4 Rifles to Do It All???

[wtfooptimax200]

Being bored today I was sitting around pondering...

As much I love all different types of rifles and calibers I was thinking that it would be really nice to have a few similar rifles that would cover all of my bases for any hunting trip that I may be fortunate enough to go on. This is what I came up with:

All guns would be stainless bolt action rifles with a high quality synthetic stock and decent glass (Leupold VXIII class)

-223 Rem (varmints)
-260 Rem (whitetails, antelope, hogs, small black bears, sheep)
-300 Win Mag (mule deer, elk, moose, caribou)
-375 H&H (Africa, Alaska)

I understand that there is some overlap between guns, but I'm looking for optimum performance for each hunt without getting excessive.

What are you thoughts?

[jumbeaux]

I'll play.....
.22 LR in a quality walnut stocked bolt..........Remington 541 with a fixed power scope (FX 3 Leupold)

30-06 in a quality walnut stocked bolt..........Commerical Mauser (Rigby style) with a variable scope (1.1 X 5 Zeiss)

375 H&H in a quality walnut stocked SXS......H&H with Express flip up sights and a fixed power claw mount detachable Zeiss

Old school and I am dreaming but that is what it's all about....

rick

[I'll Make Mine]

Hmm. I'm going along with .22 LR (well, preferably a tube-magazine, bolt action so I can shoot shorts, long, long rifle, Colibris, etc.) for squirrels and rabbits, and for having a lot of ammunition on hand for not too much money in case of long term social unrest. Beyond that, sticking with rifles only, I'd have to choose .308 Win over .30-06 -- easier to get ammunition for these days since it'll fire current 7.62 NATO, and the ballistic difference is pretty small. Next up from there would be a .350 Win Mag -- can be loaded anywhere from "mouse fart" level below .38 Special factory loads, up to ballistics that will take anything in North America without any questions. Finally, I'd have a .45-70; that's the one I could keep shooting for a long, long time by reloading primers and making my own black powder, for stuff too big to shoot with the .22 -- the other rifle for long term living off the land.

[nhrifle]

Shotguns not included, here are my choices -- all are bolt action or single shot: .22 LR, iron sights; .308, scoped; .375 H&H Mag, iron sights; 45/70. Those should pretty much cover anything that walks or crawls on the earth.

[starmac]

I reckon the two I will never be without would be a 22 and a 300 savage, throw in a 12 gauge, and I would be happy enough. I never plan on going to Africa though. lol

[singleshot]

Lately, I've been doing it all with a Mosin. Before that I was doing it all with a Ruger 77/44. I may go thru a spell of doing it all with my 35 Rem...although, I have not been to Africa either. I find that when reloading with cast, just about any rifle can do it all.

[rmcc]

My 2 cents:
Win 52 22LR
Win 70 243
Win 7030/06
Rem 700 375 H&H
If I had to pick....which I don't LOL!!!

Rich

[camotruck]

Do I have to pick from what I have now or just the 4 I feel I'd have to have if I were limited to any four?

Wow this is a little tougher that I thought. I really thought I'd rattle off 4 and be done. I like the idea of the bolt 22LR cheap and east to carry ammo. I have a lever in 22 and a good ole 10/22 so one of those if I have to chose from the stable then I think the AR comes along next, just because it's so versatile. But I have to admit it spends a lot of time in the safe. Now for a long range gun, I think my 7mm Rem Mag. I have a 300 Win Mag that will do the same thing but the higher BC in lighter bullets make me enjoy the 7 a little more. Finally I think a shotty has to be on the list. A 12 Gauge. From bird shot to a big slug and some home defense too.

Looking at it from a Cast Boolit direction easy 30/30 35 Rem 45/70 and my 357 Mag. or the 460S&W

When the come take all the high capacity stuff, you know anything over two rounds, my 50 cal flinter my Encore frames X2 with all the barrels and my Ruger #1 in 7 STW

I'd hate to have to choose 4
Camo

[fatboy]

my henry 22 LR, my 1917 remington 30-06 and vary the loads for what ever critter im goin after, and a shot gun would be nice but not necessary. Some one else can have the other one :)

[Artful]

I had read some article in the past and wanted a single swap barrel rifle that used the same head size.

I Picked Winchester post 64 model 70, uses Savage Jam nut to quick change the barrels

- decided on Barrels in
22-250 Varmints - 20x Lyman Scope.
30'06 Med to Large game 3x9 scope.
35 Whelen Large to Dangerous North American Game 1x4 or 1.5x5 scope.
and of course you would need a 22LR in similar bolt action trim 2x7 scope.

