What's your rifle lineup?

I'm at a point where I need to thin the heard. My safe is full and I have a few duplicates. What is your handful (more or less) of preferred hunting bolt action rifles and calibers?

I think my planned core group of hunting bolt guns is as follows (in order of caliber) -

Savage 93 in 17 HMR, 17 gr VMAX
CZ 527 in 20 Vartarg, 32 gr VMAX
Savage 12 LRPV in 20 Dasher, 55 gr Berger
Savage MKII 22 LR, 40 gr CCI
ULA in 243, 90 gr Scenar
Colt Lite Rifle in 25-06, 110 gr ELD
Savage 16 in 6.5 WSM, 140 gr Berger
Remington model Seven in 7mm-08, 120 gr NBT
Custom Remington 700 in 28 Nosler, 195 gr Berger
Kimber Mountain Ascent in 308, 125 gr NBT
Kimber American 300 WSM, 180 gr TSX
Ruger 77 in 375 Ruger, 260 gr NAB

Considering buying a Bergara ridge 300 WM to replace the Kimber. Ease of finding ammo in remote places/threaded barrel interest in owning a Bergara is motivating that.

I like light rifles, but am finding out that they're not easy to shoot long distance with. What am I missing out on? Trying to have a well filled out bolt gun selection that I can have a rifle to hunt just about anything.

Thanks guys

I'm starting to think less in terms of cartridge capability and more in bullet capability. What bullet at what velocity am I wanting to shoot for optimum performance. For years a 168amax out of 308 gave me the accuracy and terminal performance I desired but it lacks in wind deflection. A 140 class 6.5 bullet fills that need for much of my shooting, but wanting more energy and bc of the 180 7mms, I'm rebarrelling my wore out 257 to a 7rm. I have a hankering to launch some of those 95smks, not sure what cartridge I want to use yet. I have a 300wby for the big game, I'm not a believer that you need a 300mag to kill an elk but if you can shoot one well or even bigger bullets then you should. I have a 240wby, love shooting it but have always felt the 243 cal on the edge for deer, at least a big Muley.
I have a 14twist 22-250 that thinks it's a benchrest gun, but 50gr vmax just don't have the range I want for coyotes anymore so it doesn't get used much and for a truck varmit gun a 204 with 32gr is about perfect IMO

I agree with you Canhunter, I'm also thinking these days - what caliber and type of bullet do I want to impact, with what energy - and of course - at what range. My 6 lb 7-08 with the 120 NBT is very different from the 9 lb Rem 700 in 28 Nosler launching the 195 EOL Berger. Same goes for the 30 cals, 125 NBT vs 180 TSX

savage mkII btvss 22 lr cci standard velocity
savage 93 17 hmr cci 20 grain game point

built savage model 12 6.5 creed. criterion barrel, has precision stock, 147 eld and 140 eld both over 2800 fps

browning x-bolt 7mm rem mag 162 eld-m @ 3125fps

my next rifle is getting built on a tried Remington 700 chambered in a 7mm rem mag with a 8 twist for the 180-197 bullets.

I also look more into bullet efficiency than I do cartridges. I can make a smaller cartridge very suitable for lr work just by putting a very efficient bullet in it. I'll eventually replace my 6.5 creed with a 22-250 AI with a 7 twist and shoot the 95 smk and build a bigger 6.5.

Varmints
22-250AI Rem 700- 80gr ELDX (hopefully- still fireforming)

Deer+
6.5x284 Rem 700- 130 NAB @ 3000fps
.308 Rem 783-- (sub $300 rifle that shoots 1/2moa at 200 w/ factory Hornady Black 168gr AMAX)

Long Stick
7RUM Rem 700 (Proof, McMillan Edge)- 145gr LRX @ 3400fps

Big Stick
.338win mag Model 70- 225gr NAB

DuckHunter - I've heard varying reports on the LRX. How does the 145 do in your 7 Mag?

CZ Rimfire light and heavy. 223 Rem , 260Rem , 6.5 Saum, 308 win. No worries.

Ruger 10/22 - rabbit, squirrels, grouse, and pop cans
Savage 17 HMR - ground squirrels, and pop cans
Mossberg MVP 223 - coyotes, longer range pop cans (55 gr ballistic tips and 69 gr SMK)
Savage 25-06 - coyotes, deer to 500 yards (117 SGK)
Savage 6.5 Creedmoor - deer to 6~700 yards and long range rocks 129 SST and 140 VLD)
Browning A-Bolt 7RM. Too many memories to let go.
Savage 300 WSM - Carry for deer, black beer, and elk to 600 yards (180 Accubond or 180 Ballistic tips shoot to same POI.)
Remington 700 300 RUM. Long Range (210 VLD) was shooting great at 940 yards a few weeks ago...

Got some overlay for backup and loaners, I quess.

Barrelnut - what twist is your 25-06?

Savage:
10- .243
11 longrange Hunter.- 6.5 Creed
116- 300 win mag
112 magnum target- 338 Lapua
TC venture 30-06
Mossberg patriot- .308
Colt hbar .223
I sold several last year, because of them overlapping each other. I still have some that overlap, and I'm dealing with that. Another reason I sold some was, I was getting low on components to reload them. Brass, bullets, powders etc. I started doing the math, and quickly decided to downsize.

jrkotz said:

Barrelnut - what twist is your 25-06?

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It's a 10 twist. BUT, I have been reading about the 25 cal. 131 Gr. Blackjack and I'm thinking next year it will be a 25-284 with a 7 twist. Kinda excited about that.

Barrelnut said:

It's a 10 twist. BUT, I have been reading about the 25 cal. 131 Gr. Blackjack and I'm thinking next year it will be a 25-284 with a 7 twist. Kinda excited about that.

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I'm going to try that 110 ELD. looks promising. A 131 would be awesome

I sold off 15 rifles last year just to clear out the clutter. In down to what I consider my bare bones and now will add a few more as I can.
1-Marlin guide gun in 450 marlin- 325ftx
2- 2 ruger 10-22s
3- semi custom rem 700 223- 69smk
4- semi custom rem mod 7 7mm08- 140 accubond
5- semi custom rem 700 280ai- 168 vld
6- semi custom rem 700 308- 155 scenar
7- semi custom rem 700 300wsm- 200 accubond

I will add another 280ai and a 6x47 lapua or 6creed and possibly an ar10 in 308 and be done for anything I need from hunting to long range and training guns for my kids. I quit with the jack of all trades guns or buying just to have something and started getting exactly what I,wanted from the get go.

jrkotz said:

DuckHunter - I've heard varying reports on the LRX. How does the 145 do in your 7 Mag?

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Performed phenomenally!! 1-9" twist proof sendero light, 3400fps out of the 7 RUM-- shot 4 deer with it last year-- 411m was the farthest-- buck dropped right there.

The only deer of the 4 that ran was a doe that was a lung shot with no shoulder bone strike and she only made it about 25 yards.

Very impressed with the pass through performance, good exit hole but without the massive meat damage 'normal' hunting bullets.