To preface this post, I don't hunt very much. I would like to but just haven't been able to make it a priority with life always getting in the way. In the past when I've been on hunts I've used .243, .303, .308 and 30-30. I currently do not have a hunting rifle and will be getting one soon.

My goal here is to identify just one caliber that would be appropriate for most North American big game and at ranges from 50 yards out to 300 yards. I'm not super recoil sensitive so I don't mind a rifle that lets you know you fired something. That being said, I don't want to get into the crazy large calibers because I'd like to avoid something where the recoil is going send me to rehab after 20 rounds at the range sighting it in and I don't want to end up paying ridiculously huge amounts of money for a box of ammo.

I can foresee hunting trips in the future for Black & White tail deer, Mule deer, Black and Brown bear, Elk, Caribou, Moose, Mountain lion and Boar. My next trip, this October, will be for Mule deer and Mountain lion.

I've pretty much fallen in love with the Browning X Bolt Hunter after fondeling the one at my local shop today. Below are the calibers available for the X Bolt Hunter. Do you guys see any caliber on the list that would be that great "magic" all around, all purpose North American big game round?


243 Win.
7mm-08 Rem.
308 Win.
25-06 Rem.
270 Win.
280 Rem.
30-06 Spfld.
7mm Rem. Mag.
300 Win. Mag.
338 Win. Mag.
300 WSM
270 WSM
7mm WSM
325 WSM
223 Rem.
22-250 Rem.

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~ S&WCA No.2159 ~

.338-06 would be my choice. I think you can even buy factory ammo for it now.

338/06 is now offered in factory ammunition.

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You do what you are.

Many, probley most and more listed will do the job. I dont see 7x57 on the list and that is one of my favorites. I really dont see any need for all these new cartridges invented in the last almost 100 years.
7X57, 30-06, 30-30, 30-40 are all well over a 100 years old are as good today as back then. Probley the best modern cartridge since is the 308. Are the modern critters tougher than they were in 1900?

No contest; .30-06. Large game, 180, 190 or 200 gr. out of a Model 70 or a Remington 700.

Russ

I've always felt that the 30-06 is the perfect North American hunting cartridge. Providing the hunter is a reasonable competant marksman and knows when to shoot and where to put the bullet . Lots of choices in weights and types of bullets. Some may say it's too light for big brown , grizzly and Kodiak bears , but I ain't interested in hunting them and plenty have been killed with the old 30-40 Krag. Same with moose and elk. A friend has taken several bull elk out to 200yds with his trusty old Marlin 336 in .35 Remington and factory ammo , beceause he is comfortable and competant with it. If ya do hunt in long range territory , a .300 or 338/.340 Winchester or Weatherby mag might help. But I feel the magnums , especially in the hands of less experienced hunters , cause them to take shots at ranges beyond their skill level. Many also believe that magnum power will make up for poor shot placement.

I agree with Russ. The 30-06 can be many different guns and you can find ammo every where. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

If only one caliber, the .30-06 is probably the best overall choice; very versatile, and will get anything you need done in NA. I actually tend to go with the 7mm mag for the big stuff, although a lot of people go with the Winchester short mags...

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NRA Life Member

I don't know where my dad came up with this,"The 30-06 is the cartridge that all others are compared to".I agree.
He'd say that about the .44mag for a wheel gun.I agree.
Dad's no fool.

DG

It looks like 30-06 is leading the group. For long range shots (200+ yards) on a 150lb-180lb mountain lion what would you recommend for a load? 110 grain lightweight bullet with high velocity and flat/long reach, a 150 grain midweight with some more "punch" but more difficult at long range or a 180 grain heavy wieght with easily enough knock down power but a chore to hit at long distance with an arcing path?

Keep in mind I'm thinking the lion needs to drop at impact or within just a handful of yards. The last thing I want to do is track and walk up on a wounded mountain lion.

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~ S&WCA No.2159 ~

I use a .270 for everything. Many prefer a 30-06.

Here's what the Alaska game commission has to say on this subject:

Firearms and Ammunition
There are no simple answers when it comes to selecting a firearm and accompanying ammunition. How accurately you shoot is far more important than the type of rifle, cartridge, and bullet you choose. Alaska has some very large game animals, including 1600-pound mature bull moose and 1500-pound coastal brown bears. Moose or brown bear hit in the gut with a large caliber magnum rifle such as the popular .338 Winchester® Magnum is wounded and just as likely to escape as if it had been hit with a small caliber rifle such as the .243 Winchester®. The bore size, bullet weight, and velocity are of secondary importance to precise bullet placement in the vital heart-lung area.

