If I had to just have 3 it’d be a 257 Roberts, a 300 H&H and a 375 H&H. Which I just happen to have along with a few more so they don’t get lonely.
Not sure why I don’t just thin the herd down to the 300.....I grab it 99 percent of the time, have used it for elk, mule deer, caribou, antelope, pigs, whitetail and as a tent stake, boat paddle, tent pole, jack handle and a club. Least pretty rifle I own, 5 or 6 coats of krylon by now.....but as my old bud used to say “she don’t have no misses in her”.
If 2 hunting rifles:
- 6.5 CM, H-S Precision PHL (have one and love it)
- 300 WM, H-S Precision SPL or Hill Country Rifle
If 3 hunting rifles:
- 22-250, any premium or semi-custom known for accuracy
- 6.5 PRC, custom = Borden action, Hart barrel, McMillan stock
- 300 WEA or PRC = H-S Precision, Hill Country or Custom
Even though there are a good number of rifles in the safe, over the years I’ve developed a comfort-level with certain brands, cartridges and bullets for various hunting situations. Certain many others feel the same way about their “short-list.” There’s just no substitute for confidence when the opportunity arises on the trophy of a lifetime.