Indispensable Cartridges... Pick your "Great Eight"

[Atomic Chicken]

Greetings!

OK... this is sort of the "flip side" of the "cartridges we can live without" thread (seen here: http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=72316 )

This is the "Cartridges we can't live without" thread!

If you could own ALL the guns you wanted, but had to choose only 8 cartridges to chamber them in (which you would be stuck with forever), what would you choose?

I would pick:

.22LR
.40S&W
.223 Rem.
.243 Win.
6.5x55 Swedish Mauser
.280 Rem.
.50 BMG
12 Gauge Shotgun

I'm looking forward to the replies... thanks for participating!

Best wishes,
Bawko

[Dave in WV]

.22lr
 .357 mag
 .44 mag
 .45 acp
 .243 Win
 7mm-08
 338-06
 12 ga

[dharvey]

.22LR
.223
.260
.280
30-30
30-06
.338 Win. Mag.
.44 Mag.

I would trade out the 30-30 for a 12 guage if that's allowed :wink:

[mjbgalt]

.22lr
.223
.243
.270
.30-06
.308


and my two favorite varminters, the .204 and .17hmr

-Matt

[Redhawk1]

Here goes. But I am glad in real life that I don't have to only chose eight.  

22L/R
243 Winchester
300 Win Mag
338 Win Mag
416 Rigby
45 ACP
S&W460 Mag
500 Mag

[tck]

let's see;  1.  22
               2.  22 mag
               3.  .223
               4.  .243
               5.  .270
               6.  .308 or 30-06  (These two are so close, I couldn't seperate  
                                          them.  Just choose your own favorite)
               7.  12 ga
               8.  .357 mag
  Whew, 8 1/2 was the best I could do.  Even then I'd miss my 20 ga for rabbits.

[aulrich]

1. 22lr
2. 12 ga
3. 17 hmr
4. 204 Ruger
5. 270
6. 7 rem mag
7. 338 win mag
8. 375 H&H

[Coyote Hunter]

.22LR
.223
.257 Roberts +P
.300 Win Mag
.44 Mag
.45 ACP
.45-70
12 Gauge

[NONYA]

.22 LONG
12 GUAGE SHOTGUN
7 MAG
7 MAG
7 MAG
7 MAG
7 MAG

[skb2706]

.204 Ruger for little things
.221 FB for lots of little things
22-250 for little bigger things
6mm for things that require very precise placement
.260 Rem for things as big as me
.300 Win mag for things much bigger than me
.357 max for plinking things of all sizes

12 Ga. for things I could never hit with all the other guns.

[SmackFactor]

223 Winchester
270 Winchester
300 Wby Mag
375 H&H Mag
460 Wby Mag
44 Mag
S&W 460 Mag
S&W 500 Mag

[High Brass]

22LR
223 Rem
243 Win
45 ACP
44 Mag
30-06
12 ga
7X57

[Ramrod]

.22lr
20 gauge
12 gauge
.45 Colt
.223 Rem
.22-250
.30-06
.375 H&H
I would still have use of my muzzleloaders for additional calibers, right?
 

[jbadams66]

it would have to be

.22lr
220 swift
.35 rem
.30-06
.375 h&h
.357
.45 colt
12 ga.

man that would just suck to be limited to just these 8  

[lilabner]

I'll include pistol cartridges also

.22 lr
9mm Luger
.45 ACP
.243
30-06
Three more based on the 30-06 case - from .25 to .35 caliber, depending on the game to be hunted. Not a bad one in the bunch!

[Jimi]

Fun question... though I think Nonya wins for "thinking outside the box ;-)"

.17HMR
.22/250
.300 Weatherby
.375 H&H
.458 Lott
.45 ACP
.454 Casull
12 gauge (3")

[Savage .250]

22LR
  .243
  .250 Sav
   .270
   35 Rem
   .300 Sav
   30-06
   12 ga
   
 " The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

[UtahMike]

Listed by, 1st#, number of animals, 2nd#, lbs./animals taken

1.  5. 22lr
2.  3. 12 Ga.
3.  1. 270 win
4.  2. 243 win
5.  4. 22-250AI
6.  6. 357mag
7.  7. 40S&W
8.  8. 357sig

Many more, hard choices!

[Lawdog]

I am only going to include rifle cartridgesafter all this is the Bolt Action Rifles forum).  I consider handguns and shotguns to be in a different categories.

