5 gun collection if you had to

[Peterwho]

Notwithstanding I have a 9422 I think lever actions are more a romantic notion. Maybe we all watched too many John Wayne movies as kids

I dont think most blokes with a lever care more for the romance than the functionality. Maybe for americans and the cowboy action mob romance comes into it. Myself I like being able to drop pigs faster at close quarters than any other action type, having the easiest firearm type to scabbard ( and draw to fire) on a bike or ATV, being able to load subsonics for lower blast hunting( and still have a wide bullet diametre to do the work)

They are certainly fun to do that with. I am quite a few fond memories of chasing pigs through the lignum with a 30-30. Pump action shotguns or adlers are pretty good as well. But I know many blokes where they just sit in the safe …

[mickb]

I dont think there is any gun type that sits in a safe more than another, well except maybe bigbore safari rifles

[Tassiebloke]

22lr CZ american
Blaser BBF97 12ga/30-06
Marlin 45-70
Winchester M70 .270
Blaser R8 223, 308, 7mm rem mag

since we're playing around anyway, i might as well have a blaser or two...

[Jorlcrin]

For my situation:-

.22LR Ruger 10/22 Semi-Auto Stainless [Surprisingly, the best .22 I've EVER used]
Tikka CTR .223 Stainless - 20" barrel & 1:8" twist.
Marlin 336CS .30-30
Ruger Precision Rifle in .308 w/ 20" barrel.

I'd like to add something in 6.5mm; either a 6.5x55, .260 or a 6.5Creed, but not absolutely necessary.

I dont do any water-bird shooting, and the number of times where a shotgun would be a better choice, hasnt happened in the past 20 years.
If I had to pare this down to just 3 guns, I'd go the 10/22, the CTR, and the RPR; one of these 3 are what I'm pulling out of the gunsafe most days.

Since I dialled the CTR(.223) in, and identified the projectiles it's comfortable with, I find that I'd previously under-valued the .223 as a cartridge.
And the days when the .223 simply isnt up to the task, well, the RPR .308 is well able to finish the job..

[AlHow]

Break open .17 air rifle
.22WMR
.223
30-06
12g

[stihl88]

While not exactly firearms these are my top 5 calibers across 3 lists with top 3 highlighted.

LIST 1
.22-LR
.223/Wylde
.350 Legend
.308
.45-70 Gov

LIST 2
.22 cal Air Rifle
.22-LR
.223/Wylde
.308
12guage

LIST 3
.22-LR
.223/Wylde
.308
.264 WinMag
.410guage

[17Dave]

Did you know something when you started this thread 16 months ago Mickb.
I'm currently pondering
12ga ou
22lr brno 2
223Rem tikka varmint
308win Sako A7 roughtec pro
375hh Ruger No.1

[Diamond Jim]

Why would you even bother answering such a restrictive and dumb question all it proves that you're willing to capitulate

Because.....Western Australia.

[mickb]

Did you know something when you started this thread 16 months ago Mickb.
I'm currently pondering
12ga ou
22lr brno 2
223Rem tikka varmint
308win Sako A7 roughtec pro
375hh Ruger No.1

Ive only recently made it back to posting again too. Good selection there mate.

I dont think I ever added my choice either.

It goes
22LR
44mag
223

And thats it. If I cant headshoot it with a 223 or thump it with a 330grain hardcast from the 44, the animal lives another day.

[drone]

I know this is an old thread but I just gotta capitulate, 223 ruger #3 singleshot with 62 grn BTSP, 308 win BLR with 110 grn hornady CX at about 3400fps for vermin out to 4 - 500 yards, ditto with 130 grn barnes tsx at about 3150 fps for most everything else, ditto with 175 grn hard cast gas checked lead at around 2200 for texas brain shots on pigs and ditto with sierra 150grn FP 30/30 bullets at around 2050 fps to duplicate my 30/30, a rossi R92 in 357 and a ruger 10/22 LR for fun and a Winchester mod 23 3" 12g sbs for birds.
Means I have to sell my mod 94 30/30 and savage 1899 in 22 hi power but I can live without them, miss them but not overly.
I was thinking of swapping the BLR for another BLR in 300 WM but I wouldn't gain enough to make me do it and the case is really too big to download and get good repeatable results with some of the powders I have stashed away eg 16 grns of 2400 and 165 grn cast for practise - the powder is lost in there.
I really shy away from downloading double based ball powders because of potential ignition issues.
If you haven't tried the 30 cal 110 grain Hornady CX using RAM TAC powder halfway up the 308 case neck you're missing out. It's like a laser. Use Barnes 110 grain tsx/ttsx data for load development.

