What Cartridge for Each Game Species?

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WisBorn

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With all of the great cartridges - rifles, handguns, shotguns, muzzle loaders, and archery equipment available use. What would your choices be for the following game species? With white-tail deer being the most popular game animal in the US I will break it into 5 categories.

This is intended to be a fun exercise to get us all thinking about the ideal and not just one do all cartridge/rifle combination unless you feel that it is the only cartridge that should be manufactured.

Please type out the species of animal with your answers.
I'm looking forward to your responses!

1) Elk
2) Pronghorn Antelope
3) Sheep and Mountain Goats
4) Black Bear
5) Big Bears
6) Mule Deer
7) Wild (Feral) Hogs
8) Coyotes
9) Moose
10) Black Tail Deer

White-Tail Deer
1) Straight Wall cartridge (state regulation)
2) Muzzle-loader or Shotgun (state regulation)
3) Open country
4) Woods
5) Mixed terrain

Have Fun! I know that I have forgotten some species please include them if you like.
 
Pick any cartridge 26 caliber or larger. Personal preference. With proper bullet choice you can kill everything in North America. In open country or in the woods.

If I HAD to use a muzzle loader/shotgun I'd probably move. If I WANTED to hunt with a muzzle loader I'd go with something traditional. Probably not flint lock traditional. I'd allow percussion caps.
 
OK it's a little long sorry. Here are my choices.

1) Elk - 8mm Remington Mag - LH M700 mountain rifle
2) Pronghorn Antelope - 25-06 Remington - Ruger #1
3) Sheep and Goats - 300 WSM - LH Savage stainless synthetic
4) Black Bear - 35 Whelen - Remington 760
5) Big Bears - 375 Ruger - LH Ruger Guide Rifle
6) Mule Deer - 6.5-300 Weatherby - LH Weatherby Mark V
7) Hogs - 45/70 gov - Winchester 1886 light rifle
8) Coyotes - 243 win -LH Browning A or X Bolt
9) Moose - 338-06 A Square - LH Tika T3
10) Black Tail Deer - 6.5 Creedmoor - LH Ruger American

White Tail Deer
1) Straight Wall - 350 Legend - Ruger Ranch Rifle
2) Muzzle Loader / Shotgun - 50 cal Cabela's Hawken or 20 gauge Savage 220
3) Open Country - 7mm Rem Mag - LH Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight
4) Woods - 30/30 Win - Winchester Model 94
5) Mixed Terrain - 308 Win - LH Model 700 BDL
 
Just for fun as you say. I've copied & pasted your list with my choices. There's so much crossover and overlap that most are interchangeable.

1) Elk - 338-06 A-Square
2) Pronghorn Antelope 25-06 Remington
3) Sheep and Mountain Goats 7X64mm Brenneke
4) Black Bear 7X64mm Brenneke
5) Big Bears 9.3X62mm
6) Mule Deer 7X64mm Brenneke
7) Wild (Feral) Hogs 25-06 Remington on up
8) Coyotes 25-06 Remington
9) Moose 9.3X62mm
10) Black Tail Deer 25-06 Remington

White-Tail Deer
1) Straight Wall cartridge (state regulation)
2) Muzzle-loader or Shotgun (state regulation)
3) Open country 25-06 Remington
4) Woods 7mm-08 Remington
5) Mixed terrain 7mm-08 Remington
 
Here are my choices:

1. 378 Weatherby
2. 458 Lott for straight wall
3. 20 gauge shotgun

No, not really (LOL).

1. The 22-250 Remington is what I used on two deer this year. My plan was to use a 308 Winchester but the scope on the 22-250 was better for night shots (perfectly legal on a nuisance permit).
2. If I were hunting Elk it probably would be the 378 Weatherby.
3. For big bears or moose it would probably be a 300 Weatherby Magnum.
4. A 458 Lott is my Ohio straight wall cartridge gun.
5. 20 gauge shotgun.
6. I don't have a muzzleloader and don't plan on getting another one.
 
My honest answer would be based more on what the terrain and shooting would be like, I'd be quite happily shoot everything on that animal list with a .280AI, or 7mm Remington magnum. I'll try work out what I think would be ideal with my relatively limited experience tho.

