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Calibers to hunt everything with backup?

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25 February 2011, 17:18
CCMDoc
Calibers to hunt everything with backup?
As I understood the question, you would need to have at least two rifles that could be used for African dangerous game (one to back up the other against DG in case one was lost or damaged) and one for everything other than DG.

2-gun battery - could be used for everything from varmints to elephant
Double Rifles
9.3x74R
450-400

Bolt Guns
.375 Weatherby
.416 Weatherby

3-gun battery
Double Rifles
240 H&H Flanged
9.3x74R
600 Nitro Express

Bolt guns
.243
.375 Weatherby
.416 Weatherby


NRA Lifer; DSC Lifer; SCI member; DRSS; AR member since November 9 2003

Don't Save the best for last, the smile for later or the "Thanks" for tomorow
25 February 2011, 18:35
mstarling
I do tend to run a bit caliber heavy in my preferences, but here is my current list:

6mm Rem varmints and deer
.30-06 or .338 Win Mag pretty much everything in North America
9,3x62 or 9,3x74R light in Africa
.416 Rigby medium in Africa
.458 AR or .470 NE heavy in Africa


Mike

--------------
DRSS, Womper's Club, NRA Life Member/Charter Member NRA Golden Eagles ...
Knifemaker, http://www.mstarling.com
25 February 2011, 21:59
.458 Only
.22 LR for varmints at close range

.300 Win Mag for large varmints at long range Big Grin

.45-70 Marlin for varmints to Cape buff Cool

.458 Win Mag to back up my Marlin BOOM

.45-70 Ruger #1 to back up my .458 Win Mag rotflmo

Bob

www.bigbores.ca


"Let every created thing give praise to the LORD, for he issued his command, and they came into being" - King David, Psalm 148 (NLT)

26 February 2011, 04:31
chuck375
220 Swift
300 Weatherby Magnum
500 Jeffery


Regards,

Chuck



"There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit"

Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness"
26 February 2011, 08:10
<generalwar>
375 H&H and a 577NE
26 February 2011, 08:33
Crazyhorseconsulting
Two identical 375 H&H's, that way if one goes wobbly you already have shells.


Even the rocks don't last forever.



26 February 2011, 20:41
JabaliHunter
.22LR
.223 Rem
.30-06 / 7mm Rem Mag / .300 Win Mag
.375 H&H
.458 Lott
26 February 2011, 22:12
Ingvar J. Kristjansson
I'm with Jabalihunter on this one....

222 Rem / 223 Rem
30-06 / 300 Win Mag
9.3x62 / 375 H&H
458 Lott
27 February 2011, 18:20
jfm
I think the best setup for everything is a .375 H&H magnum and a .416 Remington magnum.
Both calibers can be used for plains game at distance and for dangerous game up close.
One could easily stand in for the other in case of failure.
My only reservation is hunting elephant. I know the .375 and .416 have taken plenty of elephant but I would feel more comfortable with something in the .458 or larger caliber range as I understand they are mainly hunted up close and personal these days.
As far as rifles go, I don't think anything beats a well worked bolt action Winchester model 70. (Other Mauser actions included)

One rifle only - .375 H&H magnum
Two rifles - .300 Winchester magnum and .375 H&H magnum
Three rifles - .300 Winchester magnum, .375 H&H magnum, .470 NE double

Thanks,

jfm
28 February 2011, 14:15
Milo Shanghai
All Winchester.

243 Roe Deer/PG
308 Red Deer/PG
458 PAC
04 March 2011, 10:41
Brazos Jack
4 rifles without complete backup to give the optimum rifle for any application:

.22-250 - varmints
.270 Win - deer/antelope up to 350#
.338 WM - All NA game except bison, all African plains game except giraffe
.416 Rem Mag - American bison and African dangerous game

Add a .375 H&H and among the now 5 cailbers you have the overlapping coverage you seek.