Taylor Jarrell
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In everyone's opinion what rifle caliber must you have one of in the safe? I'm gonna go ahead and exclude 30-06 due to the versatility of handloads.
Must have rifle calibers.
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NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Ummmmm...you mean INCLUDE .30-06, I assume......
In which case, I agree as I believe every red-blooded 'Murican should have a Garand or '03 Springfield. Preferably both!
We will give you a pass for a P17 Enfield too....
Massive bonus points for a '41 Johnson!
Captains1911
Member
.308 WIN, because ammo is plentiful, it's accurate out to 1000 yds or so, recoil is very manageable, and it can take any medium to large size game in North America.
Taylor Jarrell
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If I include it then that'll be the only caliber people chooseUmmmmm...you mean INCLUDE .30-06, I assume......
In which case, I agree as I believe every red-blooded 'Murican should have a Garand or '03 Springfield. Preferably both!
We will give you a pass for a P17 Enfield too....
Massive bonus points for a '41 Johnson!
Taylor Jarrell
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It may also be relevant to let you all know I don't reload (not that I don't want to, the family member planning to teach me works a lot). So factory ammo is a factor.
Corpral_Agarn
Member
22lr
223 Remington
308 Winchester
30-30 Winchester
For me that covers pretty much every thing...
223 Remington
308 Winchester
30-30 Winchester
For me that covers pretty much every thing...
Good Ol' Boy
Member
.22, .223, .308.
I will probably get something bigger eventually but it would be "just to have".
I feel that the above three cover pretty much all the bases.
I will probably get something bigger eventually but it would be "just to have".
I feel that the above three cover pretty much all the bases.
Everyone needs a 22. That's about it if you're wanting specific cartridges.
If you hunt varmints a 17, 20, 22 or 24 caliber center fire would be nice. Pick the one you like. For everything from deer up to elk and moose any modern bottle neck cartridge firing pointed bullets in 24 caliber to 35 caliber does the same thing. It comes down to how far you want to shoot, how much recoil you're willing to put up with, ammo costs and availability, and personal preference. If you limit it to deer even the center fire 22's work. The 24 and 25 calibers are getting borderline for the really big stuff, but have proven they will work with careful shot placement and bullet choices. For dangerous game pick anything 375 mag and bigger. A good argument can be made for the 375 for everything from deer on up.
My choices: And I make no claims that any of these are any better than any other choices. But they are mine.
22 rimfire for small game
223 for varmints and deer in a pinch
308/30-06 general big game
I'll never hunt dangerous game, but if I did I like the versatility of the 375's. I'd probably go with the 375 Ruger.
I listed 308 and 30-06 together. I've owned, and hunted with a 30-06 since the 1970's and have rifles with too much history to part with. But today I think the 308 is the better option.
I also own a 6.5 Creedmoor. I like it, but don't put it into the "must have" category yet. But it does perfectly bridge the gap between 223 and 308 in caliber and usefulness. I also own quite a few lever actions in several traditional cartridges. They are fun guns, but not "must haves" unless nostalgia is more important than practicality.
If you hunt varmints a 17, 20, 22 or 24 caliber center fire would be nice. Pick the one you like. For everything from deer up to elk and moose any modern bottle neck cartridge firing pointed bullets in 24 caliber to 35 caliber does the same thing. It comes down to how far you want to shoot, how much recoil you're willing to put up with, ammo costs and availability, and personal preference. If you limit it to deer even the center fire 22's work. The 24 and 25 calibers are getting borderline for the really big stuff, but have proven they will work with careful shot placement and bullet choices. For dangerous game pick anything 375 mag and bigger. A good argument can be made for the 375 for everything from deer on up.
My choices: And I make no claims that any of these are any better than any other choices. But they are mine.
22 rimfire for small game
223 for varmints and deer in a pinch
308/30-06 general big game
I'll never hunt dangerous game, but if I did I like the versatility of the 375's. I'd probably go with the 375 Ruger.
I listed 308 and 30-06 together. I've owned, and hunted with a 30-06 since the 1970's and have rifles with too much history to part with. But today I think the 308 is the better option.
I also own a 6.5 Creedmoor. I like it, but don't put it into the "must have" category yet. But it does perfectly bridge the gap between 223 and 308 in caliber and usefulness. I also own quite a few lever actions in several traditional cartridges. They are fun guns, but not "must haves" unless nostalgia is more important than practicality.
For me .22, 30-06, 308, 375 H&H. 375 kind of negates the 30-06 though
.455_Hunter
Member
I like 7x57mm
tark
Member
Uhhhhh.....there's probably a good reason for that.If I include it then that'll be the only caliber people choose
BullRunBear
Member
22lr, 30-30 (great for cast bullet loads), 308, 30-06 (of course), 45/70 (black powder cartridge).
Jeff
Jeff
patmccoy
Member
22lr
If I already had a 22lr and a 12 gauge shotgun, and I could only choose one other caliber, it would be 7.62×39.
It's cheap, it's plentiful, and it's versatile.
It's a pretty decent combat round that penetrates barriers better than most people realize with fmj ammo.
It's accurate out to 300 yards using garbage ammo with Optics and the right platform
Your basic $10 box of Tula Ammo in the 154 grain soft point flavor that you can buy at Walmart will kill any animal in North America. While it certainly wouldn't be the best choice for brown bear or bison, it will consistently drop them no different than a 30-30 with proper shot placement.
