Africa: 30-06; 9.3x74R; .338 Win mag; 8x57mm

UK: 30-06; 7mm mag; 6.5x55

Latin America: 30-06; 7x57mm; 7x57R; .308; .223; .22 LR; .22 mag; .44 mag; .357 mag; 9mm; .45 acp; .300 win mag; .218 Bee; .32-20; .25 Remington; .22 Hornet; 45-70; .35 Whelen

USA: all the above plus .44 special; 45 Colt; .454 Casull; .270 win; .243, 30-30 win; 35 Rem; .38 special; .357 Max; 250 Savage; .375 H&H

Safe travels and safe shooting!

LL

Air guns:
.177 pellet
.20 pellet
.22 pellet

Rimfires:
.17HMR
.22LR
.22WMR
.32RF

Centerfire rifles:
TAC20
204Ruger
222 Rem
223 Rem
6X45
243 Win
25/06
6.5 Creedmoor
7/08
7X57
270 Win
30/30 Win
30 Rem
308 Win
30/06
338/06
338 WM
35 Rem
375 Ruger
375 H&H
45/70

Centerfire pistols:
38 Spl
357 Mag
45ACP

Bore rifles:
.410 (converted from a rook rifle)
16 bore
20 bore
12 bore

Muzzle loaders:
40 cal
44 cal
45 cal
50 cal
72 cal

I've owned several others that I can't remember if I hunted with or not.

Personal favorites are 22LR, 6X45, .270 Win, 35 Rem, 375 H&H but others have a definite niche carved out for them too.

.177 pellet
.20 pellet

.22 Long Rifle
.22 WMR
.223 Rem
.243 Win
6mm Rem
.280 Rem
7x64 Brenneke
.270 Weatherby
.375 Weatherby
.416 Rigby

.410 bore
20 gauge
12 gauge

Also irregular stones in home-made slingshot.

Not sure what the most popular caliber is, but 30-06 has to be in the running as I counted 17 members used it so far, I'll make it 18. Great caliber!

17 HMR
22 LR
22 MAG
22 HORNET
222
22-250
223
243
25-06
6,5 x 55
270
30-30
30-06
300 WINMAG
9,3 x 62
375 H&H

This is 55 years or so since I was a kid let loose with a .22, some borrowed, most were mine at one time or another.
.22 pellet
.22 short
.22 long
.22 long rifle
.22-250
.22 Swift (loved it)
.25-06
.270 (a chick cartridge these days)
7x57 Mauser
7mm Rem Mag
.30-06
.300 H&H
.303 British
.32-20 WCF
.32-40 WCF
.338 Win Mag (my Elk rifle)
9.3x62
9.3x74
.375 H&H
.38-40 WCF
.38-55 WCF
.38-72 WCF
.40-65 WCF
.40-63 Ballard
.40-82 Win
.40-90 SBN
.405 Win
.43 Mauser
.44 WCF
.450/.400 3” Jeffery
.45-70
.45-110 2-7/8” Sharps
.450 3-1/4” BPE
.500/.450 #1 Express
.500/.450 3-1/4” NE
.470 NE (Jackrabbit rifle)
.50-90 2-1/2 Sharps
.50 3-1/4 Sharps
.500 3” BPE
.577/.500 #2 Express
.577 3” BP Express
.577 3-1/4” BP Express
.577 3” 90-650 Nitro (Rock Marmot rifle)
12bore rifle
8bore Rifle
Garbage Dump rats to Elk........Not counting shotgun or handgun cartridges.....

22. long rifle
22. magnum
22 Hornet
30-30
307 Winchester
308 Winchester
308 Marlin Express
30-06
300 H+H
338 WM
350 Remington Magnum
35 Whelen
357 magnum
375 H+H
44 magnum
444 marlin
45/70
458 WM
470 Capstick
50 Alaskan
12 gauge with slugs
10 gauge with slugs
.54 caliber muzzleloader

357 Mag.
44 Mag.
45 Colt
410
20 gauge
12 gauge
22
223
22-250
264 Win Mag.
7mm Rem Mag.
308 Win.
300 Win Mag.
375 H&H
400 Jeffreys
458 Win Mag.
500 Nitro

USA:
.45-70,
.375 / .505 Snipetac,
.375/.505 AM,
.338/.505 AM.
.30-378 WBY
Bought .458 Lott for Ohio deer

