Perfect Three?

[lizziedog1]

There are a ton of threads here about picking a certain number of guns if you were limited to one, two , three and so on. I have come up with what I think would be the perfect three calibers to own. I do mean calibers, not cartridges. Now the cartridge used for each caliber is up to the shooter. I used the Midway website to come up with this.

Here are the three calibers.

1) 6mm (.243)
2) 7mm (.284)
3) 35 Caliber

I used available bullet weights as my criteria.

6mm bullets range from 55 grain to 115 grain.
7mm bullets go from 100 grain to 180 grain.
35 caliber bullets go from 180 grain to 310 grain.

With these three calibers a shooter can go from firing 55 grain bullets all the way up to 310 grain bullets. I would say that would about cover any game animal in North America. Of course, they would have to be launched from cases that will produce adequate velocities. But that would be the subject of other posts.

So, what do all think?

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

i think i'm glad i'm not limited to 3 calibers

 

[lizziedog1]

i think i'm glad i'm not limited to 3 calibers

I am also grateful for no limits. But look at my original post.

If a hunter had a rifle chambered in 243 Winchester, one in 7mm Remington Magnum, and one in 35 Whelen, he could cover anything. He would have the ability to shoot bullets as light as 55 grains and as heavy as 310 grains. Ground hogs to grizzlies would be covered.

Now add a fourth gun, a 45-70 Government. You can now extend the bullet weight to 500 grains. In a practical sense you would have all the hunting rifles that you would need.

 

[db_tanker]

as much as it would make my reloading storage issue much much easier...I am all about being diverse in my reloading endeavors...


Good selection however...the 6mm is on my list to get, the other two I have or have had and all the bullets available can do what is needed.

 

[towboat_er]

Wheres the 22lr..........Gotta have my 22

 

[earlthegoat2]

For me I could get by with one gun for all North American medium to big game.

That would be 45-70

I dont vamint hunt but if I did I would probably just use a 6.5x55 as I already have a CZ 550 FS for that. Not and ideal rifle for varmints, I know, but the rifle just reeks of class and the cartridge is up to the accuracy challenge.

Then I could get a 22 for everything else.

 

[Legionnaire]

My three would be pretty pedestrian:

.22LR
.243
.30-06

The .30-06 would be sufficient for most North American big game. I've never hunted grizzly and realistically am unlikely to any time soon. So the three above would cover my bases nicely.

 

[sappyg]

^^^ same for me.

 

[benzy2]

For me and what I would shoot I would go .22lr, .243, and .30-06. If I'm not doing it with that, I'm not doing it.

 

[HelterSkelter]

.22 and 30 caliber would be perfect. everything from squirrels to the larger game in north america could be taken. remember the 30-06 cartridge has been documented taking down all game in north america. that's 30 to 200 grain, more than enough to take down the game on this continent. you could tack on a larger caliber if you felt the need to shoot something larger than a buffalo or a grizzly.

if i had to only use 3 cartridges it would be the 22lr, the .308, and the .300 win mag. really wouldn't need the third since the .308 would take down anything i would be shooting at, but if i ever needed to shoot a grizzly from real far away....

 

[TylerPearce]

I would go .22lr, 5.56, and 30-06.... maybe .308.

 

[BrocLuno]

I'd go .22LR for small stuff, .308 for intermediate (or .270), and 12 Ga for all the big stuff including slugs and 00 Buckshot. Limited to three firearms is different than three rifles. If it's three firearms, these are my choices

 

[DM~]

My "go to gun" has been doing it for me for over 25 years, hi powered rifle, shotgun, and rimfire. It's always ready for anything i run into!



All in a 7 pound package!

DM

 

[HOLY DIVER]

hmmm perfect 3 for me.......
22lr(Ruger 1022)
30-06(700 Remington)
5.56(BCM AR-15)

 

[~Abstract~]

.22
.270
12ga.

 

[Smith357]

.22lr
.357 Magnum
.30-06

 

[jpwilly]

22LR
.223 Rem
OUGHT SIX!

 

[wow6599]

.22LR
.357 Mag
.338 Win Mag

 

[Big_E]

.22lr
.260 Remington
.50 BMG

Handload for the .260, and the money you save by shooting .22lr you can put towards something awesome like a nice 50!

Or maybe,

5.56
.308
.45-70?

Honestly, too many choices for me to pick just 3, every cartridge has its own purpose.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The three that would cover everything in North America for me would be:

.22lr
6.5mm - either the 6.5x55mm, the .260 or the 6.5-284 Norma
.375 H&H Magnum

 

[Coal Dragger]

Meh, glad I am not limited to only 3 calibers. I will play though, these choices are for North America only.

1.) .22LR (self explanatory), in fact I already have one in the form of a Cooper M57.

2.) .280 Remington Ackley Improved, flirts with 7mm Remington ballistics with less powder burned, can use a wide variety of bullets and should be able to take on anything short of brown bears. Plus I already own one in a Cooper M52.

3.) Come to think of it I probably don't need a number 3, but if I have to I am torn between a .340 Weatherby or a .375 H&H. So I would probably flip a coin on that one, although for my own use (not going to be hunting brown bears anytime soon) the flatter trajectory of the .340 would probably win me over. Even though I don't think a magnum round like that is really mandatory for elk, I am sure that a 225gr Accubond or Partition moving out at near 3,000FPS would really smack a big elk or moose with a lot of authority.

 

[snake284]

Or you could have just one cartridge and do it all, the 30-06.

 

[snake284]

A .280 AI I wouldn't be afraid to take on brown bears with the right bullet. One thing, with that cartridge you wouldn't have to do it from Up close and Personal. And it would do the job. Actually a good .270 with the right bullet would also do it.

 

[Coal Dragger]

Could a .280 AI or other 7mm kill a brown bear (or for that matter a 7.62mm)? Of course.

Can that caliber reliably penetrate to the vitals and smash through heavy muscle and bone at a less than ideal shot angle? Well that is perhaps a bit more questionable, and that is why I would go for a larger caliber on an animal that might kill me if it is wounded and I have to track it down.

Also when you are considering the cost of tags for a brown bear, or even moose or elk if you are out of state or out of country why not take a caliber that can give you a good chance of filling your tag even if the perfect shot doesn't present itself?

 

[snake284]

OK I've thought about it and I think I would choose a .223 Rem., a 30-06, and a 358 Norma Mag. That would cover everything for me.