Another useless survey- which three rifles for you?

[Longwalker]

Too much time on my hands during virus lockdown makes me ponder useless "what if" possibilities. So for no other reason than idle curiosity, with the possibility of learning something interesting from members here, this is my question to you:
My firearm collection reflects my tastes and habits, and the species/conditions that I normally hunt. It also reveals what's available for me to purchase. I do not presume that my choices would always applicable to to others. But for the sake of fun discussion,
- if you were limited to choosing only three of the firearms currently in my collection, which of these trios would you pick for all your hunting ( excepting birds and small game) , and please explain why?
#1: Merkel .450-400 3" and 1-4x Kaps, Beretta 9.3x74R and S&B 1.5-8, Krieghoff 16gaX16ga/7x57R and .22 mag insert barrel and 3-9x Kahles
or:
#2: Sako AV .35 Whelen and 3-9x Zeiss, Sako M85 Bavarian 7x64 3-9x Zeiss, Anschutz .222 with 2.5-8x Zeiss
or:
#3 Sako M85 Kodiak .357 H&H and Leupold 1.5-4, Ruger M77 .30-06 and peep sight ( and 3-9x Zeiss) , Rossi M92 .357 Mag with peep sight.
or:
#4 AHR CZ 550 .375 with Kaps 4x, Griesbach custom ZKK 600 .30-06 with Kahles 2.5-7, CZ ZKK 601 .222 with Leupold 3-9x
or:
#5 V-C Impact Plus 9.3x62, with Leupold 1.5-5x, Brno 22F 7x57R with Leupold 2.5x, Anschutz 1433 .22 Hornet, with Leupold 2-7x

 

[Bruce]

I would go with #3.
Gotta have a 375 in the bush.. DG and PG no sweat.
The trusty 30-06 for PG and then the 357 carried as back up for emergency situations DG hunting ..
NICE collection you have by the way!!!

 

[EZRider]

#4 is close to what I chose in actuality.
I have a CZ550 in .375 and .308 and a Mauser in .22.

So #4!

 

[MarkCZ]

#4 for me , I have CZ 30-06, and would have a 375 hh for DG, i dont have a 222 but would love one the nearest to that I have would be my Kimber 243.
MarkCZ

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

#4 gives the best spread, something big enough for all at the top end and something with finesse at the bottom. And a long ranger in between.

 

[Adrian]

#5 because they're the prettiest rifles but with my sensible head on #4 because they're the most practical.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

No.1 for me everything else has the bolt on the wrong side.

 

[CBH Australia]

#2. Might suit me for Australia.
Nothing to do with Bob Nelson harping on

 

[Major Khan]

As much as I would absolutely LOVE picking # 1 , Long Walker ( Because I have a soft spot towards continental double barreled rifles ) ... I would have to choose #4 ( Based on sheer versatility ) .

A battery consisting of a .375 Holland & Holland magnum calibre rifle , a .30-06 Springfield calibre rifle and a .222 Remington calibre rifle ... Could easily take ever single game species , which India had to offer ... With utter impunity .

I would personally opt for a .243 Winchester calibre rifle ... Instead of a .222 Remington calibre rifle . But ... What the Hell . .222 Remington should be close enough ... I hope .

This is a most fascinating survey !

 

[CoElkHunter]

Well, I can’t decide? Although the #3 package looks interesting, especially with that wildcat .357 H and H. It’s similar in performance to the .358 Norma Mag, and about as difficult to find ammo for as the .465 H and H mag? It’s a reloading only proposition. Huh? That must be a custom Sako in that caliber? I guess to each their own? Ha! Ha!

 

[Forrest Halley]

I like #4 all except for that .222. There is one too many twos in the chambering. A brute, a medium rifle and something that is quieter please.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Fun!
#4 is my choice.
375 H&H in an AHR tweaked CZ is perfect for any DG and anything else in Africa IMO&E. That’s all I ever take to Africa.
30-06 will handle anything up to the Coastal big bears In North America and has handled them on occasion. It is fine for most any PG up to eland and giraffe, but with the right shot placement even them. Note: I still prefer taking just a 375 H&H to Africa because you never know what mother Africa will offer up.
222, the Triple Duece is probably my favorite varmint round. Very accurate. Light recoiling. Easy to reload for. With the right bullets it can take a smaller Texas deer or many night critters in Africa.
There you go! JMO

