Must have rifle calibers.

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.22 rimfire for versatility and economic shooting
.223 for varmints and longer range plinking. Good for SD/HD in the right rifle.
.308 or .30-06, flip a coin. Lot of overlap between them, both proven performers.
Other calibers are useful and nice to have for specific purposes. But i consider those three to be "must have".
 
There is one general "scenario" which isn't allowed here. We're big boys and girls, so let's be frank and call a spade a spade. This tends to be part of the background for some of these topics.
That forbidden scenario is the only reason I have a .223 rifle, and it is an original, unmodified Saiga, exactly as it was 'nib'. It is also why I own the extremely rugged Romanian SAR-1 (7.62x39), one of my five imported AKs.

Other than that, it doesn't matter if they are guns which We enjoy. This also means .22LR (cheap) and .303 British.

As for handguns, compact size and ammo costs led to the desire for the CZ PO1 (9mm), and Sig P229 in .40.
 
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Legionnaire said:
.22LR
.223 Remington
.308 Winchester

Everything else is just gravy. (Edit: and I like gravy!)
Click to expand...

I think this covers the MUST HAVES for the modern era. 20-30 years ago I would have said .22LR, .30-30 and .30-06. There are many other specialized or alternative calibers, but I think any gun safe ought to have at least example of the three you list.

Lots of NICE TO HAVEs: .243, .257 Roberts, .25-06, anything 6.5, .270, anything 7mm, .338WM, .375H&H, .44mag, .444 Marlin, .45 Colt, .45-70, .458WM (just because).

My ACTUAL must haves personally are: .22LR, .223, .30-06 (yeah one foot in antiquity)
 
.22LR (several)
.233 Rem
.243 Win
.270 Win
20 Ga
12 Ga
I don't presently have a .30-06. Gave it to my son and he's done well with it, as I did, for some 40 years.
 
NWPilgrim said:
I think this covers the MUST HAVES for the modern era. 20-30 years ago I would have said .22LR, .30-30 and .30-06. There are many other specialized or alternative calibers, but I think any gun safe ought to have at least example of the three you list.

Lots of NICE TO HAVEs: .243, .257 Roberts, .25-06, anything 6.5, .270, anything 7mm, .338WM, .375H&H, .44mag, .444 Marlin, .45 Colt, .45-70, .458WM (just because).

My ACTUAL must haves personally are: .22LR, .223, .30-06 (yeah one foot in antiquity)
Click to expand...
Idgi. If you're still of the mind that .30-06 is a must have, which is a cartridge no longer used by any branch of the armed forces, federal law enforcement, or large police departments, why not skip it and go to .300 Win Mag? You wind up with 400+ fps gain and 1000 more ft/lbs of energy and much longer effective range.

Then in the other direction, the .308 can do everything the .30-06 can if you put the bullet where it needs to go.
 
I’m going to choose based on two criteria: availability and what it accomplishes.

.22lr because it will still shoot .22s if you need something quiet revolver, lever gun, and semi auto
.223 because it does everything a varmint caliber needs to do with a very wide variety of ammo available.
.243 of the many calibers available between the .223 and the .308 I chose this because of the reloadability and the fact that of those calibers besides the .25-06 (which is also a very good choice!) ammo is available and the recoil is light enough for a first step into larger calibers for other hunters
.30-06 sorry, it just tips past the .308 for me even though I recognize that the .308 is better than your grandads .30-06
.375 HH because history, will take any animal on earth, recoil is not too damaging
.45-70 in a strong action because fun

12 ga shotgun
9mm handguns and carbine
44 Rem Mag revolver and carbine
.45 ACP in a 1911
 
I feel the 22lr, 223/5.56, 308, and 45-70 pretty much sum up the "must have" cartridges. They will take care of all rifle needs in the lower 48 with ammo being plentiful and affordable.

A 9mm pistol, 38spl/357 mag revolver, and a 12ga shotgun with the above rifles and i would have a jack for all trades.

Im pretty sure as long as its possible ill always have a 22-250, 270, and a 7.62x39 just because they fit my needs more.
 
30-30 is a very useful cartridge for the hunter who hikes the forests and foothills in search of deer. With so-called standard ammo, its certainly lethal out to about 175 yards or so. But with Hornady's lever-evolution ammo this distance can easily be stretched to about 225 yards or so.

TR
 
.22 LR
.223/7.62x39/.300BO (take your pick)
.30-30 (because they are great short range deer rifles and just plain fun)
7mm-08 (because it does everything better than it's .308 parent)
.280 AI for the "big stuff"
 
Orcon said:
Pick what you will but save room for the 20mmx138mmB. A Lahti-39 would be a suh-weet addition, everyone should have one.
Click to expand...
May try to get one of the millio
Orcon said:
Pick what you will but save room for the 20mmx138mmB. A Lahti-39 would be a suh-weet addition, everyone should have one.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't ever have a reason to justify purchasing one but have you seen the Anzio Ironworks 20mm?
Something inside me won't be complete til I fire one.
 
My list would be.....
1. 308
2. 22lr
3. 223/556
4. 8mm mauser
5. 300blk
6. 6.5 grendel
7. 450 bushmaster
8. 12 ga.
 
1. 22
2. 223/556
3. 7.62X39
4. 30 30
5. 308/3006 or both
6. 12 ga

All of these because they are readily available just about everywhere and for no other reason.
 
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For me it would be ...

.22LR
.223 Remington
.308 Win
30-06

Pretty boring I know, but there's probably a reason for that.
 
Still don't understand how .223 is a necessary cartridge, but hey, I'm often the last to know about things. LOL
 
Even though I am not much of an AR fan, I do recognize the utility of .223 to my stable. I have a bolt gun in the caliber and I'm glad to have it.

Maybe you want a cheap and plentiful varmint cartridge. Or maybe you are trying to do what you would normally do with your .22lr... but out to 150 yards or a bit more. For me, these are situations where the .223 come into play.



If you need more horsepower than .223/5.56, there are lots of calibers to choose from. The "classics" are easier to find and feed. I have settled on .30-06 for a do-it-all choice, but there are other answers to the question and I won't disparage them.
 
I've seen a few people mention .45-70 as one of those must have calibers, but I have to question that. Firstly, if you're not shooting the high power stuff in a super strong action like the Ruger #1, you're shooting a slow bullet with a bad trajectory. The distances where it still retains power to kill big game will be so far out the bullet drop will make that shot extremely difficult.

If you're shooting .45-70 in a lever action... I just don't see the benefit of it over something like .45 Colt or .454 Casull with 300+ grain bullets, not when you'll most likely be shooting inside of 200 yards.
 
Anything in 6.5mm. I have a Swede Mauser in 6.5, multiple Arisaka's in 6.5 and a Carcano 6.5. No matter the rifle I seem to have more accuracy with the 6.5 than any of the other calibers.
 
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