What 3 Cartridge Types for Your Shooting Needs?

[Bottom Fodder]

If you could only have three cartridges to cover all your shooting needs
what would they be and what would each be used for

 

[brokeasajoke]

22lr, 223 or 243(it would require some more thought), 308. Does a shotgun have to be included in this? Kinda a broad question.

 

[Dave M.]

Tough question. I’m going to answer with respect to hunting and basic survival needs:
1. 22LR
2. .223
3. .308 edit: changed third pick to a 12 gauge shotgun.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

22lr, 223 or 243(it would require some more thought), 308. Does a shotgun have to be included in this? Kinda a broad question.

No on shotgun was thinking more On the line of competition

 

[K22]

Competition aside, for eastern non bear hunting, I could like with just one, the 243 Win which I did from the mid 60's to about the mid 70's. Took ground hogs, crows, foxes, and deer with mine. Never found it lacking in any way.

 

[MQ1]

.22 rimfire
.44 Magnum
25/06

I like hunting in the woods and the wide open spaces, and honestly there is little in North America that could not be ethically taken with one of these three cartridges. I cast for .44 and have taken game with both pistol and rifle in this caliber. I’ve also been successful from groundhogs to elk with the 25/06. For me…this would be a good choice, and toss in a 20 or 12 gauge for birds and I’m good

MQ1

 

[MQ1]

For pistol competiton:

.22 Rimfire
.45 ACP

for rifle competiton:

.223
6mmbr
.308

I’m sure there are better choices, but I‘d consider myself a noob rifle competitor and I’d probably be best starting with those choices…


MQ1

 

[TTE]

I am new to precise accuracy shooting and only have a couple competition rifles, so I would defer my choices to my previous profession.

30 '06
338 Win Mag
458 Lott

 

[Prairiedogger]

22LR everything less then 50yds
22-250 p-dogs thru deer
30.06 Anything in North America. {and maybe South}
Accuracy trumps size everyday.

 

[LonewolfMcquade]

22lr
25-06
308

 

[C.E.Smith043]

223
243
30-06

 

[Dgd6mm]

22lr
.223
6br

 

[MUP]

Interesting question. I kinda look at it from the perspective of what I've narrowed my collection down to and what I shoot regularly anymore, which is .22LR, 6.5 CM, and 300 WSM/30-06(toss up between those two for me).

 

[SKWERLZ]

 

[dgeesaman]

If you could only have three cartridges to cover all your shooting needs
what would they be and what would each be used for

Not counting airgun, and cherry picking what I already own,
22LR, 222, 6BRA.

Sadly this leaves out 6ppc. Maybe I’d keep 6ppc and drop 222. 100% of my shooting is for fun at paper or steel.

 

[Larryh128]

223
6.5 Gap
7 Saum

 

[gunnermhr]

Competition,
6PPC
6Dasher
300WSM

 

[joshb]

Such a ridiculous question.

 

[brokeasajoke]

Such a ridiculous question.

Yes. why have 3 when you can have 30?

 

[Forum Boss]

.22 LR (rifle & pistol for target work)
6 BRA (club benchrest and steel matches out to 600)

The third would be a toss-up, based on interests that changed over time.
By age decade:

20s -- 9mm Luger for indoor range work and IDPA pistol matches
30s -- 12ga to shoot trap with my brother
40s -- .357 Mag (very light loads) to shoot steel SASS matches with lever gun and revolvers
50s -- .17 HMR for CA ground squirrels
60s -- 30 BR for 100/200 club score matches