"Must Have" rifle types in your battery?

You could probably do everything with seven; and by everything I mean everything.
If you want to hunt everything in the world effectively you need a light, medium and a heavy.
1) The light will probably end up being somewhere between 6.5 and 8mm and produce velocities from just under 3000 to 3500 with the standard bullet weights for that caliber. Just about everything will be done with this rifle. You can go smaller if you want, which means you’re going to reach for your medium a little sooner.
2) The mediums are generally considered to top out at the magnum 375 level. At that level there isn’t much you can’t kill but there are a few things you can’t impress.
3)Remember those things that you can’t impress with lights and mediums? This is where your heavy comes in. It’s major function is getting out of tight situations alive. The goal here to slam something big and intent on killing you so ####ing hard that he changes his mind.
4) The varmint rifle, which is used for mass killing of small vermin in the most effective way possible. Its a definite plus to have bullets blow up when they hit the ground safety-wise, and also you want to be able to turn rodents into red mist. If you have to ask someone whether you hit or not it gets boring real quick.
5) The dedicated target rifle. Pick your sport and use what the winners are using.That will get you started.
6) The combat rifle. You may not get to pick that one.
7) The .22. It’s for things that need small holes in them, and learning to shoot.


If you cover the categories the rest is details.
 
Interesting to see everyone's thought process on this.
I could certainly get away with less than 7 sporting rifles, but...

1. .22LR of some flavour. Currently that's an Anschutz single shot for me and the little boys but would like to add a nicer bolt action repeater with a 2-7x33 at some point.
2. Win 9422M. Dad has always had one and it is just so slick. Will be a while before the budget allows such a luxury.
3. Win. 94 .30-30, If you don't have one your life is not truly complete. Looking for a pre-64 as close to mint as possible but again, luxury item.
4. "Rough" hunting rifle, meaning I don't have to baby it. Currently that's a Wby Vanguard Stainless .300 WSM.
5. Lighter deer/range rifle. Wby 307 Range XP 6.5 CM with an Athlon Midas 4.5-27x50 FFP
6. Fancy rifle. Japan-era Wby MkV Deluxe .300 Wby Mag. Picking it up at the PO today. Going to find a nice glossy scope for this one.
7. Heavy rifle. For NA a Marlin 1895 45-70 would make sense, but I'd probably go with a more classic bolt action like a model 70 in .375 H&H. Or some more obscure cartridge in a Ruger #1. Not really clear in my mind yet as to what this one would look like as I have yet to need one. Used to have an M96 9.3x62 with an Aimpoint Hunter H30L red dot and it was wonderful but I'd hesitate to call that "heavy".
 
7 must-haves for me:

1 - heavy-barreled precision bolt-action rifle in .223 Rem (mine currently is a Rem 700) I know there are "better" cartridges out there for long range precision work but I also like to be able to afford to shoot a lot :) I prefer a stock over a chassis, AICS mags are certainly convenient and abundant. 1-7" twist rate to stabilize the heavier bullets out there. I'll work up a couple loads, one for varmints and one for ringing steel at extended ranges. ATACR on a 20 MOA rail.

2 - A lightweight bolt action rifle in a 6mm cartridge, .243 Win is my default (currently also a Rem 700) but 6mm Creedmoor or 6mm Remington could also be fine choices. I'm gonna drive heavier varmint bullets for coyotes and 90-100 grain bullets for deer. My son will probably use it as well. Trijicon Credo in Talley ring mounts. I would prefer a 1-8" twist but not married to that idea, I'm doing just fine with 1-9.125".

3 - A .22LR bolt-action rifle. Either a CZ or Tikka. Sporter profile. FFP scope but nothing crazy on the magnification.

4 - A sporter-weight bolt-action in .30-06 (currently a Model 70) or .300 Win Mag (currently a Bergara B-14) or .300 Weatherby Mag (currently a Mark V Hunter). Nothing too light, nor any emphasis on being super short. Again a Credo or Accupoint for optic choice. Focus on throwing 180's at everything I point it at.

