drover

Yes. or substitute 270 win for 30-06

There is absolutely no way I could limit myself to only 3 to hunt the world if shotguns and rimfires are included. If that is the rule, we are virtually having the 1 centerfire rifle discussion.


I have no plans for dangerous game or Africa, so my 3 centerfires would be:

223 Rem
6.5-284 Norma
30-06

.22LR
30-06
.375 H&H

7x57
.300 H&H
.375 H&H

I'm thinking I could widdle it down to 2

22 creedmoor
35 Whelen

I don't own either one at the moment


Trystan

It would be my tweaked Ruger 10-22, my Kimber Montana 270 (haven't fiddled with the recently acquired 30-06 Subalpine) and my tweaked stainless 375 H&H M70.

This. I firmly believe an person should own an 308win or 30-06 simply for logistics, but I'd be very happy with the former trio provided a shotgun could be added.

6.5 Wolfkiller
338 Wolverine
400 Skuldryl

Flyweight 6.5 CM- 127lrx
Midweight 300 win- 180 Accubond
375 H&H- not sure on bullet.

I could live with that trio

223
270, 280, 30/06, 7 or 300 mag. Choose your poison.
375 HH

Changed mine to this.

As the OP I guess you can clarify the rules

I could be happy with a .17 HMR, a .257 Roberts, and a .44 magnum revolver. I'm going sneak a .58 caliber muzzleloader in past the roolz 'cause it does not fire cartridges. I'd love to add a shotgun but if I had to give something up, that'd be the thing since I don't shoot birds that much anymore.

Tom

Let's fugk up the universe and say that a shotgun and rimfire are already included, so the three options are on top of that.

My world is Pronghorn, Deer, Elk & Moose in NA,
And PG & DG in Africa, and the need to find ammo in Africa if mine is lost in transit.
So, only (3) would have to be:
30-06
375H&H
458Lott (which also shoots 458 WM)

I'll also admit to being a fugktard for not stating that up front. My apologies, but it's a long winter and we have plenty of time to shin kick. I'll take my beatings now...

Glad you clarified, I was going to take my ball and go home.

My choice would be 270, 338-06 and 416 Remington. Not a big predator/varmint hunter.

Feel free to take your ball and kick it into my nutz. I fugged this one up from the jump.

22lr
30-06
12gauge

I posted this before i read the replies so ditto on me for these 3

The belows would be my pick, for today anyways.
I like different rifles & cartridges too much to be satisfied with 3.
These would work for me in my North American world.

223 Rem
7mm WSM
375 Ruger

.22/6mm

.300 Whelen

.375 H&H

If a rimfire is already assumed and I thought my knees could do another elk or moose hunt, I'll switch to this:

.223
7mm-08
.338-06

The closest I'll ever get to an African safari is a trip to the Cleveland zoo with my grandkids.

375 H&H
375 H&H
375 H&H

JFC guys ... eye roll & facepalm

Centerfire rifle/handgun ammo = cartridges .......
(not bullets you SMF'rs)

Shotgun ammo = shotshells
(also not bullets you same SMF'rs)

Works for me...

280 REM
338 ULTRA MAG
458 LOTT

I browsed a South African gun store back in 2014.

I was amazed with the ammo selection in what is considered common stuff but mostly lead tipped cup and core bullets.

When I chose my 3 for the globe I didn't pick my favorites but rather put ammo availability slightly ahead of performance on game and game adaptability of my 3 rounds.

given this, I’ll go with:

.223 (although, I really like my 6.5 Grendel)
7mm-08
30-06

With that……I’m back to one! 😉 memtb

If I'm really honest with myself, then the only species I'll probably ever hunt are Roosevelt elk, black bear, and blacktail deer on tree farms plus feral hogs, Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, and whitetails in open country.

