The Best Overall Rifle Caliber

[rcmodel]

I'm surprised to see all the 308--30-60 votes. not a great round hear they tend to fall out of the sky at any distance.

Ah!
That must be why the 30-06 won every long range rifle match it entered for about 70 years. And then the .308 took over.

Don't confuse the trajectory of the 30-06 or .308 with shooters lacking rifle shooting skills.

rc

 

[Wickens]

Target shooters and military rifles not the same as hunting. Sorry

 

[CornCod]

As far as "best all-rounder" the .308/7.62NATO may not fulfill all roles perfectly, but nearly all adequately.

 

[Maverick223]

Chose other, because dependant upon the quarry (assuming hunting/survival is the purpose) I would choose either a .22LR, .223Rem., .260Rem., .280Rem., .30-30Win., .375H&H, .45-70Govt. in accordance with my views expressed here. Not reciting the reasoning here because most folks don't want a 500 word post detailing the logic used for the choices, and a brief synopsis wouldn't do them justice.

If I were forced to choose one it would probably be a .45-70Govt. lever gun or perhaps a .30-06 bolt or lever rifle, due to the outstanding versatility of each.

 

[SwampWolf]

If I were forced to choose one

I think that's the gist of it...

 

[rcmodel]

Target shooters and military rifles not the same as hunting. Sorry

May be.
But the four most popular hunting calibers in the U.S.A. according to sales, all started out life as military calibers.
.223, .308, 30-06, and 45-70.

rc

 

[Wickens]

This is fun, as you can see I'm not a big poster. There are things that can drive shooters crazy-- talking about the "best". That said, I own and have taken game with all the calibers you just metioned. This is 2010 and bullets,Powder and optics are much improved and if you reload the sky is the limit. I was hunting with Ron Colburn owner of Savage Rifles this fall and ask him why the 280 Rem wasn't in their line of rifles--you know the answer sales. So I see a forum like this of shooters and it's 308 and 30-06. Young shooters and new shooters read this and what do they buy? There are so many rounds out there- Lets do what our fathers and granfather did move on. If you like recoil and poor performence then settle for 308 or 30-06. That should light up the air waves! Wickens Gunsmithing .com

 

[rcmodel]

Most new shooters would be better shots and harvest more game with .308's & 30-06's they could handle the recoil from, rather then the big Maglem's they can't.

There is also the issue of buying ammo for the Manglem's to practice that cost near twice as much as those two "old" calibers.
And lets not forget barrel life if you actually shoot the rifle a lot.

rc

 

[Chief Engineer]

Not on the list, but I'm going to go with Jack O'Connor on this one,(only because I own one and agree) the 375 H&H.

 

[Wickens]

Rcmodel you've missed the point 308's 06's are everywhere mostly on used rifle racks. Let's move on new flatter shooting less recoil rounds they are more fun. I rebarrel a lot of those off the used rack-- to 280 280imp. 25-06 270 257imp.----------------

 

[Geno]

The .30-06 Sprg will secure any big game in the lower 48. It produces consistently accurate groups, and has a wide variety of loads available.

Geno

 

[rcmodel]

308's 06's are everywhere mostly on used rifle racks.

Well, maybe.
But around here, I see a lot of almost new 7mm & .300 Magnums on the used gun racks too.

Folks buy them and then find out all that noise & recoil ain't something they are willing to deal with.

rc

 

[Maverick223]

Well, maybe.
But around here, I see a lot of almost new 7mm & .300 Magnums on the used gun racks too.

Folks buy them and then find out all that noise & recoil ain't something they are willing to deal with.

Amen, the magnum cartridge has its place, but that isn't for hunting anything but the largest of game. That said, I love buying the used magnums because typically they have only been shot a few times (often less than a box), then sit, mostly untouched, in the back of the safe for a few years, before they are finally sold...so they can be a great deal.

 

[Wickens]

I can see by your number of posts that you need to have the last word, so-Magnums have there place maybe not in KS. Mt maybe Do you see any MAGNUMS on my list? I guess the first one-- Thats only for MT.