5 - A Benelli Super Black Eagle III 12 gauge. Inertia-driven flak gun. King of the skies. Slayer of strutting toms.

6 - A Browning Citori CXS 20 gauge. They fit me well and I like a classier option for grouse and busting clays (I know the 20ga target loads aren't as readily available as 12ga, the money I save by shooting .223 over something else will be spent here I suppose).

7 - If you ask me today, it's a Winchester 1895 in .405 Winchester. I like bear hunting, and I like being close. I'd love to have one of these sighted in with irons for 50 yards and let 'em have it. Other days, it could be a .45-70. Sometimes I'm craving a carbine-length .45 Colt or .44 Rem Mag. And once in a while, it's another bolt gun but in a heavier mid-bore, like a .375 H&H, 9.3x62mm, or .35 Whelen, all loaded with their heavier bullet choices.
 
Did it in 5

1. Do all my 1959 Browning FN bolt in 3006, this now wears a Mcmillan Hunter Stock so it would also be an all weather unit
2. For stuff that bites back, my New Haven based Model 70 Classic custom in 338wm.
3. For "camp" rifle my 1980's era Marlin 4570.
4. For light weight my New Haven Model 70 Featherweight in 6.5x55 Swede.
5. For a rim fire my CZ 452.
 
Is it "must have" if you don't have it?

1) 22LR - needs no introduction
2) 22-250 - it's the classic Coyote Gun, drops Deer like they were hit by Lightning, heck I know a guy that killed a Grizzly with one.
3) SKS - it is a necessary Sporting Rifle in 2025 Kanaderp and an Autoloader is desirable for Bear Defence
4)32 Winchester Special - everyone needs a Saddle Gun
5) 8x57 - the OG of Smokeless Cartridges and I'm confident it'll do for anything on this Continent
6) Parker Hale 303 - truck or quad gun, a detachable magazine is desirable for legal reasons on/in a Motor Vehicle and powerful enough for anything
7) Not a rifle but a Shotgun with choke tubes as BC has "Shotgun with Shot Only" Zones.
 
To answer the OP's List of 7 must haves:
1) My LH Custom Rem 700 in 300 WSM w/ VX-3 3.5-10x40 B&C
2) My Ruger Lipsey's 10/22 RSI w/ Leupold 2-7x33 Rimfire MOA and/or my Winchester 69A w/ iron sights
3) My LH Browning X Bolt All Weather in 6.5 CM w/ VX-3 4.5-14x40 B&C
4) My LH Sako 85 Finnlight II in 338 Federal w/ VX-6HD 2-12x42 Illum. B&C
5) My Browning BLR in 358 Win w/ VX-R 2-7x33 FireDot in QR rings and bases
6) My LH Ruger M77 Mk II in 416 Taylor w/ NECG open sights and Trijicon 1-4x24 w/ Green Triangle post in QR rings and bases
7) My LH Fierce Carbon Rogue in 7MM PRC w/ VX-5HD 3-15x44 B&C

