Only Three Bolt-gun Hunting Calibers - Which Ones?

USAF Ret · August 18, 2022, 03:43 PM

If you could have three bolt action rifles for hunting in different calibers...small, medium, heavy...small as Coues deer and antelope up to moose, what would they be? I mean, you can choose whatever brand rifle you want?

Christensen Arms Ridgeline - 6.5 CR - Light recoil, ammo availability and it is a handy rifle in small places with a 20 inch barrel version.
Christensen Arms Ridgeline - 308 - To me, the best mid-size cartridge. Was available when nothing else was. Inexpensive. Ridgeline is light and has an awesome trigger. Fits me like a glove.
Christensen Arms Ridgeline - 30-06 - Same as above, ammo readily available. Inexpensive. Also, a vast array of bullet weights. I think for moose, this is the lightest I would go. I have shoulder and neck problems, so I am recoil sensitive. If I wasn't, I might go with a .338.

Scorch · August 18, 2022, 04:19 PM

Commercial Mauser 98 in 22-250
Commercial Mauser 98 in 7X57
Commercial Mauser in 375 H&H if I had to pick a third

The 22-250 killed thousands of ground squirrels and jack rabbits and coyotes.
I've hunted deer, pigs and elk for the last 45 years with a 7X57 Mark X Mauser 98, had a Mark X 375 H&H for a few years but sold it because the 7X57 did everything I needed.

reynolds357 · August 18, 2022, 06:03 PM

257 WBY
270 WBY
300 RUM

All in Mark V WBY.

jetinteriorguy · August 18, 2022, 06:33 PM

.17HMR for everything from small ground game up to fox size.
6.5 Grendel for larger varmints up to deer size game.
.270 Win for the bigger stuff.

taylorce1 · August 18, 2022, 06:59 PM

.223 Rem M70
.270 Win M70
.375 Ruger M70

Just chose three I already own.

USAF Ret · August 18, 2022, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scorch

Commercial Mauser 98 in 22-250
Commercial Mauser 98 in 7X57
Commercial Mauser in 375 H&H if I had to pick a third

The 22-250 killed thousands of ground squirrels and jack rabbits and coyotes.
I've hunted deer, pigs and elk for the last 45 years with a 7X57 Mark X Mauser 98, had a Mark X 375 H&H for a few years but sold it because the 7X57 did everything I needed.

What is the recoil like on that 7x57?

USAF Ret · August 18, 2022, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reynolds357

257 WBY
270 WBY
300 RUM

All in Mark V WBY.

I hope you reload. Haha.

USAF Ret · August 18, 2022, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetinteriorguy

.17HMR for everything from small ground game up to fox size.
6.5 Grendel for larger varmints up to deer size game.
.270 Win for the bigger stuff.

I have the 6.5 Grendel and 270. Just have accumulated a lot of stuff here and there. Got the 22 LR for the little critters.

USAF Ret · August 18, 2022, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taylorce1

.223 Rem M70
.270 Win M70
.375 Ruger M70

Just chose three I already own.

Can't go wrong at all with the M70. I have one Christensen in 308 and it is my favorite and most accurate rifle I have.

**44 AMP** · August 18, 2022, 09:30 PM

For something different, three that I HAVE,

Rem 600 .222Rem
Rem 600 .308 Win
Rem 660 .350 Rem Mag.

all are short, light, handy, and accurate enough for hunting, and sadly, all long out of production.

But mine still work,

USAF Ret · August 18, 2022, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44 AMP

For something different, three that I HAVE,

Rem 600 .222Rem
Rem 600 .308 Win
Rem 660 .350 Rem Mag.

all are short, light, handy, and accurate enough for hunting, and sadly, all long out of production.

But mine still work,

So many good rifles out of production. Would still love to have a Savage 99.

I had a Remington BDL in 243 when I was a kid. Worst mistake I made was getting rid of that rifle, but I was new in the Air Force and PCSing with firearms was a PITA.

USAF Ret · August 18, 2022, 09:37 PM

I read this article and I have three of the top 4. I used to have a 30-06 in AK and CO. Last one was a Ruger M77 stainless with the laminate stock. Another stupid sale I made.

https://www.fieldandstream.com/guns/...me-cartridges/

jaysouth · August 18, 2022, 10:11 PM

you only need one. A 30-06 and a reloading press will give you reloads in the .30 carbine level, a little more powder and you have a .30-30 level loads, then if you are hunting elephants or mastadons, buy factory ammo. If you load 125 Nosler varmit bullets at full pressure, you have a load that will keep up with a 223 up to 300 yards.