 

[Alistair]

Too much time on my hands during virus lockdown makes me ponder useless "what if" possibilities. So for no other reason than idle curiosity, with the possibility of learning something interesting from members here, this is my question to you:
My firearm collection reflects my tastes and habits, and the species/conditions that I normally hunt. It also reveals what's available for me to purchase. I do not presume that my choices would always applicable to to others. But for the sake of fun discussion,
- if you were limited to choosing only three of the firearms currently in my collection, which of these trios would you pick for all your hunting ( excepting birds and small game) , and please explain why?
#1: Merkel .450-400 3" and 1-4x Kaps, Beretta 9.3x74R and S&B 1.5-8, Krieghoff 16gaX16ga/7x57R and .22 mag insert barrel and 3-9x Kahles
or:
#2: Sako AV .35 Whelen and 3-9x Zeiss, Sako M85 Bavarian 7x64 3-9x Zeiss, Anschutz .222 with 2.5-8x Zeiss
or:
#3 Sako M85 Kodiak .357 H&H and Leupold 1.5-4, Ruger M77 .30-06 and peep sight ( and 3-9x Zeiss) , Rossi M92 .357 Mag with peep sight.
or:
#4 AHR CZ 550 .375 with Kaps 4x, Griesbach custom ZKK 600 .30-06 with Kahles 2.5-7, CZ ZKK 601 .222 with Leupold 3-9x
or:
#5 V-C Impact Plus 9.3x62, with Leupold 1.5-5x, Brno 22F 7x57R with Leupold 2.5x, Anschutz 1433 .22 Hornet, with Leupold 2-7x

I'd go #4.

Taking it from the top.

#1 - I like break action rifles very much, but to limit myself to them exclusively would give me issues on the hill in scotland where ranges are longer.
#2 - I don't like 35Whlen. 'nuff said. The 7x64 though? Lovely.
#3 - My second choice. The M85 is a fine rifle, but I do think that ideally I'd want a true CRF for a DG calibre. Plus I'm always a little wary of the ejection angle on Sakos. Also, I've no love whatsoever for the M77 and honestly (yes this is heresy in this company) very little love for Ruger generally. They just don't float my boat. The Rossi is nice though.
#4 - That'd do. Proper CRF on the .375, 30-06 would do for the hill and the .222 is ok I guess.
#5 - 9.3 isn't 375. Yes, it's nearly as good, but no. The Brno is lovely. The .22 Hornet is a silly round.

Given a free pick from all the rifles and scopes listed, I'd probably go:

Merkel in .450-400 - open sights
AHR CZ550 in .375H&H - S&B 1.5-8
Sako M85 Bavarian in 7x64 - 3-9 Zeiss

and just shoot the little stuff with plenty of gun!

Here endeth the lesson!
Al.

 

[Hearties]

#4

 

[Longwalker]

Well, I can’t decide? Although the #3 package looks interesting, especially with that wildcat .357 H and H. It’s similar in performance to the .358 Norma Mag, and about as difficult to find ammo for as the .465 H and H mag? It’s a reloading only proposition. Huh? That must be a custom Sako in that caliber? I guess to each their own? Ha! Ha!

My "fat finger typing" created a wildcat. I meant to type .375 of course.

 

[CoElkHunter]

My "fat finger typing" created a wildcat. I meant to type .375 of course.

Ha! Ha! I couldn’t resist! Great thread by the way!

 

[Timbo]

Option No. 4 gets my vote.

 

[Brandon.Gleason]

Option 4. Very versatile, hunt the world combination. Weight of the 30-06 would be the biggest variable for "world" with the inclusion of mountain hunts.

 

[AZDAVE]

I would choose.
#1: Merkel .450-400 3" and 1-4x Kap, V-C Impact Plus 9.3x62, with Leupold 1.5-5x, Brno 22F 7x57R with Leupold 2.5x

I know it wasn't the order you listed but since they were in your collection I just rearranged them I as I thought they should be.

 

[Longwalker]

AZDAVE, the Merkel and the VC were what I took to Namibia last October. Couldn't be happier with the results. Buffalo and plains game. If I took three rifles next time, the Brno 7x57 would be a strong contender!