Well, we've had 1 gun batteries, 2 gun batteries, etc. But what could you live with as your absolute minimum working rifle battery?

Here's mine.

.458 Lott, Ruger RSM
.338 WinMag, Ruger M77 Mk II
.308 Win, Remington Model Seven
.22 LR, Ruger 10/22

Thank God that this list is only a list. I don't think I could really get rid of most of the others.

Namibiahunter

guy just has to have a rim fire and a rimfire magnum

1. .22 LR auto
2. .22 Magnum bolt

He also needs a 20 ga for upland birds and a 12 ga for water fowl

3. 20 Ga shotgun O/U
4. 12 Ga shotgun O/U

he needs a couple varmint guns....one a "window" gun and one a bench gun.

5. .223 bolt gun
6. .25-06 bolt gun

He needs a deer/pronghorn rifle, a big game rifle, and a dangerous game rifle

7. 6.5 X 55 bolt rifle
8. .30-06 bolt rifle
9. .375 H&H bolt rifle

and he needs two handguns......a .22 LR for fun and a .44 cal revolver for self defence

10. .22 LR auto
11. .44 S&W special Revolver

He may also need a .177 pellet gun and a slug gun depending on his location but this covers most of what the well armed man owns.

1. .22-250
2. .270, .280 or .30-06
3. .338-06 or .35 Whelan
4. .375 Ruger

All bolt action

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
guy just has to have a rim fire and a rimfire magnum

1. .22 LR auto
2. .22 Magnum bolt

He also needs a 20 ga for upland birds and a 12 ga for water fowl

3. 20 Ga shotgun O/U
4. 12 Ga shotgun O/U

he needs a couple varmint guns....one a "window" gun and one a bench gun.

5. .223 bolt gun
6. .25-06 bolt gun

He needs a deer/pronghorn rifle, a big game rifle, and a dangerous game rifle

7. 6.5 X 55 bolt rifle
8. .30-06 bolt rifle
9. .375 H&H bolt rifle

and he needs two handguns......a .22 LR for fun and a .44 cal revolver for self defence

10. .22 LR auto
11. .44 S&W special Revolver

He may also need a .177 pellet gun and a slug gun depending on his location but this covers most of what the well armed man owns.

With only a few minor preference changes that list works for me. Change the 44 to a magnum and the .223 to a .204...I'm good for a minimum.

Pretty much what I have now is the bare minimum.

22
243
7mm RM
375 RUM
12ga 870 turkey model
Garand for range time

minimum my -ss - how about maximum

i dont need a rimfire but a .22LR would be nice,
it would only be used when the small game/varmints gun is to noisy.

.223/6x45/.243/6.5 Grendel/6.8 SPC- for small game and varmints(just one of them of course, cant make up my mind but i'm leaning towards a CZ527 .223)

7mm Mag/.30-06/.300 Mag- for roe to moose

just add a 12ga/3" o/u shotgun and i'm happy.

could get by with---

.257 weatherby
.300 weatherby
.340 weatherby
.375 h/h
.505 gibbs

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
minimum my -ss - how about maximum

yea, I hear ya.....I'm well over max now.....so what's a couple more?

All of them!

Compromise would necessarily have to be part of the deal. I believe a 22LR should be included in any minimum battery. Excluding shotguns, I could get by in a pinch with 3 versatile rifle cartridges:

223: prairie dogs, small game, and predators
40-50gr

7mm-08: coyotes, pronghorn, hogs and black bear
100-160gr

338 WinMag: everything else I'm likely to hunt
200-300gr

One version of a "tolerable minimum":

1) .223 ... probably an AR
2) .338 WM ... for most anything in NA
3) 9,3x62, 9,3x74R, or .375 for "bigger" things and plains game in Africa.
4) .416 or some persuasion for Africa
5) .458 Lott or .458 AR for big things in Africa.

That being said ...

I like a broader selection and am almost done putting together my ideal battery of hunting rifles and it is about 16 in number.

Well:
1. Ruger 10/22 for rimfire
2. Ruger No. 1 in .257 Roberts for medimum
range pronghorn/deer
3. Ruger No. 3 in 30/40 Krag for Ga. white
tails and black bear
4. Winchester model 71 in .348 winchester
for dark timber elk
5. Ruger No. 1 in .375 H & H, just because

Mine would be a:

For Fun -

22LR
17 HMR

Varmints -

223
22-250

Big Game -

257 Roberts for pronghorn
7x57 for deer
30-06 for bigger than deer
375 H&H for alot bigger than deer

Birds -

16 gauge of some degree of class

Handguns -

22LR K22
44 Mag

ddj

Lets see!

