I am looking at "MY" ultimate combo, it is an Italian 12/7x65R made by Renato Gamba for Wischo of West Germany I believe about10-15 years old. The 12 has screw in chokes, has a set trigger for rifle barrel, EAW quick detach scope base and rings, with a Leupold
1.75X6 with heavy duplex, and a rail on scope for mounting my LED light for night use. I basically only varmit hunt, (hogs, coyotes,cats, and coons). The rifle is sighted dead on for 80 yds, (the distance to the hog feeder). I can use this for all of the hunting I do except dove season(have to have more than one shot for those little missles).
My second "ultimate" is a V. Bernardelli set up almost exactly as the Wischo except it is 12/5.6x50r. It has a Mueller Multishot 2x7 scope with illum 1" dot. I use it mostly for night vartmit callling. I use only 53 gr Barnes copper and I do use it on hogs some as well and find the Barnes to be extremely reliable on head and neck shots. I intend to get a 22 Mag insert for the Bernardelli to have a perfect squirrel and small game gun. Reloading for both has been relatively easy, they do not seem to be very picky.
I would use the 7x65r for anything in N. A. except the big bears. The 5.6x50r is also very versatile, It is very accurate with slugs.
I find the combos almost perfect for my type of hunting, I have basically emptied the safe except for my 1A ruger, the combos, and some self defense handguns.
NOTE: Adding pictures for Wally. Doug