.308

[nathan]

If the Brit hunters were using .303 s in Africa in the early part of 20th century killing elephants and other wild game then .308s are quite adequate in today's standard. Even the Rhodesians were using FALs to cull elephants back in the days.

We hear so much ads that one needs to have a biigger calber when whats important is shot placement.

 

[X-Rap]

Yes and before the 303's there was black powder rifles and muskets and they were also adequate The difference between adequate and ideal is what we are talking about.

 

[exbiologist]

This seems as good a place to bing this up as any, but it used to be that the man with one gun knew how to use it. Nowadays, and without exception, the guys with one centerfire rifle that I know are the ones who don't know a lick about them. I'm talking odds here and there may be exceptions to what I'm saying, but chances are if you own one rifle, you aren't that into rifles. Therefore you choose not to shoot that gun enough, probably don't handload, and therefore only tend to have vague ideas at best about your rifle's capabilities.
That being said, of course the .308 will do you just fine. But I just wanted to put in my piece about "the man with one gun". I'm afraid of guys with one gun, not because they don't know how to use it, but because it seems the opposite is true these days.

 

[Guiding101]

I have to agree with many above me, the .308 will do the job. I am willing to bet more large animals have been killed with a .22lr than any other caliber. I remember a friend that I guided with for years used to talk about a problem brown bear at a camp in Alaska that was shot and killed by the "little old lady" who owned the land with a .22 mag out of a revolver. That said, for large bear I would "prefer" a larger caliber, but I would not hesitate to do the job with the .308. The .30-06 is another awsome do it all gun in my opinion. I own an arsenal that would give the US army pause, but I can appreciate the one gun scenario. If I could only have one centerfire rifle....I would go with either the .308 for factory ammo availability, or the 35 Whelen. The 35 has been without a doubt my favorite weapon since I received as a gift from a client of mine 12 years ago. Since then I have purchased several more.