22LR auto for plinkin
17HMR for minor varmints
22 Hornet...because
223 - sporter weight for winter predators
204 Ruger P-dogs
22-250 - P dogs while the 204 cools down
25wssm - LONG range pdogs
7mmWSM - long range antelope/target
280 Rem - good all around, perfect for deer
300 Win Mag - paper punchin sniper rifle
300wsm - ULTRA light for high alt hunts
300 Wby - Good go-to for all non DG animals
9.3x62 - African plains, DG back up
416 Ruger - Main DG battle rifle
420 SAE - look in the WC forum. Short brush/wood
500 S&W - Handi rifle - cause you gotta have at least ONE 50 cal


Wow what do you know? My idea of a perfect battery is almost all on their way home from Gander Mountain or the Gunsmith....

Belgium Browning Grade II T-Bolt .22LR with a Leupold 2x7 RF compact scope

.257 Roberts in the small Hagn action with 26-inch Hagn Octagon to round barrel stocked by Duane Wiebe, with a 2.5x10 Swarofski Scope.

.300 WSM in a stainless model 70 action with light contour 23" barrel finished in a dark gray finish, with a Borden stock in light tan topped by a Leupold 2.5x8 lightweight scope

.338 Winchester on a 1909 Argentine Mauser built by Duane Wiebe with a 1.5x6 Swarofski illuminated reticle scope

.450x400-3" in a Heym PH model with 26-inch barrels, a color-cased action, and a 1.5x6 Swarofski illuminated reticle scope in claw mounts.

If you are going to dream, you might as well dream big.

Here's my list:

1. For survival when times are really tough -

any standard velocity rimfire from .32 down to .22 bore that I have 1,000 rounds or more of ammo for.

2. For close range, unexpected self-defence -

any functioning handgun I am carrying, and that is loaded already. Barring that, a butcher knife, axe, or sturdy club.

3. For fun in the woods -

Anything that shoots within 2 inches of point-of-aim up to 125 yards, even in a light breeze.

4. For fun at long range - Any bore larger than .17 that uses pointy bullets at over 2,800 f.p.s.

5. for real knock down power - Any functioning 4x4 3/4-ton truck with a brush guard and enough gas or diesel to hit what I am aiming at.

.22 LR bolt action such as Remington 504
.223 AR 15
7mm-08 Remington Ti
300 Winchester M70 SS/synthetic stock
375 H&H Winchester M70 SS/synthetic stock



What would be ideal?
The well stocked gun safe

Bolt action centerfire rifles

.416 Rigby walnut/blue
.404 Jeffery walnut/blue
.375 H&H walnut/blue
.338 in SS, synthetic
300 H&H walnut/blue
.300 Wby Mag in SS, synthetic
.280 SS/synthetic lightweight mountain rifle
7mm-08 walnut/blue
22-250 SS, synthetic


‘Specialty’ rifles

470 Nitro Express DR
.50 Inline muzzle loader SS/sythentic
.223 in an AR in a configuration for varmints
.308 tactical/long range rifle
30-30 lever action carbine
T/C Encore in caliber(s) of choice

Rimfire

Autoloading 22 LR for small game
Bolt action 22.LR for target practice and small game.
Dedicated .22 target rifle

Military rifles

M1 Garand
M1A
AR15 M4 configuration
FN/FAL
AK-47


Handgun

1911
“ hi cap†9mm
.22 autoloader
.22 revolver
Colt SAA
SA or DA .44 Mag, scoped
Pocket pistol or revolver suitable for concealed carry
.357 4†barrel revolver

Shotgun
12 gauge gas operated autoloader
12 gauge recoil operated autoloader
12 gauge pump
12 gauge O/U
12 gauge SXS
20 gauge SXS or O/U
28 gauge O/U

What I have and what I want are two totally separate and unrelated concepts.

I'll go with what I have for the bare minimum.

NEF Sportster 17HMR.

20" AR15

Howaby Vanguard 300 Weatherby

Buffalo Classic 45/70

From the 27 big game rifles I currently have, after serious reduction sales, I would choose the following.

A pair of P-64 Mod. 70 Alaskans, in synthetic stocks, with receiver sights, QD mounts and Leupy 1.75x6 MHD scopes. I have two pair of these, use 250 NPs at 2800 fps-mv. and they WILL do it all.

A P-64 Mod. 70 FWT.-.270W., Micky Edge stock, blind mag., Brockman peep, Talleys, Zeiss 3x9.

