Best Rifle/Caliber for North American Hunting?

[pdawg.shooter]

30-06. Cast your own and load down for mice, load jacketed 220s or 250s for moose. One gun to do it all.

 

[bryank30]

.308 can do anything a 30/06 can do and do it considerably cheaper. Try about 46 grains of reloader 15 behind a 150 grain partition bullet..

 

[Sky]

There is a thread around here talking about a woman in Alaska killing Moose in her garden with a .223 more than once so I guess it comes back to shot placement!! I agree 30.06 .270 or .308 due to ammo availability and price should do the trick.

 

[SwampWolf]

Deer, Elk, Hog, whatever. We aren't talking polar bear or elephants here. Just the stuff that most people hunt in America and maybe Canada.

No polar bears or elephants but if grizzlies are included in the mix, I'd opt for a Winchester .338 Magnum. No grizzlies in the equation, I'd go with a 30-06 Springfield.

 

[SwampWolf]

There is a thread around here talking about a woman in Alaska killing Moose in her garden with a .223 more than once so I guess it comes back to shot placement!!

Of course, if the only thing that matters is "shot placement" (and I assume you're not saying that), a .22LR is all you'd ever need for anything and everything. Most experienced hunters would agree, I think, that, every thing else being equal, shot placement is the most important factor in killing big game humanely. But most of us also know that a certain level of "horsepower" is needed to insure a quick kill on any animal much bigger than a woodchuck. Ergo, the discussion at hand.

 

[christcorp]

30-06. Cast your own and load down for mice, load jacketed 220s or 250s for moose. One gun to do it all.

Have you ever gone moose hunting? What the hell are you using a 250 grain bullet on. There is absolutely no reason to go above 170 grains unless you're looking at a big grisly bear. Even then; with a 7mm mag, the 170 will do just fine. Never could understand wanting more recoil, when the bullet weight needed, doesn't have to go that high. There's a time for 250 grain bullets. Just not on any of the normal hunting in north america; except possibly a bear. Obviously, slow handgun calibers are something different.

 

[Maverick223]

The concise answer is the .280Rem. for handloaders or the .30-06Spd. for non-handloaders. The long answer is that there are many different chamberings that are well suited to certain conditions and quarry, and hold merit. The aforementioned are simply the best compromise IMO.

I believe that there are three major categories for medium/large NA game (based upon game weight/build) and five minor categories that take typical action types into consideration:

• Medium game, low recoil, flat trajectory: .260Rem. (the 6.5x55 & 7mm-08Rem. are worthy alternatives)

• Medium game, low recoil, quick handling characteristics: .30-30Win. (the .32Win. Spl. & .35Rem. are worthy alternatives)

• Large game, moderate recoil, flat trajectory: .280Rem. (the .30-06 & .270 are worthy alternatives)

• Large dangerous game, high recoil, flat trajectory: .375H&H (the .338WM & 9.3x64mmBrenneke are worthy alternatives)

• Large dangerous game, high recoil, quick handling characteristics: .45-70Govt. (there is no substitute!, but the .444Marlin & .450Marlin will suffice in a pinch)

 

[Coal Dragger]

^ Wrong, .280 Remington Ackley Improved is the correct answer for those of us that handload!

Yes I am extremely biased..... since I own one and wish to validate my own decision making.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

Current ish of American Hunter says .30-06...me too.

FH

 

[jbr]

30-06 - very versatile and easy to get ammo almost anywhere - lots of bullet choices and weights. Glad a few threw in the .280 - great gun - biggest drawback might be ammo availability and choices. I like something a bit heavier that 150gr. for bear. I suggest the Browning BAR over the bolt or lever actions if you are at all sensitive to recoil as my newly rebuilt shoulder is. Very sweet shooter.

 

[Jason_W]

There's more to choosing a hunting rifle than the cartridge and the math associated with it.

What style of hunting will you do most? Tracking/still hunting or stump sitting?

Will you also be regularly shooting the rifle for fun, or will you basically be sighting in before the season and calling it good?

What distances are most common where you'll be hunting?

 

[Maverick223]

^ Wrong, .280 Remington Ackley Improved is the correct answer for those of us that handload!

