Caliber / Game Species List

laea7777 said:

Hello. I’ve been using this list as a reference:
https://guide.sportsmansguide.com/game-guides/
https://guide.sportsmansguide.com/game-guides/

It’s the best one I’ve found, so far. However, I feel that it is very much incomplete, in terms of the game species listed. For example, the following animals are not listed: pigs, alligators, bison, cougars, crocodiles, hippos and rhinos, just to name a few. Also, the category ‘predators’ is confusing. Seeing as how .22 LR is listed for predators, but .30-06 is considered overkill, they must be referring to small predators, 50 lbs or less, like raccoons, opossums and coyotes, because wolves, cougars and bears are predators, but a .22 LR would be underkill on those, by most people’s standards. So, I wish it were more specific and inclusive. Also, it doesn’t include handgun calibers at all. I do like the way it’s formatted, though, so that you can go down the list of calibers and see where they overlap and where they don’t. For example, it’s easy to see that, according to this list, you could have every species covered, with no overlap, with a .22 LR, a .30-06 and a .416 Rigby. Does anyone know of a better source? Thanks.

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I'm not sure what a better source would be qualified as? I shan't cry blasphemy at this list, but it is flawed enough to think it's made as a general help aid for folks pretty new to the game. If one were to put in the time and effort, they would find information contradictory to that list from people who know what they're talking about...... One example, they have the stw on the list, the .338 federal, and the .35 Remington, but no .35 Whelan? Also that the .280 won't cover the game that the rem mag does? And where's the .45-70? I would also guess that that list was created some time ago as it's also missing newer cartridges: the creeds, the straightwalls, the soccom? I think it's a neat resource, but not necessarily the most accurate, you can Google most popular weapons for each animal hunted and put together a list more accurate and comprehensive in a hurry, including searching the high road and asking questions here. I compiled a similar list for a friend as he was deciding on the chambering of his next rifle for a build idea, however, I also included max range and recoil numbers for his purposes.

Somebody had too much time on their hands and has apparently has done very little hunting. There hasn't been any need for a 10 ga for turkey hunting in decades and modern 20 ga shells are plenty. I don't have a lot of faith in anything put out by Sportsmans guide. They are just trying to sell stuff.

With rifles everything 25 caliber and smaller works just fine on varmints. And there is no reason you couldn't use something bigger if you want. I'd choose something 22 caliber or smaller for varmints but if someone wants to use their 300 magnum have at it.

For deer size game the centerfire 22's are the bottom rung on the ladder with 24 and 25 caliber being better minimum choices.

The 24's and 25's bridge the gap between varmints and deer size game. They can be used on elk and moose, and if that is the only rifle I had I'd not stay home. But I'd prefer bigger.

Almost everything from 26 caliber to 35 caliber is suitable for every animal in North America and all but about 3 or 4 land animals on the planet. Obviously excluding some rounds like 30 carbine. I'd also include the large caliber, lower powered rounds in here such as 44 mag, 444, 45-70 and similar. The only real difference is how close, or far you're wanting to take the shots, how much recoil you're willing to tolerate, along with the cost and availability of rifles and ammo. Pick the one you like, or the one you have, choose appropriate ammo for the game you're hunting and go have fun.

The 375's are the smallest suitable for the really big stuff in Africa and are still versatile enough to be used on North America. Most of the 40 caliber and larger magnum rounds are for the really big stuff such as elephant, hippo and rhino.

The list is interesting. They say a .222 Rem is only good for small game and varmints, but a .223 Rem is good for antelope, white tail deer, mule deer, and black bear. Black bear?

I think the ballistics are actually quite similar.

Speedo66 said:

The list is interesting. They say a .222 Rem is only good for small game and varmints, but a .223 Rem is good for antelope, white tail deer, mule deer, and black bear. Black bear?

I think the ballistics are actually quite similar.

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close enough that the .223 Rem quickly replace both it and the .222 Rem Mag in the US. The .222 Rem is mostly used in countries that don't allow their citizens to own firearms in "military calibers"...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.222_Remington

jmr40 said:

Somebody had too much time on their hands

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I think it's worse than that. I think "somebody" actually got paid for coming up with that list.

.308 Norma said:

I think it's worse than that. I think "somebody" actually got paid for coming up with that list.

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And didn't bother to even ask experienced hunters what they use...

.308 Norma said:

I think it's worse than that. I think "somebody" actually got paid for coming up with that list.

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On the bright side, I now know my stw has been misused all these years! Brighter side, I'll not be tellin it.

whm1974 said:

And didn't bother to even ask experienced hunters what they use...

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They weren't paid to ask questions, that was Joe's job, but Joe was scouting that week, thus didn't get the memo!

I don't know why by their logic that a 22-250 is ok for deer and black bear but a 220 Swift is not. Of course, I myself, even with a fast twist and appropriate bullet, think neither one is a black bear cartridge.

I don't care what these people have to write about this subject. After shooting and hunting for fifty years I have my conclusion on what works and what is under kill and over kill.

I didn't see drones, crown vics, bread van, terminator or t-Rex on there.

laea7777 said:

While we can agree that the Sportsman's Guise list is inadequate, would most of you agree with the conclusion drawn from it, that, if you could hypothetically only have three rifles, you would pretty much have all your bases covered with .22 LR, .30-06 and .416 Rigby?