It is important for the hunter to have a good knowledge of game anatomy, the ability to correctly judge distance, the discipline to take only shots that can be made with certainty, and the ability to shoot accurately from sitting, kneeling, and standing positions. You should be able to reliably place a bullet in a circle the size of the game's heart/lung zone from hunting positions at the distances you expect to be shooting. As long as the caliber is reasonable and a quality bullet is used, hunters kill game quickly and humanely with precise bullet placement.

Performance in the Field
The performance of partitioned bullets is excellent—they perform about as well in real life as in theory. If a moose, elk, caribou, or even brown bear is hit in the heart-lung vital area, these ultra-tough bullets often exit on the opposite side, leaving a better blood trail and ensuring a double-lung hit. The only negative of these premium bullets is cost. For example, a box of factory loads with Nosler®, Swift®, or Trophy Bonded® bullets typically costs at least twice as much as a box of conventional bullets.

To sum up on the subjects of firearm, cartridge, and ammunition selection: You can’t go wrong with a stainless steel bolt-action rifle chambered for a standard cartridge that you are comfortable with and can shoot accurately, loaded with a high quality bullet.
Hunt Alaska: Choosing a Firearm, Cartridge and Bullet, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

"How accurately you shoot is far more important than the type of rifle, cartridge, and bullet you choose."

This quote from the above reply really sums it up. Whatever round you bring to the field, you have to know how to place it... I've seen plenty of guys, with beautiful guns, and impressive calibers, that come up empty handed.

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NRA Life Member

The 150 is probably the way to go. a mountain lion is fairly thin skinned , much like a whitetail. So a good 150 or 165gr , whichever you and your rifle shoot best , is just about perfect. Don't worry about ultra trick bullets. Plain old Remington Core-Lokts have never let me down if I did my part.

Just make sure ya get plenty of practice at your expected range. Do some uphill and downhill shooting if you can. The difference in results from 'level' shooting just may surprise you. No matter the game or the weapon , it's all about precise shot placement. I for one HATE tracking , or coming across a dead or wounded animal.

I've never hunted Grizzly bear but I've hunted about everything else, no cats either BTW. I've always used a Rem 700 in .30-06. In the lower 48 I use either a 150 grain or 165 grain Hornady bullet. When I was stationed in Alaska I used a Hornady 190 BTSP bullet.

Last year I did try something new and killed a nice mule deer buck with a CZ 550 in 6.5x55 Swede.

I'm a firm believer in shot placement. If I can't get close enough or feel I can hit the vitals with one shot I won't shoot. So therefore in all my years hunting I've only lost one deer. I've also shot a few deer with a .50 cal blackpowder rifle using round balls. Shot placement is key!

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Mike
USMCR 84-87, USAF 87-07

Another vote for the 30-06 and this is from a guy who got his first 300 H&H magnum at age 13 just because that's what Dad had, and killed a 5 point bull elk at age 14.

For all around hunting rifle, you can't beat the versatility of a 30-06.

30-06 gets my vote. I've used it for everything from prairie dogs to big elk, mule deer, antelope, big horn sheep, coyotes, etc., etc., and it never left me wanting for better accuracy, adequate power or versatility. You put the bullet where it belongs and it will do the job every time.

I have hunted virtually every animal on the North American continent through several states and Canada. Deer, elk, moose, cougar, bobcat, fox, bear, wild boar and many more. While I own different calibers, I primarily use a Sako .270 for game. It is a flat shooting gun with a decent range that offers one shot kills if I do my job properly.

Of course, a good shotgun works well on many animals and I have used one successfully on bear, deer and other game.

If I were to narrow my guns down to three, it would be the Sako .270, a 12 ga Browning Belgium Auto 5 and a S&W .357
mag handgun.

I like to use the 7mm Rem Mag.I have killed alot of game with that cal.


snakeman

I think I just saw the ghosts of O'conners and Wooters pass thru this thred. At least I think that who it was.

30-06 is my pick.

Because you listed moose and big bears:
I use and highly recommend 338 WM with premium bullets.

Even the best marksman find themselves having to shoot through heavy bone on occasion. While the 30-06 is a wonderfully versatile round, I would prefer something heavier for those quartering shots that seem to always present themselves.

