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Posted: 7/12/2009 8:14:02 PM EDT
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Anyone feel that there are "Must Have" Calibers for rifles?
I'm asking this because come next week I just may have a near unlimited budget to buy firearms (Long Story) but would like to keep the total number of calibers down. Of course, it'd be so easy to go out and buy many of each, but I'd like to keep the total number down. So far I have : 22 12ga 223 7.62x39 7.62x54r .45 30 Carbine The only additional caliber I was looking at getting is 308 so I can have a US full power cartridge (The 7.62x54r is obviously 'full power' but I can only find corrosive). Thoughts on anything I'm really missing out on? |
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Depends on your needs I guess. The 54R or 308 will be sufficient for most North American game. However, if you expect to hunt elk, or hunt in places where you need to make long shots, I'd think about a 7mm Remington Magnum or 300 Winchester Magnum.
You've got a good brush caliber: 7.62x39. It's good for brush hunting anything, however, if you ever expect to hunt large, mean assed wil boars, the x39 might be a tad light. You might consider a heavy brush thumper for the collection, too. Marlin 1894 in 45-70 would do it 
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I was also contemplating a few more calibers on second thought :
45-70 I HAVE contemplated in like a lever gun , due to ease of reloading/casting which I really would love to do (I've been saving wheel weights already and have a few) Also 357 so I could do 357 or 38s (and casting). I was also considering a large magnum round, either the 300wsm or 338 lapua , however couldn't decide on which would be best (Lapua looks best ,but 300wsm seems to be more available.) I'm pretty dead set on a 308, looking to get a FAL & a remington 700 both for 308. |
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9.3X62 mauser....can do anything worldwide.
.416 ruger......can stop anything worldwide. these two because they can be made on the same type/size of action, which will reduce the chance of short stroking the bolt when the SHTF and have the same manual of arms. advntrjnky |
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Quoted:
You need .308, 9mm, and .50bmg. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Contemplated adding 9mm to the fold but due to the 45 round having such a massive concussive shockwave , I think I'll stick with that for now. 50BMG is something I really want, However I don't know if i'd want to go with a barret, OR something really fun like a semi auto m2. Note , the 45 shockwave statement was just a joke, hope you didn't take it too serious. I've been finally seeing 308 online for decent prices recently ($400/1000) I wish prices were what they were 4-5 years ago, A friend of mine has been a dealer for a while, back then he was buying crates of CETMEs at $299 a pop :( |
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Today if I was to limit I would go with five cartridges
22lr- most fun caliber out there cheap and plentiful 9mm- good pistol round for defense, plinking, or target lots of pistols in this caliber 38/357 magnum- the best of both worlds light cheap 38s for target and plinking with powerful 357 for HD or hunting light game. Plus I love wheel guns 223- good varmit plinking HD SHTF cartridge also somewhat cheap lots of rifles in the caliber including AKs, Galils, ARs ect. 308- The round all others are measured against. going this route I have the maximum flexablilty and all of these cartridges are available commonly at wlamart or ace hardware, you could hunt any game in North America except the, moose, bigger browns, and grizzlys if I could add a sixth it would be 375 H&H the best all around caliber in exsistence for game from deer to elephant, though a little light for elephant it is the smallest legal caliber for them. The biggest thing is with an "unlimited budget" you can get classic pieces like Walther PPK in 22lr or Colt series 70 in 9mm or a MAK 90. and stay in this caliber German K98s were rechanbered to 308 by israel in the 50s so you can have a K98 too. 308 grands are not hard to find either. |
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I'd like to stay under 10 calibers if at all possible, then have 2-3 firearms of varying types and configurations for each caliber.
Unfortunately I keep realizing that I have a few extra calibers that I totally forgot about (and really enjoy them) like a single shot 20ga and a 9x18 makarov. |
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All depends on your shooting interests: hunting, target, defense, etc?
