'back up' rifle when hunting

Usually keep the 308 locked and cased behind the truck seat just in case. I might break it out if we get into some heavy brush, the 257 Wby doesn't like it there.
 
Very rarely take a back up rifle. Even when two of us head to the mountains we typically only take one rifle. Touch wood, never needed a back up.
 
Not so much a backup rifle as an assortment of guns. I own lots of hunting rifles, so I take a few with me on hunting trips that are not backpack style hunts.
 
I take the best two shooters in my collection. And that seems to change each year. This year will be a Ruger Gun site in .308. And a North shore barrels custom 6.5x55. For moose this will be replaced by a SMLE in .303.
 
Almost always have a second rifle, not as much "back up" as just for different terrain etc. Something longer range with a good optic, and something for in the bush with low power or open sights.
 
I normally pack (in camp) a second rifle as back up if I'm out for more than a day hunt..its usually my BAR in 300 WM but does at times get used as the primary hunting rifle. I've got quite a few different rifles and I try not to favour one....lol, wouldn't want the other ones to feel left out!
When hunting solo, the BAR gets extra duty when returning multiple times to a kill site, to pack out the meat in Grizzly country.
 
This year my RFB will be getting its chance first but my trusty savage 99 in .308 will be there as backup. I might even bring my .44 ranchhand if I ever get around to putting a full stock on it.

I always bring an extra gun. Sometimes more. I prefer having another of the same calibre ie. taking 2 .308's as above. Before I had the RFB I would take an M14s along with the savage. I have also hunted with the SKS/cz858 as a pairing.
 
I take my 700 BDL in 35 Whelen on the fly in moose trip. Room is at a premium in the 180, so just the one gun. It wears a VX-3 on QD rings, so if in the off chance I get some scope death, I can still use the irons sights. On the last range trip, I wasn't so bad with them either.

Other trips though, generally see me pack my Cooper in 280AI as number 1, and the Whelen for backup. Now that I have finally found decent rifles for my two sisters that hunt most often, I don't have to bring anything else with me for the family hunting but I do bring my BAR 270 and 94 just in case someone is in a bind.
 
When travelling far to hunt I always take a spare scope all set up in identical rings and sighted in on that rifle. Travelling with one rifle is a big enough pain in the butt. Hunting locally I usually only take one rifle as I'm almost always hunting with someone with a second rifle. I used to take 1/2 dozen all the time so as to be prepared for anything from sparrows to elephants, now half the time I even forget to take my bird gun!!
 
For my bear and wolf hunt this year I'll take my double rifle in 45/70 my Stevens 200 in 25/06 my rem pump in 308. My savage in 300wm my 12 ga slug gun my savage FV 22lr and my Rossi pump 22lr. And maybe my 10ga if I can find slugs and 000 buck.
 
Lately I've been bringing my primary big game rifle to our bush camp, and a drilling for backup. Either a Sauer 16x16/8x57JR or a Krieghoff 16x16/7x57R . I mainly use the drilling after tagging out. That way I can keep hunting grouse and bear or deer after getting a moose or elk.
 
30-06 for stand hunting.
.454 Casull for dogging and general trail walking.

This is for moose and anything with fur that's smaller than them. Those are this years choices. Will see what next year will bring.
 
Moose tags have been scarce lately. So dependent on the game. adult moose. 375 ruger primary.backup 300savag Ot xcr-m or m305or mosin m38. or depending on the area and Conditions or just what feels lucky
Deer. primary. xcr-l x39 eotech and magnifier- just because. Backup cz -858 stock irons
 
Yup...even 'yote hunting. Had a bear show up last year looking for a free meal (my calling) and me with a little 243 with lite 'yote bullets. Now have a Midland 30-06 with irons as my backup or my Enfield 303.

The Midland is a pretty decent rifle and seems pretty sturdy for the paces I have put it through. The Enfield...well, that's a whole other class!
 
Normally take a scoped centrefire as a main gun - .243, .308 or .338 and a peep sighted .44 mag Trapper for dogging, tracking, dragging, heavy brush, or rain/snow days.

I figure better to be looking at it than looking for it.

Dan
 
I assume that someone remains in camp at all times? It would be a good idea to have a spare or two along, but I wouldn't leave them unattended in a camp. For me, my camp is home, It's only 2 mins away for my hunt to begin, so I'm just a one gun guy.
 
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