How Many Different Rifles/ Cartridges Have You Hunted With?

S

stubblejumper

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
69   0   0
Location
Camrose
The thread about loyalties to certain rifles/cartridges makes me wonder. Most people have a favorite cartridge, or a favorite rifle, but why are they your favorites? Is it the first rifle/cartridge that you hunted with, the only rifle/cartridge that you have hunted with, does it have sentimental value, is it because someone that you admired a great deal, used it, or have you tried many different combinations, and settled on one as a favorite, for some reason?

I started big game hunting with a 30-30, then went to a 243win, and along the way have hunted with the 257wby, 260rem,6.5x55, 7mm-08(two rifles), 280AI(three rifles), 7mmremmag(five rifles), 7mmSTW(five rifles)7mmRUM, 300WBY, 300RUM (2 rifles), 8mmremmag, 338x8mmremmag. In the end, the 7mmSTW is my favorite, because I have have killed more big game animals with it than any other cartridge, and I have always had the greatest confidence while shooting it. As it stands, my two go to big game rifles are both chambered in 7mmSTW.
 
I have mostly used Remington 700's (and most of those customs), Winchester Model 70's and Ruger No.1's and I have shot animals with the 30-30, 243, 6.5x47 Lapua, 257 Roberts, .270 Winchester, .284 Winchester, 7mm Rem Mag, 30-06, 300 Win Mag, 303 British, .338 Win Mag, 8mm Rem Mag and the .350 Rem Mag.

Out of all of them I would say the .284 Winchester and .270 Winchester stand out in my mind. Little recoil and lots of effect. That said I really like the .350 and have confidence that its sister the 6.5 Rem Mag will be my new go to's.
 
Started with a sporterized Enfield in .303. Then a Mauser in .300 WinMag. Quickly traded that for a Remington in .270 Win. Got my Enfield back. Next was a Savage in .270. Last year I got a nice 9-point buck with my SKS in 7.62X39. This year I'm going to use my 1905 numbers-matching Swedish Mauser in 6.5X55. I've also hunted with a few different muzzle loaders along the way.
BTW, this is a partial list of my DEER -hunting rifles. If you include every gun I've ever hunted with, well....that's another list altogether!
 
Last edited:
Not sure I could list them all that I've had. I like shooting what's new for no other reason than it's fun and I learn a lot. My first big game rifle was a pre 64 Model 70 in 264WM and my latest is a 6.5 Creedmoor. I still have the Model 70 but it's a 7RM now. I like walking down to the safe in the morning and letting my mood dictate what I'll grab that day. It could be a lever, a muzzleloader, a pump, a semi or a long-range bolt action. Hopefully I'll buy and sell several more dozen rifles before I quit hunting. Hopefully manufacturers never stop trying to make the perfect mouse trap. Working up loads, learning the rifle's capabilities and trying the newest technology really keeps hunting and shooting fresh and exciting for me. I think a tube gun is definitely on the near horizon :)
 
Good lord, I couldn't possibly remember or list every rifle or cartridge I have hunted with. But, lets try a short list. Some I have owned several of the caliber.

22 rimfire. Still own
22 WMR still own
222 rem still own and a fave
22-250
220 swift borrowed and would like an AI version.
243 win
6mm rem would like another.
257 roberts would like another.
250 savage borrowed.
300 savage
260 rem borrowed.
6.5x55
6.5-54 ms still own
7.62x54r
308 win would like another.
30-30 still own
30-06 still own
25-35 still own
7.62x39 borrowed probably won't own another.
7x57 still own
7mm08 still own
7mm RM borrowed.
7mmSTW still own and a fave
300 WM
308 NM would like another
300 WSM
325 WSM still own and a fave
270 Win still own
300 WBY borrowed.
280 Rem
44 RM still own
44-40
32 rimfire was my fathers but lost in a fire.
50 sharps, doesn't really count, but did shoot a deer with it.
416 RM
375 H&H
375 Win borrowed and would like to find one.
8x57
307 Win borrowed.
30 newton, borrowed and loved it.

Probably a few more I hunted with but can't remember off hand.





Favourite cartridge, 7mmSTW. Has brought down more moose, deer, elk, bear and a small handful of others everywhere from Quebec to BC, and two in NWT.
Favourite action type, bolt.
Favourite rifle, can't really choose, but if forced to I guess my Voere.
Favourite scattergun, 16g.
Favourite scattergun style, SxS.
Favourite maker, probably European and leaning towards German makes.
Favourite rimfire maker? Cooey eh?

First big game was taken with a 22lr, cooey ranger single shot.
First big game with centerfire, CIL bolt action 30-30.

The most sentimental rifles I own are a 25-35 octagon barrel 1894 rifle handed down from a great uncle, a cooey ranger 22 from my grandmother (she took her first deer with that rifle in 1921, and my father, then me learned to shoot with it and brought home countless grouse and rabbits). There are several firearms here from grandparents, parents, step-parents and all have special meaning to me.
 
I have a few as well, but my favorite seems to be the .308 It does everything I need it to and never gives me a problem.
 
Geez, probably only used 9 or so different rifles.

Off the top of my head...

30-06 A-Bolt SS
30-06 Sako
300WM M70
45-70 1885 Browning
30-06 Stevens 200
416 Rigby M77RSM
9.3x62 (366 Wagner) M98
375 Ruger African
7WBY Custom BSA

In the words of "Mr Prime Minister" (this is a real dude, not the real PM)...WTF about? Time to drag out some of those other rifles!
 
