Best rifle caliber around?

[maniak]

voted .308, but ...

I probably shoot more 7.62x39.

I feel like the .308 is the better hunting round (white-tail deer). But the 7.62x39 (through a mini-30) is handy and fun and plenty good enough for coyote.

 

[Old judge creek]

30-06 got my vote but I've settled on 308'as most practical for me in the lower 48.

 

[Chevelle SS]

8mm because I love Mausers

 

[Big JJ]

The versatility of the 308 is why I consider it to be the best all around caliber.
I am a hunter and I reload. It gives the ability to load hot, average and slower rounds.
I can load 55 grain bullets (with sabots) and go up to 220 grain bullets and everything in between.
This gives me a very good coyote rifle, a fantastic deer, pig and bear rifle.
I know a lot of guys that have 3 rifles for these different types of hunting.
I only need one because of the versatility.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Other, 30 mm.

Because.....well, why not?

 

[blkbrd666]

.22 LR because it is suitable for everything from jack rabbits to large African game like elephant and rhino.

I REALLY thought you were going to say, ".22lr because ammo is so cheap and plentiful".

 

[lefteyedom]

300 Win Mag, because it is everything people think the 30-06.

 

[Teachu2]

It's hard to argue against the .30-06 or .308, but I've hunted with a .22-250 far more than even a .22lr. Then again, the vast majority of my hunting is varminting - squirrels, skunks, and coyotes. I could use .223 for much of that, but like the extra oomph of the .22-250.

Now if my area supported big game, my answer might change.

Looking at my long guns, I have (3) .22lr, (2) .223, (1) .308, and (4) .22-250. Guess that says something about favorites.

 

[gobysky]

I voted for the .223 since it best fulfills my needs right now. However, I still like the 308 based on the above given reasons.

 

[Water-Man]

6.5x55 SE

 

[raindog]

7.62x54R - it's the only 30-cal I can still afford to shoot...

 

[Eb1]

I like the .25-06, but in all reality and my logic for a centerfire rifle, I would have to say the .30-06 is probably the best go to round that has ever been. Predictable and tried bullet drop, accepts all powders from medium burn to slow burning. Loads 110 to 220 grain bullets. Plenty of oomph out to 1000 yards. It is just an awesome caliber. I like all rifles, but sometimes classics are just that, a classic for a reason.


Most practical and useful rifle would be the .22 LR. You just can't beat having a .22 LR with you when in the woods. And with a good scope, knowledge of bullet drop, a .22 LR is very lethal and accurate to 100 yards. My model 60 shoots on average 1.25" with Winchester Xpert bulk ammo at 100 yards.

 

[frank c]

270 cal.

 

[Cee Zee]

Best for me is the 30.06 because they have ammo that ranges from 220 gr. to 125 gr. with ballistics like a 7.62 x 39. That's a wide range and not many calibers can match that variety in off the shelf ammo.

 

[Pete D.]

Best caliber? I am guessing .30 since three of the six choices of cartridges are 308s and a number of suggestions about other cartridges are also thirty caliber.
Pete.

 

[dirtyjim]

375h&h it's big enough for anything on the planet and it's small enough for anything on the planet and the recoil is mild.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Um... of those listed, for cartridge, I'd say .30-06 for the reasons given by others--it's versatility. Just from commercially available stuff, you can purchase low recoil rounds, varmint rounds, long range rounds, mid-sized game rounds, and big game rounds. (These "categories" are subjective, yes, but just illustrating the point) To be honest, it will do everything that the others listed will do just as well (except MAYBE .223... Probably can't be loaded down to that level), but the opposite isn't true. This is one theory.

The other theory is to go with a medium caliber that can go towards smaller game without completely obliterating it, and that can go towards very large came with perfect shots. This would be something like .223, .22-250, .243, or .25-06, amongst others, too. The .30-06 can take anything from varmints and up. These would take anything except the extremes... squirrels on one end, and something like Bison on the other.

 

[MARKMALL]

270 Win

If I could only have one rifle to hunt with, it would be a 270.

 

[firesky101]

.308 caliber encompasses many amazing cartridges including several others on your list, so thats how I voted. I somehow think you meant .308 Winchester, but I prefer it my way.

 

[303tom]

vote for your favorite caliber rifle and tell us why its the best?

With just four calibers to vote on, it`s not a very large selection, sure leaves a lot of good cal. rds. out..............