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Incoming fire has right of way

As one who's never entirely bought into the idea that the .30-06 is the be all, end all, I'd have to agree that it's probably number one for the game and distances listed. I would, however, question claims that you can get ammo for it anywhere. In my neck of the woods, the '08-'09 run on ammo tended to make the more popular calibers harder to find. The "orphan" calibers, like .280, where actually easier to find,

Sir, you will deny yourself one of hunting's most exhilarating experiences if, at least once, you don't walk up a wounded mountain lion. Should you wish to avoid this, I recommend the 180 grain Nosler Partition or equivalent in the .30-06. Depending on the technique employed to hunt lions, you may end up having to deal with something larger. I hunt mountain lions by luring them in close with a predator call (the last one first seen and shot at about ten yards...), but in much lion habitat, you may also inadvertently end up dealing with a bear, a much more robust and more difficult to kill critter. Keep in mind that either of these large, potentially dangerous predators come to the caller with malice aforethought. There's no downside to the stouter, heavier bullet, and there's almost no chance at having, much less taking, a long shot a mountain lion. Even if you did, you'd be better served by the heavier bullet's greater delivered energy.

Hard to beat the '06 for a general purpose NA big game caliber, but the more petite actions, shorter barrels, lighter weight, etc., of purpose-built .308 Winchester platforms such as the Kimber Montana, or Remington Model 7, &tc., have much appeal. I think you couldn't go wrong with just two guns in the battery, a lightweight, handy .308 for almost everything, and something a bit bigger such as a .338 for larger critters such as bears and moose.

i agree with the 30-06...

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

30-06 is THE cartridge, if a person could only have one big game hunting rifle.

Ammo is plentiful and bullet selection is quite vast!

Me? My primary big game hunting rifle is my trusty, early Remington Model 700LH (early left-handed BDL type) bolt action in the flatter shooting .270 Win caliber.

Frankly though, my favorite big game cartridge would be .44 Magnum, since I love to handgun hunt with my 6" barreled 29-5 as much as possible! That is what took the piebald buck whose hide is pictured below, under the 700LH:



My backup rifle though is in 30-06, and also a Remington.

I read an article several years ago recommending the 338 mag for North America.

IMHO the 30-06 isn't big enough for grizzly/brown bear.

My father has used a 338 mag Ruger M77 for 20 years or so. He reloads his own ammo for different game. He has taken every big game animal in Alaska except musk ox and polar bear.

When I was 14 or 15 I went on my first bear hunt. Since it was my first, I got to shoot first.

We scoped a brownie about 250 yards away. We couldn't get closer to him so we waited for him to come to us. Which he did until my uncle sneezed.

The bear turned and walk away but then stopped, turned around and came towards us very slowly. My dad said shoot so I did. First round through the front of the chest. Second round through the right shoulder.

We made a mistake in letting the bear know where we were because he immediately charged toward us. I fired again but missed.

My dad then shot him once through the high chest area. The bullet went through the spine and exited dropping the bear immediately. The bear was only 200 feet away.

I was shooting a Weatherby 30-06. My dad a 338 mag. My uncle had climbed the nearest tree with his 30-30.

A week later I had my own 338.

I realize that shot placement is everything, but for large game I would rather have a bigger caliber.

It all depends on how and what you hunt.

Don't become the hunted.

30-06 is a hard arguement ...and I agree
BUT my personal is the 308...I like the fact that I can find many different style rifles and I know that they are going to be accurate plus I like the fact that I can get hunting rounds ,target rounds and military bulk ...and it used to be reasonable...30 06 is right in there as well ..I just went 308

and I like some classic...7x57 is a great caliber and 6.5 ...Mannlicher
Have a buddy that swears the .300 mag is the best all around ...but he gets to sleep while the BIG BUCKS come to look at him in the tree.



Jason

My vote would be for the 30-06 given the calibers available in your chosen rifle. However of all the rifle calibers I've owned I think my 7mm Ackley was the most versatile. On the other hand, a friends dad hunted everything in North America and most African game with two firearms. One was a Sako O/u in 222 and 12 ga, the other was a Remington 600 in 350 Remington Mag.

For the game you have mentioned I would pick a 308 or a 30/06.

I would keep in simple and if you are not going to reload I would see if the Federal Factory load with the Nosler 180gr partition shoots good in you rifle.

Then if it did, I would see what cheaper 180gr factory load shot as close to the Nosler loads as possible and use them for practice and even for the smaller game you hunt.

If you are not an Alaska resident then you will have to have a guide for the big bears. My thoughts are if a fella can afford a guided hunt or two in Alaska then he can probably afford 2 rifles.

A 308 or 30/06 and a 338 Win Mag would make a good pair IMHO.

one gun for everything, Id either go 30-06 or 300 mag.

I'm going to fall in line with most everyone else and go with the venerable .30-06. The 06 can and has taken every species of game in North America. Ammo is readily available at any wally world or back water bait shop.

