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."
What one caliber for North America?
- Thread starter BlackSky
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Harrison
US Veteran
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...
Snapping Twig
Member
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'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.
Krull
Member
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 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.
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kscardsfan
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Awfully hard to beat the .30-06
Texas Star
US Veteran
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.
handejector
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"The 30-06 works, period." - Finn Aagaard
I would suggest looking at a T/C Encore with a 25-06 barrel for accurate flat shooting and if you prefer something heavier also a barrel in 30-06 or 300 magnum. I like my 25-06 more than anything. It is flat shooting, not so big you blow up whatever you are shooting and just is great. I also have a .270 that is flat accurate and great. It is just a matter of what you like and spefically what you use it to hunt.
.308 (7.62x51). Joe
cowboy117
Member
30-06.----------
canoeguy
US Veteran
I never realized how great the 30/06 cartridge was until I bought a Browning 1895 lever rifle in 30/06 and started handloading for it. You can load a mild, cast lead handload for 50 yard varmints or plinking, a 150 grain jacketed soft point for deer size game out to 200 yards, or a 180-200 grain jacketed bullet for any bear or elk size game.
I am thinking of adding a 30/06 bolt rifle to my collection, would love to find a Winchester.....
I am thinking of adding a 30/06 bolt rifle to my collection, would love to find a Winchester.....
You are correct about my mistake in calling the round the 338 Wby instead of the 340 Wby. As far as shoulder thumping goes, my favorite load for the 340 Wby is 81.1 gr of IMR 4831 and a 250 gr 338 cal Nosler Partition bullet, producing an average of 2901 fps useing Wby brass and Fed 215M primers in my Wby MkV through my crono. My listed load is not to bad as far as the shoulder goes, but still produces a good bruise after more than a few rounds down range. Sorry about the mistype and any confusion caused.
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Bullseye Smith
Member
Easy, just like a bunch said, the old man of them all 30-06 will do it all. I have one of the old Smith & Wesson rifles in 30-06. But for deer I love my 7X57 lite and short and easy to carry.
Justin251
Member
One caliber for everything?
.308 definitely.
Ammo is always available everywhere and you can get it in some surprisingly heavy loads and lighter loads.
I have a savage .308 bolt action that I absolutely love and an older remington 742 .308 carbine.
So yeah, .308 or .30-06 are definitely the top two I would choose from.
Both are effective for everything from whitetail to hogs to elk to moose. Both have a very good range and are very accurate. Also, like I said ammo is always readily available from anywhere that sells ammo.
7mm rem mag is also another round that I really like and I have a howa (rem 700 replica) chambered in this round. Also, 7mm-08 is a .7mm(.284) bullet in a .308 case and it is a very very flat shooting round. While it is very flat shooting I'm not sure of it's effective range for the larger game.
Personally, I would keep it .30 caliber and up. Although I think .338 and some of the other 30plus caliber belted magnums are too much gun for game such as whitetail deer that can be killed all day with .22 calibers rounds such as a .223, .22-250, or .22 hornet.
If you do want to stick with something as powerful as a .338 then I'd learn to neck shoot any deer in which you want to keep the meat. The one's I've seen (even from .30-06) didn't leave much as far as front shoulders were concerned.
.308 definitely.
Ammo is always available everywhere and you can get it in some surprisingly heavy loads and lighter loads.
I have a savage .308 bolt action that I absolutely love and an older remington 742 .308 carbine.
So yeah, .308 or .30-06 are definitely the top two I would choose from.
Both are effective for everything from whitetail to hogs to elk to moose. Both have a very good range and are very accurate. Also, like I said ammo is always readily available from anywhere that sells ammo.
7mm rem mag is also another round that I really like and I have a howa (rem 700 replica) chambered in this round. Also, 7mm-08 is a .7mm(.284) bullet in a .308 case and it is a very very flat shooting round. While it is very flat shooting I'm not sure of it's effective range for the larger game.
Personally, I would keep it .30 caliber and up. Although I think .338 and some of the other 30plus caliber belted magnums are too much gun for game such as whitetail deer that can be killed all day with .22 calibers rounds such as a .223, .22-250, or .22 hornet.
If you do want to stick with something as powerful as a .338 then I'd learn to neck shoot any deer in which you want to keep the meat. The one's I've seen (even from .30-06) didn't leave much as far as front shoulders were concerned.
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caribouhunter
Member
30-06, with Federal High Energy, Nosler partition 180 gr.
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