sixgunner455
Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2006
- Messages
- 3,052
Your initial choices are very legitimate, and would cover most things that need doing - so long as you allow for the .22lr in addition.
Because there are so many calibers out there, tailored for so many different purposes, it would be very easy to say, "But that caliber can't do this job as well as" whatever the favored specialty round is. Doesn't matter, really. If you're only going to have 2 rifles, then you're going to have to give up some of the specialty capabilities in favor of "general purpose" that just gets the job done.
.30-30, .308, .30'06 - each of them can do what the others do, just at different maximum ranges. If you regularly need to shoot past 200 yards, then get the .308 or the .30'06. If you have never taken a shot on a game animal past 225 yards or so, then why do you want to get something that is just going to kick the crap out of you for no legitimate advantage? If the shooter can get rounds on target, the light-kicking .30-30 will kill anything the other .30 cal rounds will.
I don't think that your general purpose rifle exercise is pointless ... but, just like sidearms, if you think you need to be ready for big, bad bruins, you may want to get a specialty rifle for that. .338, or a .45-70, and a .41 or .44 mag would be good places to start for that. If you dream of going to Alaska, but don't have that as something you're actively preparing for currently, I suggest getting rifles that are practical and usable for where you are and do hunt, and then if you need something more for that special hunting trip, get it as part of your preparation for that trip.
Just my thoughts. .22lr, .223, and a good .30 cal will take care of most things a rifle can take care of.
Because there are so many calibers out there, tailored for so many different purposes, it would be very easy to say, "But that caliber can't do this job as well as" whatever the favored specialty round is. Doesn't matter, really. If you're only going to have 2 rifles, then you're going to have to give up some of the specialty capabilities in favor of "general purpose" that just gets the job done.
.30-30, .308, .30'06 - each of them can do what the others do, just at different maximum ranges. If you regularly need to shoot past 200 yards, then get the .308 or the .30'06. If you have never taken a shot on a game animal past 225 yards or so, then why do you want to get something that is just going to kick the crap out of you for no legitimate advantage? If the shooter can get rounds on target, the light-kicking .30-30 will kill anything the other .30 cal rounds will.
I don't think that your general purpose rifle exercise is pointless ... but, just like sidearms, if you think you need to be ready for big, bad bruins, you may want to get a specialty rifle for that. .338, or a .45-70, and a .41 or .44 mag would be good places to start for that. If you dream of going to Alaska, but don't have that as something you're actively preparing for currently, I suggest getting rifles that are practical and usable for where you are and do hunt, and then if you need something more for that special hunting trip, get it as part of your preparation for that trip.
Just my thoughts. .22lr, .223, and a good .30 cal will take care of most things a rifle can take care of.