[bigrich]

My dream collection,

Ruger 10-22
M1 carbine for extra fun plinking
1928 Thompson 45 SMG with hollow points for pigs. 20 round stick mag for walk around, 50 round drum mag for dam jumping
Early model 70 in 30-06
Browning BAR sporter in 35 whelen. There was a fella building these before ‘96 . What’s not to like about a semi auto 35 whelen ?

Ahh, if only…..

[bigpete]

My dream collection,

Ruger 10-22
M1 carbine for extra fun plinking
1928 Thompson 45 SMG with hollow points for pigs. 20 round stick mag for walk around, 50 round drum mag for dam jumping
Early model 70 in 30-06
Browning BAR sporter in 35 whelen. There was a fella building these before ‘96 . What’s not to like about a semi auto 35 whelen ?…..

The fact its not a semi auto 458wm.....

[bigrich]

My dream collection,

Ruger 10-22
M1 carbine for extra fun plinking
1928 Thompson 45 SMG with hollow points for pigs. 20 round stick mag for walk around, 50 round drum mag for dam jumping
Early model 70 in 30-06
Browning BAR sporter in 35 whelen. There was a fella building these before ‘96 . What’s not to like about a semi auto 35 whelen ?…..

The fact its not a semi auto 458wm.....

browning BAR's are still in production, you can get them in most popular calibers , including 7 rem mag, 300 win mag and 338 win mag . now that's firepower

[bigpete]

My dream collection,

Ruger 10-22
M1 carbine for extra fun plinking
1928 Thompson 45 SMG with hollow points for pigs. 20 round stick mag for walk around, 50 round drum mag for dam jumping
Early model 70 in 30-06
Browning BAR sporter in 35 whelen. There was a fella building these before ‘96 . What’s not to like about a semi auto 35 whelen ?…..

The fact its not a semi auto 458wm.....

browning BAR's are still in production, you can get them in most popular calibers , including 7 rem mag, 300 win mag and 338 win mag . now that's firepower

Back in the day there was the odd one or 2 turned into 458wm by avid sambar hunters.....a mate of mine had one

[bigrich]

My dream collection,

Ruger 10-22
M1 carbine for extra fun plinking
1928 Thompson 45 SMG with hollow points for pigs. 20 round stick mag for walk around, 50 round drum mag for dam jumping
Early model 70 in 30-06
Browning BAR sporter in 35 whelen. There was a fella building these before ‘96 . What’s not to like about a semi auto 35 whelen ?…..

The fact its not a semi auto 458wm.....

browning BAR's are still in production, you can get them in most popular calibers , including 7 rem mag, 300 win mag and 338 win mag . now that's firepower

Back in the day there was the odd one or 2 turned into 458wm by avid sambar hunters.....a mate of mine had one

Yeah, wow. That’s a thumper. Good for sambar and armoured personnel carriers

[bigpete]

Yeah,a bit much really.
Another mate had a 416 Remington, I think, built on a BLR

[bigrich]

Yeah,a bit much really.
Another mate had a 416 Remington, I think, built on a BLR

as i get older (and more budget conscience ) , i'm leaning towards what's more affordable and practical . largest caliber in my rifle collection now is my 308 fn mauser . for south east queensland it's plenty . biggest game around are reds, and a 308 is plenty enough for the biggest western boar . what i focus on now is projectiles . the right one for the job at hand . 150sst's are a great all rounder in the 308 for my part of the country . i'd love a 35 whelen, but it's overkill for local game and good projectiles are hard to find and expensive

my current collection ...
22lr krico sporter with factory adjustable two stage trigger. field rifle comp . rabbits are rare in my part of the country.
222 rem 700 , bedded , madco barrel . gets used in a field rifle comp . silly accurate .
223 tikka t3. very reliable back up comp rifle . just can't part with it .
250 savage rem 700 . jury is still out on this
6.5 man bun on the way in tikka t3 .stainless all weather gun. more flexible in projectile weight than the 250. time will tell.
bennie musgrave built FN commercial mauser 98 in 308 . a collector peice and very accurate, reliable .

that's more than 5 guns, one will probably go , 250 or 223 . can't make up my mind ....

