[jmckinley]

??? I know this has been discussed before but I thought I'd start another one because i am starting to build my rifle's back up. Here is where I am at this point.

1. Elk/Oryx 30-06 CZ550 American with a 3-9x40 Burris Full field II 2, Elk/Deer Weatherby Vanguard Sporter in 270 Win with same scope 3, Deer/Goats: Custom 98 Mauser in 6.5x55 with a Mueller 3-10x44 Sport Dot 4. GOATS/DEER 2: Tikka T3 with Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14x40 5. Goats/predators (2) Custom 98 Mauser with 4.5-14x4o Buckmaster and CZ 550 American same scope in 243. Winb and finally a Stevens 200 in 223 with 6-24x44 Tasco Varmint scope. I know there is overlap but, one is better than 2 and 3 is better............You get my meaning. i already have 1,3, and 4 (Mauser). Any better ideas. Jess

 

[Questor]

My rifle battery is
22 LR bolt action for small game
223 single shot for varmints
375 H&H for all else

If I were going to do a lot of longer range shooting, I'd consider a 340 Weatherby magnum instead of the 375.

 

[Don Fischer]

You asked any ideas. Well just my opinion but you over scoped everything. I have a 4 1/2-14x on my long range rifle. I have it because of the target turrets. More power than needed. I have some 3-9x scopes but never use them over 6x, think I'd go with 2-7x scopes. They are much smaller and usually ride lower on the rifle. Cartridge wise, I don't know how anyone could live without a 6.5x55, mine is a Mod 70 Featherweight w/1-4x Redfield

 

[Sportster]

22 LR
223 for varmints
.30-06 for everything else

These and a 12 gauge pretty much cover it IMO. Anything else is redundant.

In Africa I might consider a heavy .458 caliber rifle, but they are unnecessary in North America.

If I were a bush pilot in Alaska, my .45-70 Guide Gun would never leave my side. If I were a professional hunter in Africa I'd probably feel pretty comfortable with the Guide Gun there as well.

 

[daddywpb]

My rifles don't need batteries.

 

[beemanbeme]

I'm with Don on the scopes. An overpowered scope just tempts you into trying a shot you shouldn't. If a reasonable hunting range is say 2 thru 6, why carry a scope that will go to 14 or 18 or 24?
Also the high rings needed to mount the big 50+mm objective lenses lead to missed shots because of rifle cant since you can't anchor a cheek on the stock and scope failure because of the additional torgue on the scope because of it's greater distance from the line of recoil.

 

[jmckinley]

Most of my rifles will have 3-9x40's the 6-24x44 on my 243/223 was what I had lying around. They'll be replaced with4.5-14x40's. I like more magnification because it allows me to place my shots better. My eyes aren't 19 any more and i need all the help I can get. The 6-24x44 is not long for this world. I have a friend that want to trade a 4=12x40 for it and i agrre way more scope than i'll ever need. Jess

 

[Curt Dawson]

I give my vote to Questor.Though if I were not leaving the lower 48 I would probably subsitute something in the 6.5mm - 35 class.

 

[Dalescarpentry]

Here is what I feel would be the ideal rifle battery. Dale
#1  Marlin 917 HMR for small game at ranges to a 150 yards or so.
#2  Remington SPS Varmint 243 for Groundhogs and other Varmints out to 400 yards or so.
#3  Remington 260 also for Groundhogs Varmints and Deer.

• 
  #4  Marlin 1895 45-70 for Hogs and Deer out to 200 yards. A brush rifle.
  #5  Remington SPS 300 Win Mag for deer and any other big game out to 500 yards.

 

[The Gamemaster]

I'm like Bubba on Buckmasters, I used a 85 / 60 Whitney Houston.

It will blow a hole through the brush like the Holland Tunnel.

 

[Mac11700]

Optics tempting you to shoot longer than you should?? I need good high power scopes to allow me to shoot better...at all ranges...not only further...something that my rifles...and myself are fully capable of...Not only on the range where I like being able to actually see the bullet holes at 300-600 yards on targets...but allowing me to see precisely where I am placing the bullet on the animal...at the same ranges.....IMHO...If a person not capable of resisting shooting out side of their capabilities...then they really have no business in the field with any rifle...scoped or not..

Mac

 

[Don Fischer]

Mac,

You have a scope on a rifle that allows you to see a bullet hole at 600yds? What is it?

