Lets see:

Light: Mannlicher Schoenauer in 6,5x54MS by Charles Lanchaster

Medium: CZ 602 .375H&H and Mannlicher M1910

Heavy: Mauser in .416 Rigby

Stopper: Still missing... VC PH in .577 or .600....or since we dream, why dont make it a Purdey...

My ideal battery is a .270wea
.300H&H
.8mm Mauser
.333Jeffery
.416Rigby
.heavy 10 DR

I could skip the .300H&H and the 8mm Mauser really, but now that I have them too they come in ideal enough.

.22LR Ruger 10-22
.223 Rem. Remington M700 Varmint
.30-06Spr. Ruger M77
.375 Mag. CZ 550
.458 Lott CZ 550

Am I boring or what!

22LR CZ 452
222rem Sako L461 Vixen (I'm looking for one)
260rem Sako
30-06 Sauer S-202
300WM Sako Gray Wolf
9.3x62 Sauer S-202
458 Lott CZ 550 Safari Magnum

quote:

Originally posted by Ingvar J. Kristjansson:
22LR CZ 452
222rem Sako L461 Vixen (I'm looking for one)
260rem Sako
30-06 Sauer S-202
300WM Sako Gray Wolf
9.3x62 Sauer S-202
458 Lott CZ 550 Safari Magnum

I like the idea of seven levels of rifle calibres. I'm not sure I need seven rifles, it depends on hunting opportunities.
Within a band level, a person's primary hunting terrain will also influence choices.

Calibre, energy: cartridges and use

1. 22rimfire,, 150-300 ftlbs. There is nothing wrong with the CZ452 as a practical, popularly priced rifle

2. 223Rem, 1200ftlbs. While the 222 was great in its day, the availablility of cases and ammo makes the 223Rem more practical.

3. 24-26, 1800-2600 ftlbs.: 243Win or 257 'Bob' or 25-06. Something with significantly more punch than 223Rem for deer and light-medium game, light in recoil.

4. 27-30, 2800-3600 ftlbs.: 270Win - 7mRM - 30-06 - 300WM. Something reasonably flat for distance with punch for larger, non-dangerous game. Relatively easy recoil. [338RugCompMag, 338-06, and 35 Whelen represent a bridge between 4 and 5.]

5. 31-37, 3800-4800 ftlbs.: 338WM - 340 Weath - 375 Ruger/HH. Flat with punch to include thin-skined dangerous game. Learnable as comfortable recoil. (Yes, they can also take buffalo. They are low-end for buffalo, and only 375 is legal in many African countries.)

6. 40-47, 5200-6200 ftlbs.: 416 Rem, 416 Rigby (loaded hot) - 458 Lott. Flat in appropriate handloads, and good for anything. CZ is reasonably priced option. Learnable as comfortable/adaptable recoil. Some (e.g., Jack O'Connor) consider the 416 Rem (i.e., traditional, light 416Rig loads) as the limit of friendly recoil. This band has simple rifles that are comforting around dangerous game.

7. 50+, 6500-8000 ftlbs.: 500AccR-500Mbogo-505Gibbs-500Jeffrey. (Plus the 450 Rigby, 470 Mbogo, and 460 Weatherby, loaded hot.) Extra insurance for anything. Learnable as heavy recoil, and comforting around dangerous game.

The seven bands are not static but represent scalar clines. And many wonderful calibres in between that are not listed above, like the 280Rem and 308Win in band 4. (The 7-08Rem and 7x57 are on the edge of band 4. Good bullets and optimum powders can bring them into that band level.)

Wherever a person's first rifle lands with a cline has a way of influencing choices in the next calibre. Someone with a 30-06 will often opt for a 375HH (and now 375Ruger), while someone with a 270Win/7-08 may opt for a 338WinMag., etc. 4 or 5 calibre increase is nice to match with a significant power/energy/momuntum increase.