 

[IdahoLT1]

I voted .308. The .30-06 is a good round, but it won't kill an animal more dead. The .308 can kill any animal in N. America. Some cartridges will do the same at longer ranges. It tends to be more accurate than the 06 and can be used for varmints. Mil surplus ammo for plinking or paper punching is a big plus. There's a lot of self defense rounds available for it as well. You also save on weight going with a short action.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Rcmodel you've missed the point 308's 06's are everywhere mostly on used rifle racks. Let's move on new flatter shooting less recoil rounds they are more fun. I rebarrel a lot of those off the used rack-- to 280 280imp. 25-06 270 257imp.----------------

less recoil slightly

Flatter shooting....not really

Posted by Krochus

All of the below cartridges properly ZERO'd will not fall outside an 8" kill zone point blanking it for a 300yd shot. Beyond 300 it doesn't mater what cartridge you use you HAVE to know the ballistics and range at which point energy starts to become a primary factor

243 win/ 100grn Hornady BTSP- ------4.90" (deer load)
25-06/ 100grn Federal Nosler B-tip ----5.0" (deer load)
260 rem/ 100grn Federal B-tip-------- -6.18" (deer load)
270win/ 100grn Federal Barnes TSX----5.28" (deer load)
7mm08/ 120grn Nosler B-tip-----------6.52" (deer load)
308win/ 125grn Nosler B-tip-----------6.27" (deer load)
30-06/ 150grn Federal Nosler B-tip-----6.36" (deer load)

There's a whopping 1.6" difference across the widest points above in terms of trajectory for the list above. You might miss bambi for a lot of reasons but I'll darn near guarantee you it won't be cause of the difference in trajectory

 

[375shooter]

I pick the 30-06. Accurate. Ammo and components are readily available. Wide selection of bullet weights. Suitable for all North American game. Recoil is moderate. Trajectory is good enough for most situations. Rifle can be built light. Long barrel life.

 

[Wickens]

Not sure what a deer load is--100gr. 270-125gr.308---nice try with the paper punching. Meaningless data to make a point. I live and hunt the real world. Here a 300 yd. shot is very common and I know for most hunting in the US. this isn't true. I would just love to see the rifle manufactures and ammo manufactures get to try some new things but this little survey shows me if that is what sells and that's what they will build.

 

[SW28fan]

On sheer versitility as a hunting round the 9.3x62 the only deer through Elephant cartridge.
However since I am unlikely to face a Cape Buffalo or Kodiak bear where I hunt a 308 or something else in the same power range works for me.

 

[Scooter_209]

Have to go with the best cartridge out there in my view which is the 7x57 Mauser. Nothing else needed except for grizzlies.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Not sure what a deer load is--100gr. 270-125gr.308---nice try with the paper punching. Meaningless data to make a point. I live and hunt the real world. Here a 300 yd. shot is very common

Those are the flattest shooting loads for the cartridges listed suitable for deer. Now please enlighten me in the context of hunting as to what exactly a 280 improved or a 257roberts improved will do at the rather short range of 300yds a 308 or 30-06 wont.

Look I have and do own rifles chambered for cartridges such as you speak and while neat I'm not going to kid myself into believing they do a darn thing that a cartridge you can buy ammo for at less than $20 a box at wally world doesn't do just as well. Which is pretty much limited to going BANG and putting a hole in something however far away.

I'll go ahead and answer this for ya. Not a darn thing! other than to make your wallet a bit lighter. You take your fancy boutique cartridge and I'll take a good ol 06 and I assure you the critters I kill won't be any less dead

Meaningless data to make a point. I live and hunt the real world.

Vs what hunting in the fantasy world. I dunow perhaps 280imp is better suited for unicorn hunting

I know for most hunting in the US. this isn't true.

You'd be surprised

 

[nwilliams]

IMO it's hard to beat the .308

 

[wankerjake]

Look I have and do own rifles chambered for cartridges such as you speak and while neat I'm not going to kid myself into believing they do a darn thing that a cartridge you can buy ammo for at less than $20 a box at wally world doesn't do just as well. Which is pretty much limited to going BANG and putting a hole in something however far away.

I'll go ahead and answer this for ya. Not a darn thing! other than to make your wallet a bit lighter. You take your fancy boutique cartridge and I'll take a good ol 06 and I assure you the critters I kill won't be any less dead

That's why the 30-06 got my vote!

 

[Maverick223]

Wickens, I just can't help but notice that all of your aforementioned cartridges have poor BCs and light bullets, save for the .280s. Forget about flat shooting, elevation is simple, tell me about how do those .25s do in the wind at distance.

 

[BHP FAN]

.308.