GeauxTide · August 18, 2022, 10:11 PM

Rem 700 243Win 75gr VMax
Rem 700 280Rem 139 or 154 Interbond
Rem 700 338-06 200gr Speer

Reloads, only

Drm50 · August 19, 2022, 10:43 AM

Remington 222 in Sako Vixen
Winchester 30/06 in Pre 64 m70 Win.
375 H&H in long barrel Sako FB

stagpanther · August 19, 2022, 11:08 AM

Quote:

257 WBY
270 WBY
300 RUM

All in Mark V WBY.

I'm a huge weatherby fan too--I've spent time behind the trigger of vanguards and Mark 5's in 270 up to 416--so I have to ask--why did you go with the RUM instead of the 300 wby? Fortunately I reload for them--last time I looked the 416 was getting well north of $200 a box.

The only complaint I have is that I'm not entirely enamored to their new bolts, but have definitely noticed a significant improvement in their barrels since opening the new factory and doing all production in-house.

jackstrawIII · August 19, 2022, 01:52 PM

If you’re only going from deer to moose, you don’t really need 3… as others have stated you can do all those easily with 1 cartridge in the 270/308 class.

But that’s no fun.

So, if you could only have 3:
1. Marlin 336 in 35 Rem for low kicking close-range deer action
2. Nosler M21 in 6.5 PRC for long range work on the smaller stuff
3. Winchester Model 70 in 30-06 for everything else.

105kw · August 19, 2022, 01:59 PM

I have no Bolt Action Rifles, my choices would be.
240 WM in a MkV
270 WM again in a MkV
Lastly .375 H&H in a M70. I just don't like recoil on the big Weatherby cartridges.

Scorch · August 19, 2022, 02:44 PM

Quote:

What is the recoil like on that 7x57?

Extremely mild, like a 243 without the sting.

Quote:

Rem 660 .350 Rem Mag.

Yeah, nobody wants to shoot one of those enough to wear one out.

MarkCO · August 19, 2022, 02:46 PM

IF I lost all my guns in a boating accident...I'd replace these three for sure.

Bergara Wilderness Terrain in 6.5CM
Defiance Tenacity in .280AI
Weatherby MkV UL in .338-06.

USAF Ret · August 19, 2022, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scorch

Extremely mild, like a 243 without the sting.

Yeah, nobody wants to shoot one of those enough to wear one out.

Hmmm, got me thinking about a 7X57 now. See there is plenty of Remington Core Lokt available.

USAF Ret · August 19, 2022, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkCO

IF I lost all my guns in a boating accident...I'd replace these three for sure.

Bergara Wilderness Terrain in 6.5CM
Defiance Tenacity in .280AI
Weatherby MkV UL in .338-06.

Bergara's have the best trigger.

USAF Ret · August 19, 2022, 05:43 PM

Well, Ron Spomer just made me change my choice of a 30-06 to a 7mm Rem Mag.

ballardw · August 19, 2022, 05:56 PM

.244
.45-70

reynolds357 · August 19, 2022, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USAF Ret

I hope you reload. Haha.

I do.

August 18, 2022, 03:43 PM	#1
USAF Ret Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2017 Posts: 809	Only Three Bolt-gun Hunting Calibers - Which Ones? If you could have three bolt action rifles for hunting in different calibers...small, medium, heavy...small as Coues deer and antelope up to moose, what would they be? I mean, you can choose whatever brand rifle you want? Christensen Arms Ridgeline - 6.5 CR - Light recoil, ammo availability and it is a handy rifle in small places with a 20 inch barrel version. Christensen Arms Ridgeline - 308 - To me, the best mid-size cartridge. Was available when nothing else was. Inexpensive. Ridgeline is light and has an awesome trigger. Fits me like a glove. Christensen Arms Ridgeline - 30-06 - Same as above, ammo readily available. Inexpensive. Also, a vast array of bullet weights. I think for moose, this is the lightest I would go. I have shoulder and neck problems, so I am recoil sensitive. If I wasn't, I might go with a .338. Last edited by USAF Ret; August 19, 2022 at 01:44 PM.