1.]  .22 lr.
2.]  .22 Hornet
3.]  .25-06 Rem.
4.]  .30-06
5.]  .300 Weatherby Magnum
6.]  .375 Weatherby Magnum
7.]  .416 Rigby
8.]  .450 Marlin(in my bolt action)

Now that I have stated the above and thinking about having to do such a thing as limiting myself to only eight cartridges, I am going to go hug my gun safes now.  Lawdog
 

[longwinters]

.22
.223
.243
7m.08
280
30-06
40sw
12 ga

Long

[Ramrod]

I am only going to include rifle cartridgesafter all this is the Bolt Action Rifles forum).  I consider handguns and shotguns to be in a different categories.
 

Lawdog, you are 100% correct, but the OP (original post), included handgun and shotgun, so most have been responding in kind. I thought it was good fun, it really cuts into ones rifle choices. I myself don't need alot of bolt action calibers. More calibers would also mean more action types to me.

[Lawdog]

I am only going to include rifle cartridgesafter all this is the Bolt Action Rifles forum).  I consider handguns and shotguns to be in a different categories.
 

Lawdog, you are 100% correct, but the OP (original post), included handgun and shotgun, so most have been responding in kind. I thought it was good fun, it really cuts into ones rifle choices. I myself don't need alot of bolt action calibers. More calibers would also mean more action types to me.

I figured by claiming it as a rifle forum then I could pick 8 rifle cartridges, and as many handgun/shotgun caliber/gauges as I could get away with.       Lawdog
 

[UtahMike]

Ok, now why is your number one pick, Number 1?

[TNrifleman]

Tough, but here goes:

22 LR
223 Rem.
6.5x55
280 Rem.
35 Whelen
45-70 Govt.
12 gauge
45 ACP

[poncaguy]

17 HMR
22-250
243
260
270WSM
308
7mm-08
204

[RaySendero]

Here's mine:

12 gauge
22LR
357 Mag.
45 ACP
270 Win.
7.5x55
8x57
375 H&H
50 BMG[/list:u]

Oops that's 9? :mrgreen:

[Bart Solo]

My number one cartridge would be the 12 gauge shotgun shell.  Probably the most important cartridge of all.  You can use it to take birds, rabbits and to defend your home.  Number 2 would be the 22 LR.  You can live in the woods with one and two.  Number 3 would be the 30-06.  You can take deer and elk with a 30-06. You can defend your camp from Bear and Lion with a 30-06.   Beyond the top three nothing is really indispensable.  Nice, but not indispensable.

If you think I am kidding, think again.  Our ancestors on the frontier mostly used shotguns. After that the rich and professional hunters would use a long rifle.  Rarely did anybody use a handgun and then only to shoot snakes.  

My father and father-in-law were both raised in the country.  Both were expected to bring home dinner using a .22.  Often they were only given one or two bullets. Times were hard.  Grandpa used a shotgun when hunting deer or birds.  He alternated between slugs and bird shot. Only the rich people had high power rifles.  Handguns were for policemen and mobsters.

There is one honorable mention, the Winchester 30-30.  The first modern, "high power" round used by the average guy.

[dave hall]

My list is mostly BIG STUFF ,because thats all I mostly shot.But I like to plink with other cal's every now and then.

Here's my list:
22 LR
204 Ruger
243 Win.     (Reloaded w/Barnes bullets from here down)
300 Win. Mag.
350 Rem. Mag.
450 Marlin
458 Lott
45 LC  (beefed up loads)

MY MOTTO:IT'S GOTTA KICK :lol:

[Idaho_Hick]

.22 lr
.223 Rem
.243 Win
.308 Win
.338 Win Mag
.44 Rem Mag
.45 Acp
12 ga.

Number one is a 22 because it is the most fun, anyone can shoot one. And everyone should.
The rest were chosen for ammo availability and game suitability.

[ronbow]

Not counting my Mathews Outback or T/C muzzle loader:

22lr - shoot it the most in my Ruger 10/22
7.62x39 - hunting, self defense, plinking in Ruger mini30
.308 - deer and hogs i Rem. Model 7
12ga. Turkey, ducks, quail, dove in Rem 3" mag 870sp
9mm - self defense concealed carry in M43 firestar
.357 - hogs, bear repellant in Ruger GP100
.300 win mag. - wish I had one
.22 mag - gotta get one in Ruger 10/22.