In reality I now have barrels 22-250, 243, 308, .30'06 and am looking for a 358 WCF barrel or one to chamber.

So you can order up a Thompson/Center Dimension Rifle and do the same thing now without the custom costs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6DOnc_uSqGw

[snowwolfe]

I been down sizing my collection lately and am selling off most of my left handed bolt rifles but keeping all my double rifles. We reach a point where to many is just a PITA to maintain and store. I went to a Blaser R8 system and first two barrels are 30-06 and a 9.3x62. Figure with these two calibers can kill anything that walks in North America. Might add a 270 or 25-06 down the road if it is required.
Not getting rid of any of my .22's or 22 mags. They have way to many uses and don't require any reloading:)

[starmac]

If a guy thinks about it, owning multiple rifles is a relatively new thing. I still know several people that owned and used the same rifle pretty much all their life.

[I'll Make Mine]

I still know several people that owned and used the same rifle pretty much all their life.

Well, I was going along with the game; I don't own any of the rifles I listed. Although I do have a .22 LR semi-auto (box magazine, not tube), unless I like it a great deal I'll most likely trade it on a tube fed bolt action when I'm done using it for Appleseed. Other than that, I've got a Mosin Nagant that should do anything a .308 will, and is a lot cheaper to feed (I've got around 600 rounds of surplus ammo left that cost me 16 cents a round); it'll take anything in North America, though I'd have to choose my loads with care for bison, grizzly, Kodiak, and polar bears (fortunately, those are pretty rare in North Carolina) -- and it's fairly probable the Mosin will be my only centerfire rifle for a long time, since anything else I can afford will be so ballistically similar as not to bother.

[wtfooptimax200]

I forgot the lowly 22....how could I do that? That would certainly be in addition to the other four.

[atr]

I only need three
.22 single shot
.257 roberts
7x57 Mauser
for the 4th add a .308

[LUCKYDAWG13]

that's easy my Encore
209x50
308 win
12ga tky barrel
and a 22lr barrel
dint see the no shotgun part so my smooth bore 12ga
with rifle sights

[richhodg66]

A good .22 LR, a .223, a .30-06 (or .308) and a .35 Whelen. I'd swap one of the centerfire rifles for a 12 gauge if it was allowed.

[o6Patient]

.22 rim fire, 25-06, 7mm mag, 375 h&h or was it .223 .270 .338 .416 no I think
it was a 243, 280, 338, 458, ah 17hmr,6mm,30-06, 375 RUM wait a 22 mag, 25-06
a7mm rem and a 338 win mag no no no a 22 lr a 6mm a 270 Weatherby and a 375 RUG
wait a 243, 280ai 338RUM, 416no wait i got it................................................ ..........
wait.............................................. .............................no................... .............
.................................................. .................................................. ...............
wheeehhhw, maybe I need more than 4................................................. ...........
.................................................. .................................................. ...............

[W.R.Buchanan]

My.02.

My .22 cal Mauser ES340B single shot with CRF.

A .223 either my Kel-Tec SU16CA or an AR 15.

My Gunsite Scout.

My Marlin 1895CB .45-70.

These selections cover everything from Rats to Elephants, including all species of two and four legged Rats.

Randy

[pressonregardless]

Here's where I'm at.....

.22 Cooey Bolt / tube fed
M77/250 Sav International
Ruger No1/ 7x57 International
Marlin M375

Thinking hard about a 77/357....

[xacex]

How about one rifle with 4 uppers? I would say a 5.56/.223 for varmints or small game, 300blk, or 6.5 grendel for medium game depending on how far you need to reach out, 50 beowulf for large game in close, and 300 OSSM/WSSM for reaching out to large game. All in a light, corrosion resistant, reliable platform that the AR is. You could cut that down to 2 to or 3 uppers depending on what you are hunting, and if you could live without .223. I prefer .22LR for what that would accomplish anyway, and with a 6.5 you end up covering more from small to large game. There is several stories including one with a whole write up of people taking elk with the 6.5 out to 400 yards. Would I do it? Nope, good old 3006 for that role.

[fouronesix]

22rf Win M52 sporter
222 Rem 600
270 or 30-06 Win M70
416 Win M70

[jp99]

.22 lr.
.357 magnum
.308
.45-70

I could honestly live with just a .308 or .45-70......aw I can live with just the .357

Regards,

JP99

[Bullshop]

Wow its hard to choose but I think I can narrow it down to my,
Marlin 45/70
Browning 45/70
Rem Roller 45/70
And my favorite Trapdoor 45/70
That aught to cover about everything.

