OK, the mods can move this wherever they want to, but I've been doing some daydreaming lately and decided my ideal battery would be:
Light rifle: .256 Mannlicher on a Steyr action, worked over in London.
Medium light: .318 Westley Richards Accelerated Express on a Banner Mauser action.
Heavy rifle: .404 Jeffery also on a banner Mauser 98 action.
Stopper: .577 BPE double rifle.
OK, get the picture? Yes, I'm an incurable Anglophile and romantic. I'm sure that last choice will raise eyebrows, but if it was good enough for Baker with BP and properly hardened bullet, it is good enough for me.
Like I say, just daydreaming whilst awaiting a double lumbar fusion. Carry on, lads!

perhaps we should do a project Bill: me with the LH Zastava I'm getting and you with one.

Bill, I'll second the 577 double :-). But for the others, I'd do a 7x57 Mauser. 300 H&H, and 404 Jeffery.

Can't argue Biebs!
I've always loved the 7X57.
JSL: I'm jealous.

My ideal rifle battery, 375 H&H. If I feel the need for a second rifle, a .35 Whelen.

no flies on any of these.

That said:

DST Mauser Guild-style rifle in 257 Roberts
same basic rifle in 300 H&H
an original Rigby in 416 Rigby
a Dan'l Frazier 10 bore, proofed for smokeless

just because I can dream as well as anyone here...

Rich

If it were possible I would take about 10 rifles on each of my hunts just because I am a gun nut and like to see them perform on game. This trip I am taking my 500 double and a AHR 375 RUM and just cause I want to see it in action a AHR sister gun to my 375 which is a 338 RUM. I don't really need it
But it might be fun

Guess I have to stick my oar in the water too.

Small bore - H&H Mauser in .275 H&H

Small Medium bore - .318 WR Mauser

Medium bore - Double WR hand-detachable box lock .450/.400

Stopper - .577 NE DR, any brand

(Spare, just in case of breakage or whatever, Simson .470 DR)

Have owned and used all of those in the past, and I really believe tradition requires good "old country" rifles where possible without compromising the hunt. Tradition doesn't kill anything any deader or easier, but it adds to my enjoyment of the trip.

Small bore - Original Rigby Mauser in 275 Rigby

Small Medium bore - .318 WR Mauser

Medium bore - A 470 of some type. Holland/ Rigby/ Army & Navy

Stopper - 8 Bore BPE Double


Now if we are going with stuff in my battery already?

Small bore - Mark X mauser in in 275 Rigby Imroved

Small Medium bore - 338/06 Improved

Medium bore - 416 Taylor

Stopper - Kreighoff 470 NE

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
My ideal rifle battery, 375 H&H. If I feel the need for a second rifle, a .35 Whelen.

Can't complain with that. Wonderful cartridges, just need one rifle most places.
These days I'd make it a 375Ruger.

But where do I put my money?
light-medium game, and African geese: 270 Win,
though the 7x57, 7-08, 6.5x55, and 280 are equally great

all-around NA: 338WM,
but I would have gone 375Ruger if available 30-40 years ago.

all-around Africa: 416Rigby,
yes, even over the wonderful 375's and 404.

stopper/hunter: 500 AccRel, because I don't expect to have a double in half-inch or above.

These things usually depend on where one starts. If a 30-06, then the next meaningful step up is often a 375HH (though the 338 was the standard-priced top rung for many a decade). If a 375HH, then a 458Watt/Lott/Win. If someone has a 375 and 458 they don't usually need a 416 and 500. The important thing is putting all of these in reasonable priced packages, with a wide choice of brass and bullets.
The above is a list within budget for anyone who enjoys hunting.

To offset our "across the Atlantic" brothers - I would say j-

.30-06 in a variety of bullets

.50-110 Shiloh Sharps for fun

Light rifle: .338 Win. Mag.
Medium light: .375 H&H Mag.
Heavy rifle: .416 Rem. Mag.
Stopper: .500 A-Square

I like Blaser 93s, Winchester Model 70s and CZ 550s for the actions.

