Author Topic: How many calibers does it take to fulfill your 'needs?' (Read 3942 times)

Plainsman · « **on:** December 01, 2002, 01:52:42 PM »

So how about it hunters and shooters? How many calibers does it take to fulfill your hunting and shooting needs? One, five, ten, thirty???

I currently have four calibers and one shotgun guage that I say 'almost' covers everything. I'd like to have one more BIG BORE to cover the top end. Then I'd like to have one more 'middlin' round to cover the mediocre stuff.

Here's my breakdown:
.22s/l/lr
.25-06
.44special/magnum
12 ga
.50 roundball!

I'd like to add a .444 and a .25 (something) to the list! Then I'd have everything I ever needed covered...Yeah, right!!! :roll:

Rick Teal · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2002, 12:17:17 PM »

I have rifles in 16 different cartridges and 8 calibres. I have one handgun that I inherited and have never shot. I have shotguns in 3 different gauges and 1 bore size.

Big brother may be on line, so I won't get any more specific.

KN · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2002, 01:35:03 PM »

Why, one of each of course. KN

southern utah · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2002, 06:21:28 PM »

don't need any -just fer fun

Dogshooter · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2002, 12:38:56 PM »

I second KN's view. One of each would be just dandy. :grin:

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2002, 02:05:20 AM »

9 different calibers, Two guages
A Canadian gun owner must be carefull!

DesertRam · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2002, 04:49:27 AM »

Needs? Probably only a .22LR, a .22 centerfire of some kind, my 6.5X55 for mid-sized stuff, and something like a .338 WM for the big stuff. Plus a .22LR pistol, a .357 revolver, a big revolver (.44, .454, etc.) and an auto of some kind - I like my P-14 .45. Oh yeah, a muzzleloader.

Now, what about wants? That's easy - as many as I can get my grubby little paws on without getting divorced!!!

jdt48653 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2002, 02:43:06 PM »

22mag
6.5win
338win

Cottonwood · « **Reply #8 on:** December 22, 2002, 08:24:58 AM »

I have but one caliber that I use, and find that it is all I need :lol:

mart · « **Reply #9 on:** December 23, 2002, 04:33:27 PM »

I really don't beleive that this question can be answered. I am certainly not in possession of all the rifles, shotguns and handguns that I require to meet my needs. If I ever arrive at that point I will be sure to give you the definitive answer. Mart

IronKnees · « **Reply #10 on:** December 25, 2002, 11:47:45 AM »

That's easy... One, the .30-06! It has such a wide range of accptable bullets, powders and loads that it pretty much is a "one gun fits all" cal... Awww, I have more than I care to count, but that Remington 700 BDL 30-06 is almost ALWAYS the one I reach for even when I take others along. Except for deer here in Indiana, where you can't use centerfire in which case I use my 50 Cal. muzzleloaders...

Yukon Jack · « **Reply #11 on:** December 30, 2002, 11:10:39 AM »

Okay, I'll play...

One rifle would do it for me, I guess. My 338 Win Mag really does cover all the hunting I do (besides birds) rather well. It's not the only one I use and I hope I'm never limited to just it. It will handle deer, sheep, goats, caribou, moose, black bear, grizzly and coastal brownies just fine though.

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 01, 2003, 04:31:22 PM »

:-D As much as I hate to agree with anyone from Indiana, I'm gonna have to go along with Iornknees on this one, the 30-06 is hard to beat for a one gun arsonal, if you feel the absolute need for two, add a 12 ga.

Now if ya mean how many do I think I need, wal' then, how many are there? :-D

Hud · « **Reply #13 on:** January 05, 2003, 06:59:49 AM »

Wants and needs are different of course, but I would say 22RF, 30-06, and 12GA.

kevin.303 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 06, 2003, 09:49:23 AM »

i think up here every prairie farmer who owns a gun has the same thing. a surplus .303, a Cooey .22 (single or repeater) and a 12 ga scattergun.

Hcliff · « **Reply #15 on:** January 06, 2003, 11:51:54 AM »

I could get by with a 22 rifle, 22 pistol, 44 mag, 300 mag and 12 gauge.

But why

I keep telling my girlfriend that I need a differnet gun for different animals. 25/06 pronghorn, 30/06 whitetail, 300 mag mule deer, etc. Let see I need an elk gun, moose gun, etc. :grin: :grin:

Hcliff

Big Tom · « **Reply #16 on:** January 06, 2003, 04:08:36 PM »

:grin: I'm working on this very task. Here is where I stand:

(1) Sako Hunter Dlx in .300 Wby Mag.......long range/ large game
(1) Sako 75 S/Syn 7 STW ........long range/ med game
(1) Sako 591 Hunter .308 ... Eastern Whitetail/Black Bear
(1) Tikka S/Syn .243 ........Coyotes, varmits

(1) Thompson Encore S/S .50 muzzleloader
(1) Uberti .20 ga o/u shotgun
(1) Win mod. 12 pump 12 ga

:lol: I guess I need a good .22?

