Which caliber to keep?

7X57
300 Win
.375 H&H

Great selection and will take you around the world. Can even get that buffalo you’ve been wanting!
 
Keep the 8x57 and the .375 then, sell the rest to help pay for another Safari.
Like the way you think if I do that can get at least 3 more trips in lol
But then I wouldn’t have the pleasure of deliberations over riflestyle/caliber/make for each trip.
 
So keep the 7x57. I’m infatuated with my 7mm-08 I understand.
Keep the .375 H&H, I’m wanting to get one.

That’s hunting taken care of.

You will find there are one or 2 others there that you need to keep. Maybe for family or whatever reason makes you happy.

I only have 7 centrefire calibres , I’d get more but sometimes it is easier to know which one you would always grab first for a local hunt where most rifles will suffice. But there is nothing wrong wit him using my .458 on a pig. I need to practice and use it well being what it is. Nothing wrong with overkill in ethical hunting.
 
Like many of you, I have too many guns and too many calibers. Let's just say I'm a true gun nut who likes to hunt rather than hunter who likes guns (though that is also true). As such I have many rifles and calibers that can fulfill my hunting needs. I would like to weed out some to minimize the agony of having to think which one to take out on the next hunt. The fewer choices I have the easier it will be for me (will it really?).

I should warn you, that even if you are willing to provide suggestions, I may or may not take them to heart and I may still end up owning way too many rifle-caliber combinations. It is an obsession after all.

As I age, I now feel or have rediscovered passion for the smaller, lighter kicking calibers (mainly because they do not make lighter, handier rifles unwieldy). So, if I want to (not need to but want to) use 7x57 as my main hunting caliber, which of the other following ones would you complement it with to account for critters you might feel the 7 is not enough for? I would ideally just have (LOL as I'm typing this :D ) 2 hunting calibers. I'm in Canada, do not plan on hunting bears, but they are on my mind when in the woods. I hunt mostly whitetail, elk and moose in the bush, and whitetail, mule deer and elk in the prairies. I also do not plan on hunting elephants or any of the dangerous game, except maybe buffalo. Really just maybe, most likely not. If I manage to hunt in Africa again, it will be plains game. I will also add comments/reasons next each so you can hopefully see how these came about to be in my possession.

I have:
8x57 - cool old caliber, does everything the 7 can but can hit harder. Always liked it, always had one, even when I was hunting with 30-06.
8x60 - this one I do not need but have a cool rifle in, so maybe it could be used more than just sit pretty in the safe, waiting for me to reload some ammo. Plus if 8x57 is good, 8x60 must be better. :D
8mm-06 - don't have one, never shot one but have few 8x57 barrels that beg to be re-chambered. Could this be the one to replace 8x57, 8x60 and 30-06? Plus if 8x60 is better than 8x57, 8-06 is better still. Right? ;)
30-06 - another old classic that seems to work on most things, always seem to have one. Easy to find ammo for still.
.338 WM - barrel and dies only from the past, but actions it can be screwed into. May not build the rifle after all as lighter, less recoil is what I'm going for but used to hunt with one and that cartridge kills extremely well.
.300 WM - got this for longer shots on Elk last year and used it. Did I "need" it? Not so sure. I think a 30-06 would have worked just as well. One of the cooler magnum, IMHO.
9.3x62 - love this thing, even with short barrel not much muzzle flash, quiet and downright pleasant to shoot, used it in Africa too. Was meant to replace my passion for 375 H&H.
.375 H&H - what does that tell you? I guess 375 cannot be replaced. Or can it? Is it really much better at killing than 9.3x62?...I never shot anything with the 375 but find the 9.3 penetrates like a laser. And if I had to live with larger than 30-06/9.3x62 recoil, I'd rather have the .375H&H than the .338WM I think.
.404 Jeffry - again just barrel at this point...thinking of building one and it seems at least as cool as .375 H&H but for the hunting I do?

