I've had to think long and hard on my hunting 5-gun list. Like most others here, I use and even need more guns than that. With that being said here's mine.

1. Sears Model 53 (really a Winchester Model 70) in .270 for deer, bear and any coyotes I see while hunting deer and bear.
2. Browning BAR (one of the Belgian ones) in 338WM for elk, moose and anything big.
3. Benelli Nova pump shotgun in 12 gauge, 3.5" Mag for turkey, geese, ducks and anything that needs a 12 gauge.
4. Browning Citori in 20 gauge for pheasant, quail, dove, etc. I guess if I had to, I could use the Benelli Nova for pheasant which would free up a Ruger 10-22 for squirrels, etc.
5. Mossberg MVP Predator in .223 for coyotes and other smaller critters.

That 3.338 WM Browning would certainly be big enough for elk, moose and anything else big.

1006 S&W 10mm would be useful for both defense and hunting
(number 3 on the wish list)
I doubt anyone ever built a better quality , or more durable defensive pistol for the price

Id want a 100% reliable and accurate 22 lr with a decent Nikon 2x 7x 30mm scope
more than a few squirrels and
rabbits have fed hundreds of thousands of owners of that lever action 22lr.
if properly cleaned and well, maintained it will last well over any-ones life time

since I hand load Id like a very versatile CZ 458 LOTT bolt action, if you cast your own projectiles and hand load you could vary power levels from mild 44 mag to full on elephant stomping,458 LOTT

the 12 ga Benelli M1 super 90 is the best shotgun Ive ever handled, a damn impressive shotgun for hunting or home defense
(number 2 on the must have list)


if your limited to a single rifle, or firearm,
this would be my choice.
I'd want a match grade heavy barrel stainless m1a
with a nikon 5x-20x 30mm scope
keep in mind, many millions of dollars
and well in excess of 100 plus years of serious research and testing ,
were put into research
by hundreds of governments,
with each watching what the others did,
to provide their troops with the best and most effective rifles.
and the M1a is a civilian version of what is still (the M14)
considered a very good choice, so much so that current elite soldiers will frequently grab one if given a choice,
as it provides exceptional fire-power, range and accuracy,
in skilled, and experienced hands

For hunting...
12 gauge shotgun either Remington 11-87/1100 or a Benelli, 3-inch capable with choke tubes.

22-250, Savage model 12 or a Ruger model 77. Laminate stock and heavy barrel

.270 win, Got to be a Winchester model 70.

.300 win mag, also a Winchester model 70

For my last one I'm torn between a .22 or another shotgun.
I'll go with a
20 gauge O/U, a Ruger Red Label for quail, doves, and anything that I might hunt with a .22

@hardcastonly, I'm sure glad that we're each allowed to pick our own favorite 5...

I’ll choose 5 from what i have

Beretta 391 12 gauge for turkeys and waterfowl
Rem 700 Mountain rifle 25/05 varmits predator deer size game
Ruger m77 35 whelen for anything bigger than deer
Dan Wesson 44 mag deer and hog
Ruger 22 mag varmits and hogs when the WMA doesn’t allow centerfire outside deer season

Was a little tougher than I thought but but may just one all season this year we shall see

buffybr
neither of us or for that matter anyone else.
could reasonably be expected too correctly select what another person might select in a wife or the fire arms he felt were ideal., that does not necessary indicate either set of choices are wrong or better, than the others selected choices, only that each person sees a good deal of merit in what they selected.
your experiences and pre-conceived needs, and what you want to carry, and use,will have been different than mine or anyone else's.

hardcast, Yep, that's what I said.

I’ll work the system from the BATFE angle - the “gun” is the serialized receiver - picking from what I already own with this objective in mind:

Ruger Mark II 22LR

Ruger Super Blackhawk 44mag

Custom AR-15 with 20inch uppers in 5.56 and 6.5 Grendel

Customized switch barrel Ruger M77 Hawkeye long action magnum in 300wm and another barrel in 458wm

Benelli Super Nova 12ga with 18.5” and 24” threaded smoothbore barrels

The Ruger Mark II will let me hunt any small game I like, the Super Blackhawk anything from coyotes on up. The AR with two uppers will manage coyotes and deer, the switch barrel bolt gun anything else on our planet. The pumpgun would manage both wingshooting and coyote calling.

Thankfully we don’t live in such a backwards society.

Win Mod 70 chambered in .300wm will take good care of anything on this continent or any other with the right load and in proper range.

A little Marlin lever in .22 for the small critters with a scope of some sort for those of us with eyes going.

I don't wing shoot except for the occasional dove hunt so a little .410 single shot for hunting rabbits over my dogs and I can knock doves out of the sky well with it too.

A good AR in 6.8 for the occasional hog slaughters.

And last but in no way least, my TC Renegade black powder rifle. Us powder heads have to stick together.