Ideal calibers for each species of big game

[Kachok]

I never said the 17 HMR was not enough gun for any species, if you got little 70-120lbs eater hogs running around and you get a clean CNS shot on one he will drop without a doubt, if you were hunting a world record class anamal I for one would grab something much bigger. To be fair the world record hog was killed with a 7-08, but that was a perfect shot behing the ear. I did say to take into account less then ideal shooting angles, like we often run into in the real world where brush blocks shots, and where anamals just won't do what we want them too (raking shots, walking shots, and head on shots). I have known guys to take deer and hogs with a 22LR but they have to hope for an ideal shot to do so. I don't know about you but I have seen many an deer that never gave me an ideal broadside or quartering away shot.

 

[BlackSky]

Javelina, .30-06
Pronghorn, .30-06
Whitetail, .30-06
Mountian Goat, .30-06
Couger/puma,.30-06
Bighorn Sheep, .30-06
Mule Deer, .30-06
Feral hog, .30-06
Black Bear, .30-06
Caribou, .30-06
Elk, .30-06
Moose, .30-06
Bison, .30-06
Brown Bear, .45-70

 

[MCgunner]

Slight alteration

Javelina, .357 Mag
Pronghorn, .257 Roberts
Whitetail, .308 (or my fav, .50 caliber 385 gr great plains bullet in front of 90 grains 777)
Mountian Goat, .257 Roberts
Couger/puma,.357 Mag (or my fav, .50 caliber 385 gr great plains bullet in front of 90 grains 777)
Bighorn Sheep, .257 Roberts
Mule Deer, .308 (or my fav, .50 caliber 385 gr great plains bullet in front of 90 grains 777)
Feral hog, .308 (or my fav, .50 caliber 385 gr great plains bullet in front of 90 grains 777)
Black Bear, .308 (or my fav, .50 caliber 385 gr great plains bullet in front of 90 grains 777)
Caribou, .308
Elk, 7mm Rem Mag (or my fav, .50 caliber 385 gr great plains bullet in front of 90 grains 777)
Moose, .300 Win Mag (or my fav, .50 caliber 385 gr great plains bullet in front of 90 grains 777)
Bison, 7mm Rem Mag (or my fav, .50 caliber 385 gr great plains bullet in front of 90 grains 777)
Brown Bear, .375 H&H Mag (or my fav, .50 caliber 385 gr great plains bullet in front of 90 grains 777 assuming I'm backed up by a guide )

There's way more to life than the .30-06.....just sayin', and .45-70s okay for girls and the recoil shy.

 

[BlackSky]

There's way more to life than the .30-06.

True that there is more but none of it is needed

 

[MCgunner]

but none of it is needed

Sure it is. I don't need no stinkin' .30-06 cause I have a 7 mag. I can make it longer....the shot, that is.

 

[Kachok]

While the 30-06 is perfectly adaquate to game ranging from the little piggies to elk, I would never expect it to be a quick reliable killer for 2,000+lbs anamals (trophy moose, bison, brown bear), far from ideal IMHO yes it can do it, and a 22 hornet can kill a deer, but I would much rather have a more substantial weapon: 9.3x64, 8mm rem mag, 338 win mag, or 375 H&H with heavy premium controled expansion bullets.
The 06 is a fantastic all around gun, running neck and neck with such versitle calibers as the 280 Rem, 6.5x55, and 7mm rem mag, but as I said before no one caliber is ideal for every hunting situaion, you won't see many pronghorn hunters way out west packing a 30-06, because it does not shoot as far or as flat as a 25-06 or 257 and it is a massive overkill even if you can get within range to use it, hence less then ideal, which was the whole purpose of the question.
OK I have spoken my peace the 06 cult can start flaming me now

 

[Loosedhorse]

.45-70s okay for girls and the recoil shy.

45-70 Magnum - Lever Gun Ammo - 500 gr. FMJ-FN (1,625fps/M.E.2,931 ft.lbs.)
45-70 Magnum - Lever Gun Ammo - 430 gr. L.B.T.-L.F.N.(1,925fps/M.E.3,537 ft.lbs.)

540-gr SuperHardCast Hammerhead at 1550-fps
420-gr SuperHardCast Hammerhead at 1850-fps

HSM 45-70 430 gr. 'BEAR LOAD' Velocity: 1781 fps

Man, you've got some tough girls in your neck of the woods!

 

[MCgunner]

Don't mess with Texas girls.

 

[Kachok]

Yeah them souther girls get tough as hell, watched one shoot a featherweight 300 mag the other day without flenching, my kind of woman LOL

 

[tahunua001]

on the list
Javelina, 243 Win
Pronghorn, 243 Win
Whitetail, 243 Win
Mountian Goat, 243 Win
Couger/puma, 243 Win
Bighorn Sheep, 270
Mule Deer, 243 Win
Feral hog, 223/22-250
Black Bear, 30-06
Caribou, 30-06
Elk, 30-06
Moose, 45/70 or 300 WBY Mag
Bison, 45/70 or 300 WBY
Brown Bear, 45/70 or 300 WBY Mag

I would take all of these with a smaller gun if I had the option but since I'm going "ideal" this is what I'd go with.

now for the stuff not on the OPs list
coyote, 223
Wolf, 243
kodiak, 300 WBY Mag or 45/70
blacktail deer, 303 brit or 30-06(just because you have to shoot from a LOONG way off)