A mid-weight sporter in 30-06 is the biggest thing I consistently shoot well enough for the conditions and species that tree farms offer, and it will easily handle the other stuff. I'd use a repeatable scope that I could dial or spot-and-stalk hunting and a good 3-9 for the rest.

If I have to have three rifles, then I'd want a nine- to 10-pound 30-06 with a 24-26" barrel for spot-and-stalk hunting, a seven-pound 30-06 with a 22" barrel for walking hunts and scouting in bear country, and a 9.3x62 in case I win the lottery and go to Africa. Both 30-06s would use a fast 150-grain TTSX load, and the 9.3 would get a 286-grain Nosler Partition at 2,450 fps.


Okie John

222 remington
300 wby
416 wby

It's a new day so I'm changing my answer

223
6.5 creedmoor
35 Whelen

All three work with Varget Powder and I'm trying to simplify things

Trystan

.22LR
.303 Savage ( because it comes in a pre-war R configuration. So handy. And cool.
30-06

Of course have to have a 12 gauge also.

,..........Of my 4 below, the 300wsm would be the odd man out.....28 Nosler, 338-378 Bee and the 375 Ruger.....Peachy

My world? 223, 30-06 and something else just for fun. Maybe the 45-70, as it comes in some neat rifles. The 308 also is fun, owing to the wide variety of rifle options.

As a hand loader, the 223 and 30-06 would really cover the hunting as each is tremendously versatile. Several other other cartridges could replace the ‘06 of course and a similar choice would work as well.

22-250

30-06

458 WM

Or maybe

223

280

416 Ruger

I could cover a lot of situations with three that I currently own & enjoy shooting:

6.5x55
300 HAM'R
375 H&H

But this question was painful to answer because of all the cartridges I am now forced to live without & had to cast aside like I don't love them anymore.

A more reasonable number of choices like ten or maybe two dozen would have been better.

225 Winchester
7x64 Brenneke
425 Westley Richards

I’ll probably never make Africa so…

.22 LR
.308 Win
.340 Weatherby

* Include the .22 & 12ga? I’d add a .223

Yep

If it didn't hurt at least a little, there wouldn't be a challenge.

Winner for most obsolete cartridge selections, by a mile.

easy button would be .223, .308, 35 whelen

fun button would be 6x45, 7-08, 338-06

lever action button would be 22lr, 25-35, 30-40

Sycamore, you get to drop the rimfire on your lever action choices. It's already a part of your bag, along with a shotgun.

I wanted to make sure I'd be able to find ammo

Three cartridges for my hunting? I dont hunt predators/varmints anymore, I only hunt Whitetails these days so I can easily do it with one cartridge and it would save me a pile on reloading supplies

.308 Win Or 30-06 would do nicely as my cartridge

BUT I would like to have three different rifles chambered in same 😀.....Good hunting..Hb

257 weatherby would cover anything I'm likely hunt at this point, I'll throw in 300 win. On the off chance I draw a moose tag.

25-35, 30-40, 358Win (last in SAV model 99)

222
300 H&H
400 Whelen

Centrefire only would be: 22-250, .308 Win, .375 H&H
3 firearms only: .22LR, 30-06, 12 Ga

“To hunt the globe”….

9.3-62

27PRC (aka 277 Whelen)

22 CM

Those were the choices I had in my head before reading the thread.

22-250
6.5x55
45-70

223

308

375 HH

22lr
308 Win Lightweight
308 Win Midweight

The Globe means every game on the globe not what you personally and realistically will encounter........I am thinking.

Yep

Heck....if you live in SA and aren't a PH I believe you are limited at two guns regardless of chamberings

^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^


That’s exactly the way I interpreted the OP’s intent! Not what you “will” hunt with …..but, if you had unlimited means and would be hunting all corners of our planet, though limited to three cartridge choices!

Sometimes we must venture outside of our “tiny box” and view a larger theoretical picture! memtb

For those who don't read the entire thread before posting, here is a clarification from the OP.

😄

I'm aware. My choices remain.