It's cheap, it's plentiful, and it's versatile.
It's a pretty decent combat round that penetrates barriers better than most people realize with fmj ammo.
It's accurate out to 300 yards using garbage ammo with Optics and the right platform
Your basic $10 box of Tula Ammo in the 154 grain soft point flavor that you can buy at Walmart will kill any animal in North America. While it certainly wouldn't be the best choice for brown bear or bison, it will consistently drop them no different than a 30-30 with proper shot placement.
Get out the flame thrower ..
Wait for it ...
So for me it's (almost) the same:
223 Remington
308 Winchester
but ..
ok, light the flamethrowers now ...
7.62x39 is the new 30-30
so mine is 7.62x39 and NOT 30-30
[dons flameproof suit]
ok, flames on ...
Corpral_Agarn
Member
JK.
No need for flame suit.
I do need an AK in my life but there is just no way I could NOT have an '94 in my safe.
TTv2
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.22
.223/5.56
.308
7.62x39
.50 caliber muzzleloader
9/.40/.45 carbine
The carbine is whatever your preferred pistol caliber is in. Not saying I think .45 ACP carbines are exceptional for long range, but if all you had was .45 ACP ammo available to you, you're better off shooting it in a rifle than a pistol.
.22 LR is obvious why, .223/5.56 more for availability and low cost to its performance, .308 because capable of killing anything in the Western Hemisphere and is very long range capable, and the .50 caliber muzzleloader because it will always be legal and has a reloading press built into the ramrod.
Given it's low cost and great medium range (250 yards) performance, the 7.62x39 is becoming a must have thanks to panic buys for the other cartridges. It's always a good idea to be invested in a cartridge that's not one of the popular ones. I remember during the Dark Times seeing .600 Nitro Express was available while nothing else was. Obviously an extreme example, but you get the point.
I'll also mention that I'm seeing more and more the merits of the .35 Whelen, which is like a .300 BLK, but necked up from a .30-06. .35 Whelen has more power than .30-06 and is a reasonably priced big game cartridge.
.223/5.56
.308
7.62x39
.50 caliber muzzleloader
9/.40/.45 carbine
The carbine is whatever your preferred pistol caliber is in. Not saying I think .45 ACP carbines are exceptional for long range, but if all you had was .45 ACP ammo available to you, you're better off shooting it in a rifle than a pistol.
.22 LR is obvious why, .223/5.56 more for availability and low cost to its performance, .308 because capable of killing anything in the Western Hemisphere and is very long range capable, and the .50 caliber muzzleloader because it will always be legal and has a reloading press built into the ramrod.
Given it's low cost and great medium range (250 yards) performance, the 7.62x39 is becoming a must have thanks to panic buys for the other cartridges. It's always a good idea to be invested in a cartridge that's not one of the popular ones. I remember during the Dark Times seeing .600 Nitro Express was available while nothing else was. Obviously an extreme example, but you get the point.
I'll also mention that I'm seeing more and more the merits of the .35 Whelen, which is like a .300 BLK, but necked up from a .30-06. .35 Whelen has more power than .30-06 and is a reasonably priced big game cartridge.
M118LR
member
I noticed that you didn't specify centerfire rifle caliber. I also noticed that you didn't specify game animal or range. This sounds allot like those one rifle/caliber combo questions? Perhaps I could ask a simpler question? What one rifle caliber ain't going to be in the safe? ?
TTv2
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- 4,987
I agree with the .30-30, I just don't see it's advantage as time marches on through the 21st Century. If the idea is it's great for lead bullets, lever action rifles, etc. the introduction of magnum revolver cartridges put the .30-30 to pasture. A .44 Mag or .454 Casull rifle has more power than .30-30 does and can be used with lead bullets just fine.
I'd almost say the same about .45-70, but because that case is so huge, one can load it with birdshot or three .45 round balls and use it as a short range .410 shotgun. If one isn't shooting .45-70 in a Ruger #1 and is using standard bullets and standard pressure loads in a trapdoor or lever action... man I just don't see how it's better than a .44 Mag or .45 Colt 1892 lever rifle. .45-70 is a very cost prohibitive cartridge.
Mosin Bubba
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Everyone who calls himself a shooter's got to have a 22.
Other than that, it all depends on what you're looking to do. If I lived out West and wanted to hunt deer and elk, I'd have a 270. If I lived in say Houston or LA and the only places I had to shoot a gun were 50 yard ranges, 223 is all the rifle I could use. If I lived in the Midwest and was just interested in shooting trap and pheasants, I may not have a centerfire rifle at all.
But everyone should have a 22.
Other than that, it all depends on what you're looking to do. If I lived out West and wanted to hunt deer and elk, I'd have a 270. If I lived in say Houston or LA and the only places I had to shoot a gun were 50 yard ranges, 223 is all the rifle I could use. If I lived in the Midwest and was just interested in shooting trap and pheasants, I may not have a centerfire rifle at all.
But everyone should have a 22.
Armored farmer
Member
If you dont reload:
.22
.22mag
.223
.243
.30-30
...and of course the one excluded caliber
.22
.22mag
.223
.243
.30-30
...and of course the one excluded caliber
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
.22LR
.223 Remington
.308 Winchester
Everything else is just gravy. (Edit: and I like gravy!)
.223 Remington
.308 Winchester
Everything else is just gravy. (Edit: and I like gravy!)
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