I just have to have the right tool for the job.

.22lr for plinking.
.22lr target gun for serious accuracy work.
.223 for varmints.
.243 (I learned to work up loads with a Model 70 and have had a love of the caliber ever since).
25-06 because I don't have one and a Ruger #1 in 25-06 just seems right.
.270 Win Because it's a .270 Winchester is reason enough.
30-06 Same as the .270
300 Win Mag because you just never know.
I am giving very serious consideration to a .458. The flesh is weak and that will probably find a place in my safe.

I'm covered for anything I might hunt. That said, there will never likely be an African hunt so I really don't "need" a bigbore.

257 Wby and '06 for everything up to elk. 338-378 Wby for everything elk and above. The boomer would be more then sufficient for anything that could be hunted in Africa with a 338 cal however. As for handguns, the only one I own I inherited, a Colt 32 Auto made in 1951.

Ken....

I'm only listing what I would have to have for what I'm likely to hunt. (I don't expect to ever go to Africa).

.22 LR
.243
.30-06

My minumun goes;

.22 LR Ruger 10-22
.22 Mag Anschutz for cheap practice and varmints
.22-250 TC Encore for calling tournys
.30.06 My wife's PG rifle
300 H&H because I've always had a desire for one
338 Win Mag Mod 70 Classic My PG rifle before I found the 300H&H at Tulsa last spring.
375 H&H or 404 Jeff Can't decide (Maybe one of each)
I have no need or want for anything larger, But if I did the 505 Gibbs sounds interesting.

22 LR
375 H&H
mmmmmm....maybe only the H&H

9,3x62 or 9,3x74R with best softs and solids

Minimum?

7x57R/12g BBF. A good 'one size fits all' gun.

A decent .22lr. At the moment a Ruger 77/22 ss synth.

A good 12g for ducks. Say a Miroku or Browning.

A 375 H&H for those days when it just has to work.

That would be the minimum. But who knows what kind of asshattedness the Gov't will get up to this time?

a 416 rigby,
a .338 win
a 30/06
a .257 Roberts.
And no matter how many rifles I own, I will allways need just one more.
...tj3006

My absolute minimum rifle battery would be
as follows:
22LR
22-250
270 win
9.3x64 Brenneke

A more pedestrian approach would be:
22LR
223
30-06
375H&H

Add in
3 1/2" 12ga shotgun with chokes
44mag pistol
and I am set.

absolute minimum "RIFLE" battery is an accurate .22 and a 30-06 (a 270win would also work). if you go to africa get a 375. anything/everything else is just gravy!

Here is mine I hunt and plink with all of them
6.5 swedish mauser
300 h&h mod 70 win
375 h&h cz
4570 sharps

I'm a gunwhore and will always be one. Rifles are for buying, selling or trading. That's what I love about them!

.22 lr, .22 wmr
.223 rem, 22-250
.243 win

257 robts; 25-06
.270 win
7mm rem mag

.30-06, .300 win mag
.35 whelan

.338 win
.340 wby
.375 H&H
.416 rem
.416 Rigby (warm weather)
.458 win
.458 lott

9mm, 357 mag, 44 mag, 40 S&W, .45 acp

Seems like most things covered -- problem is, its hard to have enough time to shoot the minimum battery!

Dan

Ok, I'll bite again:
12 GA O/U
22 LR
223
6.5x55
375 H&H

22mag
358win
405win
if i had to this would be it sure would like to add a shot gun

A functional Rifle would top my list regardless
of caliber .
As the name implies I cover the gamete myself .


"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
Albert Einstein

I could survive very well with the following. 1 - .243 WSSM. 2 - .270 WSM. 3 - .358 STA. 4 - .416 Rigby. I own and shoot all the above extensively along with several others, and enjoy every minute of it. Good shooting.

Of course I dread the day I would have to limit myself to a minimum battery.

Using logic I would say:
.22LR
.243
.30-06
.375 H&H (if Africa is a consideration)
+ a 12ga
This is what I would recommend to someone else.


What I would actually choose for myself:
.22LR
.257 Bob
7x57
9.3x62
+ a 16ga

.22 LR and 9.3X62 or 30-06.

Okay this is my bare bones battery

1. RSM 458 Lott. Love this rifle. Best grins for the bucks. Busting rocks to rock chucks to ground squirrels my Lott will never be sold.