Hud · « **Reply #17 on:** January 07, 2003, 01:36:29 PM »

Tom,
It looks to me like you still have a inadequate list. You don't have anything listed for close/ medium or close/ large game, Central, or Western Whitetail, let alone Northern. And everybody knows you can't be using the same gun on regular varmits, that you do on coyotes. Sounds like you NEED more guns. Keep working at it!

Hud

Big Tom · « **Reply #18 on:** January 07, 2003, 05:36:10 PM »

Quote from: Hud

Tom,
It looks to me like you still have a inadequate list. You don't have anything listed for close/ medium or close/ large game, Central, or Western Whitetail, let alone Northern. And everybody knows you can't be using the same gun on regular varmits, that you do on coyotes. Sounds like you NEED more guns. Keep working at it!

Hud

H~ll Hud, I've never shot a deer or bear over 60 yds nor ever hunted out of the Midwest yet and may never use any of them but my old .308. It sure is nice to live in the good old USA where you kin have em just cause you like to shoot em.
Nice Horse. I used to have a big ol Walker :grin:

Hud · « **Reply #19 on:** January 07, 2003, 05:50:52 PM »

>H~ll Hud, I've never shot a deer or bear over 60 yds nor ever hunted >out of the Midwest yet and may never use any of them but my old .308.

Yea, I know what ya mean. I do like to try different guns on a hunt (480 Ruger this year), but if the tag is still open on the last day, I always fall back to my Rem '06.

You can't tell from the fuzzy picture, but that's my "Good For Everything" mule. "Sota".

Hud

Phil B · « **Reply #20 on:** January 16, 2003, 07:45:04 AM »

.22 for small game, 270 for other game and a shotgun for birds. 270 can be loaded hot or light to adjust ...BUT
I 'll buy every gun I can afford! lol

prusch · « **Reply #21 on:** January 18, 2003, 12:45:28 PM »

I look at the number of guns needed like the number of lures in your tackle box for fishing-
You never know which one will do the trick so the more the better-
Besides how many people fish with just one hook?
How many pairs of shoes does your wife have?
If she can have 50 pairs of shoes for her 2 feet it only makes sense that the more guns you have the better off you are-right?
You can't take it with you so why not spend it on a new gun?

Boy I hope my wife never sees this

Bob/FLA · « **Reply #22 on:** January 26, 2003, 01:57:30 PM »

Why, how many are left?

John (Rojo) · « **Reply #23 on:** January 27, 2003, 06:04:00 PM »

I am not going to take the time to list my rifles, and handguns. I do have rifles, shotguns and pistols to cover just about all the shooting I do. I have some calibers many times over. As far as I"m concerned, I need every darn one of them whether I shoot'em or not. I love the shooting sports, and I am glad I am able to take part.

As someone once said, "You only get one chance at life, this is not a rehersal for the real thing."

Good shooting and enjoy.

John (Rojo)

Taz · « **Reply #24 on:** February 03, 2003, 06:23:05 AM »

Need, or WANT!!! I want lots... Need, well, I'd hate to be limited, but if I had to.
300 Win. Mag,
25-06
223
22 long rifle :roll:

IronKnees · « **Reply #25 on:** February 09, 2003, 09:16:20 AM »

The only way for me to answer this question is to say: "It takes WAY, WAY more than my wife of 35 years thinks it should..." :eek:

:?

Mikey · « **Reply #26 on:** February 10, 2003, 10:09:26 AM »

All of them. Mikey.

hitman · « **Reply #27 on:** February 15, 2003, 12:12:05 PM »

I shoot only single shots. I happen to like Ruger #1's. I have one in each of the following calibers. .223 Rem., .243 Win., 25-06 Rem.,7mm STW.,.300 Win.Mag. and .458 Win. mag. My shotgun of choice is the Rem. 870 in 12 ga. I use this for most of my shotgun shooting except I shoot trap and upland game with a Ruger Redlabel in 20 ga. I collect guns so I have many others. I do almost all of my hunting with the 25-06. I handload a 90gr.hpbt to 3400 fps. I have shot deer out to 500 yds. plus and was able to get neck shots and instant killsat that range. I feel that this gun and my 20 ga Ruger would fill about 95% of all my shooting needs.

REM · « **Reply #28 on:** February 15, 2003, 01:56:35 PM »

I've pondered this question several times and always come up with the same answer.

Always just one more!!!

REM

TopGun · « **Reply #29 on:** February 20, 2003, 03:13:32 PM »

I don't them all yet! That's how many! Why do we have to limit ourselves today, tomorrow may never come. Get all you can, shoot all you can, and dream of all the others that you can't, and read about them. Then, spend all your free time reading other shooter's dreams on GBO!!!!!!
God I love the shooting sports!