What’s your five? 5 Calibers to do it all...

[P7M13]

44 Mag
22 LR
6.5 Grendel
7 LRM
338 Edge

 

[LRDesert]

243AI
6.5-06
30 Nosler
338 Lapua
416 Rigby

 

[Toecutter]

.223
6mmBR
25-06
300WM
338 RUM

 

[338weatherby]

Just sold my 30-378 wby to fund a new build. The 378 is a good all around choice I think. It like the 375 H&H can be loaded up or down with the exception that the 378 can really push the bigger pills, making it a consideration for an awesome 600 plus elk or moose or what ever cartridge. It could be the answer for a true one and done Africa gun.

I sold my 338-378 to fund another LPR build in Dallas's 338 Reaper. Wanted another full custom. The 378 is a nasty one. Not real popular though.

 

[epags]

I want calibers that commercial ammunition is readily available. (Covid 19 aside). So:
.223/5.56
.243
7mm Magnum
30-06 (with heavy bullets like 220 grain)
Yes, I do not plan to go to Africa so nothing larger.
Yes, I could reload all of these but would be hard to do when away from home.
Yes, .22LR and shotguns would be on the list.

 

[Hunter26]

223
6.5 cm
7 saum
338 lapua
375 H&H I guess. Not that educated in the big boys

 

[Paladin300]

223
6.5 cm
7 saum
338 lapua
375 H&H I guess. Not the educated in the big boys

338 Lapua is a pretty big boy! Actually carries more energy than the 375 H&H as does my favorite 338s the RUM and Edge, just not legal for dangerous game in most of Africa but in my opinion more than enough.

 

[ARCaveman]

Ok I'll give it a shot. Since we're talking cartridges I'll just go with what I have the most of.

22 mag, 22-250 rem., 7.62x39, .308 win. and .300wsm. When I look in the safes those are what I have the most guns chambered for and the most rounds on hand.

 

[memtb]

How do you like the 375 AI? What kind of ballistics are you getting with It? I have been contemplating one for sometime.

Paladin300, not much experience with it.....only used it since '90! I love it! I wanted a relatively light weight, weather resistant, rifle using a cartridge that I could hunt most any game on the planet.

I've used it on everything from a few prairie dogs, foxes/coyotes, deer/antelope/ moose & elk!

Presently running Barnes 250 TTSX's @ 3160 fps. Though, this is not my preferred bullet. I used a Barnes 270 TSX for years, however, it has a very poor BC. And, I wanted something better for long range. I didn't want to drop bullet weight, waited for years, begging Barnes to bring out a heavier bullet in a TTSX or LRX. I finally gave up, bought a pile of 250's, developed a very good load....then they bring out the 270 LRX. When/if they become available again...I'll go to them!

While my longest shot to date is only 430 yards on an antelope. I feel comfortable out to 600 in very good shooting conditions. My present load is easily good ( velocity/energy) for 800+, which is the limit of my Leupold CDS.

I have no regrets in making this choice 30+ years ago! memtb

 

[Subzero]

22lr
.223
6.5cm
300wm
338rum

 

[SteelBanger]

I know the first 2 are assumed but I'd be happy with these 5 only to cover my needs. Simple caliber picks, there's plenty of great cartridge options within those calibers but I'm partial to the Sherman lineup.

.22lr
12ga
.257
.284
.338

 

[Gunpowder]

204
243
30 Rar
270 Wby
Don't have a heavy, maybe a 416 of some sort?

 

[Paladin300]

Reading thru everyone's post there are a few of the new guys that creep in every now and then, 28 nosler and 6.5 creedmoor. Two cartridges seem to be at the top of a lot of people's list, the tried and true 300 Win Mag and another not so new but not so old cartridge the 338 RUM/Edge. You could throw the 338 Lapua and its Ackley Improved variant in there too, as well as, the 340 wby, as all three of them are very similar in performance, with the Ackley rising to the top by about 100 fps. The others that seem to be up there on people's list are the 22-250/22-250 AI, 7mm Rem Mag, 270 Winchester, and 257 wby. The 375 H&H/375 Improved seems to be the most popular for the stuff that will kill you, dinos and such. I don't know that you could draw any difinitive conclusions from this but it appears most of us would tend to stick with the tried and true over the newer gucci stuff. If I had to guess it probably has more to do with ammo selection and availability than anything. Being able to get ammo wherever you are in the world at the time is important. The other reason is these calibers just plain getter done! Good post guys! Keep them coming!

 

[wv270wsm]

I'll play
17 Mach 2 - squirrels and other yard varmit.
204 ruger - bigger yard varmit up to and including crop damage deer.
7 mm08- general purpose deer sized game
338 win mag - just because I don't feel you can go wrong with it! Ever!
44 super red hawk for back up whatever you want and or self defense