If you had to choose 3....

[BigGoonTuna]

This is a painful one for me, but a very practical 3 rifle battery for me would be a .270 Win, 30-06, 375 H&H.

I would set the .270 up as an open country gun with something like a 3-18 scope, the 30-06 for more all around use with a 2-7 or 3-9 scope, and the .375 as a close in sledgehammer with a 1.5-5 scope. Not a lot of bases left uncovered here especially if you handload.

[metlhead]

I'd keep my Savage 30-06, Winchester 30-06, and although it ain't a bolt gun, my Rem 742, in '06.

[MeepDog]

 

I'd keep my Savage 30-06, Winchester 30-06, and although it ain't a bolt gun, my Rem 742, in '06.

[Taco280AI]

A custom 280AI setup for longer ranges with a 145LRX

A lighter weight 308 Win for closer hunting with a 150TTSX

Done


I've considered a larger 7mm, but why? Seven deer with the 145LRX from 50ish-510 yards, zero bullets recovered, only one deer ran at the shot and only made it about 40 yards. One elk around 200 yards, only one shot was necessary, but he was attempting to get up so hit him again. Zero bullets recovered. Sub half MOA accuracy.

The 150TTSX, performance on game TBD. Sub half MOA accuracy.

[NRA4LIFE]

3 is impossible.

[jrebel]

I started down this road a couple years ago.  It wasn't to necessarily cut back on rifles....but rather to cut back on the amount of reloading components.  I ended up cutting the .308, .270 and .243 rifles and reloading components.....there is just so much overlap in todays modern cartridges.  I do miss the .270, but the 6.5 creed and 7mm-08 are ballistically similar in short action chamberings. 

In bolt guns I kept.

.223, 6.5, 7mm, 30 cal and .338.  Lots of options without having .243 and .277 cluttering the shelves.  I've considered cutting the 7mm's from the herd to....but both the 7-08 rifles I have shoot so well.   

[jasnt]

243 win
284
300win mag

[boneaddict]

30-06
25-06

And look room to spare for either a safe queen or a lever gun.

[C-Money]

.243 win
7mm-08
30-06
I feel like I want a 25-06 or .270win in there...But I'd roll with these.

[Wetwoodshunter]

6.5 creed or .243 - set it up medium range for use on deer/antelope
.300 WSM - because it always comes out of my safe. Mine is a Christensen Ridgeline, suppressed with a TBAC Ultra Gen 2. (No earplug, no problem, no recoil)

Done, now you have 2 guns…
But if you want to go north and the .300 WSM isn’t enough with a monolithic
.35 Whalen or .338-06 - set it up as a short barrel super thumper brush gun

I don’t see any reasons why the .300 WSM wouldn’t come out of the safe for me. No interest in griz in my future.

[asmith]

270 is all you need with different loads.  Will take down any animal in Washington. 

If I had to chose a second, it would be 30-06 as ammo is readily available and easy to find.

No need for a 3rd in these types of guns. 

[Timberstalker]

6.5x284
28 Nosler
.300 Win Mag

[fowl smacker]

6.5 creedmoor,.30-30, and 300wsm