Compiling an ‘ideal’ rifle battery
- Thread starter Nkawu
- Start date
Chasey
Well-Known Member
For me
.22 Subsonic Rabits Squriels etc
22/250 55g Fox dedicated night vision
243 70g Head shot any deer
308 150g walk and stalk + everything else in the UK & 180g boor
338 250g Lapur Magnum for long range
I like the idea of a 9.3 X 62 for big game but I wouldn't likely ever do big game so not realy an issue
.22 Subsonic Rabits Squriels etc
22/250 55g Fox dedicated night vision
243 70g Head shot any deer
308 150g walk and stalk + everything else in the UK & 180g boor
338 250g Lapur Magnum for long range
I like the idea of a 9.3 X 62 for big game but I wouldn't likely ever do big game so not realy an issue
scrumbag
Well-Known Member
That's a really well sorted set up
harrygrey382
Well-Known Member
on the flip side - 308 doesn’t do anything a 30-06 can do. So I’d rebarrel the 308 to 280 (assuming it’s a full length action)...
otherwise I’d say you have a very well rounded battery! Although you probably need an open sighted short range heavy hitter like a 45-70 too...
scrumbag
Well-Known Member
This really isn't that bad as an all round battery
Got a .22lr because you always should.
.243 Ruger number 1 - Would you change this for another bolt action? Some of the 6mms do quite well for the longer range target stuff (Proper twist rate barrel)
.308 Hawkeye - as it is in South Africa you arugably have space for a UK slot between your .243W and you could argue for a 6.5 or 7mm to fill that space, especially if it was a Long range target type rig* (More below)
.30-'06 Winchester - you can literally hunt anything in world with this that doesn't get into DG territory. I would leave it alone
.375 CZ550 Safari Magnum - again, really versatile chambering. Wouldn't mess around with it.
You do need a nice little .222 or .223 Rem. I'd go for a CZ527 .223 Rem in the American or Varmint but there are lots of choices out there.
Now, your 6.5/7mm longer range target build - I went through this thought process for my longer range hunting / Bisley build. Have a look at "Beanfield Rifles" as an idea for a compromise.
Chamberings I would consider
6.5 Creedmore - if you really must...
6.5x55 - The Swede gives you lots of options in factory and performs similarly to Creedmore. Also more Mauser type rifles in the 6.5x55
6.5 PRC - Looks interesting but a real hand loaders proposition (Weatherby and 264 Win Mags not easy to feed even if you hand load and barrel burners)
In the 7mms
7mm Rem mag is well known, Lots of ammo choice and load data but needs a magnum bolt face action and is belted which bothers some people for reloading.
280 Rem (or AI) looks an interesting proposition but in Europe really a hand load only option (the French seem to have a penchant for it, especially in auto-loaders though). The AI gives you 7mm Rem mag performance without the belt.
284W - Seems to have got some real interest among the "F-Class" Fraternity. Understand has a rebated rim though so some say difficult to feed but my experience of this is limited I'm afraid.
7x64 - This was my choice. Quite a bit of factory ammo in Europe. Also quite well thought of in sub-Saharan Africa. Usually has a longer throat and 1:~8.7 twist so stabilises the long, heavy bullets for long range shooting (NB - 280 Rem and 7x64 are virtually the ballistic twins of each other so if you want that kind of ballistics, pick the one which floats your boat)
You can get other faster 7mms like the 7mm Weatherby and 28 Nosler but these look like real powder and barrel burning monsters.
A word on twist rates: get one which will comfortably work with the bullets you want to shoot.
And whatever you choose, enjoy your shooting.
Scrummy
Don't think there is a wrong answer here. Really easy to get down to very few if wanted.
For example my battery is:
22lr for small game
38/357 for fox, could do muntjac CWD also
7x57 main deer rifle, longer range fox
9.3x57 deer
However I have a large case .458 inbound that could easily replace the 9.3mm, even the 7mm, and it probably will. Muntjac to Tembo sorted with one rifle. A decent 375 would do that too being such a great compromise calibre.