To answer My List of Must Haves:;)
1) Plinker/small game rifle: My Ruger Lipsey's 10/22 RSI w/ Leupold 2-7x33 Rimfire MOA and my Winchester 69A w/ iron sights
2) My Target rifle: My LH Bergara B-14R Trainer Carbon Fibre Rifle w/ Veracity 3-15x50 Ballistic E1 FFP
2) My Varmint rifle: My LH CZ 527 American in 204 Ruger w/ VX-3 LR 4.5-14x40 Varmint Reticle
3) My LW small bore Stalking/Walk About rifle (light big-game): My LH Browning X Bolt All Weather in 6.5 CM w/ VX-3 4.5-14x40 B&C or LH Steyr Mannlicher Model M FS in 6.5x55 w/ gloss VX-3 2.5-8x36 B&C
4) My LW medium bore Stalking rifle (medium to heavy big-game): My LH Sako 85 Finnlight II in 338 Federal w/ VX-6HD 2-12x42 Illum. B&C
5) My Back up; Guiding, Archery, Camp rifle: My Browning BLR in 358 Win w/ VX-R 2-7x33 FireDot in QR rings and bases
6) My Mountain rifle: My LH Fierce Carbon Rogue in 7MM PRC w/ VX-5HD 3-15x44 B&C
7) My Open Field/Prairie rifle: My custom LH Sako AV in 7MM STW w/ VX-3 4.5-14x40 B&C
8) My Saddlegun: My Winchester 94 Big Bore in 356 Win w/ open sights
9) My Bear Watch gun: My LH Rem 870 12 Ga Slug Gun w/ open sights
10) My Grizzly/Brown Bear rifle: My LH Ruger M77 Mk II in 376 Steyr FS w/ NECG open sights and S&B 1.5-6x42 German #4
11)My Buffalo (bison) rifle: My LH Sako 85 in 9.3x62 w/ open sights and Kahles 1.5-6x42 in QR rings
12) My DG rifle: My LH Ruger M77 Mk II in 416 Taylor w/ NECG open sights and Trijicon 1-4x24 w/ Green Triangle post in QR rings and bases
13) My Upland bird gun: My Benelli Ethos 28 Ga
14) My Waterfowl gun: My LH Rem 1100 20 Ga

Who knew I had so many "must haves" LOL:D
 
Some kind of .22, a CZ 452/3 or 10/22 or the Win 94/22 I sold to some CGN in Vancouver in 2003/4
Lever Win TD in .357 Magnum
My Mini-14s because Norc ammo is like a cheap date who stays and FU Wendy
Winchester 70 FW or Ruger No. 1A(or Sako 85 BC...) in 30-06
If need be a Ruger 77 Hawkeye Alaskan/African in .375 Ruger, but I don't think I'd hunt anything that big normally, this would be for a special hunting trip or something.
 
Centerfire rifle in a versatile cartridge
2506. Fast and flat and can be used in southern Ontario for coyote and northern Ontario for wolf deer and bear

22LR
22lr savage fvsr most accurate and I like the MDT LSS chassis system it sits in

Lightweight stalking ("woods loafing")
CVA v2 scout take down 44mag. New to me I haven't hunted it yet

Lightweight stalking rifle in a medium power
Double rifle in 4570. I use it when bear baiting and tracking or just generally walking overgrown logging roads.

Dependable utility rifle for truck
Jrc 9. I use it small game and wolf and plinking when I'm in the north. A 12ga generally has this role or my double rifle in 4570

CRF dangerous game rifle
Custom built 458wm on an interarms mkx

All-weather, do-it-all centerfire rifle in a versatile cartridge for those inclement periods.
As of now a Sauer 101 in 9.3x62. This will be my main big game rifle but I'm looking forward to the new CVA v2 scout TD in 360bhmr
 
....
Lightweight stalking ("woods loafing")
CVA v2 scout take down 44mag. New to me I haven't hunted it yet

.....
The Ruger .44 Magnum semi-auto rifle is/was sold for close in shooting. One of the partners at my father's family hunting camp carried one for many seasons. He was also the most reliably successful of all the men in camp.
 
I have more categories than 7 in my "must haves", but here goes with your list and a few of my rifles:

1. Centerfire rifle in a versatile cartridge (for you) with appropriate optic
Sako M85 Bavarian 7x64 with Kahles 2-8 scope, illuminated

2. 22LR rimfire rifle with optic.
CZ Brno #5 with Zeiss 4x

3. Lightweight stalking ("woods loafing") rifle in a smaller centerfire cartridge (222, 223, 7.62x39, etc.) with iron sights and/or lower power optic.
Brno ZKK 601 .222 Remington, pop up peep sight, Leupold 3-9x Compact mounted with Talley QD mounts