Lot 1128 - 22 Mar 2012 10:30 London
on the Holt's sale

receiver (with thumb cutout), maybe not available for export to US

270 win or WSM
338 WM
416 B&M or Rem Mag

All on a M-70 Win platform

SSR

.22lr
7x57
300 H&H
.318
.375 H&H - all the above on the appropriate Mauser actions.
.450/400 NE 3" in a Webley-made double rifle with Southgate ejectors and 24" barrels.
.577 NE 3" in a H&H Royal double with ejectors and 26" barrels.
12-bore Paradox hammer Damascus, 30" barrels.
12-bore game gun with 30" barrels of sorts - there are many nice ones and another screw-grip or perhaps a Westley droplock will be nice!
20-bore with 30" Damascus barrels by John Dickson or MacNaughton on a round action.
Browning Hi-Power 9mm with plenty of extra mags.

Very humble, I know, but it should work for just about everything! At least I already have four on the list!

So little time, so many critters...

Three-rifle (North America) battery:
Light - .30-06
Medium - .338 Win. Mag.
Heavy - .375H&H


Three-rifle (Africa)battery:
Light - .30-06
Medium - .375H&H
Heavy/Stopper - .470 Capstick

George

6.5x284 140 accubonds
.300 RUM either 180 TTSX or 200 accubond
.416 Rem Mag 400 tsx
is all a fellow needs

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
I'd do a 7x57 Mauser. 300 H&H, and 404 Jeffery.

That should about cover all the bases and all classics as well...

6.5x55 SE- mex m98 or g33/40 light rifle
.30-06 Springfield- Commercial m98 light rifle
9.3x64 Brenneke- Commercial FN M98
.404 Jeffery- M70 Classic, heavy rifle

Maybe a CF .22 but the above should cover about any situation

One rifle - .416 Rem Mag
two rifle - .375 H & H
.470 Nitro
three rifle - aw hell, why would I need anything else?

Of what I have now, I'm limited to .300 win as my "light," .375 H&H as medium, and .470NE as my heavy.

I'm looking to add something in the 6mm/6.5mm range (hopefully tomorrow) as my new light rifle for deer sized game.

FWIW:
270 Win
375 H&H or 9.3x62
458 Lott (if I had one)

Africa Battery:

Light rifle: 7mm Rem Mag. - Hill Country Rifles
Medium light: .375 H&H Mag - Dakota
Heavy rifle: .416 Rigby - Dakota
Stopper: .470 NE - Heym DR

I figure I'll need a spare rifle for a "just in case" moment so... I'll pack my .450/400 Heym DR just for good measure.

Gents: My two cents:
Light: .600 single shot with 100 grains of 4831, 900-grain lead bullet.
Medium: .600 single shot with 130 grains of 4831, 900-grain soft nose bullet.
Heavy: .600 double with 150 grains of 4831, 900-grain soft or solid.
Stopper: .600 double with 170 grains of 4831, 900-grain solid.
Keep smilin' all,
Cal

Cal,

I am beginning to think that you are in a rut...

Rich

Cal, that's quite a list. What action do you like for your single shot?

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
Gents: My two cents:
Light: .600 single shot with 100 grains of 4831, 900-grain lead bullet.
Medium: .600 single shot with 130 grains of 4831, 900-grain soft nose bullet.
Heavy: .600 double with 150 grains of 4831, 900 grains soft or solid.
Stopper: 170 grains of 4831, 900 grain solid.
Keep smilin' all,
Cal

Cal,

I am beginning to think that you are suffering from PRS, post recoil syndrome.

465H&H

ISS: I am, indeed, in a rut. But when I was much younger it was a different "rut."
Bill: My single shot is a Jeffery falling block from 1916.
465H&H: No d-d-d-doubt a-a-a-about it.
cheers, all,
Cal

Cal got me laughing out loud...
My Ideal 3 rifle Battery
Rifle 1:.243 Win Rifle shooting 100 grain bullets for light game and varmint.