22 LR will kill almost anything

30-06 ammo can be found anywhere and a great all around cartridge

12 gauge birdshot or slug very versatile

22lr : Anschutz 1827B Biathlon Rifle
222 : Sako A1
30-06 : Brno ZG-47

5.56, 30/06 and 375 H&H

Yeah my choice also remains the same, I wont be hunting the globe Myself just My little corner of it.....Good hunting....Hb

Ok, I'll Bite......
.223 Ruger M77 HE Predator....
.30-06 Rem 700 Mtn. Rifle.....
.375 MK-V SS DGR Weatherby Mag......

And by the way, all 3-Three of these are Currently in my Gun Safe.....

Lj

Ditto.

.22LR
6.5x55
.308

22lr, .223, 6.5prc

Like the others,

375 H&H
223 Rem

The third one is hard...

270, 280, 280 AI or 30-06.

However, they sort of overlap the 375H&H in my opinion. Maybe a 7x57 instead...

.300 Win Mag - have owned eight, but none currently.
9.3 x 62 - has replaced all my mediums (.338 to .375), except for a new .35 Whelen.
.458 Win Mag - the most versatile cartridge extant in my opinion, and my favorite being a handloader. Bullets from 250gr to 600gr on my shelves, loaded from traditional BP era ballistics to 6000 ft_lbs.

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

I would edit to:

.223
9.3 x 62
.458 Win Mag - the most versatile cartridge extant in my opinion, and my favorite being a handloader. Bullets from 250gr to 600gr on my shelves, loaded from traditional BP era ballistics to 6000 ft_lbs.

I also have .458 WM and Lott shotshells

For me, assuming .22 LR and 12 gauge:

.223 Rem
.308 Win
.375 H&H

55 grain, 130 grain, 270 grain makes a nice doubling of bullet weights, especially considering TSX bullets.

All are commonplace hunting cartridges with great barrel life. From extensive reading, they all punch above their recoil. Also I have no intention of taking game past 300 yards.

The .223 because the ballistics are similar to the .308. Good for practice.

The .308 because both target and hunting rifles could be had. Hard not to pick the .30-06 though. If the OP was about calibres, the answer wouldn't change but I would include .30-06 under the.308 heading.

The .375 H&H because it can be had in both the Model 70 Safari rifle and the lighter Model 70 Alaskan.

.22 lr
30 06 or .308
375 Ruger or H&H

458 Lott shotshells? Are you shooting flying dinosaurs?

243, 30-06, 375 H&H

.458 shot shells……sounds like a great way to make your DGR serve double duty as a close range, small game firearm! I know that I’m pretty pleased with the shot shells I make for my 460 Smith! I’m using ful length .444 Marlin brass, which is a little shorter than .458 WM brass! memtb

I guess you could hunt anything on the globe with a .458 if you threw in a few .458 shotshells. Birds to Elephants.

Exactly! That’s pretty good versatility! 😉 memtb

12ga

308 - 165 NPT, 200 NPT

22 Hornet
12 gauge
7x57

.222mag…308….458. The ability, as mentioned above, to load it with enough birdshot to make it worthwhile sort of eliminates the need for a .22. I know it’s sacrilege to not include the .22 but for delicate small game and birds where the .22 would shine the .458 loaded with birdshot would be excellent.

Assumes a rimfire and a shotgun are allowed without penalty. These are choices for use in hunting, not target, tactical, self defense, or whatever.

North America, .22 WMR, .223/5.56, .30-06, .338 Win Mag, 20 Gauge,

World wide, .22 LR, .223/5.56, .30-06, ,375 H & H, 12 Gauge,

22lr, 308 win, 375 h&h or 9,3x62

22 hornet. 284win, 45-70

Ideally, 219 Zipper, 30-30 Win, 45-70 Gov all in the Marlin 336 platform. But alas, I've never even laid eyes on a 219 Zipper.