The Three-Calibre British Hunter – What would you choose?

[Frank Homes]

As the OP asked for 3 centrefire rifles and has slot for 340 W'by for use abroad only (not sure why so restricted), then that limits the field. So

1. .22 Hornet

2. .243

3. 7x57

F

 

[Orion]

Irrespective of what reponders to the thread favour for use in the UK, did the OP not also say, "with the option of being able to hunt boar and plains (but not dangerous) game abroad..........."? So I'd think something with a bit more authority than a .308 which could then also be used within the UK (HOG states "providing the firearms are not underpowered for the species" ), would hardly be willie waving!

 

[Kernow_Stalker]

1. 22-250

2. 7-08

3. any 338 or 375 were i to be allowed

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

Been through this up and down several times, I've ended up with:

222

6.5x55

30/06.

I think this meets the brief. At a push I could drop the 6.5 and the 30/06 and just have a 222 and a 270win.

I do have other small centrefires and rimfires, but I almost invariably reach for the 222 or the 6.5.

Been thinking I might clear out some rifles and treat myself to a new 20 bore...Miroku MK60 gr5, 30"??


It's worth mentioning that 222 and 270 is where I started 20 years ago.....

 

[25 Sharps]

If restricted to CF's

0.22H everything up to fox at 150 yards with 13gr of powder and can be loaded subsonic relatively easily if silence is needed

6.5 x 55 - current stalking rifle, getting on well with it and able to handle 100 - 160 gr bullets for varying situations

7mm rem mag or 7-284 just because I fancy a 7 mm at some point!!

 

[Eric the Red]

My approach to the three centrefires is: 22.250Rem, 270Win, 300WinMag. My rationale is that they are ballistically very similar, with a very good range of bullet weight across the piece - 35-65gr from 22.250, 90-160 in 270, 110-220 in 300WM.
I can shoot pretty much anything, anywhere.

Given your 6.5-284 is already in hand, I'd keep that unless you desperately want a change. TBH, the 22C/F all cover pretty well - and if you're going above your 6.5, you may as well pick a rifle with significantly more energy to lay down - so one of the 300 Magnums (RUM perhaps?) seems a good choice.

 

[Shootist]

As centrefire was specified, then .223, .308, and for big and nasty 45/70.

.223 is available commonly almost throughout the world. With a 9" twist you will manage any small game you need to. Pick the right rifle and it will serve also for F/TR competitions.

.308 is equally available and will sort out most other game. It will manage a wide variety of bullet weights to suit various quarry. Same also for F/TR.

45/70 'cos I just love it. Choose your range and it will drop just about anything with legs on the planet. A Marlin lever action will be fast on Wild Boar and such quarry as might need speed. Wildly variable loads can be used and it speaks with authority while inducing a silly grin on the face of the user.

 

[Conure]

I suggest rifles in 5mm-6.5mm9.22"- .26") followed by 6.8mm-9mm (.27-.35") would cover all hunting in the UK choose an approriate cartridge in the chosen bore size and away you go.

 

[Border]

6BR
.308 Win
9.3x62

 

[Biathlonjimmy]

Currently using:
.22lr
.22-250Rem
.308W

Having gone through 'the exercise' i'm mid transition and by January it will have changed to
.22lr
.22-250Rem
.260Rem
.308W
.300WSM

I'm keeping the .308 with a 1-4x illuminated dot for driven and woodland. The .22-250 for night and day vermin work. .260Rem as my main stalking rifle (Roe & Munties) .300WSM for Scotland, LRT and (fingers crossed) plains game.

It helps reloading for all except the rimfire.

 

[The deer man]

1) Small Game/Varmint Calibre – .223 because I've had others, cheap to load and feed, accurate and believe it or not kills fox's!

2) Medium Game – 7mm-08 because I've had and used loads of others, it's smooth, accurate and has been my favourite for many years and I'm just guessing but for probably a good reason.