So the 22lr, 357, and 458 sorts me for everything I do and don't need more, but as rifle guys we tend to want pretty niche stuff with a rifle for rabbits, short range fox, long range fox, night fox, small deer, big deer, far away deer, boar etc etc.
My 9.3mm will go, 7mm MAY stay as back-up. Taking the UK 6 with an open sight big bore is a very nice thought though.
For example my battery is:
22lr for small game
38/357 for fox, could do muntjac CWD also
7x57 main deer rifle, longer range fox
9.3x57 deer
However I have a large case .458 inbound that could easily replace the 9.3mm, even the 7mm, and it probably will. Muntjac to Tembo sorted with one rifle. A decent 375 would do that too being such a great compromise calibre.
So the 22lr, 357, and 458 sorts me for everything I do and don't need more, but as rifle guys we tend to want pretty niche stuff with a rifle for rabbits, short range fox, long range fox, night fox, small deer, big deer, far away deer, boar etc etc.
My 9.3mm will go, 7mm MAY stay as back-up. Taking the UK 6 with an open sight big bore is a very nice thought though.
All been said really
My collection
.22 LR - invaluable
.177 HMR - great but could be swapped for 204 as .223 has now been sold and 204 would just about fill the gap
6.5 x 55 swede - love it
9.3 x 62 covers bigger deer here and boar plus boar and plains game abroad
404 J - still in ''begging mode'' from the nice people at Devon and Cornwall for this caliber but it is a niche requirement for 'stopping a charge'.
My collection
.22 LR - invaluable
.177 HMR - great but could be swapped for 204 as .223 has now been sold and 204 would just about fill the gap
6.5 x 55 swede - love it
9.3 x 62 covers bigger deer here and boar plus boar and plains game abroad
404 J - still in ''begging mode'' from the nice people at Devon and Cornwall for this caliber but it is a niche requirement for 'stopping a charge'.
stephentri
Well-Known Member
.22lr
.223 fast twist
6.5x55
30-06
.223 fast twist
6.5x55
30-06
For me it's not as simple as just the chambering, rifle features come into it as well. For a hill rifle I want a bolt action with a 3-12 scope, a moderator, a barrel long enough to make the most of the chambering and a blind/drop plate mag. For a boar rifle I want a 20/22" barrel, 1-6 scope, a muzzle brake and drop out magazine, ideally in a straight pull. My long range gun is 15Lbs with a 4.5-29x56 scope - I wouldn't want to take that on the hill.
Add to this a small vermin rifle, a foxing set up with dedicated NV/Thermal, a smaller deer species gun and something big for DG and you soon get to 6 in the cabinet.
Add to this a small vermin rifle, a foxing set up with dedicated NV/Thermal, a smaller deer species gun and something big for DG and you soon get to 6 in the cabinet.
Nkawu
Well-Known Member
Thanks for this great bit of advice. I would swap out my 243 for a 6.5 (beanfield/range/hunter) if I could only find a quality left hand rifle, preferably CRF (in keeping with all my others). The only option currently available in the UK is the Ruger M77 Hunter in 6.5 CM. I’m just not wild about the Tikka’s and Remingtons etc. Zastava could potentially be bought into the UK but I have heard they need loads of work. Otherwise I would rebarrel the no.1 to 6.5x57 and then my lineup would be:
22lr
6.5x57
30-06
375
The hunt would then be on for a 22 hornet.
22lr
6.5x57
30-06
375
The hunt would then be on for a 22 hornet.
Orion
Well-Known Member
.458 Lott, Express or Win Mag?
alberta boy
Well-Known Member
True enough , and I have a Marlin 1895 in 45/70 for the big stuff in close , a favourite rifle of mine . My previous Marlin went home with a certain SD member , he likes it too lol .
AB
alberta boy
Well-Known Member
Wildcat based on 338LM, between Lott and Rigby, call it 45-120 Rimless as ballistically and capacity wise it is.
WHAT, no 220swift!!
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