How well rounded is your cartridge collection?

[Boone66]

No gaps in my hunting rifle collection. And I have no real NEED for anything else. If I were pressed, maybe a 257WBY would be nice.

22lr
300WM
375H&H

That's pretty much all ya need, without being greedy.

 

[USMA84DAB]

No .35 Whelen
No .358WIN

 

[Northern Shooter]

I’m clearing lacking in the 7mm department and something to use for a “long range” low recoil cartridge for the mountains.

Something between the 223 and 6.5 as well.

A 500 of some sort would be nice but not needed at all with my 416, 458 and 470 trio.

 

[rigbymauser]

 

[sgt_zim]

@Northern Shooter

In seriousness...

22 LR
5.56NATO
6.5x55 SE
280 AI
308 Win
9.3x62
375H&H (belongs to the missus, not me)
404 Jeffery
45-70

I like hunting. The 308 is a heavy target gun with a fluted 24" bbl. The 280 AI I use to reach out to 400 or 500 yards in the western US. My pet 308 load is about 2610 with ELD-X 178, and all of my 175 gr loads for the 280 are between 2700 and 2750. I got just under 3k fps with 156 gr Oryx. I don't have loads over 2500 fps with any of the rest.

A very clear pattern emerges with the rest of my choices. If I can't get close enough with what I have in my hands, oh well, next. My heart doesn't race taking a long shot, my heart races when I put on the sneaky sneak.

 

[ftrovato]

In terms of which cartridges you own, do you have everything covered from ground hog to bull elephant?

I try to avoid as much overlap as possible and tend to “skip” every other caliber class, with a few exceptions.

I currently own:

22LR
223/5.56
6.5x55
7.62x39
308
30.06
338 WM
9mm
38 spl / 357 Mag
375HH
416 Rigby
45-70
458 Win Mag
470 NE
12g

See any obvious gaps?

Until this post, I never gave what I use much thought.

I can say, I use all of these calibers from time to time.

Point being, none are safe queens. Overlap, sure!
But I enjoy carrying or shooting them so they get time out of the safe.

Shotgun
- 12 Gauge
- 28 Gauge

Rifles
- 22 LR
- 223 Remington
- 22-250 Remington
- 243 Winchester
- 6.5mm PRC
- 7mm-08 Remington
- 30-30 Winchester
- 30-06 Springfield
- 340 Weatherby Mag
- 416 Rigby
- 45-70 Government
- 500 Nitro Express
- 50 Caliber Black Powder Muzzleloader

Pistols
- 22LR
- 9MM
- 44 Remington Magnum
- 45 ACP

 

[Doug Hamilton]

.243 - that’s all you need

No one needs a .243. Just ask Bob. ;-)

 

[CO_mtnman]

I feel like my collection will never be complete but I have the major bases covered

17 hmr
22 lr
22-250
223
6 dasher
6.5 prc
270 ackley improved
7mm rem mag
300 wsm
30-378 wby
8mm rem mag
375 h&h
460 wby
9mm
40 s&w
45 acp
45 colt

The gaps i would like to fill next is a 204 ruger, 340 wby, 404 jeff or 416 class

 

[buffybr]

I think that I have all of my bases covered with my:

.22 LR
.223
.257 Ackley
7mm RM
.308
.30-30
.300 Wby
.375 RUM

And Black Powder with:

.45 percussion Kentucky
.50 inline
.54 percussion Hawken

 

[Boone66]

No .35 Whelen
No .358WIN

oh, im working on building a big 35 cal, but for now, the 9x56ms will have to fill that roll. thinking on the 375 H&H necked down would be good elk medicine.

 

[Flewis]

I just have one single barrel 12ga and I don’t know where it is.