I am not entirely certain of that; whilst the "improved" variants produce a bit greater velocity (in virtually the same size package), they tend to have a bit more trouble with extraction. I'm not sure that the risk is worth the reward.

 

[Legionnaire]

.30-06 ... unless you absolutely need a short-action carbine-length rifle. In that case, .308.

 

[Beacon]

.30-06. It's The Greatest for a reason.

 

[blackops]

30-06

 

[bowyer19]

Depends on your recoil tolerance and your size. I used a .308, Savage 99 for deer (blacktail,mule and whitetail),elk,antelope ,black bear,wild pig and one Shiras moose over a 46 year period. Yardages from 5 paces to 312 yds. None complained.But I love my .270. Shoots flat like a magnum but low recoil. Three friends bought .260Remingtons in the model 7 for their wives because they fit their wives small stature. Low recoil, flat shooting,good penetration. Anything from .257 Roberts to 7mm magnum;with middle probably being best all around.The 30-06,.270,.308and 7MM Remington Mag. have the advantage in you can probably get ammo anywhere ammo is sold. Smaller is not "all around", bigger recoil is often too much for many people.

 

[bowyer19]

Keep in mind a long range rifle, for this discussion 300yds., will handle short shots but a short range rifle e.g.30-30 will not handle the long shots.

 

[Maverick223]

Keep in mind a long range rifle, for this discussion 300yds., will handle short shots but a short range rifle e.g.30-30 will not handle the long shots.

This is true, but there are other benefits to the .30-30WCF (as well as the .32Win. Spl., .35Rem., .444Marlin, .45-70Govt., .450Marlin, et al), they are most often chambered for short, lightweight, quick handling, fast cycling, carbines that have proven to be very effective when hunting in the brush.

 

[35 Whelen]

.270, .280. .308 or 30-06. Take yer pick.
35W

 

[jiminhobesound]

Best North American Gun

You like lever actions, lots of .30-06 advocates. Find a cherry Winchester model 95 in .30-06

 

[Coal Dragger]

Maverick223,

For whatever it is worth my .280AI runs like a champ and has yet to display any extraction problems. Of course I am using Nosler factory .280AI brass and that probably helps. I haven't tried fire forming yet, and honestly don't see much point since factory brass is available now.

 

[Maverick223]

Find a cherry Winchester model 95 in .30-06

I used to agree...till I bought one. Without any provision for optical sights there is simply no reason to chamber it for a '06. I have pretty much decided to rechamber mine for .35Whelen, which (in the hands of a reloader) can do anything the '06 can and a great deal more.

For whatever it is worth my .280AI runs like a champ and has yet to display any extraction problems. Of course I am using Nosler factory .280AI brass and that probably helps. I haven't tried fire forming yet, and honestly don't see much point since factory brass is available now.

I don't doubt it, but others haven't been so lucky, so I fear I might draw the short straw if I try to duplicate it.

 

[Blackrock]

30-06 with a 180g bullet or a 220g if you figure you need it.

 

[BikerRN]

The "all around" North American caliber has traditionally been the 30-06.

It's a little heavy on one end, and light on the other, but seems to be a good compromise. With that said I would be inclined to seek larger game and go for a larger caliber, like the 9.3x62.

I'd rather have too much gun than not enough.

BikerRN

 

[Coal Dragger]

Maverick223,

Not sure why some would have problems with extraction on the .280AI more than some other relatively non tapered rifle rounds. Perhaps it is an issue of variances in chamber dimensions in barrels chambered prior to SAAMI certification for the .280AI (in 2007 or 2008 if I recall), or from guys loading the cartridge far beyond reasonable levels. I have read quite a few admonitions that the Ackley improved cartridges do not show pressure signs as readily as some others due to the reduced bolt thrust allowed for with the 40 degree shoulder. I have no doubt that this contributes to shooters hot rodding the .280AI beyond recommended pressure levels, and I am sure that at some point sticky extraction will manifest itself maybe before classic high pressure signs would on the brass.

I would also imagine that the strait cases with little body taper demand really smooth well finished chambers to function correctly, more so that the parent case at least.