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I would not disagree, earlier you stated with no overlap, personally there's nothing wrong with a little overlap, I'll offer an alternative, .223, 7 mag, .375 Ruger. (I'd offer that if NECESSARY to appease any authorities/outfitters, I'd swap the .375 Ruger for .416 Rigby/Ruger or .45-70/.458 soccom.)
My list is this way because handloading and terrain I normally peruse enjoys the versatility of my chosen 3 and the .375 and 7 mag don't really overlap much but could be swapped in a pinch without much regret (except for the biggest of big nasties that the 7 shouldn't be used for). In a 3 rifle scenario, I still become depressed.........is this an exercise in academia or is there something specific you are aiming for?

laea7777 said:

While we can agree that the Sportsman's Guise list is inadequate, would most of you agree with the conclusion drawn from it, that, if you could hypothetically only have three rifles, you would pretty much have all your bases covered with .22 LR, .30-06 and .416 Rigby?

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Of course you could make those choices and be fine. You could also make others and be fine too, and therein lies the problem with such attempts to be authoritative and reduce very complex decisions to 3 simplistic choices.

There are hundreds of combinations of 3 rifles for world wide hunting that would work. The search for a definitive list is futile, and subject to the same absurd arguments as many other lists: what's the best car? whisky? meat cut for BBQ? cruise line? sound system? and on and on. My advice is to look at what you actually do and get guns that do that well. The desire to "cover everything" with few choices usually means you end up with some pretty ridiculous choices for some uses. Your own OP points out just some of the "ignored" game and cartridges that in real life present lots of exceptions to the legitimacy of the arguments.

748 said:

I didn't see drones, crown vics, bread van, terminator or t-Rex on there.

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That's cxp4+p.

jmr40 said:

Most of the 40 caliber and larger magnum rounds are for the really big stuff such as elephant, hippo and rhino.

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So, the 416 Rem is too big for turkey? Guess I better tell my son and this turkey.

Oh, wait, too late for the turkey, but I'll tell my son. You should have seen the 10' plume of feathers.
Joking aside, he shot the bird facing, at the base of neck with his .416 at about 75 yards, while hunting Nilgai. No loss of meat as bullet barely opened up the back. It's his most accurate rifle, probably because he's so familiar with it, having used it for everything from elephant to turkey and coyotes while hunting larger game. Even has a full body mount of a dik dik taken with it. The heavier constructed bullets don't do near as much damage on small stuff as many would expect.


On non game animals, I don't think there is "too much gun", but that's JMO.

Regards,
hps

You're off to a great start. If I could have only one rifle, it would be a 30-06 for this continent.

Regards,
hps

hps1 said:

You're off to a great start. If I could have only one rifle, it would be a 30-06 for this continent.

Regards,
hps

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Yep.

.30-06 SPG.

Hands down.

...and then I'd get the .270 WCF instead, 'cause I shoot it better.

...and then lament the decision... endlessly.

"Less filling... taste's great... less filling... etc..."






GR

Garandimal said:

...and then I'd get the .270 WCF instead, 'cause I shoot it better.
GR

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A 270 w/150 gr. bullet becomes a 30-06 and a 30-06 w/125 0r 130 gr bullet becomes a 270. VV

5 shot groups benched @ 100 yds. 125 gr NBT @ 3050 fps. Center group measured .665" . First group, low right measured .65"


Regards,
hps

laea7777 said:

Right now, the only firearm I have is 7.5" .44 Magnum Super Redhawk. I like it for its versatility, among other things. I just ordered a Winchester Model 70 Alaskan in .30-06, also for its versatility. Eventually, I would like to get a .22 LR, for sure. I've also been wanting a .416 Rigby for quite some time, but it seemed like the least practical choice of the firearms I want. So, I guess, both academia and specifically aiming for maximum versatility with the minimum number of firearms.

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I'm the loophole guy, Benelli r1 with barrels in .270 wsm, .308/.30-06/.300 wm(if you must) and .338 wm, a Savage in .243/6cm (varmints targets etc) with spare barrels in 6.5 cm and .22-250, your handgun for small game at ranges too close to justify the .243/.22-250, and a beautiful Winchester or Ruger in .375 or .416 for 'Murica!
OR
ar-15 with uppers in .223 Wylde, 6.5 Grendel, .224 valk, .458 soccom, .450 bm(in case you go straight wall), handgun cuz, and aforementioned dg rifle.....gotcha down to 2 rifles now, throw in a heavy target bolt for fun if you want.........ar legality may vary by state.
Still breaking my heart with these constraints just for the record.

Speedo66 said:

The list is interesting. They say a .222 Rem is only good for small game and varmints, but a .223 Rem is good for antelope, white tail deer, mule deer, and black bear. Black bear?

I think the ballistics are actually quite similar.

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It could be the popular bullet weights used in the cartridge.
Kind of like the 244 rem and 243 win.
We all know how many times people on here argue using 55 gr bullets in 223 won't kill deer. But 62s and up will.

hps1 said:

Even has a full body mount of a dik dik taken with it.

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I'm surprised there was enough left to do a full body mount. My stepmom had one as a pet when she lived in Kenya, they are small!