3) Boar / Larger Game – 7x64 Brenneke because I think I like 7mm's! Honestly, this was a South African PH's choice made for me and it's probably the most popular calibre in Europe. It's another very smooth rifle to shoot without going MAGNUM! I liken it to the 30/06 as I liken the 7mm-08 to the 308. The 7mm's are just smoother and marginally more accurate with comparable ballistics over range, better SD for penetration too.

I own and have owned other rifles but these are the three I'd keep if restricted to three.

 

[yorksjt]

The three I own are .22, .223 and 7mm 08. I have also a slot for a 30 06.

 

[llwynog]

in reality you could do it with two centre fires, a .243 for all the small stuff and up to medium deer, and a 30.06 or 300 win. Sorted.
I have a .22/250, a 6.5x47 and a 30.06, in reality the 6.5 will do all UK stuff and has become my go to rifle just because it is supremely accurate

 

[rutland]

I have . .22 a 243 and a 30.06 , I tend to use the 30.06 for most situations

 

[User00035]

Three's tricky. Four would be easier. You've got to have a .22 lr IMO. At the other end of the spectrum to cover everything in the UK you need something for boar, so .30-06 ideal or 7 mm mag of some flavour if you like a bit of poke.
Its what to do in between.. An all round deer rifle, of course, - which would serve for foxes also - and that to me is a .308, but I really value a small CF for long range rabbits, corvids and hares. At the moment I've got a .243 for that. Did have a .222 which in many ways I preferred, but its not roe legal in England and Wales and getting factory ammo was becoming a pain so I went up a cog for convenience.
So..if I was in Scotland I'd say .22lr, .22-.250 and .308/.30-06. England - .22lr, .243, .30-06

 

[stubear]

Here's something else to throw into the mix.

If you have two related cartridges (.243/.308 or .25-06 and .30-06) and have the same rifle make (E.G. Both are Sako) then the magazines should be interchangeable, which means for night time foxing or boar where you might want a spare loaded mag to hand quickly you get this for free by dint of having two rifles with the same magazine.

 

[Conure]

Here's something else to throw into the mix.

If you have two related cartridges (.243/.308 or .25-06 and .30-06) and have the same rifle make (E.G. Both are Sako) then the magazines should be interchangeable, which means for night time foxing or boar where you might want a spare loaded mag to hand quickly you get this for free by dint of having two rifles with the same magazine.

That is of course assuming the rifles have drop or detachable magazines ............................ many do not!

 

[ejg]

Here's something else to throw into the mix.

If you have two related cartridges (.243/.308 or .25-06 and .30-06) and have the same rifle make (E.G. Both are Sako) then the magazines should be interchangeable, which means for night time foxing or boar where you might want a spare loaded mag to hand quickly you get this for free by dint of having two rifles with the same magazine.

Gone down that road since a while, same mags in 243, 308 running in Sako, Remington, Mauser, Tikka and Howa. All interchangeable 5 or 10 shot.

In Ireland a 22lr, 22-250 and 308 makes sense as the 22-250 can be used for deer if the 308 had a problem.
In the UK 22lr, 243, 308 would make sense
edi

 

[Scotty99]

So I was trying to do a similar thing and went for .22LR, .223, .308 and 30-06 but since I have dedicated my .223 to night vision for foxes I've added a .243 for fox and smaller deer. My 30-06 is a Mauser M03 so I can also add a .375 H&H as a second barrel if the need ever arises. This should cover all my requirements both home and overseas......at least according to my wife!

If pushed to only have three I would go for .22LR, .243 and .308

 

[smokey]

ok this is from some one that lived in Africa for twenty years the choice of calibre is decided by local law and problems of ammunition availability(eg yours getting lost in transit) so legally the big stuff is covered bythe375 this being the minimum in some places.
30/06 and 37HH are available everywhere relatively speaking.
as for the uk a lot of people use a 22,250 for fox where as the people that shoot a lot of foxs tend to use the 223. i use a 243 as it covers me for deer and in the hill country it is a little better in the wind remember bullets kill game not calibre.
It is a compromise depending on what you use it for 90% of the time and can it do for the other 10%