2. 338 Lapua. Although I have several 375 H&Hs and wouldn't want to be without one, my Lapua is a great NA big game rifle and is my mulie and elk fav.

3. 220 Swift. My longer range rock chuck rifle is a staple. If I wasn't into the Swift a 22-250 would be okay.

4. .17HMR. My ground squirrel go to if I don't choose my Lott. Zeroed at + 1/8" at 50 and flat to 125 this is the bomb for pesky meadow grizzlies. The ammo is much more expensive than 22LR but so are its capabilities..

Optional 5 and 6

5. 25-06 a great carrying coyote rifle and mulie weapon.

6. .223 AR rifle. For pit shooting fun or when the stuff hits the fan my AR would be a comfort.

John

Ok my bare bones battery would be:

22 LR. Fantastic for practice and great fun to shoot.
.223 rem. Super accurate varmint and target rifle.
.25-06 rem. Great long range antilope/deer rifle.
.30-06 or 300 wm. Good all-around rifle.
.338 wm or 9.3x62. My go to guns when big stuff is on the agenda. I use the .338 wm for more open terrain and the 9.3x62 for the woods.

And of course a good semi-auto 12 ga.

.22LR Rifle/Carbine (for me, Win 9422)
12G Pump Shotgun (for me, Win M12 Skeet w/ Cutts)
.270 Bolt Rifle (for me, Win M70 Fwt)
.38 CCW Handgun (for me, S&W 36-1)
.357 Gen Purpose Handgun (for me, S&W 586 6")

Haycock

I guess I could get by with my M70 in 375H&H and a 223 for varmints and turkeys. Hope I never have to though.

22lr for plinking and ruffed grouse
270 Bee,coyotes, deer
340 Bee, bear,moose
378 Bee, Elk, bigger bear
505 Gibbs, DGR
12 ga., geese, ducks
9mm for plinking
357 for other stuff
Just my 2 cents
That has to be a minimum, still should have more, can't have to many, that's what I keep telling "She who must be obeyed".

22lr-Ruger 77/22, opend sights and decent 3-9x

30/06 Mauser w/express sights and QR mounts, Burris 2-7x, 180 grn Nosler Partitions for everything, opens sights good to 300 yds, scope just makes it easier on 48 yr old eyes

416 Rigby Ruger No1, custom express sights (one standing, one folding-good to 250 yds w/ 350 Speer sptizters, 150 w/ Horn 400 grn FMJ or softs, same Burris 2-7x for comfort...

Worst case one rifle: 30/06.

But,hey, I don't have jsut one pair of trousers, so why even think about one rifle, or even the miniumum battery????

God Bless Hard Work and Honesty

If Obama gets elected will I have to share my firearms??? NOT.

I think I have the minimum.
a 22 rimfire for small game etc
a 223 for small game pest control etc at longer range
a 6mm rem. for medium game pest control etc at longer range
a 270 Win for deer and other mid size stuff
a 338 WM for everything else.
We havn't talked about shotguns but they don't fit in the question.

I reckon that with the right loads I could manage with three:

Scoped bolt action .22LR for small game & birds.

Scoped .270 for anything from foxes to elk.

L1A1 or para FAL wearing an Eotech for "social" engagements.

If I added any others, they would be a 22-250 & a 1894 in .38Spl/.357Magnum.

quote:

Originally posted by Oddbod:
L1A1 or para FAL wearing an Eotech for "social" engagements.

Now that's just funny.

Some years ago I used to pop up to Cumbria and follow the Eskdale and Ennerdale Hounds, Edmund Porter was one hell of a good huntsman.

I hate to narrow down my choices but I could live with just these I guess.

1. 17 HMR in A REM.597
2. 220 Swift Rem. 700 VS
3. 257 Wby. Custom Rem. 700
4. 280 Rem. Rem 700 Mountain rifle
5. 358 STA Custom Rem 700
6. 45 L/C Ruger Bisley Hunter
7. 475 L/B Freedom Arms model 83


Hoeram

A minimum battery is a horrible thought and, I sincerely hope, one we will not be facing in the USA after tomorrow's election!

Nonetheless:

1. 22 rimfire, Marlin Model 60
2. 30-06, Winchester Model 70
3. 375 H&H, CZ 550 Safari Magnum
4. 30-06, US M1 Garand, for when they come to try and take the other three