Last edited:
I have used many different calibers too. Let's see if my memory still is good. In no particular order. 22lr, 22 mag, 22 hornet,223, 30-30, 300 savage, 308 (a couple different rifles), 30-06, 270 win, 444 marlin, 35 whelan, 356 win, 6.5x55 swede shotguns 12ga, 16 ga, 20ga, .410. No particular favorite they all do the job at hand if I did my part.
 
I was thinking hunting big game, but I never stated such, so I understand why some people listed rimfires, and varmint guns. If I listed my varmint guns, they include fifteen in 22lr, four in 17Mach2, a 17HMR, 22Hornet, three in 223rem, a 22-250, and a 220swift. Adding in target rifles that have been used to shoot a varmint or two would include my 6mmbr, and my 6.5x47L. Other rifles that I could have hunted with but didn't get around to, were a 308Marlin Express, a 308win, a 357mag, a 375H&H, and a 45-70. I also owned three 50 caliber muzzle loaders, and a 54, that I didn't get around to hunting with. Shotguns would add in fourteen in 12 gauge, four in 20 gauge ,three in 28 gauge, and two in 410. Of my varmint guns, the 17Mach2 is my favorite gun for ground squirrels, and in shotguns, my favorite is the 28 gauge.
 
Last edited:
I don't know. Never thought about it. Let's see...

.303Br - still own all 7 Lee Enfields, 3 P-14s
.30-06 - own 3, one not blooded by me
.308 - own two, one not blooded by me.
SKS - own 5, hunted with 2, 3 still in cosmo, sold one
Rem799 - (x39mm) still own.
Yugo m-48, still own
.243 win, still own
.22LR - 3 10/22s, 3 bolt repeaters, 2single shot.
.410 single shot
20ga single shot
12 ga pump (2)
7.62x54R (had two, sold both)
.22LR-traded 3, one bolt repeater, 2x64Bs
borrowed
.223 Win
.300WM (gave that back right away without hunting it)
.270Win
.17hmr
Eta: forgot the .44-40 and the .45.
I think that's it, without looking at the locker.
 
I have no idea, I own every caliber from 20 to 50 and have taken game with most of them. My favorite and most prolific is a semi custom 300 Wby. From there I couldn't possibly list all the calibers I have shot game with over the last 43 years. If I walked into my trophy room I could probably list 1/2 of them, but there were many non-trophy with other calibers I couldn't possibly remember.
 
I have had a lifelong affinity for Winchester rifles (CRF, don't care if new, 90's , or pre-64, they all have been stellar for me). I just have WICKED GOOD LUCK when I have a Winchester in my hands. They, though, for some reason are not my FAVORITE rifle brand, which belongs to my Rugers. I love the fit and ruggedness of them, they have never failed me. My luck hasn't been as good with my Rugers as with my Winchesters, but when you have a great feeling gun in your hands, its not THAT important to skin something.
I have only gone down as far as .22short in my killing (no .17's yet). 22lr/mag have bagged tons of rabbits and grouse/ptarmigan, along with my 20 and 12 guage shotguns.
I have taken one moose with a shotgun slug at 25 yards.
The rest of the large game animals have fallen, in no particular order to these calibers..... .243win, .25-06rem, .270win, .308win, .30-06spfd, .303British, LOTS OF MY BIG GAME WITH MY TRUSTY .300winmag, one caribou and one black bearwith my .338winmag, One Blackie so far with my .375Ruger. (but I just loaded up a bunch of 300 grain X bullets to go tomorrow for another blackie. Never have too much bear stew or Rugs.............
 
i have owned and reloaded for close to fifty different calibres. i have only taken game with 300wm, 300wsm and rem7 mag. they have always been my go to calibres.
 
Hunted successfully with .22, 30 06, 270, 7mm08, 300wm, 338WM enjoyed hunting unsuccessfully with, or plan to hunt with 270wsm, 7mm mag, 308win, 358win, 45 70,30 30, 44 mag, 375HH, 25 06, never really noticed but I think it is a diverse but mainstream group of cartridges, maybe I should consider something exotic.
 
To many to list. I've owned more than I hunted with. Case in point, I have a 6.5x284 Norma that I've had for two hunting seasons and won't be used in the field again this year. The most popular cartridge that I hunted with was the 30-06 and would have to say that it is my favorite, even though I don't own one at this time.
 
The first gun I hunted with was a Mossberg 195KA 12 gauge, it was used for small game and my first couple years of deer hunting. My first rifle for deer was a Marlin 336 30-30 and it was used for about 10 years. Now my big game rifles are a Savage 111 .270 and Winchester 100 .308. For coyote (if I ever get around to them) Savage 12 .223 and for smaller pest control Savage 93 .22WMR. Shotguns are still Mossberg, 195KA and 500. I also have a Remington 870 Express Magnum with collapsable Knoxx stock for the inevitable 'bear defence' and 'zombie apocalypse', or just for something short barreled and compact for when doing bush work/hiking.
 
I will list what I still have. Mainly rem 700, 7600 a few 7400 and a couple win 70.
223
243
270
7mm08
280
308
3006
35w
22 mag
22 rim

280 and 243 my favorites in 7600
 
Started out with a 303 no.4 sporter, went to Rem 700 in 270 Win, then a 308 Mauser, a 300 Win Mag BLR, back to the 308 and now a 257 Weatherby Vanguard. There's also a 223 in there for varmints.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom