I look for gaps in purpose, more so than gaps in caliber. Are your purposes covered?

 

Legit question and perspective, HD. I see the "low end" covering cheap practice, small-game (think rabbit), furbearing harvesting, varmints and pest control, and game animals up to medium size. Here in Arizona, that would be javelina, coues deer (rarely more than a 100 pounds dressed out), and perhaps antelope. And in a caliber 6mm and below.

Oh, and I guess defensive use in a light-weight, highly portable package (just to be complete).

I think my purposes are covered.......

 

I think you're more than covered...

 

Back when I was full of P and vinegar I went through the same process. I wanted one of everything in the caliber field. I even had some wildcats.

But, since I have become convinced that something bad is going to happen in the not too distant future, I have been thinking that having at least more than one gun in each of just a few calibers might be a better idea. What my caliber obsession taught me is that there just isn't a lot of real difference between calibers in the practical range.

I have settled in on 22 rimfire, 223, 243, 270, 30-30, 06, 357 and 45-70. A man might argue that 308 is better than 06, ect ect ect. but these are minor differences that aren't very substantive.

Reason I want to consolidate rather than diversify in times like these is to make the best use of ammo. At least two guns per caliber means that if one gun breaks I can still utilize the ammo. And by limiting the number of calibers I can maximize the amount of ammo in each caliber. Instead of 20 or 100 rounds in a caliber I can have 1000. If you run out of bullets for a gun it doesn't even make a good walking stick.

 

If you run out of bullets for a gun it doesn't even make a good walking stick.

A Mosin still makes a pretty decent walkingstick/spear/warclub/tentpole....

 

One of mine is a single shot rifle chambering the .357 Magnum. With .38s it handles garden chores with a reloadable round, and it will do the job on deer if I stalk close.

 

Personally, I think you have too many calibers; with no redundancy in any specific caliber from what I've read. I can't see having each and every caliber in between each and every other caliber. To me, I'd rather have a redundant rifle in the same caliber- perhaps in a different flavor- you know, like lever and bolt or bolt and semi-auto.. Since I have .22LR & .223/5.56, I don't see a particular need for .22WMR.. As I have .223 and .308, I don't see a particular need for something in between- like 7.62x39 or .30-30.. But you know, it's your call if you want to stock up on each and every caliber; I just think it can be done with far less choices. I guess it depends upon your frame of mind... Me, I tend to steer away from oddball, less than common rounds intentionally; whether to go smaller or larger should be a matter of fulfilling a need, even if it's just playtime! (having fun can be considered a need .. )

.357 mag is also a great round, IMO, just like .44 mag.. Easily reloadable with options for rifles and revolvers( and pistols ).. However, I prefer lever action for the .357 mag.

 

I have an H&R single shot in 357 with a 243 barrel. The 357 is very versatile, and if my Marlin 94 breaks down, I will still have a long gun to shoot the ammo, along with some revolvers. The 243 barrel will let me shoot 243s in the unlikely event the Ruger American gives up. In actual practice I could have as many as 13 kids and grandkids at my place and everybody will probably have their "own" firearm.

 

Handi-Rifle in 357 is a good gun to teach kids after a .22.

 

I like to think of it the other way.

I have a few .308 and stock that caliber. I have a few .223 and stock that caliber. I have a few .40 and stock that caliber.

I have other weapons in other common calibers, with no intention of stockpiling ammunition for them. The idea is that I may acquire some ammunition post SHTF in trade or other scenarios, and it would suck to not be able to use it.

As for the OP's question, you're pretty well covered. .17 (in all flavors), .22 (in more exotic flavors) will not be something that you're likely to acquire an unexpected stockpile of.

 

If you really feel the need to fill every gap reloading can do that, besides giving a cheaper way to lots of ammo. I load my 243s down with a light weight bullet to 22 hornet speeds.

I load a reduced cast bullet load for all my 30s. The 30-30 and 45-70 will shoot cast bullets with just as much energy as the best jacketed bullet loads.