 

[Dave in WV]

Not everyone can see as well as others even with corrective lens. I like lower magnification. Some folks like more. As long as we hit what we're aiming at I don't guess it matters what we like or use.

 

[jmckinley]

Optics are a personal choice. If you like 4x then use them I prefer 3-9x40, 3-10x44 or 4-12x40 on my rifles. I will still do my best to take shots under a 100 yards but know I can make 300 if I need to. I have never taken a shot over 300 and I don't plan to any time soon. I am an old bow hunter and the closer the better. I like to see the holes i put in things. Jess

 

[brdavis]

I don't know about seeing hole at 600 yards but I was given the opportunity to reload for a friend that had a custom 338 Lapua with a Leupold scope. I don't remember the model scope but I think it was around a 24 power. Anyway, I was able to see that holes at 400 yards!!! Unless I had seen it myself I would have never believed it. It was one of those shoot-n-see targets. I can't see anything like that with my scopes but my highest power scope is 10

My battery
Tikka T3 lite - 30/06 - Bushnell 4200 scope
Sako Finnlight - 270 - Ziess Conquest scope
Sako Finnlight - 7-08 - Leupold VXII scope
CZ 550 - 6.5X55 - Ziess Conquest scope
Browning BLR 270 Short Mag - no scope
Marlin 444 - Leupold Scout scope
Savage 14 - Leupold VX III scope
Encore 22-250 - Simmons Varmint scope
Encore 7-08 (pistol) - Burris pistol scope
Browning BLR 22
Ruger 10/22 - Simmons 22 mag scope
And various other shotguns and pistols

 

[prebanpaul]

.17 HMR in a CZ American 452 bull barrel topped of with Leupold 4.5x14x40. This is for the 150 yrd and in shots on ground hogs and shots close to roads.

.223 527 CZ with single set trigger. Topped off with a 4.5x.14.44 zeiss conquest. This is the lite walk around ground hog hunter.

22.250 in a remington sps heavy barrel. THis gun has a leupold LPS 4.5xz14x50. THis is for those 300 yrd plus shots on ground hogs.

next is the Montanna 99 in 308 warbird Lazzeroni topped of the with a zeiss conquest 4.5x14.44. This is for shooting everything 150grn bullet at 3750fps holly smokes.

Sako Mannlicher 375 H&H no scope this is just in case i ever get to africa.


Only one gun left to get and that is a weatherby ultra light in 257 weatherby for a lite rifle.

Then all the scope will be sold and swarovski 4x16x50 tds scopes for everything

 

[billy]

My battery is remington ADL 270,howa 1500 in 270 ruger 10-22,marlin 336 in 30/30 , tc encore muzzle loader 50 cal. ,beratta 390 shotgun 12 ga. and old marlin model 75 in 22 LR. My rifle scopes are 3x9x40 nikon pro staff.

 

[jmckinley]

I'll add one to my list. OI picked up a Stevens 200 30-06 which i'll use for the platform to do a custom rig. New Stock which will be a Elk Ridge Rollover walnut, new trigger and will top it with a Sightron S-2. May put a new barrel on too. Jess

 

[Texas Hunter]

Marlin model 60 with open sights.

Mossberg 810 30-06 with a Swift 3x9x40 scope on it.

This particular rifle was my first deer rifle and bought for me by my late mother for my 19th birthday in 1972 so i would no longer have to suffer through borrowing someone else rifle to deer hunt.

Remington 700 LVSF .308 with a Nikon Monarch 3x9x40 scope.

Remington 600 vent rib 6mm equipped with a Leupold Var-X II 3x9x40 scope

Remington 600 .308 equipped with a Leupold VX-1 2x7x33 scope.

Remington 600 .243 with a Nikon Monarch 2x7x32 scope on it.

Maverick pump 12 gauge.

NEF single shot 12 gauge.

 

[Devy55]

Here's my rifle battery:

Ruger 10/22 .22LR for light stuff
H&R Ultra-varmint .204 for PDs & 'yotes
H&R .243 for coyotes & small to medium game
Savage 114 Classic in .270 medium game to large game (beyond 200 yards)
Custom mauser 35 Whelen medium to large game (less than 200 yards)

for fun:
.50 Cal H&R Muzzleloader
7.62x39 AK-47

What I want:
Rifle for dangerous game: .375 or above
25-06 ....dunno why, just do
Mosin Nagant...to play with...everyone else has one