Bolt Rifles:

1. .257 Roberts

2. .338 RCM

3. 9,3X62 or .375 Ruger

4. 450 Rigby/Dakota

Doubles:

1. 9,3X74R or flanged .375

2. 470 NE

Lever Guns:

Marlin 30-30

Browning BLR in 450 Marlin

I love the .416 Rigby but my 450 Dakota is a very significant step up in power and while I have a 500 Jeffery, I didn't include it. A 450 grain Barnes bullet at 2400 fps from my 450 Dakota will do everything that needs to be done anywhere on the planet.

In most instances, the 9,3s will do everything the .375s will do but they are below the legal minimum in some countries.

Light: unknown, perhaps .257 roberts or something similar
Light medium: .300 wby
Medium: .375 H&H
Heavy medium: .416 Remmington
Heavy/Stopper: I would like to own a .470NE or similar double someday.

quote:

I love the .416 Rigby but my 450 Dakota is a very significant step up in power and while I have a 500 Jeffery, I didn't include it. A 450 grain Barnes bullet at 2400 fps from my 450 Dakota will do everything that needs to be done anywhere on the planet.

Dave, your choices would be nice to hunt with.

On the 416 and 450 comparison, some things need upgrading.
The 416Rigby at 2800fps with 350 grains produces 6100 ftlbs. That is what I consider "416Rigby" loaded to capacity, while the "factory loads" (400gn at 2400fps) are really only 416Rem. If one wanted to shoot 450gn bullets, one could choose a 450grain Woodleigh at 2475fps, also 6100 ftlbs and with some punch to it.

For comparison with the 450 Dakota [practical equivalent of 450 rigby], you might go with more than 2400fps with 450 grainers. That is only 5750ftlbs. and doesn't take advantage of its capabilities. The Lott already does 5750ftlb.
Now a Dakota can do 2650fps without breaking a sweat and produce 7000 ftlbs with a 450 grainer. Since this has the case capacity of the 460 Weatherby, you can load it up to 8000 ftlbs, too.

Light -- 25-06
Medium -- 30-06
Heavy -- 375 RUM
Stopper -- 505 Gibbs
In my opinion the 505 Gibbs is the most versatile of the 50's with the exception of bullet availability. You can load it from 6000ft/lbs up to 9000ft/lbs with modern pressure loads.

Bill/Oregon,

Dreaming of more rifles if fun.

But, if it involes travel to africa, I get down to just 2 rifles. From what I have, my choices are bolt action Mausers in 9.3x62 and a 458WM.

.308 Winchester
.338 WinMag
.375 H&H

I've taken African game with those three and, if that's all I had for hunting anywhere in the world, I would be happy. If I had to, I could replace the .375 H&H with my .458 Lott.

Light - .257 Wby, Medium - .270 WSM, Heaavy - .358 STA, Stopper - .416 Rem or Rigby. Good shooting.

I've decided to assemble the following as the bare-bones battery and play with other rifles from there:

1) .22RF
2) 30.06
3) .375
4) .500 nitro/.500 Jeffery depending on whether I can find a double at a nice price or not.

A man would remiss to leave a .22 out of his sporting battery.

Ghubert you're spot on about the 22, I've always had one but not really thought about it much from a standpoint of NOT having one. Cheap to feed, easy to shoot, relatively quiet, great for edible small game animals.

Used to be I wanted all kinds of different rifles (and I still WANT them) but I've gotten much more practical. at this point between work and kids and living in CA I don't hunt too much, and with the way the economy is slipping and politics are shaping down I believe there is a possibility, however remote, that my hunting guns might not be the most needed things in my safe. To that end I'm prioritizing less hunting rifles and going towards getting my first AR, defense shotgun etc. Also towards building up some ammo reserves before the prices get any crazier.

(asterisk denotes gun I have because sentimental, not because ideal for hunting battery)

22rf
30-06
35 whelen AI*
375 H&H
416 Taylor

I want to sell my 308 norma as it's redundant, but the markets soft and I don't want to take a bath on it.