 

Personally I think your pretty well covered on the lower end. What I would do is dump the .308 and pick up a .338 Win. Mag. or .35 Whelan. My reasoning is that there is nothing the .308 can do with its limited case capacity that the .270 can't do. You could go with 17 HMR, I'm just not a fan. If you reload you might think about one of the .17 centerfires like the .17 Hornet or .17 fireball.

Your actually pretty close to where I stand. This is where I'm at and the gaps I would like to fill. would be .221 fireball, .257 Bob., and a 35 Whelan. The only reason I have the 30-06 is it belonged to my pa and I wont give it up.

.22 LR
.22 Mag.
.223 Rem.
22-250 Rem.
30-30 Win
.270 Win.
30-06 Sprig.

P.S. Those that posted that the OP should concentrate on only a couple of common calibers need to remember his focus is on hunting and fun guns, and that he has other guns for "prepping"

Richard

 

I went on a barrel buying binge last month for my H&R more out of trying to get them while I still could more than anything.

But I now am regretting not just spending that money on more supplies to reload different size bullets. A .308 and a 30-06 with the right size bullet can handle just about everything in the medium size rifle range.

Now with that said. I would't trade my Savage .17 HMR for anything. It drives tacks at 100 yards and does a good job on rabbits. The cost of ammo is a little bit more than 22 LR, but is worth it, IMO.

I haven't really looked into the .17 Super Mags but I'm not sure the extra cost is really worth it, except to say you have the coolest, fastest, flattest rimfire on the market.

My first barrel for my H&R was the .204 Ruger and I love that round, Yes it's bragging rights for being one of the fastest, flattest rounds (in 2004, it was). I don't trust it to deliver on anything that big. It did just fine with a coyote at 250 yards, but it was a head shot.

 

If you don't have one yet consider a air rifle for a small caliber. Other than that it looks like you have the low end covered.

 

You know, I was thinking about getting an air rifle, or maybe I should say a better one. Got a cheap one now not worthy of any survival task at this point.

Sven, Bilmac, tell me about this "H&R" you are refering to, please.

 

if you are a reloader, you might want to look into 6.8.... you can re-purpose some .270 WIN projectiles for 6.8... same would apply to .308 and 300 blk.... i would say you have your bases covered already though.

 

I believe the H&Rs are similar to the TC contender/Encore except as a rifle platform only.

 

Yes, the H&R SB2 Handi-Rifle is a single shot rifle in a variety of calibers.

Problem is that H&R is being chopped up my Marlin after aquisition. They no longer do barrel fitting at the factory but I went crazy on EBay with the out of business markup. It's really easy to do the fitting yourself with a 1-5 mil shim.

When the dust finally settled I have 2 receivers and 10 barrels. .204 Ruger .223, 22-250, 243, 270, 7mm-08, 308, 35 Whelen, 45-70 and a 45/410. I didn't need the 30-06, I already have that double covered with a Remington 7600 and a Weatherby Vanguard.

I plan to keep one receiver at each end of my travels (CA in Winter, WI in summer). I can always mail barrels back and forth. Or for that matter can actually take them in my check on bags while flying. Although I have 30/30's on each end that I could use for deer hunting if I had to.

As I say though, in hindsight I have a lot of double coverage ballistically. The 30-06 depended on my reloads can cover the 270 and 35 Whelen, same with the 308 covering the 7mm-08. But now I pretty much have everything ballistically covered. All I need now is a 460 Weatherby and I can shoot Elephants, I already have a Remington 700 in 338 Winchester Mag to handle the high end for what I do, so I probably don't need it.

 

Yes, the H&R SB2 Handi-Rifle is a single shot rifle in a variety of calibers.

Problem is that H&R is being chopped up my Marlin after aquisition. They no longer do barrel fitting at the factory but I went crazy on EBay with the out of business markup. It's really easy to do the fitting yourself with a 1-5 mil shim.

Handi_Rifle production ended in Dec. 2014.