Africa

.375
.45-70
.470NE
.30-378
Gibbs .505 best for open veld
.577 NE bush / jess

Here are some eccentric choices

375JDJ double .. shot a bunch of PG from jackal up to giraffe with that,

6.5x55 combo with 12ga on the same action as the 375JDJ,

another off the wall gun .. 20ga paradox hammer gun .. shot an Eland with it. Was made as a 577BPE, Ken Owen converted it for me,

45LC Contender suppressed baboon carbine

and a 20ga sxs Shot & Ball gun, my own brand/design, shoots Brennekes with deadly effect (tried Truball, not so much)

plus the usual bolt actions

222 my first rifle, Sako
223 suppressed, borrowed
243 borrowed
250 Savage custom Rem600, my go-to light rifle, shot from steenbuck up to BWB with it
303 Brit, my brother's service rifle
308 (Musgrave LP1002, one of ten made)
338 Win Mag, nasty recoiling Ruger 77
375 H&H on a Steyr SBS, with 8 round magazine, built by me
404 Jeffery Mauser 98, with P14 bottom metal for 5 round capacity, built and engraved by me

Shotguns:
12ga o/u
12ga sxs Greener my father's gun, and another my own
20ga sxs shotgun

Side arms
9mm Parabellum S&W
22, 22Mag Single Six

I have used the following on Game and Non-Game:

BB (Red Ryder)
177Cal(Pellet)
22Cal(Pellet)
22LR
22WCF
22Short
22Long
22Mag
17WSM
22-250Rem
223
223WSSM
243
257Rob
257Wby
25WSSM
5.56
7.62
8MM Mauser
6.5PRC
270-Africa
7MM
300Savage
300WSM-Africa
30-30
30-06-Africa
325WSM-Africa
338WIN
375H&H-Africa
375Flanged-Africa
405Win
450-400NE-Africa
470NE-Africa
458Lott-Africa
25Auto
380Auto
38Special
357Mag
40S&W
45ACP
9MM
10MM
12Ga-Africa
16Ga
20Ga
28Ga
410Ga
50Cal Hawkin
54Cal Custom Lancaster
Various Bear recurves and Hoyt compounds
Homemade Slingshots and Slings (extremely deadly when I had young eyes and arms and used to take out small game and many windows-big and small)
Various knives, trucks and automobiles over the years

I forgot some more weird stuff:

Marlin 336 custom 375JDJ shot a nice Sable with that. A big step up from 38-55. Has the first scope I bought in Braamfontein in '74 on it (Weaver V4.5)

And Meffert Drilling ... 16ga/8x57R shot a Rasputin impala, Bwb, and a whole bunch of birds with it (Sand Grouse, GF, Francolin). I sold it but still have the scope in claw mounts.

.20 Vartarg
.20 Tactical
.22 Short
.22 LR
.22 WMR
.22 Hornet
.22 K Hornet
.221 Fireball
.222
.223
.222 Magnum
.22-250
.220 Swift
6mmPPC
.243 Win
.244 Rem
.25-20
.257 Rob
.25-06
6.5 Rem
.264 Win
.270 Win
7x33 Sako
.280 Rem
7x64
7mm STW
.30 Carbine
.308 Win
.30-06
.300 Win
.300 H&H
.300 WBY
8x57
.338 Win
.375 H&H
.32-20
.38 spcl
9x19
.45 ACP
.45 Colt

Calibers I own but have not yet used on game: .218 Bee, .256 Win, .25 Rem, .25-35, .300 Blackout, .30-30, .300 Savage, .416 Rem

if we are talking any geography, not just Africa, add

5mm Rem RF Mag
22 air rifle (Air Arms)
22LR
22 H
22 KH
218 Bee
221FB
222 Mag
22-250
6mm Rem
257 Robt
7x57
7mm-08
348 Win
9.3x74R
375 2 1/2"
375 Wby
450-400
450-400 2 3/8"
470NE
470 Capstick
500 Jeff Rimmed
577 BPE

357 Mag
41 Mag
44 Mag

I can forsee if the Dems get in power and limit firearms ownership, we all will be in a world of hurt.
Cal

quote:

I can forsee if the Dems get in power and limit firearms ownership, we all will be in a world of hurt.

They can have my bullets!!!

