Which five rifles should I own in Australia

[Gwion]

Nope. You are all cheating. A shotgun is not a rifle so you all have to add another rifle to your list.

My revised list:

22lr sporter - fixed 4x 40 scope for small game and target practice. If you can't get good aim with a 4x scope then it's too far away for the 22lr any way.
223rem varmint barrel - 3-15x50 varminting small & light game out to 300yd or more
243 varmint bolt carbine - 2-10x40 loaded with something in the range of a fast 90gn pill for light & medium game upto tough old goats and smaller pigs. Short varmint weight barrel makes it carriable while being able to handle sustained accurate fire on a mob of goats or, say, a pack of dogs out yonder at a waterhole.
308 pump carbine - 2moa red dot sight, loaded slightly down with 150gn for fast action on big mobs of pigs or other tough ferals either close in or out to 200m.
7-08 light hunter - 2-10x40. Not much will stand up to one well placed 162gn Amax travelling a little over 2700fps.


I think that covers it for now. I'll probably change my mind again when this topic pops up again in a few months

[TBJ]

In my opinion everyone needs:
a .22LR for plinking and bunnies
a .223 for foxes, goats, and other varmints
a .308 for deer, pigs and other larger game
a 12g for bunnies, ducks and targets
a .303 SMLE for the aussie patriot in us all

[Gwion]

In my opinion everyone needs:
a .22LR for plinking and bunnies
a .223 for foxes, goats, and other varmints
a .308 for deer, pigs and other larger game
a 12g for bunnies, ducks and targets
a .303 SMLE for the aussie patriot in us all

No, no, no... Naughty boy. That is still only 4 rifles!

[bladeracer]

I think I misread it as "which rifles should I only own five of"

[duncan61]

More by luck than planning I have ended up with .22LR Winchester bolt 5 shot that my mates son purchased for his 2 sons 7 and 10.They plink all day every day down the farm.A.22 hornet 340 Savage that came as part of my mates stuff I rescued for him.My .222 Ruger I bought from new to do pro roo shooting,First C/F rifle I ever owned .243 Howa someone wished to have but did not go through the paperwork process so I completed the deal and he used it anyway for about a year culling.I still got it .243 I rescued for my mate.The 7mm Rem Mag I scored off a coworker for F- Class that I did twice and a CBC shotgun I acquired then gave to my mate and now have back when I rescued his gear from destruction Cant say I need any more but it aint over.I need a 416 Rigby or something similar.Thinking of going 45/70 lever as the 300 gr pill is only 200 fps slower than 375 H@H and 416 Rigby and it is a common cartridge in all the stores I have been in.A 303 of course and maybe a 6.5 swede or 8x57 german

[Gwion]

I predicted you'd ask that as I was typing it, Bentaz!:lol:

[knowsnothin]

Nope. You are all cheating. A shotgun is not a rifle so you all have to add another rifle to your list.

lol:

What if its a rifled shotgun?

Totally different category.

You need five of those too.

[Rory77]

.17hmr Anschutz 1517
Blaser R8 Monza
.223
.308
9.3x62 barrels
Shiloh Sharps 45-70

[Stix]

Nah...sorry...just cant do it...
I need 6...!

[JimTom]

All depends on what you like to hunt I guess. However if limited to five I’d pick the following.
.22
.223
.243
7.62 x 39
.308

[Bruiser64]

.22 lr - bunnies, plinking, practising and teaching kids to shoot.

22 wmr - still a cat A so not hard to licence. Bunnies at longer range, foxes. Has a bit more oomph than the 22lr and no need to reload.

223 - first cat b. Cheap and plentiful ammo. Heaps of rifle choice. Versatile. Can be handloaded down to 22 hornet ballistics. Good for bunnies roos foxes , wild dogs.

308 - like the 223 ammo is relatively cheap and plentiful. Good for deer, pigs, goats. Plenty of rifle choice.

300 win mag -because you know you want one. Scrub bulls and buffalo.

Not a rifle but everyone needs a 12 gauge shottie.

[Stix]

Well its an old thread, but seeing's how someone's stoked the coals, ill throw on a stick...

For me...

• 22LR
• .223
• .243
• 7mm-08
• 7mm Rem Mag

Now that list is pretty good i rekon...

Or...if primarily for hunting in Oz, & given there aint much a 7-08 wont make go all floppy, for a bit more low-mid range variety i could go...

22lr
222 rimmed in a bsa single shot martini
22-250
257 roberts
7-08

But then im currently falling heavier in lust with the 204, so that list could change...

[andreweden]

I’m 80% of the way.

.17HMR
.22LR
.223
.308

PTA just went in for .338LM.

[eddahenry]

.17 air rifle
22lr
223
270
300winmag

[bigrich]

i'm not likely to come across sambar or buff where i hunt ( northern NSW, southern QLD ) , so my choices so far

22 lr CZ 452 2E , wabbits, plinking, early Krico 22 lr - just because


Krico 300 deluxe 22 hornet with alan swan varmit barrel , light varmit sniper

Krico 600 22-250 ,sporter weight alan swan barrel , walk around sporter , from goats down

mod 70 win 6.5x55 ,mab stainless barrel , everthing else

mod 94 30-30 , best scrub gun

fausti 12ga over/under , with the right shot shells , anything that moves.

got a 1909 carl gustav m96 cause everybody should have at least one milsurp. will take it hunting as well. shoots good groups at 100 with norma 156gr ammo

[bigrich]

sorry that's 7. cant do five, but if i had to, take out the 22-250 and the Carl Gustav

[Daddybang]

Which ever five work for you

[bigrich]

seven work better DB, but i should get a 30-06 but shouldn't i........

