What Three Hunting Rifles Would You Choose?

Status
Not open for further replies.
.22 LR is a mandatory choice. I'm not shooting small game with a centerfire.
.264 WM covers all NA non-dangerous game and predators, plus all plains game
.50-110 WCF (fast twist) covers all dangerous game world wide as a stopping rifle, not just a client rifle.

As far as the criteria, I'll pick my hunting rifles on MY criteria, thanks. I don't care one whit about buying ammo in a sporting goods store. What I care about is having brass and ideal bullets available.
 
Haven't read 'em all, but I bet more than a few covered .22LR, .243, and .30-30. I do not yet own one in .243. For a potential fourth place, I might even go for the 7.62x54mmR, as I think I'd really enjoy hunting with a 91/30.

For the calibers above I do have, I'd use rifles I already own, my Marlin 25, Winchester 94, and my 91/30 (since I don't yet own anything in .243 Winchester.)
 
I'd buy a Magnum Research Stainless 22 Magnum. I'd buy a stainless heavy barrel AR in 223. And I'd buy a Tikka 6.5 Creedmoor or 7mm-08.
 
Interesting because my choices today would not be my choices of 20 or maybe even ten tears ago. Today I would take likely a 308 Win, 444 Marlin and likely a good 22 LR. My larger bore rifles like 7mm Rem Mag, 300 Win Mag and 375 H&H have not seen use in a decade or more. I really no longer hunt and today my range trips consist mostly of 223 Rem, 308 Win and a little 45-70 or 444 Marlin and a myriad of handguns. The big bores and high power guns just tend to beat me up a little more than they once did. Hell if I go another decade I will likely say 22 LR, 22 Magnum and 223 Remington. :) I am grooming the grandchildren so when I am gone they will have some fine rifles.

Ron
 
Marlin 39A .22 leveraction.
Remington 700 leftie 30-06.
Marlin 1895 GS 45-70 leveraction.

Small game, medium to large game, anything on the planet (so far, what with the recent FA-18 UFO sighting:rofl:).
 
So these are hunting rifles. No range toys, etc. So that means minimal ammo consumption :)

22LR (squirrels, small yard critters - any of a my 22's will do), 22-250 (varmints, my custom single shot heavy barrel), 308 or 30-06 (in my safe, I'd choose the 308 Sav 99 because I like to carry the rifle better than any of my '06s). If I was going to hunt in Canada or Alaska, it would be the 06 instead...
 
.22 magnum, 7mm remington magnum, .375 h&h (tho im probably going to end up with a .375 ruger)

While i really like weird or otherwise interesting cartridges, those three will do anything I would be interested in doing.
 
Cz 455 ultralux 22lr (don't have yet) for small game, cz 527 carbine in 7.62x39 for smallish midsize game, and a tikka 30-06 for the big stuff, or just a longer barrel for my Savage 110 30-06 carbine... That would cover it all for me, even a possible buffalo hunt in Montana... But if i can reload ammo a 458 Lott might be in the list....
 
AR platform 5.56

Really finding a true love for my Ruger American ranch in 7.62x39, if it wasn't for the rifle and the total package it presents, I'd probably choose a 30-30 here.

Bolt action, scoped 30-06.
 
OP says hunting rifles, so for animals I'm actually likely to hunt I'd say:

.22LR: prarie dogs, squirrels, rabbits

6.5 Creedmoor: turkey, coyotes, antelope, deer, cow elk

.30-06: bull elk, bear, moose

I take two rifles with me when I go up elk or deer hunting, so the overlap between 6.5 and .30-06 works out well for that purpose. The 6.5 works very well for medium game, but I do want a heavier option for a bit larger (but still realistic for me) game. I'm confident that a 180gr Accubond @ 2,800 fps has plenty of thump and range for my "heavy rifle" needs.
 
I have them. .22 LR (my RWS .22 cal air rifle would do nearly as well though), my 7mm-08, and my '06. If I can't hunt it with those, I don't need it.
Really finding a true love for my Ruger American ranch in 7.62x39,
Click to expand...

I feel the same way about my 7.62x39 Savage. I can't see myself ever getting rid of that gun. Too much fun at the range and too good of a hunter inside 150 yards.
 
I'm going to assume that a 22lr is a given and doesn't count toward the 3 rifles here. Mainly because this is exactly what I am hoping to do over the next couple years. All three would/will be bolt actions.

One would be 223 Rem to cover everything from varmints to deer and feral hogs. A 300 Win Mag or 30/06 for larger or longer range deer through elk. And either a 375 H&H or 416 Rem for elk through anything else that walks.
 
IF I can choose the ammo, there's nothing in north America that I can't easily and cleanly take with a 30-06, so that's my first choice.

Second choice, I'd want a good 22lr...

IF it's for rifles, I really don't need anything else, although there's plenty more cartridges that I like...

DM
 
Llama Bob said:
.22 LR is a mandatory choice. I'm not shooting small game with a centerfire.
.264 WM covers all NA non-dangerous game and predators, plus all plains game
.50-110 WCF (fast twist) covers all dangerous game world wide as a stopping rifle, not just a client rifle.

As far as the criteria, I'll pick my hunting rifles on MY criteria, thanks. I don't care one whit about buying ammo in a sporting goods store. What I care about is having brass and ideal bullets available.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry you don't what to play by the criteria Mr. Grinch.
 
I could get by with something (most likely a bolt gun), in .22LR, .223, and .30-06.
 
This is what I currently have to fill the "three hunting rifle" requirements.

#1 - Kimber Talkeetna in .375 H&H Mag (my go to hunting rifle)
#2 - Kimber Montana 8400 with a .308 Win barrel
#3 - Kimber K22 .22LR

This is what I'd eventually like to have while still keeping the three above ... I think

#1 - Kimber Talkeetna in .375 H&H Mag
#2 - Kimber Montana 84L in .280 AI
#3 - Kimber Hunter 84M in .223 Rem
 
1 - 22 magnum. i have a marlin 925m that has been with me for over a decade and has always been my squirrel gun. this one is a must have for me and will cover all my small game need.

2 - a 357 magnum lever action. recent law changes have allowed deer hunting with certain straight walled cartridges so i would need to have this on hand to cover deer season. i know other calibers would be better suited but ive always had a love affair with the 38/357 so i would happily sacrifice some range and power to make this round work.

3 - 30-06. my ruger m77 hawkeye will take the final spot. i have only been able to use it on deer once but fell in love with its abilities on game. i doubt i will ever NEED the power that it offers, but if by some odd chance i get o hunt large game outside of my home state someday, i know this round/rifle will be up to the task.
 
.22 Magnum CZ

7mm Rem Mag. Win M70

.375 H&H Mag CZ.

All are affordable, findable, ammo is available, and they will kill anything I ever could imagine from rats to rhinos around the world.:thumbup:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

HoosierQ
  • Locked
New Calibers for Lever Action Rifles
2
Replies
28
Views
2K
ArmedBear
A
P
  • Locked
Best suppressed rifle cartridge.
2
Replies
48
Views
20K
Afy
A
L
  • Locked
Perfect Three?
2
Replies
40
Views
1K
overcast_days
O
F
  • Locked
What rifle would work for my needs?
2
Replies
47
Views
3K
kvtcomdo
kvtcomdo
K
  • Locked
Indiana Deer (Rifle)
Replies
8
Views
576
Grey Morel
G
Back
Top