Rifle 2:.338 Lapua Magnum shooting 250 grain Woodleigh P-P Bullets for non dangerous game up to Eland/Elk.And Leopards

The 3rd Rifle would be a tough choice between the .416 Rigby shooting Woodleigh 410 Grain SP at 2,400 fps and Barnes Band Solids at 2,400 fps and the 500Jeffery shooting 570 grain bullets.If I was in the West African Jungle or Mozambique where Huge bodied Elephant hiding in thick jess were in the picture and no PH Back up was available,I would choose a 500 Jeffery shooting Barnes Banded Solid's 570 Grain bullets at 2,300 fps, and abandon the .243 Win Rifle.
338 Lapua;.416 Rigby;.500Jeffery..... or .243 Win 338 Lapua and .416 Rigby/500Jeffery.Just my 2cents from a DGH who wants to keep his hide intact.

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
Gents: My two cents:
Light: .600 single shot with 100 grains of 4831, 900-grain lead bullet.
Medium: .600 single shot with 130 grains of 4831, 900-grain soft nose bullet.
Heavy: .600 double with 150 grains of 4831, 900 grains soft or solid.
Stopper: 170 grains of 4831, 900 grain solid.
Keep smilin' all,
Cal

Jeepers! What do you use for home defense? Wait, don't tell me . . . a .600 revolver!!

Clem:
A .600 revolver? Be serious.
A .600 derringer is what I use.
Cal

Bill, when is "Mac the Knife" gettin hold of you.

Well, let's see now. In the works is a Krieghoff Ulm Primus hand detachable sidelock O/U double rifle in caliber 9.3X74R, with a set of interchangeable barrels in 16 gauge/7X75R vom Hofe, and a full length insert barrel in 6X52R, with a second set of barrels in 16ga/16 ga.

Then there's my old faithful Krieghoff Teck boxlock O/U double rifle in .458 Winchester Magnum, with interchangeable barrels in .375 H&H and 20 gauge 3" Magnum.

Add my Lon Paul built .505 Gibbs on a Granite Mountain action, and I believe I have covered the whole spectrum.

A lot of great cartridges discussed here. All of them good. But, I must take exception to a .404 or a .416 being referred to as a "heavy" rifle. They are both medium bores. Perfectly capable of taking the largest game, but a medium bore nonetheless. A true "big" bore, in my opinion, starts at .45 and goes up from there. Most of us can live our lives without one and still hunt everything on the planet. That said, I love my big bores and want more.

Let' all call up the spirit of W.D.M. Bell and tell it how wrong he was when alive about shooting elephants with such little guns.

I have never had the desire to shoot an elephant, but have elephants evolved since Bell's day, where they are harder to kill with accurately placed shots?

280 Ackley Improved Remington Custom Shop
30-06 Browning Safari Grade
300 H&H Pre 64 Super Grade - 26" Barrel
338 Win Mag by Winston Elrod
9.3 x 62 Custom on Mauser Action
375 Weatherby on Pre 64 Mod 70 Action
404 Jeffery by Sterling Davenport

Light rifle: my 1903 mannilicher schoenauer in 6.5mm
Med rifle: either my CZ 550 in .375 or my custom .300 H&H
Heavy: my Whitworth .458 or possibly a CZ in .458 Lott
Stopper: bailey Bradshaw double in .450 NE ( in the future)

Elephants haven't evolved they've just moved into the thickest brush they can find to get away from knuckleheads with 7x57s.

For me:

.22lr bolt rifle set up like a classic mauser rifle.

6.5x57R - on a Farq falling block single shot.

9.3x62 or x64 - on a Mauser rifle.

.416 Howell - on a Mauser rifle.

.500ne SxS double - on some type of round action.

A little CZ mannlicher, .22 LR..
9.3x62, also CZ mannlicher, both in iron sights.

9.3x62, CZ, kevlar stock, quick detach rings, iron sights for back up, nitrided. En route..

Another .270, synthetic stock. Something to replace Ol,Yeller, who went for a ride to the gun shop a while back, and did,nt come home.

416 Rigby. Synthetic, CZ. Partial to the CZs.. Had planned to pick up the 416 this summer, but a change in venue might be putting that one off for a bit. Basicaly three calibers that should cover most of the bases up here. Mostly revolving around the 9.3 as a switch hitter as necessary..

Those ones are either here, or on the short list.
Wish list, can,t help thinking a little .257 Bob, or a 6.5 flavour of the week would be pretty handy. 505 Gibbs, just for the hell of it. And I can,t quite shake the idea of a lever action in 50 B&M Alaskan..