Equipment wise.
1. 450 bushmaster, Ruger Go Wild
2. Savage smokeless Inline
3. 280ai/7mm Rem in appropriate rifle.
4. .375 Ruger in.....ABolt...wierd
5. 2 or 3
 
1) Elk 7mm Rem Mag
2) Pronghorn Antelope .25-06 Win
3) Sheep and Mountain Goats 7mm Rem Mag
4) Black Bear .35 Rem
5) Big Bears .375 H&H
6) Mule Deer 7mm Rem Mag
7) Wild (Feral) Hogs .35 Rem
8) Coyotes .22-250
9) Moose .30-06
10) Black Tail Deer .243
11) White-Tail Deer .257 Roberts
1) Straight Wall cartridge (state regulation) .45/70
2) Muzzle-loader or Shotgun (state regulation) 12 Ga
3) Open country .25-06 or 7mm Rem Mag
4) Woods .35 Rem or .30-30 or .45/70
5) Mixed terrain .30-06
 
2, 3, 8, 10 - 257 Weatherby or 25-06

1, 4, 6 - 7mm mag
5 - 375H&H
7 - any 6.5 or a 7-08
9 -7mm mag or 338

11 - Bison - 375H&H
12 - squirrels, rabbits similar - .22lr or a 28 gauge shotgun
13 dove and quail - 28 gauge
14- pheasants and similar - 12 gauge
15 - waterfowl - 12 gauge
 
Elk 7mm-08 rem
2) Pronghorn Antelope .243 win
3) Sheep and Mountain Goats .270 win
4) Black Bear .308 win
5) Big Bears 20x138mmb
6) Mule Deer 7x57 mauser
7) Wild (Feral) Hogs .30-30 win
8) Coyotes .243 win
9) Moose ,300 wm
10) Black Tail Deer 6.5 cm

White-Tail Deer
1) Straight Wall cartridge (state regulation) .444 marlin
2) Muzzle-loader or Shotgun (state regulation) .54 cal flintlock
3) Open country 7mm stw
4) Woods .35 rem
5) Mixed terrain .270 win
 
.35 whelen
7mm Rem mag
.25-06 rem
.243 win

My state has pcr but is not mandated by straight wall, so there its 35 rem trimmed to spec

If i had to go straight wall and shorter range, .44 rem.mag or if wanted thump, 450 BM.

Shotgun is 12 ga, deer get 2 3/4 sabots.

MZ.......50 cal w round ball or full bore.
No sabots so reg 1 in 48 twist and a side hammer
 
I have had a bunch of stuff over the years but have gone minimalist.

.3006
.35 rem
.243 win
.223 rem
.22lr

Still have my .280 rem but its on consignment.

A stainless 7mm or
2506 BDL comes along and i might snag it.

Magnums are a hoot and i liked 7mm and 300 but figured 250 grainers would be cooler.

Never did get a 338 wm. Buddy got a .35 whelen and it was loaded to about the same....no belt, easy gun to have made ( rebore a 760/7600 ).

Just too good a deal. Or just buy a factory version.
 
While my 35 rem is ab old 760.....

Im really not into wood stocks anymore.
Shoulda kept my model 7 stainless w HS stock and rebarreled to
35 rem.

Yeah, not as fast as a pump but man thatd be hard to beat for an all around bad weather timber rifle.
 
1) Elk 6.5 CM
2) Pronghorn Antelope 6.5 CM
3) Sheep and Mountain Goats 6.5 CM
4) Black Bear 6.5 CM
5) Big Bears Whatever the guide advises that I can borrow from my friend who has pretty much everything
6) Mule Deer 6.5 CM
7) Wild (Feral) Hogs I normally use 223, but they aren't hard to kill.
8) Coyotes 223
9) Moose 6.5 CM
10) Black Tail Deer 6.5 CM

White-Tail Deer
1) Straight Wall cartridge (state regulation) I don't know much about straight walls. I guess that 350 legend is supposed to be really good.
2) Muzzle-loader or Shotgun (state regulation) 50 caliber inline traditions w/ Hornady sabot over 100 grains of 777
3) Open country 6.5 CM
4) Woods 243 or 223
5) Mixed terrain 6.5 CM
With the exception of "big bears" which I know nothing about, I picked the rounds that I have that I know will work. I have others, but these are my favorites.
 