[longhorn]

Uh, why 4? How about .22LR (Savage-Anschutz for me, choose based on accuracy), then a .223 (Colt AR-15 for me) good for varmints (2 or 4 legged up to 200 pounds or so, IMHO), and then a .375 H&H (my Model 70) and you can hunt the world! Now, if I could just bear to sell all the toys...............

[Marvin S]

22RF
25-20
30/06
45 Flintlock

[kweidner]

that's easy my Encore
209x50
308 win
12ga tky barrel
and a 22lr barrel
dint see the no shotgun part so my smooth bore 12ga
with rifle sights

Exact same here but i have a .280 bbl in the centerfire.

[migtek02]

I may or may not have the following
Winchester 141 tube fed shoots 22short 22long and 22lr Saiga 223. Marlin 308. 12G shotgun

[Bulltipper]

OK, for me a .22 long, a .308, a 12 ga (I know it's not a rifle) and a .50BMG

[bcr]

.22 LR - Browning BL-22
.44 Mag. - Browning B-92
.308 Win. - Steyr Scout
45-70 - Marlin Guide Gun

[twraska]

A good .22 lever action, but a bolt action would do just as well for small critters.
AR-15 just for mass of lead it can throw.
30.06 with a VariX III 4.5-15 X 50 scope, will take out anything in North America.
Last one is a toss up between a 22.250 with scope for long range coyotes or a 30-30 open sights. Kept an open sight 30-30 in pickup for years and got first deer with one (legally, not out of pickup). HMMMMM,,,,,, I guess I'll have to let the 22-250 go and keep the 30-30.

[o6Patient]

.22 rim fire, 25-06, 7mm mag, 375 h&h or was it .223 .270 .338 .416 no I think
it was a 243, 280, 338, 458, ah 17hmr,6mm,30-06, 375 RUM wait a 22 mag, 25-06
a7mm rem and a 338 win mag no no no a 22 lr a 6mm a 270 Weatherby and a 375 RUG
wait a 243, 280ai 338RUM, 416no wait i got it................................................ ..........
wait.............................................. .............................no................... .............
.................................................. .................................................. ...............
wheeehhhw, maybe I need more than 4................................................. ...........
.................................................. .................................................. ...............
1-...ah a 22 rim fire bolt rem , anschutz or kimber, tack driver -sporter weight barrel
2- A 2506 rem sporter weight bolt action-----------(B-243 win """
3- A 30-06AI in sporter weight custom bolt action-(B-7rem mag""""
4- A 375 H&H mag-----------------------------------(B- 338 RUM""""

[colt1960]

I would choose 22lr, 30-06, 45-70, and a 12 gauge. Rick!

[wch]

Just one gun will do everything you need to do: 12 ga shotgun with rifled and smoothbore barrels and a selection of shells.

[starmac]

Just one gun will do everything you need to do: 12 ga shotgun with rifled and smoothbore barrels and a selection of shells.

Wrong answer. That answer is for the threads that only allows one gun, this one allows us four, MO BETTER.

[Artful]

Just one gun will do everything you need to do: 12 ga shotgun with rifled and smoothbore barrels and a selection of shells.

Oh, we have to go long range varmint hunting together
- you bring your 12 ga and I'll bring my swap barrel - it will be a blast
- I promise no more than 400 rounds in a day will be fired
- and what do you think 25 cents per kill made by the other fellow?

Don't forget your scope.

[wch]

OK, Artful-
You're on; since you issued the challenge, I pick the venue, OK?

[waksupi]

I wanna watch this long range varmint shooting with a shotgun. By the way, only hits count!

[Artful]

Well, I'm a heat loving Arizona guy now - what you got in mind, and we'll see if my constitution is up to it :mrgreen:

[DCM]

It could be 3.
22LR for the small stuff and plinking
260Rem vermin to moose with proper loading and placement.
375H&H or 375 Ruger For large angry stuff and even medium game with proper loads.
The Ruger is a more affordable rifle and folks here are only going to buy brass once anyways.

[wch]

Texas brush country-walk 'em up (hogs and dogs). Dogs being coyotes, of course.

[DCM]

I wanna watch this long range varmint shooting with a shotgun. By the way, only hits count!