I too try to limit my calibers but not always with a lot of success. Pistol: 7.65 Nagant, 9mm, 38 spec, 357 mag, 45 acp. Shotgun; 12 and 20 gauge, with the 12 gathering dust. Rifle; 223, 30 Carbine, 30/06, 303 Brit, 6.5 Carcano (hasn't been shot in decades), 7.5 French, 7.62 x 54R, 8mm Mauser And 22 LR of course. Have owned 30/30 and 45 Colt rifles and 38 S & W revolver, but none at present. Only hole I anticipate filling is a big bore handgun for deer hunting (probably 45 Colt as I have the brass). |
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Must have calibers IMO:
.22LR .223 .30-06 or .308 9mm, .45, or .40/alternatively .357 12 gauge So basically plinking, common intermediate rifle, common high-power rifle, common pistol, standard shotgun. There's very little you couldn't do with those calibers. Like take the biggest African game, even then it's possible. |
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The only other caliber you should add is a sporting cartridge such as: .243 7mm-08 .308 30-30 .270 30-06 +1 for me it'd be 8mm for my Mausers but .308 would probably be the best to add to my list. Well , i've sorta got a 270 (I sold it to my dad and can have it back whenever I need it), he keeps stocking up on ammo for me which is cool.) |
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The only one's I feel I must have are 7.62x51mm/.308Win, ,22lr and 9mm. Everything else is extra. I don't really need a shotgun for defense and the only thing I'd use one for is clay and birds, but I'm not into either at the time though I'd like to in the future. I may add a new 5.56x45mm/.223 in the future, but it's not a must have. |
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12guage for 3gun, skeet, trap, and bird hunting if you don't want these then skip it
9mm/45 your preference I like 9mm its cheaper 22 rifle and a slide for your main pistol 223 duh this is AR-15.com. Great varmint round, home defense and really do most everything full size cartridge of your choice 243, 308, 30.06 or 300 wim mag. 243 will beat the 308 in drop and windage with a 105 or 115 dtac @ 2895FPS. But does not have as much foot pounds of energy as the 308 until you get past 500 yards then it will beat it. 30.06 and 300 win mag are great and will beat both in energy but they require a long action and won't fit into a ar-10 style platform like the 308 or 243. Like everyone "what should I buy" thread you need to sit down and decide what you want the calibers/rifles to do and go from there. There is a f class, class that req the use of 223 or 308 so your win mag will do you no good. But using a 243 against a moose would be less advantages than a 300WM. Another thing is reloading if you don't plan on doing it then you pretty much need to stick with 308 or possible the new 6.5 creedmore and just but a metric ton of the ammo to be sure that hornady does not stop making it. |
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Quoted:
9.3X62 mauser....can do anything worldwide. .416 ruger......can stop anything worldwide. these two because they can be made on the same type/size of action, which will reduce the chance of short stroking the bolt when the SHTF and have the same manual of arms. advntrjnky 2 obscure cartridges, that are virtually unobtainable! what everyone needs is .22 rimfire, .223, 7.62x39 9mm, .308, and a 12 guage, that's the basics, if you want a 9.3x62 thats fine, but you need to load your own ammo. I prefer the far more versatile 35 Whelen over the specialized 9.3x62 |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
9.3X62 mauser....can do anything worldwide. .416 ruger......can stop anything worldwide. these two because they can be made on the same type/size of action, which will reduce the chance of short stroking the bolt when the SHTF and have the same manual of arms. advntrjnky 2 obscure cartridges, that are virtually unobtainable! what everyone needs is .22 rimfire, .223, 7.62x39 9mm, .308, and a 12 guage, that's the basics, if you want a 9.3x62 thats fine, but you need to load your own ammo. I prefer the far more versatile 35 Whelen over the specialized 9.3x62 There is little in this world that won't survive a plain-jane .30-06 |
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What I need:
.22 9mm/.45 12 GA .223 Although I don't see limiting myself to calibers. For "must haves" yeah, see the above, but I wouldn't hesitate adding a gun i wanted so i wouldn't have to add another caliber. Although if I can get a gun in a caliber I have I'd rather get that, Ex: MP5 clone in 9mm or .40, I'll get the 9mm since I already stock that. |
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