What caliber to buy next?

[AFRICADEE]

As I am allowed to have 4 hunting rifles and currently have 3, my 12 Gauge o/u, my 30-06 and my "baby", the 416 Rigby, what other caliber would you recommend to buy and why.....for me because I can …..

 

[bluey]

a 22-250 or a 243 for feral hunting blowing foxs and kangaroos up with an 06 ,loaded with vmax is fun , but expensive
try a 250 with varmint grenades , or the 243 loaded fast and light , its not as deafening

 

[jduckhunter]

My suggestion would be a 25-06, you can load it up light and fast to blow up little varmints or you can load her up heavy and she'll be an over achiever on some of the bigger critters.

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Technically, a shotgun isn't a "rifle", so I think you can have two more rifles!!

I thinking something in the 6mm/25 caliber/6.5mm class.......something that you could use on smaller game such as jackals and monkeys without blowing them to bits, and use on bigger game such as impala and blesbok without loosing lethal efficiency. My rifle in this class is a 6.5x55 Swede (sporterized M96 Mauser).....It shoots 100 grain Sierra and Norma HPs with good enough accuracy for varmints, and handles a 129 grain Hornady SP with aplomb as well for deer and pronghorn.

Or, maybe you might want another shotgun? Don't know how much bird hunting you do, but there is nothing worse than getting ready for a hunt the night before only to find out that your gun is broken!

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

My sugestion is .275Rigby ( 7 x 57 Mauser ).
Witlold

 

[ActionBob]

To be practical I would suggest a .22 rimfire, either 22 LR or 22 mag.

If you can have two more, then the .22 plus a small flat shooting center fire as some suggested above. Seems like a 22-250 might be about perfect but a 243 might make a lot of sense as well. To me the 7x57 seems a great caliber but if you can only own so many, it is too close to the performance of a 30-06.

Can you have a pistol? Or would that count as one of the "rifles"? If I lived in Africa, I would want to be carrying a nice light weight and concealable 9mm.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Africadee,
I am just thankful I don't have to make that decision! Only four rifles? Tough decision to make, but I would slide a .22 cal-6.5 cal into my battery to round it out.

 

[Red Leg]

I assume you live in the RSA or Namibia. If that is the case, then I will line up with the light and versatile crowd. Your 30'06 is a great round covering a huge swath of PG depending upon the bullets you employ, and do so without the fuss and bother of a magnum. It also overlaps a huge selection of lighter plans game calibers such as the 6.5x55 or 7x57. The 25'06 is a great round, but unless you hand load, somewhat problematic in Southern Africa from an ammunition availability perspective. I sort of like the .243 idea. Ammo should be readily available. It would be a terrific jackal, springbok, and baboon killer, which could still take down a larger antelope if an opportunity presented itself while harassing the baboons. The 22-250 and .223 would be equally effective on the varmints (and have only very slightly more reach - the 6mm class retains velocity so well) but less versatile on a heavier opportunity.

 

[Rob404]

A 22lr is a good choice,fun and cheap to shoot, I finally broke down and bought one after I found a good source for 22Ammo. Just recently got into 7x57 but don't know how expensive the Ammunition is. by you I'd pass on a 243 and go 223 just because of all the Nato surplus ammo available JMTC,,Pic of my Savage MK11 with a wood stock upgrade, can't stand plastic

 

[Mekaniks]

A 22lr is a good choice,fun and cheap to shoot, I finally broke down and bought one after I found a good source for 22Ammo. Just recently got into 7x57 but don't know how expensive the Ammunition is. by you I'd pass on a 243 and go 223 just because of all the Nato surplus ammo available JMTC,,Pic of my Savage MK11 with a wood stock upgrade, can't stand plasticView attachment 41353

You found a good source for 22 ammo??? I didn't think those existed anymore...

 

[bluey]

what is the price for rabbit fodder in America?
I pay 95 aussies for 1400 ,pieces, a remington bucket of bulllets

 

[Jay Kelley]

I'd add a .22LR or .22 Mag to the mix as others have said. Both are great all-around plinking, varmint and small game rounds. The decision might be based on the size of varmints you deal with! My own battery is a little larger, but not by much

.22LR
.30-30 (sentimentality, plus it rides in the truck well)
.30-06
.375 H&H
12 gauge double
20 gauge pump

I'd like to add a .410, but going to have to wait on that.

 

[JimP]

If you don't want to go the way of the .22lr or 22 magnum take a look at the Hornady 17 HRM. It is a great shooting round for pesky critters. If you don't know anything about the round it is based on the .22 magnum necked down to take a .17 caliber bullet.

Or as some others have said .22-250, .243, or a .25-06 would fit the bill nicely. The .25-06 can be used on fairly large animals if you choose the correct bullet or can be downloaded for smaller animals.

Jay Kelley, get that .410 it is a fun little shotgun round. I purchased a Stroger side by side in .410 over 20 years ago and it is my go to shotgun for thick brush when I am after forest grouse.

 

[Rob404]

You found a good source for 22 ammo??? I didn't think those existed anymore...

One of the good things about running a deli is you always something you have something to barter. I keep the Gunstore supplied with Goodies and they set aside 500 rounds of 22LR when it comes in

 

[Rob404]

what is the price for rabbit fodder in America?
I pay 95 aussies for 1400 ,pieces, a remington bucket of bulllets

About 34.00USD for 500 22lr. the biggest problem in Minnesota is the hoarders

 

[ActionBob]

You found a good source for 22 ammo??? I didn't think those existed anymore...

About 34.00USD for 500 22lr. the biggest problem in Minnesota is the hoarders

I have enough 22 LR, 22 mag, and 17 HMR stored (re: hoarded) that I don't worry about it ..... It does show up on shelves a bit more regularly but the prices are up. Still the cheapest thing around and everyone needs a 22 (ok, or a 17) around to control pests or just plink cans.

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

About 34.00USD for 500 22lr. the biggest problem in Minnesota is the hoarders

That's pretty much a problem in the whole of the U.S!! Haven't found .22 magnum cartridges in over 3 YEARS!!!! I see them at the gun shows, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna pay those prices to the damn price gougers!

 

[ActionBob]

As I am allowed to have 4 hunting rifles and currently have 3

And to think I've been grumbling to myself that I only have 3 safes and need a 4th! (just kidding, I only have 2 real gun safes, the 3rd is a pistol safe).

But I do need a 3rd and am not far from needing a 4th God Bless the USA and our 2nd amendment!

 

[ActionBob]

That's pretty much a problem in the whole of the U.S!! Haven't found .22 magnum cartridges in over 3 YEARS!!!! I see them at the gun shows, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna pay those prices to the damn price gougers!

I've seen it around for about $14/box of 50.

 

[Bullthrower338]

I'm in the same boat as Bob, sometimes late at night, I make sure no one is around and roll around in all of my ammo! Lol. I wouldn't know what to do if I could only have four rifles!