 

I think you're pretty well covered - except for
having a custom barrel made in 228 caliber and custom dies from Corbin to convert your spent 22 LR cases into jackets for your 23 (nominal) caliber barrel...
:whip:
Well actually, I'm more pragmatic than that -
When I had a small crew of boys I had a few contenders with 223 barrels, a S&W 223 bolt action and a few 22's,
a couple of 30-06's and 357 rifles & revolvers.
Commonality was the watchword, my brothers played around with the more exotic calibers.
If I were to start over I'd be all BL22's, Ruger Single Sixes, TC Contenders with 21" 223 and 30-30 barrels.
If self defence were a consideration then I'd be looking at the Browning 9mm or S&W 19.

 

The only gap I see is a 22LR and 12 gauge missing. 35 Whelan too.:thumb:

 

I do have a couple of .22 rifles, if you read my original post.

And I have several .12 gauges....but that's another topic!:

I forget to mention I bought one of those Rossi "Matched pairs" in .243 and .20 gauge, but that's more of an emergency foraging/bug-out gun that stays in the camping trailer, so technically I have redundancy in .243 as well.

Sounds like those H&Rs are great and somewhat economical means to have calibers that are not otherwise represented in your battery. But again, I'm trying not to push that envelope too much.

Palma, what do you use the .35 Whelan for?

 

As I look at 22 mag and .17 HMR ammo that costs more than 9mm per 50 round box...and I can reload the 9mm..., I am wondering if I can't fill that 100-150 yard range with a pistol caliber carbine, or just a really light loaded light weight center fire bullet in a .223, .222 or .204.

I realize there are different strengths in each cartridge, but man...this rimfire pricing sucks badly.

 

I have a thread going on a little further down discussing rimfire substitutes.

Richard

 

Let's face facts, there's not too much you can do with a .223 that a competent marksman can't do almost as well with a Hornet.

Almost as well? That's the same as "NOT as well", and could be "not even close to well enough"...


It really is the best bang for the buck for my uses. My focus is on being able to 'scrounge' components/gear and make them work efficiently together.

Where do you scrounge .22 Hornet rimmed cases?


Once you run out of high velocity jacketed bullets, how well will a .223/5.56 function with lead bullets? Did the .223 just lose it's edge?

Ummmm....no. No, it didn't.:xeye:
Here's why not. You load less powder in the .223 case, thus reducing velocity, and it tosses lead just fine, without leading the chromed barrels. It can even cycle the AR.:thumb:


Less is more.

No...less is less.

J.

The Hornet is a good round, it certainly has a function in some SHTF survival scenarios. But it's not that good for all scenarios.

 

The Hornet is better than the 223!!!! Who says you can't load a 223 with lead bullets, I do, works pretty good at low velocity. You can load a 223 down to Hornet velocity, I do, it works pretty good. BUT, CAN YOU LOAD A HORNET UP TO 223 VELOCITY.

223 brass is as common as dirt, Hornet brass is rare as hen's teeth.

A myriad of 223 rifles to choose from, Hornet rifles are rare as hens teeth. The rimmed hornet case limits the capacity of magazines. There is probably a reason why there are gobs of 223 rifles being made, but Hornets are rare.

 

Judging from your list you have a severe case of too much money. You should send me some lol.

But seriously I think you're good on the low end of the spectrum, if you've got the cash for a .338 Lapua or a .50 BMG I'd go for it. Though me personally I'd want a SCAR 17 if you don't already have one

 

My 223 is a Rem 700 boltgun. It is so old it began life as a 222. Then I saw the handwriting on the wall and had the chamber reamed a little bit.

The point I have been trying to make is that instead of a gob of different rifles, with the scopes and reloading equipment for each, and a limited amount of ammo for each, go with a few guns and reload for versatility.

 

Jesus did somebody **** in JSD's cornflakes or something? It's the internet man people are going to disagree. Both people presented valid points. You did too no reason to go off on an essay type rant attacking somebody as a person just because they didn't agree with your idea.

Grow some thick skin man or the internet will eat you alive.

 

I many of the same calibers as you do. I like to think that my .300 win mag will take pretty much any game on this continent, if not with one shot, for sure with a couple. I say go .338 or .50 if meant for self-defense/fun/sniping. I bought a Vepr combat shotgun in 12 gage for one purpose. Close in self defense.

 

Shotguns...you need shot guns 12 gauge.