hunting caliber advice needed

[butcherboy]

hi i have the following rifle calibers: 22, 22wmr, 243, 30/30, 300sav, 7.62x54r.

i have a couple of questions and need some advice

1. what calibers am i missing if any to hunt game in N america if im within the individual calibers limitations?

2. do i really need a 223/222, 30/06, or 270 with what i already have?( if money werent an issue i would buy anything , but with that being said am i covered in most hunting situations)

i hope this makes sense, thanks for the advice/suggestions my fellow thr members.

 

[Squeaky Wheel]

For hunting what?

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

what do you hunt? what do you want to hunt?

 

[rls303]

from 22 to 375 hhmag the more guns the bettar !!!

 

[jmr40]

With the right bullets and good handloads the 300 Savage will kill anything in North America. Might need to get a little closer than you'd want to do it. The 243 actually comes closer to that job than many want to admit.

One of the 300 or 7 mags will allow you to take larger game at longer distances if you have the skill's to take advantage of them.

It really domes down to the rifle you like and which round you want to use. If you look at all of the popular rounds they are all more alike than different in the end results you will get.

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

Considering where you live, the middle 3, (dirty 30, .243 and 300 sav) are all fine for deer and bear.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

.308

 

[browningguy]

The .300 Savage is the lightweight of the .30's, and I know because I have one and like it a lot. The .243 is fine for all the North American Deer, also good for varmints with the right bullet. The 7.62 x 54 is fine as a cartridge, but they usually aren't chambered in accurate sporter rifles.

The only thing I would add is a big .30 if you think you are going bear hunting or on a trophy Elk or Moose hunt. If you're spending money to hunt trophy size game might as well have enough gun for any shot that presents itself. Something like an '06 or even a .300 Win Mag will shoot the 180 gr. bullets well enough for anything on our continent.

 

[A.Rifleman]

Thats a beautiful land where you live.

Your chambering are fine for now. When you get more money you can travel more, if you want, and get more guns.

Spring is almost here. Do you see any woodchucks?

 

[tundraotto]

second the .308

if its in question, the 308 can do it, maybe not ideally, but its a better guess than any other.

 

[SDBoltz]

Your have .22, .24 (6mm), and some .30 cals so the .284 ( 7mm) is all you're missing. Unless you want to step up past the .30's. Personally I think the 7mm magnums are the best overall hunting cartridges available. The energy vs recoil is hard to beat. You can load light for predators and heavy for elk and bear. They have arguably the best selection of high BC bullets should you choose to get into the long-range shooting game. The .300's are nice too but it's hard to beat a 7mm SAUM/WSM/RM across the board.

 

[BCRider]

The 7.62x54R listed by the OP gives up nothing at all to the .308 for power. In particular if he loads up his own rounds.

Mind you it suggests that he's got a Mosin Nagant. But nothing wrong with that as long as the OP has a scope on it or can use the plain iron sights well. If he can put the bullet where it's supposed to go it'll do the same job as any .308.

 

[tundraotto]

I know they make those small light 7mm rounds for the small game like rabbits that will explode the target so you dont have to worry about going to get any of it....

 

[jk2008]

You're pretty much covered with what you already have. However, if you were looking for something to augment your collection, I'd recommend the .30-06. It can handle any North American game and the ammo is available everywhere.

 

[LoonWulf]

Ive been driving 174s over 2600 from my 23" nagant. If your looking to hit a larger stuff harder, you might want to move up in caliber.

 

[jduff8505]

Wouldn't the 7.62X54 drop the big stuff (moose, elk, bear or boar)?

 

[matt 7mm]

for the deer and black bear you will encounter in new york or realy any were east of the mississippi the 243,30/30 or 300savage are great.if you plan on going out west after elk or anything larger or at longer range you might consider stepin up to a 30-06 or 7mag or 300mag but those larger cartriges realy arent needed in my neck of the woods.

 

[jbr]

I love the use of "need" in the second question. (reminds me of me) I have to agree with a couple of the others, for large game in NA I just love my 30-06. Great gun to own if you don't reload - lots of great commercial ammo available. Deadly on most American game at greater distances than most can shoot. Good all around hunting rifle for any one that "needs" one! I think you do!

 

[Kachok]

I for one would like to have something larger then 7.62x54 for large brown bear, though the hunters I knew in Russia would disagre with me. They seem to think it is an overkill, but anyone who knows any Russians know they are all fracking crazy (BTW please note my screen name is not English) In my book a mid range 30 cal is all you will ever need up to bison/brown bear but for them give me a .338/375 cal anyday.

 

[303tom]

hi i have the following rifle calibers: 22, 22wmr, 243, 30/30, 300sav, 7.62x54r.

i have a couple of questions and need some advice

1. what calibers am i missing if any to hunt game in N america if im within the individual calibers limitations?

2. do i really need a 223/222, 30/06, or 270 with what i already have?( if money werent an issue i would buy anything , but with that being said am i covered in most hunting situations)

i hope this makes sense, thanks for the advice/suggestions my fellow thr members.

In a word............NO.

 

[GWARGHOUL]

I would say you are pretty much good to go for the lower 48.

 

[GWARGHOUL]

Might wanna throw a 12 guage or such in there..

 

[Old Time Hunter]

You have every thing you need with that .30-30, it will even help to teach you how to actually hunt.

 

[bucktail]

You have calibers that will cleanly kill anything you may run across. Your flat shooter is the .243, so you may want something .270-7mmish. For the most part, the .243 will cover anything you would want to do with a .223, unless you get into colony varmints or saving pelts, but the .223 will eat a lot less powder if you're really shooting a lot.

 

[mdauben]

1. what calibers am i missing if any to hunt game in N america if im within the individual calibers limitations?

If really large animals are a possibility (moose, big bears, buffalo), I might want something a bit larger (something like .338 Winchester Magnum) although truth to tell, a good hunter/good shot could take those animals with what you have).

2. do i really need a 223/222, 30/06, or 270 with what i already have?( if money werent an issue i would buy anything , but with that being said am i covered in most hunting situations)

The .22LR and .22WMR are fine for small game and varmints at short range, and the .243 at longer range. You don't really need the .22 centerfires unless you want to do a lot of varmint shooting at a couple hundred yards, as they are a little more efficient in terms of bullets and powder in that role.

I think the .30-30 and .300savage cover the "medium bore" range enough that you probably don't need the .30-06 or .270. Their main advantage would be a bit more range, but with what you already have if you really want more range, I might go with a one of the "less than .30" magnums.