Compiling an ‘ideal’ rifle battery

[Nkawu]

This is a topic that has me going in circles more often than not. As a lefty I am always on the lookout for good rifles to build up my ideal battery. I have set a limit of around 5 rifles as I would want to know them like the back of my hand. There are so many variables to consider.
Initially I gave thought to building a do it all battery based on regular increasing bullet weight: 50gn (.22), 150gn (6.5mm/7mm/.30), 250 (9.3), and then a big bore +400gn.

As it stands my battery (4 in the UK, 1 in South Africa) is as follows:
.22lr CZ 452
.243 Ruger No.1
.308 Ruger M77 Hawkeye (South Africa)
.30-06 Winchester M70 Classic stainless and walnut
.375 CZ 550 Safari Magnum.

My current thinking is to rebarrel the Winchester to 280 and add a synthetic stock and longer range scope (i.e. foul weather hunting and range days).
Most of my hunting is done in Africa, but I would like to start hunting here (I have a DSC1) and also in Europe.

Any input would be most welcome.

 

[pj1]

I just like the fact you say “around” five rifles. I have learnt to never say I won’t buy another one and never say how many you will stop at.

 

[HandB]

Good question, I have a pair of BSA Hunters in .222 and 7x57 respectively. Those two calibres cover a lot of bases and if you added a 400 grain+ big bore I would imagine no further rifles would be required for any game anywhere in the world. But that's no fun so I would get a couple more rifles just because

 

[Selous]

A 300 win mag would fit nicely between the 3006 and the 375. 308 and 30/06 are too similar

 

[Nkawu]

I agree that they are too similar, but I can’t part with these hard to find left hand rifles, so one of them has to change.

A 300 win mag would fit nicely between the 3006 and the 375. 308 and 30/06 are too similar

 

[alberta boy]

I'd say you have it covered . I agree with your idea of rebarreling the 06 to a 280 . With bullets of 180 grs or less , the 308 doesn't give up much to an 06 . I'm talking real world results on game , not endless reams of ballistic data . The 280 is a great medium game , long range round and will take care of a lot of game . I'm a hard core 30/06 user myself , in fact , I could get by with my 06 for pretty much everything , but that's not much fun lol . Being a lefty does narrow your options brother , but you've done pretty well .

AB

 

[A Guy Out West]

Can’t imagine giving up a 30/06 for anything. However, if you must, re-barrel to .280 AI. You will have something kind of unique and when you begin to miss the 06, you can load some 175 grainers and pine away at your memories of the old 06.

 

[CarlW]

Your .308 will do everything in Europe and your .375 will do everything in Africa. Sell the rest and let your wife spend the money on shoes...

 

[finnbear270]

My battery starts at, .20 Practical .. moves on to 25-06,next to .270 Win, then on to 2 off of .300 WinMags

 

[A Guy Out West]

Carl, does your wife have a SD sub too?

 

[User00033]

An ideal battery is one that covers all the common bullet weights with no overlap. As such, yours as already noted has a conflict between .308 and .30-06.

I put mine together based on this concept:

.22LR - 40gr subsonics
.223 Remington 1:12" - 40-55gr
.243 Winchester - 70-100gr
6.5 Creedmoor - 120-143gr
.308 Winchester - 150-180gr

I would say @Nkawu that you are missing a good .224 varmint rifle. A must!

The current developments in projectiles and rifles - heavy & long for calibre high BC bullets and faster twist rates - means that the mix is starting to change. For example, I now have a 1:9" .223, shooting 73gr bullets, and the venerable .243 is under a lot of pressure from the 6mm Creedmoor. To that end, if you are looking at rebarrelling, always look at twist and go faster if the option is available, to take advantage of the best of today's bullets.

 

[User00003]

22lr and a mid size CF and you’re golden for any hunting in the uk imho...add a 16g of course for flying things

 

[Tbo89]

.22 LR
.223
6.5 CM
Possibly a 30.06

As a lefty myself I know how hard it is to find firearms .... awkward situation

 

[Flash9919]

Leftie here too....but some of my rifles are true ambi stocks with rh bolts...over the years I’ve decided my preference is left handed thumbhole stock with rh bolt. Not sure you can ever have too many rifles to hand but I reckon for UK use it should look something like this...

22lr / 17hmr
varmint cf. 222,223,22.250 220
small deer 243/6.5
large deer 270,7mm, 30 cal
oh....and a magnum for good measure....

 

[VSS]

1) 22lr
2) 222 or 22-250 or something like that.
3) 243
4) 270, 30-06 or 308 or something like that.
5) Something specialist, maybe a big / DG calibre if that's your thing, or perhaps a dedicated NV set up, or a long-range target shooter, or maybe a duplicate of one of the others for guests to use, whatever suits your special interest.

 

[Hoof burner]

I put my “battery” together on the same principle as dodgyknees.
.22LR Ruger M77. 40grn subsonics
.6MM XC Rem 700. 58grn to 105 grn
(Did away with the .222 tho I regret it as it was handy and fun)
6.5x55 SM lynx 94. 95grn to 160grn
.300 WinMag. Remington 700. 150grn to 220grn
.375 H&H. Winchester pre64 200 to 350grn
Covers me pretty well for any hunting situation I’m likely to get into these days.
Would love a double pref in 450/400 tho I would probably have to sell a kidney to be able to ever afford one.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Mine is
22lr because everyone should have one
222 because it makes very small holes (on paper)
20 Tac because it makes very big holes (on everything but paper)
243 because I used to have only one CF and I like it.
270 because it will do any quarry we have.
if I had the need something big to knock big things over.
I am left handed, but teaching myself to shoot from the “wrong” shoulder (I blame the army) and I have a right master eye.
Saves me a fortune to be fair let’s face it my current favourite the 20 Tac would be rocking horse do do left handed.

 

[Muir]

One of everything??
Or, truly, a quality 22LR, 30-06, and a 12 gauge. That will do it all.
~Muir

 

[Konnari]

22LR
.223
6.5x55
30-06
9.3x62
Will do it all for me

 

[alberta boy]

22LR
.223
6.5x55
30-06
9.3x62
Will do it all for me

Me too