August 18, 2022, 04:19 PM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Commercial Mauser 98 in 22-250 Commercial Mauser 98 in 7X57 Commercial Mauser in 375 H&H if I had to pick a third The 22-250 killed thousands of ground squirrels and jack rabbits and coyotes. I've hunted deer, pigs and elk for the last 45 years with a 7X57 Mark X Mauser 98, had a Mark X 375 H&H for a few years but sold it because the 7X57 did everything I needed. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

August 18, 2022, 06:59 PM	#5
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,249	.223 Rem M70 .270 Win M70 .375 Ruger M70 Just chose three I already own. __________________ NRA Life Member

August 18, 2022, 09:30 PM	#10
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,849	For something different, three that I HAVE, Rem 600 .222Rem Rem 600 .308 Win Rem 660 .350 Rem Mag. all are short, light, handy, and accurate enough for hunting, and sadly, all long out of production. But mine still work, __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

August 18, 2022, 09:37 PM	#12
USAF Ret Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2017 Posts: 809	I read this article and I have three of the top 4. I used to have a 30-06 in AK and CO. Last one was a Ruger M77 stainless with the laminate stock. Another stupid sale I made. https://www.fieldandstream.com/guns/...me-cartridges/ Last edited by USAF Ret; August 18, 2022 at 09:47 PM.

August 18, 2022, 06:03 PM	#3
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	257 WBY 270 WBY 300 RUM All in Mark V WBY.

August 18, 2022, 06:33 PM	#4
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,176	.17HMR for everything from small ground game up to fox size. 6.5 Grendel for larger varmints up to deer size game. .270 Win for the bigger stuff.

August 18, 2022, 10:11 PM	#13
jaysouth Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2001 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 787	you only need one. A 30-06 and a reloading press will give you reloads in the .30 carbine level, a little more powder and you have a .30-30 level loads, then if you are hunting elephants or mastadons, buy factory ammo. If you load 125 Nosler varmit bullets at full pressure, you have a load that will keep up with a 223 up to 300 yards.

August 18, 2022, 10:11 PM	#14
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	Rem 700 243Win 75gr VMax Rem 700 280Rem 139 or 154 Interbond Rem 700 338-06 200gr Speer Reloads, only __________________ Reloading For: 223R, 243W, 6.5 GR, 6.5 CM, 260R, 6.5-06, 280R, 7mmRM, 300HAM'R, 308W, 30-06, 338-06, 9mm, 357M, 41M, 44SPL, 44M, 45 ACP, 45 Colt, 450BM.

August 19, 2022, 10:43 AM	#15
Drm50 Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2014 Posts: 1,382	Remington 222 in Sako Vixen Winchester 30/06 in Pre 64 m70 Win. 375 H&H in long barrel Sako FB

August 19, 2022, 01:52 PM	#17
jackstrawIII Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2016 Location: Upstate NY. Posts: 901	If you’re only going from deer to moose, you don’t really need 3… as others have stated you can do all those easily with 1 cartridge in the 270/308 class. But that’s no fun. So, if you could only have 3: 1. Marlin 336 in 35 Rem for low kicking close-range deer action 2. Nosler M21 in 6.5 PRC for long range work on the smaller stuff 3. Winchester Model 70 in 30-06 for everything else. __________________ In God we trust.

August 19, 2022, 01:59 PM	#18
105kw Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2017 Location: Columbia Basin Washington Posts: 415	I have no Bolt Action Rifles, my choices would be. 240 WM in a MkV 270 WM again in a MkV Lastly .375 H&H in a M70. I just don't like recoil on the big Weatherby cartridges. Last edited by 105kw; August 19, 2022 at 02:12 PM.

August 19, 2022, 02:46 PM	#20
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,308	IF I lost all my guns in a boating accident...I'd replace these three for sure. Bergara Wilderness Terrain in 6.5CM Defiance Tenacity in .280AI Weatherby MkV UL in .338-06. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

August 19, 2022, 05:43 PM	#23
USAF Ret Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2017 Posts: 809	Well, Ron Spomer just made me change my choice of a 30-06 to a 7mm Rem Mag.

August 19, 2022, 05:56 PM	#24
ballardw Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 1,411	.244 .45-70 __________________ -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ All data is flawed, some just less so.