[Stix]

sorry that's 7. cant do five, but if i had to, take out the 22-250 and the Carl Gustav

Actually bigrich, thats eight i count on your list...

See.......i knew there was adverse effects on the human brain from not having daylight saving..(take the 22-250 out--thats truely certifyable.. ..!!. )

[bigrich]

good on ya stix. i got pretty well much everything i need now. but there's always room for another Krico.....

[simmo]

I’m predominantly a target shooter and My current collection is:
6.5x55 (old original M38 that is a classy old thing)
.308W
.260Rem
.223Rem

Number 5...well...SMLE is very tempting as has been said before already every true Aussie should own one at least once! If not then I’m thinking 7mmSTW or a 300 WinMag

[slickncghia]

I have 3 rifles... But If I knew now what I did then.... I reckon the perfect 3 rifle combo not worrying about availability/ammo cost

17hmr/wsm- rabbits for eating and close range foxes/cats

243- roos goats long foxes dogs and target shooting/long range fun

Deer rifle. Pick your big Calliber. I like a bit different things 338-06 but could be anything in that 3000ftlb kind of range

I own a 22lr. And now days if I had my time again.... I might still get one. But wouldn't spend much or get something silly like a double badger 22lr / 20 gauge

[DEADMEAT]

22LR Brno
22-250 Tikka T3
7mm-08 Steyr Scout
12g Miroku
Flammenwerfer

[bigrich]

22LR Brno
22-250 Tikka T3
7mm-08 Steyr Scout
12g Miroku
Flammenwerfer

A FLAMMENWERFER ! ya supposed to kill stuff first before you BBQ it mate.......

[Growler]

For what its worth. I reckon
22lr Mines a lever Erma
22-250 Not got yet
30-30 mines a 94
.303 mines a #5
Aaaaand a shotty 12ga mines a Winchester 37 single
But will probably sell the 30-30 as ive got the #5 for closer shots and replace with a #1 mk iii Lithgow

[MontyShooter]

22LR
12g
308 lever
6.5 creedmoor chassis setup
Warwick wfa1

[bigrich]

if only five, my revised list
22lr
22 hornet
22-250
6.5x55
30-06

[ShotgunRifleorBoth]

I can't decide!!!!

.22lr single shot heavy barrel
.22lr single shot
.22lr magazine fed repeater (and which one)
.22M
.22 over .410 Savage 24
.22 over 20G Savage 24C
.38-40
.44M Lever
.303 (which one??? )
.308
and then which shotgun/s should I choose to go with them???
And do I count the .410 lever with solids as a rifle, or shotgun???

And then how do I fight the kids off, who have dibs on them all???

Oh dear...

In all seriousness you use what you have; everyone needs a .22lr for cheap shooting, and practice. Some love a .17HMR or the .22M. Some like the .223, or the .308. A .303 is nostalga in original form, and bloody handy if set up right. I recently acquired a Savage 24C .22 over 20G, which I am half way through resurrecting (and it shoots to same point of aim!). I actually find a single shot Cooey .410 to be extremely handy (once you change the sights so the bead actually lines up with point of aim, so you point correctly>> they use the same base for .410, 20G, and 12G... so to get it to 'point' you need to add a lot of height to the .410).
What you have, and what you use, are personal preference, based on what you intend shooting, where, and what you enjoy; this changes as you get older! Never thought I would be enjoying hunting pigs with a lever action .410 in scrub, but it works!

[Bello]

Hi guys
1. Air rifle...177 or 22, I prefer 22 as its soooo cheap and the kids can plink ALL day for next to nothing.
2. 22LR: great training tool, great all rounder for small stuff up close...cheap for plinking....heaps of different ammo for it
3. 223: Great thin skinned game gun. Loads of ammo, can find this ammo everywhere. Low recoil.
4. 243: Great all round caliber. Different weight projectiles to do various tasks. Moderate recoil.
5. 308: Good caliber for larger game. Heaps of ammo choices. Good for longer range targets. Noticeable recoil.
6. 12G shot gun: for close up or scrub work.
7. 300 Win mag: For large game, or longer shots. Not a good choice for beginners as recoil is not kind.
8. 45/70 Fun, and lots of it. Very strong recoil. Especially my hand loads
9. 6.5 CM...mandatory caliber in NSW if you have a man bun, fines apply if you use this caliber without a man bun
ok so you've worked out I can't count..

On a more serious note, if I were just permitted the basics...22LR, 223, 308 12G..these calibers will cover most of the game the average Joe will come across. Ammo is readily available anywhere in OZ, and on the cheaper side to feed.

[Ziege]

22lr
12 gauge
223 rem
270 win or 284 win (cos minimum for some deer is 270)
300win

or if you wanna be a sook

.177 air rifle
.410 gauge
22 magnum
6.5
308