Ammo availability (including factory options) should be perhaps considered for all-around hunting cartridges, so I do consider this as factor, but it would not stop me from owning one that is less available. The 8x60 may be a bit of a stretch but so would be 8mm-06 which one of my 8mms may become.

Thank you for indulging me and please keep your answers genuine even if you may feel my questions/reasons are ridiculous.
I use my Browning A Bolt .338 in Colorado for elk and deer. No moose tag yet. I have a Pachmyer? Decelerator recoil pad on it and the recoil is like my .270 Win., or thereabouts. Shoots straight and kills quickly!
 
Thanks for all the input so far. If you guys feel like it, keep it coming still, it is a great read and it does help me confirm or rethink my reasoning. So let me expand a little on some of my other thoughts leading up to the original post.

As to 30-06 for example...I love that round, but even with the great selection of bullets available. I find:
1) with factory choices so vast, I pretty much stopped reloading as it used to be great when specific bullets were not available in factory ammo in the years gone by and I found the ammo I loaded was not much more accurate than the premium ammo at the time. Not saying I would not reload anymore, I will...but probably just to find some "pet load".
2) reloading or not, I seem to settle on 2 bullets max in any given caliber. 1 lighter and one heavier. Usually never the lightest or heaviest.

In any caliber, just like having only 1 rifle, let's say, I like to learn the ballistics of that one bullet that I want to use. Again fewer choices here being seen as minimalist, simpler approach. For example, in 9.3x62 I only use 285/286gr. Seems to work fine.

The only reason to keep more than one rifle (as that too crossed my mind...do not freak out...I mean one main hunting rifle...I would still have my .22s and target and plinking rifles), was to have one say flatter shooting and one more of a true bush gun. Though I have to admit, none of calibers I like are particularly flat shooting (except maybe the 300WM), so I live in the more rainbow ballistic world to begin with. Another option I considered was 7mm for most times and 300WM for the longer shots. Then again, I could have just one 7mm and use say 2500-2600 162gr bullets for most hunting and 139 flying say at 2800-2900 for the longer shots. Or do the same with 30-06. Or if truly 1 most practical gun, then perhaps the 300WM is hard not to pick. But 1) I'm not really a big magnum guy (though somehow I always own one or more) and 2) I really do like almost all of the choices you guys put up. Just for example something like 7+9.3/375/404, or 30-06+375/404 or 8+404, etc. all classics I would say.

Hey, am I confused or what? I will probably end up maybe dwindling stuff down to just fewer calibers rather than just 2. But ultimate goal would be 3-6 rifles total. One or two .22, one or two target rifles (6.5x55 and .308), one or two hunting rifles (plus I may keep one military mauser as plinking, open sights only). And it is the hunting rifles I have most trouble with.

Thanks for letting me vent... :D :D

I have a thing for the classics. I never did succumb to that disease known as "magnumitus." Yes, I have a couple magnums; a 7mm Remington and 300 Winchester, but other than that, my battery is pretty much a line up of classic cartridges.

I have a Remington in .222 Remington and Ruger No. 1 in 22-250 Remington. Then there are a series of classic deer guns; 6mm Remington, 257 Roberts, 6.5 x 55 Swede, 7 x 57 Mauser, .30-30 Winchester, two .30-06s (a Remington 760 Gamemaster pump and a Santa Barbara Spanish bolt action), .35 Remington and .35 Whelen. Recently I put money down on a Remington Model 1917 in 25-06. I plan to build a Belgian FN Mauser action I have into a 280 Ackley Improved, and later on to add a Sako in 8 x 57 Mauser.

See a pattern here? Most of my chamberings are based on one of three cartridge cases; the 250-3000 Savage, 7 x 57 Mauser, and .30-06 Springfield. I'm a huge fan of the 7 x 57 Mauser and .30-06 cases which have spawned many a great hunting cartridge.
 
