Ok, so let's say you are going to build or commission a take-down set.Which two calibers do you choose, taking into account action length, bolt face etc.?

My choice is .300 Wby and .375 Wby for all round, all round the world, combination.

However for an Australian combo you might go .22/250 and .308 as they'd handle about everything most hunters shoot here.

To me the concept of such a set is for the two calibers to handle widely different tasks. For example, I don't think a .243 and .308 set meets that criteria because, though each caliber is a better choice for some particular uses, both calibers can be used for most of the same work. On the other hand, 7mm Mag and .458 Win Mag are suited for completely different things.

Since my favorite cartridge is the .300 H&H then my first choice would be .300 H&H and .375 H&H.

Here are some sets I think would be useful:

.300 H&H and .375 H&H - First Choice

7mm Remington and .458 Winchester magnums

.257 Weatherby and .338 Winchester magnums

.260 and .358

.25-06 and .35 Whelen

.300 H&H and .400 H&H

For a single shot:
7x65R and 9.3x74R
30R Blaser and 405 WCF

For a bolt rifle:
25-06 and 35 Whelen
7mm RM and 416 Taylor or 458WM
Regards, Joe

6.5 Grendel
35 Gremlin

on a shortened small ring small thread M98.

For less work:

270Win
9.3x62

Mine's not a custom, (Sauer Hatari), it's in .458 Lott and .300 Win. Mag. I like this combination.

For an African set, how about 338 Lapua and 450 Rigby?

OK...this is only my presonal opinion. A takedown is a great traveling rifle...I noticed this especially at some customs/inspection areas

I was able to breeze through doorways, crowded areas with my 28" case while so many guys were struggling and cusring while trying to manuever their five foot cases around.

Though I've built a few switch barrels,. this makes for a very heavy package indeed. You will have at leas an extra barrel, perhaps fore end, maybe a couple scopes, two sizes of ammo...and...a bigger case.

If you want the convenience of a takedown, I'd stay with a single caliber.

Quick someone, let Duane know that his AR account has been hacked. Gunsmiths don't talk about practical, they make their money off of nut jobs like me who want different!

For me it would be 300 WSM and 375 H&H.

Get a Mauser M 03 or Sauer or Blaser, with different barrels.
For most traveling 375 H&H, 308, 6.5 X 55.

I have an M 03 with
404 Jeffery
375 H&H
308 Win
6.5 X 55
22-250
Take down, back together still got zero, every time!
If I every get a case for all this, I'll need three men and a small boy to carry it all!

If I every get a case for all this, I'll need three men and a small boy to carry it all! [/QUOTE]

I did exactly that hunt with a blaser but I still need three men and a blonde girl to carry all my trophies !

quote:

Originally posted by londonhunter:
If I every get a case for all this, I'll need three men and a small boy to carry it all!

I did exactly that hunt with a blaser but I still need three men and a blonde girl to carry all my trophies ![/QUOTE]
+1

I need to change my expression!

I have a Blaser R8 Jaeger with 243, 257 Wby, 308, 30-06 and 9.3x62 bbls. Select what you need, put them in the breakdown pack, and head out. Hard to beat.

Have a Blaser R8 and Sauer Model 200 (both left hand). Both setups include a 6.5x55 or 6.5x57 and a 9.3x62. I think that covers pretty much all game that can be taken. But that's my opinion...

Rick

In my opinion a take down rifle and a switch barrel rifle are in two different classes.

A take down is designed for compactness and easy carry. When you add mutable barrels, scopes, etc, you defeat the purpose and 90% of the time you have the wrong barrel on the need arises.

Now, I have no problems with a two barrel set. It's only that I would only carry one at a time unless one was strictly open sighted.
With that being said, to cover most of the bases I would probably go with a 300 Win Mag and a 416 Rem Mag.

My opinion only and no offense to anyone.
James

IMO it all depends upon the anticipated game likely to be hunted. For some, the 22-250 and 358 Winchester would be just the ticket while others would want perhaps a 338 WM and 475 A&M.

Since I don't anticipate any Africa trips any time soon (grin), my own personal choices would probably be something like the 25-06 and 35 Whelen, for simplicity's sake if nothing else.
Regards, Joe

I am having Bailey Bradshaw make me a single shot take down in 7x65 and 9.5x74r it should cover any possible hunting problem and only weighs about 7 pounds i have been told it is to finished soon its on final fit and finish as we speak RNB

.300 H&H & .375 H&H

I just built myself a Brno Mod. 21 that had one good original barrel and one bad original barrel and a 4 times broken stock..I purchased this rifle on AR Classified btw...

I kept the original good 7x57 barrel and rebored the bad 8x57 barrel to a 9.3x62..It was akin to the second coming, both barrels shoot to the same POI with the same scope and Talley peep without change, and both are very accurate, inletting is perfect fit on both barrels and sez Kudos for Brno.

So I stocked it in a real fancy piece of circasian using the original stock as a pattern with a few detailed changes like shadow lines and framed the bolt release etc..

Knowing that will never happen again, I'm keeping this one and the 7x57 and 9.3x62 should be good anywhere in the world. Both chambers are long throated to get top velocities and they certainly do that.

The idea of two barrel sets is rather intersting and one that I have not really considered until now. I will agreee with Grenadier that the 300H&H and 375H&H combination is rather appealing. Possibly practical as well as I have a couple of 375's and could use of them for the project.
However, a 6.5x55 and 9.3x62 combination is highly tempting as well... I have a Kimber sporterized Mauser 96 which is inline for a restock and safety upgrade. Can you squeeze a 9.3x62 into a small ring?

Grenadier nailed it.
The 375 and 300 HH should feed well with little issues swapping the front end. Maybe add a 404-375 wildcat to keep the same taper for a third option barrel all with similar case taper and length and brass.

300H&H and 458 Lott. Make it three barrels, and include a 375H&H.

The two calibers I would choose would be .300 H&H and .375 H&H.

Another good combo might be .275 Rigby (7x57) and either .300 H&H or .375 H&H.

I think that once someone has a chance to cycle a .300 H&H or handload for it, they realize just how remarkable that old cartridge really is. I love the 220 gr.'s out of it out to 200 yds. And with 180's, a great long range cartridge.

And couple of guys have nailed it already - 300H&H and 375H&H. Matched pair or takedown set, this is the only way to go.

I would choose a 338 and 416 Taylor.

I'm going a different route on my 1909, 6.5x57 and 9.3x62.

G'Day Fella's,

I think Grenadier has the best choices!

But maybe a .300 H&H and a .404 Jeffery could be another possibility?

Doh!
Homer

270 Win or 30-06 and add the second barrel in 9.3x62.