"They can have my bullets!!!" Yes they can. All of mine too from the end of a barrel.

My list:
22lr
223/5.56
6.5 Grendel
30-30
270 win
7x57
30-06
9.3x62
25-06
308

My favorite is the 9.3x62 in my Ruger African.
Bryan

NA
30-30
270 Win
270 Weatherby
30-06
6.5/300 WSM
35 Whelan
7mm Weatherby
22/250
223 Remington
338-06
338 Winchester
300 WSM
30/378 Weatherby
In Africa
9.3x62
30-06
416 Rigby
275 Rigby
370 Sako
338 Winchester
404 Jeffery
470 NE
22 Mag

BB
.177 pellet
.22 pellet
5mm pellet
.22 short, long, long rifle
17 Remington
.222 Rem
.223 Rem
.220 Swift
.243 Win
6mm Rem
.25-06
.270 Win
7 mm Rem mag
7mm-08
7.62x39
.30-30
.308
.30-06
.303 British
.300 Win Mag
8x57
.338-06
9mm Luger
9.3x62
38 Special
.357 Mag
.357 Maximum
.375JDJ
.40 S&W
.44 Mag
.375 H&H
.416 Rigby
.458 Lott
.505 Gibbs
Although most of the game taken with this list of calibers was small game, I look at it and realize I've been damned fortunate to hunt as much as I have and shoot as many different guns as I have. We all are damned fortunate.

To those who question the "need" for so many guns, I say "Can a golfer play golf with one club?"

I came to lever actions relatively late .. and forgot to add

25-20WCF (how did I miss this one all these years? surely the consummate boy's/pest caliber)
25-35 (should have been on the Africa list .. took a Meffert Cape rifle to Zim once 25-35/16ga and shot 20ga ammo thru it using Gauge Mates to good effect)
32 Spl in what else but an 1894 takedown .. you can almost see the bullet arc but when it eventually gets there it works great!

Stepping back from my experience with all these calibers, I have often wondered what calibers I would choose if I were restricted (as many RSA friends are) to a few firearms and no "multi-barrel" sets. Here is my "straw man":

ONLY 1 FIREARM: My 20ga SXS "Shot & Ball" regulated for Brennekes, without a doubt. This will handle anything in North America, or up to Eland in Africa (as I have proved) with the added spice of having to get within 100 yards on fur. Also works just fine as a home defense gun. Second choice would be the same thing in 12ga, I just like the way the 20 carries and don't feel undergunned with it. The other option would be a combo in 12ga/6.5x55 ..

ONLY 2 FIREARMS: I would add a 25-20WCF, preferably in a single shot, with a tong tool and a bullet mold (I am assuming times would be tough). If I were not able to reload, my no 2 rifle would be a 22LR in an autoloader, probably an upgraded 10/22, for the low cost and ready supply of ammo, and the ability to feed myself with it.

THREE GUN BATTERY: I would add a revolver in 41 Magnum with a 4" barrel, because I happen to like that caliber, it's not too much to shoot and carry, and it makes a great snake gun with shot loads (can use 410 components). I can see why some might pick a TC Contender in 45 colt/410 as their third gun. Again, casting my own bullets.

FOUR GUNS: Now it gets tougher. There are a whole series of permutations that might work. With 4 guns, you can drop the "all round" solutions and specialize a bit more. Would probably go with a 12ga autoloader or pump with 3 1/2" chambers (I like to hunt waterfowl); a bolt rifle in 250 Savage, 257 Robts, 260, or perhaps 6.5x55 as a deer rifle that will double as a varmint gun; keep the 41 revolver; and add a double rifle in 9.3x74R or 450-400, or a bolt rifle in 375 H&H, for Africa/Alaska and elk/moose.

FIVE GUNS: OK this is getting complicated. I would probably keep the 4 above and add back the 22LR autoloader; or add back the 25-20WCF on a Martini Cadet action, or a 223 bolt rifle, and go with a 308 Sako bolt action as the deer/elk/bear rifle instead of the 250 Savage. (A 30-06 or 300 Win Mag would also work, or for the macho a 338 Win Mag, but I happen to have a soft spot for the 308 and for Sako medium actions)

Let's hope this does not get the anti-gun crowd too hopeful .. I don't intend to give up ANY of my guns. But if I had to scale back for whatever reason, I have a plan!

