What one caliber for North America?

[bobelk99]

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.

 

[yaktamer]

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,

 

[jkc]

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.

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.

 

[kennyb]

i agree with the 30-06...

 

[tom turner]

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.

 

[Kanewpadle]

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.

 

[JOliver]

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

 

[walnutred]

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.

 

[NE450No2]

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.

 

[Mule88]

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

 

[Smith357]

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.

 

[Farmer17]

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.

 

[wbraswell]

.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.

 

[venomballistics]

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.

 

[gregintenn]

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

 

[Andy Griffith]

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!

 

[Hofstet]

I like the 300 WSM.

 

[Karnivore]

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)

 

[gizamo]

I like to keep it simple...

.243 for my centerfire.

.45 for my muzzleloaders...

 

[rock doc]

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