The 1 rilfe post got me thinking, its a nice idea to have 1 gun to do it all, but I don't think anyone here is a 1 gun kinda hunter lol. So if you're choices opened up to any 2 rifles, what would it be?

Even though I own neither at the moment, if someone said you can have 2 guns for all your hunting needs and thats it, I'd go 6.5x55 and 9.3x62! Should be plenty flexible for anything from coyotes to most DG

quote:

Originally posted by MileHighShooter:
The 1 rilfe post got me thinking, its a nice idea to have 1 gun to do it all, but I don't think anyone here is a 1 gun kinda hunter lol. So if you're choices opened up to any 2 rifles, what would it be?

Even though I own neither at the moment, if someone said you can have 2 guns for all your hunting needs and thats it, I'd go 6.5x55 and 9.3x62! Should be plenty flexible for anything from coyotes to most DG

Every time this subject comes up the same posts come up:

What are you hunting and where?

If it's prairie dogs to elephants, it's just to extreme of a spread.

All things USA and Africa, excluding ele and rinnie would most likely be 9.3 X 62 and a 270WSM. I have both, 9.3 X 62 in a CZ 550FS and the .270WSM in a super lightweight HS Precison. Now what to do with all the others??

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Frank makes a good point,so for the sake of discussion I will assume the North American continent and it's game

Because of the quantity a varmint hunter shoots the cost to shoot anything but a 22 cal rifle would be restrictive. To me the choices would be a .223 or a .22-250. Since my confidence level does not extend much beyond 300 yards the .223 would suffice and is more economic.

It would not, however be used on game larger than coastal black tails; nothing larger.

From white tails to brown bear I'd op for the .338 Mag.

Hand loaded ammution tailored for intended game would be a must for both rifles.That's my thought for today. goodroger

I could hunt everything I truly want to hunt with my .223 and .30-06. I really have no desire to hunt anything more than what I hunt already except moose and no dangerous game in Africa.

Starting from scratch, it would be a 223 and 300 win mag.

But based on what I have, it would be a .223 and 350 rem mag. 50 v-max @ 3300 is a pleasant and accurate practice load that'll take care of varmints and fur bearers. 53 tsx at the same speed for deer and caribou. 225 tsx @ 2700 from the rem mag for everytyhing else.

With a .243 I could handle all the varminting I want using 55 grain BTs.....and do all the deer and pronghorn hunting I want using 100 grain bullets.

For moose, elk, bears and African game the 9.3 X 62 will do me just fine.

If it's simply north American then the 9.3 X 62 gets traded for a .338-06

.416 Taylor and .30-06

Namibiahunter

300 H&H (or other 300 mag) and 416 Rigby (or other 416)

For me it would have to be a 270 Winchester and a 35 Whelen.

Well lets say no rodents, so only large varmints (foxes, coyotes and such small predators) to most DG....I guess we will leave jumbo's out of it, bit specialized, along with the opposite end of prarie poodles. Any continent!

Well this thread sounds like another great opportunity to show 2 of my most favorite rifles not to mention a great 2 gun battery for Africa or anywhere. Prewar Model 70s in 375 and 300 Magnum:

Sako TRG or armalite AR30 in 338 Lapua for squirrels to elk. Come on guys... make those prarie dogs spin in the air a few times

Cant decide on the bigger one yet.

Prewar70 - THOSE are a nice pair of rifles, and I think a very solid choice for a 2 gun around the world battery.

Boom - why not the 500 KA?? Or the 577 BME in your sig line?

Like I said... I cant decide... both soooo good

270 Win and 300 RUM

I'm not going to own a rifle that is necessary for only one or 2 hunts at the very most. That comment is geared towards brown bears.

When these discussions come up, it seems as though many will post about the need for enough gun for a big brown bear, yet they've never hunted one, never will, or have once, maybe twice.

I would think it is rather rare to hunt big browns on a regular basis. If someone does, it's certainly not the norm.

I know a well placed shot with my 300 RUM will put down a big brown. It really doesn't matter, if I ever hunt one, I'm going to use my bow anyway.

