Two Hunting Rifles - Which Calibers?

[Kachok]

If I had to choose only 2 rifles to hunt with the rest of my life I would need one very very versitile small caliber capable of handeling very small game through elk at any realistic range. 260 rem, 25-06 or my all time fav the legendary 6.5x55. For my other I would need a genuine BAD A$$ like the 338 win mag, 416 Rigby, or the 375 H&H for my dream hunts in Alaska and the plains of Africa.
The in between calibers like the 30-06, 270 and 7mm rem mag would be left off that list because they are too much for small game and not enough for very very big game.
Of those I would pick the 6.5x55 for small-med game though the 25-06 might get the nod if I did not reload. And the 375 for monster game.

 

[MCgunner]

I know you ruin a lot of rabbit meat with a .257 Roberts, been there, done that. Squirrels, well, I ain't shootin' up in a tree with a high powered rifle. Rimfires, sure. 6.5x55? I don't think it makes a really good squirrel rifle. I guess you need to define "small game". We talkin' normal small game or 400 lb hogs?

 

[Kachok]

High speeds and expansion/fragmentation is what causes meat damage not the amount of momentum the projectile has. So the 6.5x55 with very mild loads and non-expanding bullets makes a fine small game rifle. If you are onto blasting annoying critters into a pink mist the 6.5 can be loaded with 85-87gr varmint bullets at speeds above 3500fps! Nothing wrong with using the old 6.5 for all of your small furry hunting needs if you handload. That said a good old 22LR is always a welcome addition to any gun safe.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, you keep your centerfires for squirrel hunting. Me, I normally like to use my scoped Ruger Mk 2 with solids. HPs ruin a lot of squirrel meat if not a head shot. And, shooting up, I don't want something that's going to carry into the next county. I don't even use my .22 mag on squirrel and cottontail. I don't have much use for it, sorta nothing I can do with it that I can't do better with either something bigger or smaller, but it's an accurate rifle. I ain't gonna sell an accurate rifle just cause I don't have a use for it in the field. Heck, maybe someday I'll have jackrabbits at 100 yards to shoot at. I am looking at land in west Texas at the moment.

 

[chas08]

My two choices would probably be the same as many have already said; a .22lr and a 30/06 because of the wide variety of loaded ammo for both.

 

[BikerRN]

If one want's to buck the brush, use this:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...00gHQia3jAg&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0

It also cooks meals too.

BikerRN

 

[tman65]

.22 mag and 30-06. that will cover anything I'll ever need to cover.

 

[doc2rn]

For me its .22 MAG and .30-.30

 

[x_wrench]

243, and 340 weatherby. a 30-06 would be fine for anything except the BIG bears of alaska. but since you included them, i think you need something with some serious punch.

 

[outlook ranch]

Loaded question, and your choice depends on many things. Where you hunt, how far will the shot be, type game, your shooting skill, etc. If you like the .30 cal stuff, it'll surely kill, or you may opt for a flat shooter like the .270. I was in the military, very familliar with .30 cal rifles, and I opted for the flat shooters for better accuracy and speed. In Texas where I live, a .243 is really all the gun you need to hunt deer and most other animals. A remington 6mm may be a good choice for simillar game. Personally, I just don't see how a person can do it all with 2 rifles. I have 9, and counting. Man just can't have too many shooters....Just my humble opinion

 

[akhillbilly]

22 mag from rabbits to coyotes. (within 125 yds) 300 RUM with barnes -X bullets will drop anything in North American. out to 1000 yards. very flat shooting & hard hitting. bullet placement & type of bullet account for more kills than caliber.

 

[fragout]

22LR and 308 here.

I have a few others, but if i had to have just 2, then the above would cover anything i need to use for hunting.

11B

 

[akhillbilly]

Perhaps a realistic question would be.... when the USA/world crumbles and it all goes "MADD MAXX". What is the ONE weapon you would own to survive on. Now you are talking man & beast. Which, at the rate of things,: isnt a far fetched question. Must do it all..... choose wisely grass-hopper.

 

[Zak Smith]

I'd go with a .260Rem and a .300WM. If I get to limit my quarry to non-dangerous game and limit shot distance, the .260 can do everything.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

My two are a Marlin 336 30-30 lever action and a Rem 700 in 30-06.

The lever action just because I love it so much that I want to take it out for a walk in the woods. The 30-06 can cover just about anything shot of big dangerous game.

If I wanted big dangerous game, I'd likely go with a 45-70 and run 500 grain hard casts through it.

 

[trultemor]

.357 mag marlin and a 375 H&H sako safari

 

[nelsonal]

.22lr and .35 Whelen would be my choices. If I had dreams of going to Africa I'd swap to the .375 H&H instead. There's kind of a hole from Coyotes to Deer I'd look to address if I were able to add a third rifle.

 

[Mr. T]

I would go with a .270 Win and a 30.06.....I know...I know many of you are thinking they are too close together. However if you think about it with the variety of bullet choices you can use the .270 for very effective varmint hunting and the 30.06 is a no brainer. You could also have a very functional back up gun for your 30.06 if it were to malfunction somehow. Reduced recoil rounds for the .270 give it essentially the recoil of a .243, with practically close to the knock down power of a 30.06. That's my two cents worth.