4. Lightweight stalking rifle in a medium power centerfire cartridge
Brno 22f Fullstock carbine 7x57 with Leupold 2.5x on QD mounts, and Docter Optic Red dot w/QD mount

5. Dependable utility rifle for truck, RV or trunk
Ruger M77/44 Stainless/Synthetic Leupold 1-4 Illuminated firedot reticle on QD mounts and NECG peep sight

6. CRF dangerous game rifle or higher power lever gun, etc., with great iron sights (take your pick).
Sako M85 Kodiak .375H&H, Stainless Laminated w/Zeiss 1.5-5x Illuminated reticle, in QD mounts

7. All-weather, do-it-all centerfire rifle in a versatile cartridge for those inclement periods.
Sauer 202 Outback - Synthetic stock, and several interchangeable barrels, lightweight aluminum action and all barrels coated with Ilaflon weatherproof coating and fitted with several various scopes in Recknagel QD mounts: depending on need, chambers vary, pick from .270, 7x64, .308, 30-06, or 9.3x62

ADDED:
8: Long range/ High precision varmint & fur hunting rig: Sako M85 Lam/SS HB fast twist .223 W/ Zeiss 3.5-12x56

9: International travel rifle: Verney-Carron takedown Impact Plus bolt action 9.3x62 Kahles 1.5-5x Illuminated scope,

10: Dangerous Game African rifle: Merkel 140AE .450-400 3" Nitro Express SxS double w/ Recknagel QD Pivot mounts /1-4x Karl Kaps,

11: Lightweight, Long range mountain and plains rifle: Krieghoff Hubertus kipplauf, .30R Blaser, 3-10x Swarovski

12: "Just because it's so good" Sako L579 Deluxe .308 with original peep sight and Zeiss 3-9x on original QD mounts

13: Birds, bunnies, bucks and bears: Krieghoff Trumpf drilling, 16ga.x16ga. / 7x57R, choked IC/Full, with Krieghoff .22 WMRF insert barrel, 3-9x Kahles scope in claw mounts, (The "come what may" Bush expert / Forester's gun)



Last edited: Jan 24, 2025
 
I have Remington 788's in every caliber and Model 94 just because.
You don't need to spend 1500 bucks a rifle to have fine weapons.
 
I stack/stock 3 calibers, and have a semi auto and a manual action for each, I can't think of anything else I'd need as a plinker
.223 .22lr 12g
 
22LR bolt for fun and varmintin' - currently Savage MK II with a 4x fixed scope
Light recoiling bolt action - Husqvarna 1900 in 6.5x55, 4-9x40 Weaver (when $ permits, will go to a Burris Fullfield or Droptine)
Standard duty bolt action - Husqvarna 1640 in 30-06, 2.5-10 Burris Fullfield IV
Heavyish duty bolt action - Husqvarna 1640 or 1900 in 9.3x62 (as $ and Her Majesty permit)
Lever action in classic or pistol caliber - I'm jonesing for a Henry in 30-30 or 357 mag

ADDENDUM: I also have a bolt action Savage 110 in 243, which is a fabulous rifle, but it's a lot of overlap with the Swede with lower grain weight bullets, and I like the latter so much more.
 
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#1,4,5 & 7 all over lap as far as I’m concerned, for me the must haves would be a .22 rimfire, 30 cal of some sort, 12g with chokes, and something larger than .30 cal, probably some kind of semi auto in .7.62x39/54r or 7.62nato.

Everything would likely be mag fed, the 12g would have multiple barrels. I like having multiples of the same gun in different calibers, so there will be doubles of certain things.
 
1. 22LR bolt gun gophers <50 yards
2. 17 HMR gophers > 50 yards
3. 223 bolt gun gophers past 100 yards and other pesky critters
4. 243 bolt gun for scaring gophers and yodel dawgs to 500 yards. Deer if we had any.
5. 12 ga shotgun pump or semi for zombie gophers
6. 410 for Pepe Le Pew
7. Bigger center rifle if you fancy Elk or Moose in your freezer.
 
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