When we play only one shot kills count.
Vertical lift is a bonus point, horizontal is too but only if you call it before the shot.:2_high5:
Our best winner took a prairie dog off of another ones back while mating.:shock:
He said "I aint getting any neither is he". [smilie=l:
I was neat to see her turn around and look for him!:shock:
We had to take a break to settle down after that one.:drinks:

[izzyjoe]

there are many cartridges in the world today, and so many of them duplicate some that have been around for a long time. the 6.5x55 is a great one, for hunting it will kill anything in North America. there are so many great one's, but if i had to pick four.
22lr. of course
222 rem.
6.5x55
44 mag.
My grandfather told me long ago that a man only need's three, 22 rifle, 30-30, and a 12ga. i'm learning the hard way he was right!

[Artful]

Texas brush country-walk 'em up (hogs and dogs). Dogs being coyotes, of course.

I'm not up to walking in the brush anymore - the days of my youth curling up the hills behind me are long gone.

Lets try this as a postal - Life size Hogs and Yote targets
- using weapon of choice take to longest range you can consistently keep 4 of 5 on the target
(lets be easy on ourselves and say a hit anywhere on the target printed area - yep hooves count).

How about we use this coyote target
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B001E8SYKU/ref=dp_image_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=3375251&s=sporting-goods

and this hog target - just 'cuz I found him so cute.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0057ILU5O/ref=dp_image_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=3375251&s=sporting-goods

and for more what I had in mind print out some of these on standard 8 1/2x11
http://www.reloadbench.com/pdf/files/varmint.pdf

I'll have to order targets payday (middle of Jan) so lets put results up end of Feb. - Does that work for you?
We can record the distance (Laser range finder or tape or even paces (give ave. of pace length))
and post picture of range and of a representative target of each of the 3.

this way anyone else who wants to try their skills.

[RugerFan]

Being bored today I was sitting around pondering...

As much I love all different types of rifles and calibers I was thinking that it would be really nice to have a few similar rifles that would cover all of my bases for any hunting trip that I may be fortunate enough to go on. This is what I came up with:

All guns would be stainless bolt action rifles with a high quality synthetic stock and decent glass (Leupold VXIII class)

-223 Rem (varmints)
-260 Rem (whitetails, antelope, hogs, small black bears, sheep)
-300 Win Mag (mule deer, elk, moose, caribou)
-375 H&H (Africa, Alaska)

I understand that there is some overlap between guns, but I'm looking for optimum performance for each hunt without getting excessive.

What are you thoughts?

I actually like your choices. The only caliber I would be inclined to tweak would be the .260 Rem. I would bump it up slightly to 7mm-08 to get a little heavier bullets.

[DCM]

I'm not up to walking in the brush anymore - the days of my youth curling up the hills behind me are long gone.

Lets try this as a postal - Life size Hogs and Yote targets
- using weapon of choice take to longest range you can consistently keep 4 of 5 on the target
(lets be easy on ourselves and say a hit anywhere on the target printed area - yep hooves count).

How about we use this coyote target
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B001E8SYKU/ref=dp_image_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=3375251&s=sporting-goods

and this hog target - just 'cuz I found him so cute.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0057ILU5O/ref=dp_image_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=3375251&s=sporting-goods

and for more what I had in mind print out some of these on standard 8 1/2x11
http://www.reloadbench.com/pdf/files/varmint.pdf

I'll have to order targets payday (middle of Jan) so lets put results up end of Feb. - Does that work for you?
We can record the distance (Laser range finder or tape or even paces (give ave. of pace length))
and post picture of range and of a representative target of each of the 3.

this way anyone else who wants to try their skills.

Sounds like a blast, literally.

[MT Gianni]

4 cartridges for world hunting?
222 Remington Mag
7mm 08
338 Win Mag
416 Remington

[wch]

Good idea!
I hope some of you other varmint hunters join in.....
(That hog target is impressive.)
Oh, yeah, since the original specification was "walk 'em up", we're shooting offhand only, right?

[wch]

Artful,
Snow and cold weather may influence just when I will be able to shoot (too old for the decathlon/survival/shooting game) but I have ordered the targets and as soon as I can , I'll shoot 'em up; the Nosler target prints nicely to 8 1/2x 11.

[Lloyd Smale]

id say a 22lr a 3030 or even a 44 mag lever gun, an ar in 223, and a good old 06 bolt. A guy could take care of anyting 4 legged or two legged anywhere in the US

[Houndog]

I can narrow the choices down to just 2. A 22LR in a CZ 452 and my old M40A1. I KNOW for a fact that old .308 WILL kill a water Buffalo! It's shot placement that counts more than what you are shooting! To round it out to the 4 requested by the OP, a .223 in an AR15 for varmints, both 2 and 4 legged and a 416 or a .458 in a double rifle for the REAL heavy lifting.