[Blr243]

Loose the 250 …. In times of increasing prices of components, the 223 is do Chesp to run

[bigrich]

Loose the 250 …. In times of increasing prices of components, the 223 is do Chesp to run

250 is far better on hoppers than 223 in my experience and under the circumstances I shoot. 95vmax should be even better in the man bun, with the ability to use 120-130gn pills for general usage. I’ve doubled up in “crossover “ rifles unfortunately. 223 is probably a keeper as a backup comp rifle but. Oh decisions, decisions…..

[Blr243]

I’m out camped at a set of cattle yards under a tarp in cent q Been here 3 nights shot 5 pigs. Looking for a dingo .. bloody warm during the day. Thank god for fridges The wind is blowing a gale threatening to blow my camp away. Not sure how many days I’ll b here for. Useing my 223

[bigrich]

I’m out camped at a set of cattle yards under a tarp in cent q Been here 3 nights shot 5 pigs. Looking for a dingo .. bloody warm during the day. Thank god for fridges The wind is blowing a gale threatening to blow my camp away. Not sure how many days I’ll b here for. Useing my 223

worst thing about this time of year is judging the weather . doesn't take much rain to make some areas impassable . that's the best thing i like about where i hunt in the granite high country , it drains off quick and there's lots of solid ground . at least it shouldn't be too hot for you yet, it'll get a damn sight hotter in 2 months . good luck with the dog , their cunning. where abouts are you mate ? central qld is a biiig area

[Jorlcrin]

Loose the 250 …. In times of increasing prices of components, the 223 is do Chesp to run

250 is far better on hoppers than 223 in my experience and under the circumstances I shoot. 95vmax should be even better in the man bun, with the ability to use 120-130gn pills for general usage. I’ve doubled up in “crossover “ rifles unfortunately. 223 is probably a keeper as a backup comp rifle but. Oh decisions, decisions…..

A mate shoots the 95Vmax in his T3 varmint in .260; sudden death on Roos and lighter pork.
I've seen him pull some amazing shots with it.
I'd never seen the pink mist before this..

[Bugman]

For the hell of it.
17 HMR
22
243
12gauge (D/B)
44 magnum

[Blr243]

Mitchell. Black soil. Dry. All water courses are dry so game must come to dams

[Wapiti]

I am refusing to even think of a 5-gun stash. Nuh.
Isn't going to ever work.

[bigrich]

Mitchell. Black soil. Dry. All water courses are dry so game must come to dams

i'd experienced wet black soil country around lake nuga-nuga ,arcadia valley, north east of roma . sand mixed with oil is how i'd describe it . beautiful country but . makes it simpler pig hunting in dry country , with dams and troughs . the high country black pigs i've hunted are cunning , they play lots of tricks . good luck on your trip

[Blr243]

Thanks bud.

[Cape_Yorkee]

I could be wrong but this list probably changes in our own heads every few months!!!

I'm going to go with...

22WM
243
308
9.3 x 62
12ga

Covers everything?

[Ballistix]

For my part, with only five guns, I would select:

1. Blaser DRILLING D99 .308/shotgun 3 barrel combination gun (here: https://www.blaser.de/en/products/firea ... illing-d99).
2. Remington 700 Long Action in 30-06 with claro walnut stock.
3. CZ 457 .22 with American Walnut stock upgrade from Boyds.
4. Steyr Scout .223 rem.
5. Henry 45-70 lever action with octagonal barrel.

It may not be for everyone, but this would keep me happy. I have never agreed with the argument that the .308 is a better long range cartridge. Also, the CZ (an older brno to the current set) was my first rifle and something I will always find essential.
As I get older I would rather have well made tools I love.