3 Rifles and cartridges to hunt all of North American big game

J

Jayph

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Well after a lot of reading and asking I have my plans to build 3 hunting rifles. I have purchased all the donor rifles (which I will shoot as the parts and extra money come in to build the three) I have sold off all my rifles I will no longer be needing. I would like any comments, suggestions, or opinions any of you may have. This is what I have decided on

1st- Do everything rifle it will be stainless metal bedded in a McMillan
Right now it is going to be a 6.5-06 shooting 140gr bullets. This rifle will be mostly used on antelope and deer. The .280 Rem is almost tied as the caliber of choice but I love 6.5mm

2nd- The classic wood blued rifle
It will be in .338-06 shooting 225gr bullets, it will be used mostly for moose and elk and if I ever decide to go after black bear.

3rd- The Magnum rifle
I really wanted to go with the .300 Dakota but the availability of brass has made me start looking at others. Right now it's a dead tie between the .300 WSM and the .300 Win Mag (I have both actions) shooting 180gr bullets. I am building this rifle as a back up to the other two capable of taking all the game animals I plan to hunt, and I have always wanted a magnum.

So when I am done I will be shooting 140gr/180gr/225gr bullets which gives me a good range of weight without too much overlap (I know it will depend if the particular rifle will shoot them but that’s the plan) I hope to build one a year for the next 3 but likely will be spread over 4.

I appreciate any opinions and comments as I am sure I overlooked cartridges or ideas and plans always change:)
 
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GOOD LUCK on your builds, it sounds VERY exciting! Post pics!!!

Cheers
Jay
P.S. Other guys will chime in, maybe there are area and caliber restrictions that would help shape your choice(s) of caliber.
 
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If you dont shoot varmints ever, your trio is a good one

personally I would go 260 Remington, 338-06, & 375 Ruger if I had to have three
 
My 3-gun will be : .22-250, .308 win, .338 WM

I've got the last 2, just need the varmint rig...

If I was running a .338-06, I wouldn't bother with a magnum.
 
Well for starters if I could only have 3 make mine all sakos with VX III scopes to start than:

243
7mm Mag
338 WM

I picked the 7 rem mag over the 300 wm only because of the BC ( BTW the 300 wm is my all out favorite so its hard to set aside) and I picked the 338 wm over the 375 because of the ballistics, I also like the 375 and its a great cartridge.

I went with a 243 over a 22 cartridge just because of the ability to take deer sized game in any province. I have no issues using a 223 or 22-250 for deer where legal

my second choices would be

22-250
300 wm
375 H&H
 
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Agonizing choice....3 rifles only!! But If so: 220 Swift, 7-08 Remington [or 7x57] and 308 Norma Mag. [Love to add a 375 H&H though] If I was including small game, a 22 rimfire would be in rght now. Regards, Eagleye.
 
3 rifles only for me would be--

1) .22 LR
2)22.250 rem
3)30.06 sprgfld

Why did no one else put a .22 down? A very handy round for many small game.
 
Try to live with only 3 big game rifles??? I imagine I could but I wouldn't like it! ;) If I had to cull hard these are the three I would pick.



.270 Winchester - Mine is chambered in a Browning M1885 topped with a VXII 3-9x50. It is a true 450 yard "bean-field" rifle. Heavy and built like a tank it is not a rifle I would want to pack in the hills but for sitting on the edge of a clearcut or alfalfa field it is just the ticket.


338-06. This I have chambered in a BSA Royal Featherweight topped with a B&L 3000 3-9x40. Shooting 225's it has all the reach and "thump" I would ever need for large North American game. With 180 and 200 grain Ballistic Tip it is light enough to double as a "mountain rifle".


45-70. Mine is in a Marlin 1895 with a fibre optic front site and an Ashely ghost ring. Sometimes the situation calls for something that spits out big hunks of lead in a hurry.
 
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If only three for big game, my picks would be:

30-30 Win Model 1894, ideally pre-'64, but my post-'64 will do, open sights of course.

My .280 M700 Remington will be buried with me, so it's in.

and then likely my .338 Lapua Mag for the long, long stuff, but my 300 RUM would work too. Flip a coin on this one I guess.

I trust I can keep my Hoyt, yes ?
 
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