I'll answer based on what currently own

1) Elk (Depending on terrain): 8x68S, .300Win, .350 Rem Mag
2) Pronghorn Antelope: .260 Rem or .270Win
3) Sheep and Mountain Goats: .270W
4) Black Bear: 350 Rem MAG
5) Big Bears: 8x68S or .300W
6) Mule Deer: .260Rem, .270, .300W
7) Wild (Feral) Hogs: .223, .260
8) Coyotes: .223, 6mmSLR
9) Moose: 8x68S, .300Win, .350 Rem Mag
10) Black Tail Deer: .260 Rem or .270Win

White-Tail Deer
1) Straight Wall cartridge (state regulation)
2) Muzzle-loader or Shotgun (state regulation) .50 Inline with 3x9 Leupold ML scope
3) Open country .270W or .300M
4) Woods: .260Rem, .350Mag
5) Mixed terrain: .260Rem
 
What would your choices be for the following game species?

1) Elk .30-06, .338 or 8 mauser in a pinch
2) Pronghorn Antelope .243, 25-06, or 270 in a pinch
3) Sheep and Mountain Goats .243, .260, perhaps a 6.5 (glass almost more important than cartridge)
4) Black Bear .308, 30-06, .45-70, maybe a .444
5) Big Bears .30-06, 338, one of the belted .30 carts
6) Mule Deer .270, .280, 7-08, one of the 30s
7) Wild (Feral) Hogs 7.62x39, .30-30, whatever is in the rack in the truck
8) Coyotes .223, 243, one of the 25s or 6mm's
9) Moose .30-06, 338, something belted
10) Black Tail Deer .260, .270, .308

White-Tail Deer
1) Straight Wall cartridge (state regulation) Reflex would be to .444--way overkill for river bottom w/t
2) Muzzle-loader or Shotgun (state regulation) 20ga slug
3) Open country .270, or a .280; a .243 or 6.5 would probably work, too
4) Woods .30-30
5) Mixed terrain .243 or .270, depending on the terrain and the barrel
 
On the first 10 I'll go 30-06 for everything except Coyotes, where I'll take a 223.

Second list I'll go:

1 - 44 Mag
2 - 12 ga slug
3/4/5 - 30-06
 
OK it's a little long sorry. Here are my choices.

1) Elk - 8mm Remington Mag - LH M700 mountain rifle
2) Pronghorn Antelope - 25-06 Remington - Ruger #1
3) Sheep and Goats - 300 WSM - LH Savage stainless synthetic
4) Black Bear - 35 Whelen - Remington 760
5) Big Bears - 375 Ruger - LH Ruger Guide Rifle
6) Mule Deer - 6.5-300 Weatherby - LH Weatherby Mark V
7) Hogs - 45/70 gov - Winchester 1886 light rifle
8) Coyotes - 243 win -LH Browning A or X Bolt
9) Moose - 338-06 A Square - LH Tika T3
10) Black Tail Deer - 6.5 Creedmoor - LH Ruger American

White Tail Deer
1) Straight Wall - 350 Legend - Ruger Ranch Rifle
2) Muzzle Loader / Shotgun - 50 cal Cabela's Hawken or 20 gauge Savage 220
3) Open Country - 7mm Rem Mag - LH Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight
4) Woods - 30/30 Win - Winchester Model 94
5) Mixed Terrain - 308 Win - LH Model 700 BDL

Dang it! Why did I buy a .30-06 when I could have convinced my wife I needed rifles chambered in all of those cartridges instead?! :rofl:

I'm just gonna have to tell her the .30-06 is useless, and I need more species-appropriate rifles. ;) Thanks for idea!
 
Dang it! Why did I buy a .30-06 when I could have convinced my wife I needed rifles chambered in all of those cartridges instead?! :rofl:

I'm just gonna have to tell her the .30-06 is useless, and I need more species-appropriate rifles. ;) Thanks for idea!
Heck yes the 30-06 will do it all, but look at the fun you could have!!!!
I'll help you convince your wife :cool:
You know that THR is filled with a bunch of ENABLERS :)
 
Had to think long and hard about this list. But after racking my brain I thoughtfully submit:

1) Elk. 30-06: 165 gr Accubond
2) Pronghorn Antelope: 30-06: 125 gr BT
3) Sheep and Mountain Goats: 30-06: 125 gr BT
4) Black Bear: 30-06: 165 gr partition
5) Big Bears: 30-06: 220 gr partition
6) Mule Deer: 30-06: 168gr BT
7) Wild (Feral) Hogs 30-06 take your pick
8) Coyotes: 30-06 110 Var
9) Moose: 30-06 180 Accubond
10) Black Tail Deer: 150 gr BT
 
30-06 and for a straight walled round 45-70.

I've only needed to use a shotgun once on deer. I used a Franchi 48L 20 ga. The deer didn't seem to notice he was shot with my upland game bird gun.

Many folks way over think these sorts of things.
 
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