3030
257 Wby
3006
300 Wby
358 Norma
358 STA
378 Wby

.22 lr .222 Rem .22-250 Rem .270 Win 7x57 Mauser 7 mm Rem Mag .30-06 300 H&H
9.3 x 62 Mauser 375 H&H .416 Rem Mag 45-70 Gov't. In no perticular order.
Had a 458 Win Mag, but never used it on anything.

284 WCF
338 Win Mag
308
25-06
7x64
30-06
223

Carried a 257 Weatherby, 375 Winchester, 375 H&H, 45-70, and 30-30 a lot but never killed anything with them.

Looking at the pistols used, am I the only one who has taken anything with a S&W 460 Rem Mag?

I’ve killed critters with dozens of different calibers in both the USA and Africa, but my most unusual kill was with a 106mm Recoilless Rifle. While an officer in the US Army, I ran a 106mm Recoilless Rifle range at Camp AP Hill VA for a couple of weeks. Our targets were old tank and APC hulls set at ranges of 200 to 1000 yards. One day, a whitetail destepped out next to an APC that was 800 yards out. I touched a round off and it vaporized her. 106 rounds will melt through 21 inches of homogeneous steel, so I guess I was slightly over gunned

Asia/Europe

22lr
12 slug & buckshot
300 win mag

N America

12 & 20 gauge

30/06
308 win
7x57
7 rem mag
375Ruger

Africa

375H&H
375Ruger
30/06

Pretty boring. 180 grain Barnes out of 30/06, 308, 300 win mag and 300H&H (one I need to take to Africa) and a 300 grain Barnes out of a 375H&H and 375ruger is all I probably need.

I do want to hunt with my 6.5 creedmoor Blaser k95.

Mike

Africa
.22
.243
.300 win mag
9.3X74R
.375
.458
.470 NE
12 ga
20ga
.410

I have been lucky. So far, I have only used calibers that worked!

.243 Win
.270 Win
7 Rem Mag
.300 Win
.300 Weatherby
.375 H&H
.450/400
.450 Nitro
.500 Nitro

They all worked just fine but my preferred battery: .300 Win,.500 Nitro & 12ga.

Africa:
375 H&H

USA:
270
30-06
9.3x62


Yup... I really like to branch out and try new calibers.

Will likely have to edit this as I think.

BB/Pellet guns
.22 short
.22 long
.22 long rifle
.22 hornet
.204 Ruger
.223 Rem
.22-250
.25-20
.25-35
.257 Rbts
.250 Savage
.264 WM
.30-30
.308 Win
.300 WM
.38 Special
.357 mag
.375 H&H
.45 Colt
.45 ACP
.458 WM
.500 NE

.410 bore
28 gauge
20 gauge
16 gauge
12 gauge

22 LR
22 Hornet
257 Roberts
270 Win
30-06 Springfield
308 Win
30-30 Win
300 WM
9x57 Mauser
338 WM
375 N.E. Rimless
.410
16 Gauge
12 Gauge

quote:

Originally posted by reddy375:
Who wants to play! To-date I have used everywhere not only Africa:

.22 LR
22 hornet
.240 apex H&H
.270 winchester
243 winchester
7x57 mauser
9x57 mauser
8x50 lebel
308 winchester
30-06
300 wsm
300 winchester magnum
300 H&H magnum
300 remington ultra magnum
338 win mag
35 whelen
9.3x70
.375 H&H rimless
.375 H&H flanged magnum
.404 Jeffery
416 rigby
416 rem mag
450/400
458 winchester
12 bore
50 cal MZ



Arjun Reddy
www.huntersnetworks.com
30 Ivy Hill Road
Brewster, NY 10509
Tel: +1 845 259 3628
2019, DSC booth # 1222
2019, SCI booth # 4209

.22 LR
.270 winchester
243 winchester
7x57 mauser
30-30 win
270Win
308 winchester
30-06
300 winchester magnum
.375 H&H rimless
.375 H&H flanged magnum
450/400
458 winchester
12 bore
8X57 Mauser
8X57Jrs
8X57 JR
470NE
450-400 3”
500-450 NE
9.3X74R
577NE
410 ga
20 ga
16 ga
12 ga
10 ga
And just about any handgun cartridge known to man along with just about every muzzleloader, and black powder hand gun cartridge.

……………………………………………….