300 win mag 375 H&H

you guys are getting really depressing. 1st its only 1 rifle, then only 2. How about which would be your 1st 100 instead. holy chit, if it was wives maybe 1 or 2 would be OK, but rifles?????NO WAY you'd think obama was posting

Two to me is almost more difficult. I would still take my .338-06 improved, but then it would be a toss up between my 7-08, and my .243. It's the overlap the kills me. Three would definately be easier. .223/ 7-08/ .338-06

quote:

Originally posted by taylorce1:
I could hunt everything I truly want to hunt with my .223 and .30-06. I really have no desire to hunt anything more than what I hunt already except moose and no dangerous game in Africa.

+1

In my opinion you couldn't beat a 223 and 30-06.

ddj

Prairie dogs to elephants ... 243Win or 25/06, matched to a 416cal (Remington, Taylor, Rigby or Ruger). Problem solved!
Cheers...
Con

this one is much harder than only one rifle.

i would go with a 7mmRM and if i'm not going to hunt grizzlies or African big five, i dont see the need for anything else.

so my gun number two would be a .223 or .243(not sure which one) or a .375

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
you guys are getting really depressing. 1st its only 1 rifle, then only 2. How about which would be your 1st 100 instead. holy chit, if it was wives maybe 1 or 2 would be OK, but rifles?????NO WAY you'd think obama was posting

My two choices would be a .270 WSM and .358 STA. Good shooting.

25-06 for everything up to elk, 338 Win Mag for everything else.

308 norma mag and 250 savage

243 with 75 grain ballistic tip to a 85 grain barnes for vermin to deer sized critters, 338WM with 180 barnes to 225 barnes for deer on up.

1. 25 wssm
2. .375 Weatherby

243
358 Norma

for everything under the sun I'd think a 338 Lapua and a 378 wby.

Ed

quote:

Originally posted by MileHighShooter:
The 1 rilfe post got me thinking, its a nice idea to have 1 gun to do it all, but I don't think anyone here is a 1 gun kinda hunter lol. So if you're choices opened up to any 2 rifles, what would it be?

Even though I own neither at the moment, if someone said you can have 2 guns for all your hunting needs and thats it, I'd go 6.5x55 and 9.3x62! Should be plenty flexible for anything from coyotes to most DG

6.5x55 Swede and 9.3x62 are two good choices for a 2 gun battery.
Some years ago I thought about this and at that time my decision was to go with a .25-06 and a .35 Whelen.
After a playing with a .257 Roberts for a couple of years and learning about a 9.3x62 I started to rethink this. Last winter I changed my mine. Now it’s a .257 Roberts and a 9.3x62.


The Ol’ Man said, “Son, don’t brag to me about the long shot you made! Brag to me about how close you got.â€

257 Ackley

70gr for wolf and wolverine

120gr for sheep,caribou,goat,deer,etc

358 Norma Mag

225 gr for moose $ spring bear

280 Swift for moose, fall bear, & DLP's on the homestead

Kimber Montana 260 Remington and MK X Custom
9.3x62 the for everything in the US. Not going
to Africa anytime soon.

Alternate matched pair of M70 300WSMs a Featherweight and a Stainless Classic, both
control feed. Either two would satisfy most
needs in North America.

Estacado

What's wrong with the 270/375 combo?

quote:

Originally posted by Teat Hound:
What's wrong with the 270/375 combo?

They would be my choice, .270 for everything non dangerous and under a ton, .375 for everything else.

308 Winchester and 375 Ruger will cover the lot from magpies to buffalo.

Assuming you mean centerfires, then I would pick my .25-06, and my 35 whelen. In my opinion they cover a lot of ground.
Add a good .22 and all bases are covered.

I'll play. I currently have two Blaser R-93 Professional receivers, and I have a 22 lr barrel, a 6.5x55, a 308, and 9.3x62 barrel.

Though I have multiple barrels, I STILL only have TWO complete guns at any one time. I can practically kill anything from ground squirrels to some pretty big stuff with my two guns.

I can't image getting along with only 2, maybe someone should start a thread, "If only 3 rifles . . .?" I can see there could be no end. I will assume for the sake of my answer that I'm only hunting North American game. I am also assuming center fire choices, thus allowing me to keep my rim fire 22 LR.

.243 Mine shoots reloaded ammo from 55 grains to 85 grains very well, thus I'd have a gun for varmints and light deer and antelope.

30-06 Since I reload, I also have a number of bullet options I can choose. It would work well for medium sized deer through elk, caribou, and moose.

quote:

Originally posted by Arild Iversen:
308 Winchester and 375 Ruger will cover the lot from magpies to buffalo.

That is sort of what I was thinking.