A Browning-Miroku Mod. 7500 combo, .308Wx12Ga. with scope, irons, invector chokes, a very well made and useful gun.


That's it for my "bare minimum" battery and for one more, my custom 20" bbl. P-64 custom .375H&H working rifle, for use in Grizzly country.

I prefer P-64 70s, Brno 21/22 and ZG-47s, Obie Mausers and FNs plus HVAs to anything else and have enough of all of these to keep me going for awhile........

Personally, my choices would be:

.22LR for small game and paper punching, fond of the Remington 597 and Ruger 10/.22 semi-autos as well as quite a few bolt options.

12ga. shotgun, I can't think of anything more useful than a Remington 870 with a rifled deer barrel and cantilever mount, a 26" vent rib for birds, and an 18" for around the house or while camping. Thankfully, you can do all of them on a single gun!

Lightweight middle bore rifle. Thinking .270 "ballpark" for deer and the like. I like 24" barrels, and am thinking I would be very pleased with a Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight for accuracy and quality throughout as a multipurpose deer rifle - able to reach out and touch something but very wearable for a long day pushing bush.

Regular weight, high power middle bore. For moose and elk. I realize I'll have to grin and bear it with respect to the weight, but weight might help soak up the recoil. Make mine a Sako 85 Grey Wolf in .338 Winchester Magnum.

Really, that's about all I "really, really" need. I would like to throw in a .45/70 in a Marlin 1885 for black bear over baits, a Ruger #1 Medium Sporter in .30-06 because it's classy, and a cheap "beater gun" Stevens in 7mm-08. A .375 H&H would not be unwelcome either but I would never really use it unless in Africa, and in that instance I would most likely bring a .416 Remington Magnum which represents the most gun I can accurately, reliably handle anyways. Ah, maybe throw in a .470 double as well, you know, just in case

It is very tough to choose but here is mine: .22LR,.243win,30-06spr,375H&H, and .505Gibbs. Rodney.

The absolute minimum:

.375 Weatherby

If you lived down here in NZ you only need a 22lr and a 308win. and a 12g for duck shooting. that would be what most have down here. except the 308 could be anything really that would kill a deer.

Now if it were 5 guns only then my choices would be a little different: .22LR,.357mag handgun,12guage,30-06spr and .375H&H. Rodney.

Absolute minimum would be my: Kimber M84 7-08, Sako AV .338-06, Marlin .45-70 Guide rifle, Grulla 20 ga, side by side, Kimber .45 acp. 1911, 6" Ruger GP100 .357, & S&W M&P .223 AR15.

Absooolute minimum --rifles

.22LR

.223 Varmint

.250-3000

7 X 57, 19" barrel w/ scout scope mount.

.358X.404 IMP.

roger

Old age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone..

My absolute minimum PRACTICAL World battery rifles would be:

.22 LR Bolt Action
.308 Winchester Bolt Action
.375 H&H Bolt action

You will get ammo almost all over the World.

SxS 12 gauge paradox
.333 jeffery
.22LR semiauto

.17 HMR,.270 Win,.375 H&H

22 L.R. Win mod. 63
30-06
.375 H&H

22 mag model 300 H&K
338 lapua sako m995

minimum rifle battery 22 lr
7x57 ackley
if i had to deal with anything larger then elk or black bear i guess either an 06 or the 8 mauser would do also.

minimum h-guns 22 pistol 45 colt and the 445 supermag.
and a 12 guage.

Funny, were just discussing this at the clays range yesterday. For me it would be:
Ruger 77/22 w/4x Leupold
P64 M70 300H&H
P64 M70 458WM
English 16ga SxS
Safe would sure look empty

i have been UNSUCCESSFULLY trying to get to a 5 long gun battery...
but, i think it would do for anything....

12GA
22LR
243 win
338wm
416 whatever....

this to my thinking is a bare bones, fully equiped hunting battery.

Absolute minimum (and heaven help me if it ever comes to this):

5mm Rem Rim Mag
.220 Swift
.375 Wby

Min:

378 Weatherby! One gun do anything, but if I had to prune down to what I wanted Min:

Blaser R93 Pro stock
22 LR
6.5x55 match barrel
300 win match barrel
375 Semi weight

450/400 double!

The end!

Ed

Minimum rifle batttey????

I'd find some new kids to play with that didn't have such dumb rules..

Open any load book and include everything from the smallest .22 rimfire to the largest .50 cal.

When I got my 1st .22lr and my 12 ga that was all I needed.

The rest is wants.

Blaser R93 with two barrels, 30-06 and 9.3X62.