Well...right now I am thinking of getting rid of the magnums first...but it's so hard to sell a nice .375 H&H...Especially since the one i have now is comfy to shoot, yet handy. But I think, due to my tinnitus, I'm gonna go for guns that are "quiet"...7x57, 9.3x62. I may leave my 30-06 to my son, so he can easily get ammo and cheap. And I may, for now, also keep one of the 8x57/60 just for fun at the range or the odd hunt or use the 7x57 at the range and hunt with the 8.

Luckily guns are not selling right now in my area due to economy, so nothing will move until I sell off the ones on chopping block first.
 
Well...right now I am thinking of getting rid of the magnums first...but it's so hard to sell a nice .375 H&H...Especially since the one i have now is comfy to shoot, yet handy. But I think, due to my tinnitus, I'm gonna go for guns that are "quiet"...7x57, 9.3x62. I may leave my 30-06 to my son, so he can easily get ammo and cheap. And I may, for now, also keep one of the 8x57/60 just for fun at the range or the odd hunt or use the 7x57 at the range and hunt with the 8.

Luckily guns are not selling right now in my area due to economy, so nothing will move until I sell off the ones on chopping block first.

Where is your area?

Also, you mentioned a .375 H&H. What kind of rifle? Do you have a photo?
 
Just two guns? 30-06 or 7RM and 375HH. That will cover anything that walks on earth.
I completely agree. I sold my 300WM for a 308 and I am looking at getting a 375HH. Don't see a need for any other hunting rifles. Those 2 calibers IMO are all a hunter would need. Sure a .22, muzzelloader, and shotguns are necessary too.
 
It's not a matter of need. It's a matter of WANT. Some of us just like the artwork and craftmanship of a fine firearm. I'm looking to have a nice stock made for an elegant looking Santa Barbara Deluxe Mauser in .30-06 I bought some years ago. It came from the factory with nice engraved scrolling on the top and bottom of the receiver and around the barrel where it meets the receiver. Very classy looking gun -- not gawdy. I'm just looking to have it tested by a gunsmith I've contact near me to ensure it shoots well before I spend the money. If it is 1.5 inches or better at 100 yards, I'm good with that.

I have a couple customs built on VZ-24 Czech Mauser actions which I love; 257 Roberts and .35 Whelen. Also have one I bought already made on a German Mauser action (Oberndorf); 6mm Remington. They are sweet shooters.
 
My take is a regular rifle, long distance rifle, all around rifle and a big bore to keep all the rat guns in check ;)

So, keep the '06, .300WM, .375 H&H and build the .404 Jeffrey.
 
If you wanna have two guns: the ‘06 and the 375.

I really like the 9.3X62 and the .338WM as well.
 
My take is a regular rifle, long distance rifle, all around rifle and a big bore to keep all the rat guns in check ;)

So, keep the '06, .300WM, .375 H&H and build the .404 Jeffrey.
Hahaha...Now you're making my decision harder again... :D
 
Where is your area?

Also, you mentioned a .375 H&H. What kind of rifle? Do you have a photo?
I'm in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The .375 is a very nice Whitworth Mk X. Don't have pictures but could take a couple...
 
Why all the hazzle..?

I am a gun nut and my woman has a shoe fetish.. We live perfectly with that… :whistle:
 
Like many of you, I have too many guns and too many calibers. Let's just say I'm a true gun nut who likes to hunt rather than hunter who likes guns (though that is also true). As such I have many rifles and calibers that can fulfill my hunting needs. I would like to weed out some to minimize the agony of having to think which one to take out on the next hunt. The fewer choices I have the easier it will be for me (will it really?).

I should warn you, that even if you are willing to provide suggestions, I may or may not take them to heart and I may still end up owning way too many rifle-caliber combinations. It is an obsession after all.