[rockrat]

Hmm. 4 rifles you say. Nothing about only 4 calibers

AR platform with various uppers(22lr,300blk,7.62x39, 9mm, 50beo)

308 Win---Rem 700 bdl

375 H&H---Ruger #1 stainless

45-70---Marlin stainless

[David2011]

Fun read. I like that it's a hunting trip speculation over an EOTWAWKI situation. If I had to make choices I wouldn't want to be without a .22 bolt action- fewest moving parts to break. Second would be my 6.5x55 which will take most big game in North America with a heavier bullet and isn't a bad varminter with a lighter bullet. It's also good for great distances. I would not feel undergunned with just those two. The last choice would be my .375 H&H because it's so incredibly versatile. A fourth rifle, an unnecessary luxury, would be an intermidiate between the 6.5 and the .375.
David

[waksupi]

Where did the long range varmint part go?


Good idea!
I hope some of you other varmint hunters join in.....
(That hog target is impressive.)
Oh, yeah, since the original specification was "walk 'em up", we're shooting offhand only, right?

[wtfooptimax200]

Hmm. 4 rifles you say. Nothing about only 4 calibers

AR platform with various uppers(22lr,300blk,7.62x39, 9mm, 50beo)

308 Win---Rem 700 bdl

375 H&H---Ruger #1 stainless

45-70---Marlin stainless

Wow i like the way that you think...cheating the system while still following the rules. That should be worth bonus points!

[Whiterabbit]

Could be three for me too.

Mauser sporter in 7x57 for rats to deer, varmints (for me) to 300 yards easy.
500 A-square for elk to Africa including long range target shooting
58 cal flintlock.

since you gave me four I add a break action 12 ga for birds.

Once the 338 gets rebarreled to 500, this is exactly my hunting battery. From 7mm cast with trailboss to yet unknown full-house loads in a true 50 cal, it'll do it all.

The spirit of these posts is FOUR CARTRIDGES, no switchbarreling allowed for max fun-ness of the thread. More specifically, I have more fun reading responses that fly by the spirit of the topic rather than find workarounds. No reason not to pick a switchbarrel AR, handi, or TC as long as you limit to 4 cartridges to follow the spirit of the thread. Otherwise, enjoy writing. But I enjoy responses with 4 cals only better.

I like how most people pick a 375 H&H for big bore work. For some reason, the 500 tickles me just a little pinker. I'm surprised NOONE picked a 416 rig or 458 Lott instead though. Particularly 458 Lott.

[Artful]

Good idea!
I hope some of you other varmint hunters join in.....
(That hog target is impressive.)
Oh, yeah, since the original specification was "walk 'em up", we're shooting offhand only, right?

Ok, how about this?

Let's pick one target for standing/off hand - Don't want to waste to many shells - and do we allow rifle slings?

And the other two targets any field position but no bench rest, no shooting stick(s) and no bipod.

[Artful]

Artful,
Snow and cold weather may influence just when I will be able to shoot (too old for the decathlon/survival/shooting game) but I have ordered the targets and as soon as I can , I'll shoot 'em up; the Nosler target prints nicely to 8 1/2x 11.

We can push the date back by 30 to end of March if that will work for you - or do you think you'll need more time?

[jethunter]

22 rimfire
.223
30-06
.375 H&H

[wch]

Artful,
Slings are OK with me, your ideas for course of fire are fine.
End of March should be good.

[Artful]

Want to use the Hog target for standing :Fire:

[wch]

OK.
Since the Nosler (dog) target is smaller, I was thinking that we should use it, but the hog is alright if you want.

[Artful]

I doubt I'd be charged by digger but Hog - yeah I can set that. That's why I liked him.

[Red Sky]

Wow its hard to choose but I think I can narrow it down to my,
Marlin 45/70
Browning 45/70
Rem Roller 45/70
And my favorite Trapdoor 45/70
That aught to cover about everything.

I like the way you think.

[429421Cowboy]

Assuming centerfire, for hunting aroung the world per the op's specs; My Browning BLR .243, my m700 7mm rem mag, if i really felt like i needed more on either end, a .416 Rigby bolt rifle and a bolt action .22-250. If i could only have two rifles to hunt here it'd be the 7mag and .243 i already have, or go .243 and .338 Win mag. If i could only have one rifle to hunt everything i'd find in this state, without a doubt it would be my 7mm.