 

[Safari Dave]

Here's mine:

.22 BB, CB, Short, Long, & Long Rifle
.22 WRM
223/5.56
.25 ACP
5.7 x 28
.257 WBY
.260 Remington
6.5 Carcano
6.5x55
6.5 CM
.270 Win
7x57
7-08 Win.
7mm Rem Mag
.300 ACC
.30-30 Winchester
308
30.06
.300 Win
.300 Wby
7.62x39
338 WM
9mm
38 spl/357 Mag
375HH
.40 S&W
10mm
416 Rigby
.44 Rem Mag
.45 Long Colt
45-70
458 Win Mag
470 NE
.410 shotgun
20 gauge
12 gauge

 

[odonata]

As a left-handed shooter, my choices in commercial chamberings were a little more limited. I currently have the following rifles:

17 HMR
22 LR
22-250
6.5x55
275 Rigby
300 HAM'R
303 British (2x)
30-06 (3x)
9.3x74r
375 H&H (2x)
405 Win
44 Mag
458 Win Mag

There were several desirable chamberings that are hard to find in a left-handed rifle unless they're a custom (e.g. 257 Roberts, 7x57, 300 H&H, 35 Whelen, etc.). So I have each of my duplicate rifles setup to shoot a distinctly different weight / power to fill some of the gaps. But overall, I'm pretty satisfied with the current distribution.

 

[Ray B]

Seeing these postings about the 257 Wby reminds me of a 257 Wby German Mk V that my dad owned. It had been rebarreled by CP Donnelly with a 28" 1-10 twist. One day I had the bright idea to load a Hornady 60 grain flat nose bullet (designed for the .25-20). With two cartridges I set-up the chronograph at 10 yards, the target at 100 yards. The first shot registered 4505 fps but the bullet didn't make it to the target, having vaporized into a streak between the chronograph and the target. I dismantled the second cartridge.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

I only have a few rifles:
.22 LR
.270 Win
7mm-08
.280AI
.308
.44 Mag Carbine

Still have a hankering for a few more calibers.

 

[RETD16]

Rifles:
22 LR
17 HMR
22 Win Mag
25/06 Rem
6.5x55 Swede
6.5 Grendel
6.8 SPC
7mm Rem Mag
30-30 Winchester
338 Win Mag
416 Rem Mag

Shotguns:
12ga (Including 3.5” for waterfowl)
20 ga
28ga
.410 Bore

Handguns:
25 ACP (Colt 1908)
9mm (well those are my wife’s guns) I’m not a 9mm fan!!!
40 S&W
357 Magnum
10mm
45 ACP

I really want a pinned and recessed Mod 29, also need a 22-250 and something in 6mm.

 

[Ray B]

I'm wondering about that saying- something about the guy who has ONE gun will be very GOOD with it.

 

[Phil Giordano]

270 Winch
7x65R / 12gauge o/u (BBF)
300 Wby
8x68S
9,3x64
416 Rigby

And a 12 SxS

I'm for a bit (o more than a bit) of overlapping, in order to have a backup rifle for a given purpose, if the first choice has some problems.
I guess I have quite all the bases covered, but I'd really like to add some calibers in a specific rifle model, just for the pleasure to have them, or for the action, or kind of gun.
As an example, I'd like a fine 30.06 Mannlicher Shoenauer, both for the caliber and the rifle.
Or a Kriegoff Hubertus in 7x65R.
A nice Steyr Mannlicher Luxus from the '80s in 243.
A Blaser SR 850/88 in 6x62 Freres.
And for sure, a 375H&H on a Mauser action, from a good English or Belgian brand.
Too many...

 

[steve white]

Wow, some guys have quite the collection, I'm a little behind you all.
22lr
22 hornet
223
250 savage
22-250
25-06
6.5 Grendel
6.5-06AI
7mm08 (2)
280AI
7mmWSM
300BO
30-30
7.65x53
300 savage
308
30-06
300 win (2)
300wby
300 ultra
8.15x46R
8x56R
338fed
9x56ms
9.3x74R
375jdj
45-70 (3)

Hand guns
22
32 auto
380 auto
38 S&W
357 mag
375jdj
40 S&W
41mag
44-40
44mag (2)
45acp
45 colt (3)
45 and 410 single shot, truck gun

Shotgun
410
28
20
16(2)
12(7)
10

Muzzleloader
36 revolver
45 (6) revolvers
50
54
20ga and 45 LeMat revolver
12ga (2)
10ga
8 bore rifle

I think that's it, been awhile since I have looked at all of them. Still have some holes to fill though. May have to trade some off, or build some more.

A little behind, my foot!

 

[RETD16]

Yeah, I’m not sure you’re behind at all!?!? Very nice collection of calibers and gauges!!!