As I age, I now feel or have rediscovered passion for the smaller, lighter kicking calibers (mainly because they do not make lighter, handier rifles unwieldy). So, if I want to (not need to but want to) use 7x57 as my main hunting caliber, which of the other following ones would you complement it with to account for critters you might feel the 7 is not enough for? I would ideally just have (LOL as I'm typing this :D ) 2 hunting calibers. I'm in Canada, do not plan on hunting bears, but they are on my mind when in the woods. I hunt mostly whitetail, elk and moose in the bush, and whitetail, mule deer and elk in the prairies. I also do not plan on hunting elephants or any of the dangerous game, except maybe buffalo. Really just maybe, most likely not. If I manage to hunt in Africa again, it will be plains game. I will also add comments/reasons next each so you can hopefully see how these came about to be in my possession.

I have:
8x57 - cool old caliber, does everything the 7 can but can hit harder. Always liked it, always had one, even when I was hunting with 30-06.
8x60 - this one I do not need but have a cool rifle in, so maybe it could be used more than just sit pretty in the safe, waiting for me to reload some ammo. Plus if 8x57 is good, 8x60 must be better. :D
8mm-06 - don't have one, never shot one but have few 8x57 barrels that beg to be re-chambered. Could this be the one to replace 8x57, 8x60 and 30-06? Plus if 8x60 is better than 8x57, 8-06 is better still. Right? ;)
30-06 - another old classic that seems to work on most things, always seem to have one. Easy to find ammo for still.
.338 WM - barrel and dies only from the past, but actions it can be screwed into. May not build the rifle after all as lighter, less recoil is what I'm going for but used to hunt with one and that cartridge kills extremely well.
.300 WM - got this for longer shots on Elk last year and used it. Did I "need" it? Not so sure. I think a 30-06 would have worked just as well. One of the cooler magnum, IMHO.
9.3x62 - love this thing, even with short barrel not much muzzle flash, quiet and downright pleasant to shoot, used it in Africa too. Was meant to replace my passion for 375 H&H.
.375 H&H - what does that tell you? I guess 375 cannot be replaced. Or can it? Is it really much better at killing than 9.3x62?...I never shot anything with the 375 but find the 9.3 penetrates like a laser. And if I had to live with larger than 30-06/9.3x62 recoil, I'd rather have the .375H&H than the .338WM I think.
.404 Jeffry - again just barrel at this point...thinking of building one and it seems at least as cool as .375 H&H but for the hunting I do?

Ammo availability (including factory options) should be perhaps considered for all-around hunting cartridges, so I do consider this as factor, but it would not stop me from owning one that is less available. The 8x60 may be a bit of a stretch but so would be 8mm-06 which one of my 8mms may become.

Thank you for indulging me and please keep your answers genuine even if you may feel my questions/reasons are ridiculous.
Milan
Keep the 7 x57 and the 9.3
Sell the rest and make a n voice 404 Jeffery.
With the money left over go back to Africa.
Cheers mate Bob
 
It's not a matter of need. It's a matter of WANT. Some of us just like the artwork and craftmanship of a fine firearm. I'm looking to have a nice stock made for an elegant looking Santa Barbara Deluxe Mauser in .30-06 I bought some years ago. It came from the factory with nice engraved scrolling on the top and bottom of the receiver and around the barrel where it meets the receiver. Very classy looking gun -- not gawdy. I'm just looking to have it tested by a gunsmith I've contact near me to ensure it shoots well before I spend the money. If it is 1.5 inches or better at 100 yards, I'm good with that.

I have a couple customs built on VZ-24 Czech Mauser actions which I love; 257 Roberts and .35 Whelen. Also have one I bought already made on a German Mauser action (Oberndorf); 6mm Remington. They are sweet shooters.
ILCAPO
I agree mate
I have the 25 for most stuff
The 35 Whelen for bigger
And
22K Hornet for small game I don't want to vaporize.
It was hard to sell others but now I don't waste a day deciding what to use.
Cheers mate Bob
 
I'm in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The .375 is a very nice Whitworth Mk X. Don't have pictures but could take a couple...
Milan
Just go to the Calgary indoor shooting centre when you feel the urge to do something different. That way you can sell some and get to use what you don't have.
That way you can have your cake and eat it too.
Cheers mate Bob
 
I think you need an additional son. I spoke with my parents and they said I am available for adoption.:LOL:
 

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