This is what I've narrowed my battery down to. Two are in the process of being built(240 & 9.3), and one in the near future(416). My other guns are for the most part dispensable

204 Ruger custom Rem 700
240 Weatherby custom Rem 700(for my daughters)
270 Winchester Dakota 97
300 WSM custom Kimber 8400
9.3x62 Mauser custom Dakota 76
416 Rigby custom CZ550(AHR or Lon Paul)

And the scatterguns
12 Gauge Beretta 391 auto
20 Gauge Rizzini O/U

22rf Ruger 10/22
22WMR Marlin
223 Stevens
223 Ruger Ranch Rifle
7mm Rem mag Ruger push feed
338WMR Ruger All Weather
375H&H M70 Classic Stainless
I'll probably think of something else I need, but for now these will do.

quote:

Originally posted by Mikelravy:
22rf Ruger 10/22
22WMR Marlin
223 Stevens
223 Ruger Ranch Rifle
7mm Rem mag Ruger push feed
338WMR Ruger All Weather
375H&H M70 Classic Stainless
I'll probably think of something else I need, but for now these will do.

Has Ruger developed yet another .338 cartridge ? This 338WMR I‘m not familiar with !

All you need is a:

.22lr
.303
12 ga shottie

But that is boreing

.22lr
.218Bee
.223
250-3000
.264WM
7x57
.333 Jeffery (yet to acquire)
9.3x62
.416 Rigby

There are some interesting choices being posted but for my needs and any scenario I care to think about what I have in the safe would comfortably take care of things.

It goes without saying that a 22LR and a 12G should be in the mix and my Kimber and AYA sxs nicely fill that space.
For small game my 20VarTarg suits me just fine with the 7x57 and 404 covering the rest of the bases.
The majority of us, even if we were to get to where the big nasties roam would have to be with PH so the 404 is as large as I see a need for. Might be tempted over a 9.3x62 and a small cased 6.5 but what I have would cover things nicely. This is for a hunting battery, and I see hunting as a max 250-300yd enterprise.

270 Weatherby
375 H&H
500 Jeffery

Griffin & Howe Mauser .30-06 w/ 3x - 9x Zeiss

Rigby Mag Mauser .416 Rigby w/ 1.5x - 4.5x Zeiss

My light rifle is a 1903 Mannlicher Schoenauer 6.5X54MS

My medium rifle is my Simson Mauser 98 9.3X62

I have been dreaming about a Mauser 404 jeffery and of course a William Evans (Webley action) double in 450 NE

.22 lr (Anschutz 1416)
6.5x55 (Husqvarna 1640)
.375 H&H (Custom on a Whitworth mauser action)
.470 NE double (this is still on my wishlist)

12 bore paradox or SME
260 ultra light.
375fm double
I will go with the OP's 577 bpe
8 bore paradox

Ok FWIW

223- Hevy barrel Varmint
Should handle anything up deer size game
270WSM-Ultra light configuration
Handles anything up to Elk size game
340 Weatherby mag- bolt gun
Handles anything but DG
416/500 NE- Double rifle
Will Kill everything and can double as a brush gun

577 T-Rex
Used for animals intent on eating me.

OK I think I have done this one a few times before on a few forums...

.22Mag Win 94 lever to teach the kids with
.204 Tikka M55 custom for Varmints
7mm-08 Truck Rifle switch barrel M03 Mauser
7mm Wby custom MK V deer/mountain rifle
300 Wby Mk V U/L or M03 switch barrel
318 WR Brno M21 custom stalking rifle
35/284 BSA Royal (will be a Brno M21 when my son steals the original)knock around anything rifle
375Win lever Quad bike work rifle
404 Jeff Brno ZG47 Large/DG rifle
.410 snake gun

That's what my battery is and what I have been working towards for a long time. Now I just want to hunt more with them.

Annnd they are just the ones I need, let alone the spares