Besides, when I needed a hunting rifle I went with the 06, so it must be the right choice.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

I would pick a .338 Mag for big bears, moose, and elk and a 25-06 for everything else. If I could only pick one gun it would be a 30-06 CZ with classic Mauser action.

.30-06. But, I don't like the idea of hunting brown or polar bear with it. I'd prefer a .35 or .375 caliber for that, at least, and in forest, maybe a .416. If I were in griz country with only an '06, I'd also want a big fat N-frame with me.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

30-06
its large enough with full house loads to handle anything on this continent, yet not so large that it precludes the use of cast bullets at the reloading bench.

110 -125 grain varmint work .. crimson mist and pudding
150 - 180 grain will handle deer through black bear
180 - 220 grain when it gets bigger than that

150 grain cast flat point and its suddenly the ideal squirrel rifle and bunny buster that'll put the fear of rust into any 22
200 grain cast with gas check can be driven reasonably close to the rifles full potential.

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it just needs more voltage

280 Rem if you reload, 30-06 Springfield if you don't. 7mm Rem. Mag. would also be a good choice.

The only problem I see is that you said "big game."
I take that to mean elk, moose and the largest bears...

.30-06 is the do-all round.
However, if sticking to the eastern half of the country, .30 WCF is the choice. I haven't seen a .30-06 yet that is nearly as short, light and handy as a 16" barreled lever-action carbine. I just don't want to carry a bolt gun!

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Lost it all in a boat accident

I like the 300 WSM.

I shoot three rifles for hunting .280, .35 Rem and 22-250.

The last one to go would be the .280 hands down.

It has never let me down. Shoots flat and hits hard. (and does'nt kick my butt in the process)

I like to keep it simple...

.243 for my centerfire.

.45 for my muzzleloaders...

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Non gratum anus rodentum

No denying the 30-06 is a great caliber. But I'd go with a .300 Savage since that is what I have.

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Inconsistently consistent

Picking a caliber for big game is like picking your favorite truck. Chevy, Ford or Dodge the argrument goes on forever. Oh, I forgot the rice burners. Anyway in my experience the rifle you shoot the best is the one to use. I've taken buck deer with everything from a 25-20 to a 45-70 plus a few with my prewar Colt SA 44 Special. Right now I'm shooting a Model 88 Win. 308. To coin a phrase " So many calibers, so little time."

30-06, and for cougar 165 or 180 gr premium bullet.

Great thread! I agree with a lot of the thoughtful folks, that 30.06 is a fine caliber. I have owned many rifles of various caliber, but IMHO, 45.70 is the best choice. It has the ballistics of a freight train, can be loaded to take any animal from a deer to a t-rex, has the history of a military round, buffalo round, and the first 1 mile kill as a sniper rifle. For anything smaller than a deer, either ignore it or use a .22 handgun. Just a thought...

06 is the all-arounder.

I'd go further to say for the lower 48, the 7mm-08 is a good all-arounder too.

Not much can stand up to a well placed shot from just about anything you listed from .264 on up.

I hunt with a 6.5-06 and it's a freight train and a distance champion. Game goes down like it was hit by the hammer of Thor.

I'm one of those nuts who like a big cal to "do it all" of your list I'd snag a good stainless .338 mag and not look back.

I had a .338 once...but it wasn't big enough for me,so I now have a .375 H&H

I've hunted just about everyrthing 'BIG GAME" in NA with the exception of Brown/Grizz, Polar Bear and Ox. The largest caliber I have used in NA is 338 Wby Mag. For White Tail, Mules, 'Lopes, cats of all varieties I use either a Browning A Bolt or X Bolt in 270 Win (Favorite Caliber) or 30-06, all three loaded with Trophy Bonded bullets. It works for me, but I am comfortable taking a shot out to 400 - 600 yards and regularly practice out to those ramges. Big cats have been taken with as small a caliber as 204 Ruger (that I know of). I have taken game up to and including mule deer with the following, 308 Win, 303 Brit., 6.5 x 55 Swedish, 30/30, 270 Win, 30-06 Spr, 300 Wby Mag and 338 Wby Mag. My elk have been with 30-06 220 gr and the moose I took was with a 338 WM. Shoot what you shoot well and don't worry what someone else is shooting/what the "EXPERTS" shoot, within reason.

Class III

Awfully hard to beat the .30-06

By .338 Wby., do you mean their .340? I know they share bullets with the .338 Winchester, but the ctg. is called a .340...if I understand you correctly.

I hear that both are shoulder thumpers.

The question was answered in 1906.

Regards,

Tam 3

"The 30-06 works, period." - Finn Aagaard

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett