The Most Versatile Rifle Cartridge For Anywhere (Everywhere) In North America Is...

[Mike1234567]

...IMHO, the old .30-06.

After months of research I've decided the old .30-06 is the most versatile rifle cartridge of them all. From 55gr Accelerators for coyote (and home defense) all the way to 250gr bruisers for grizzly bears there's really no other cartridge that has this kind of range. If one HAD to use a rifle cartridge for HD then the 55gr Accelerator will kill any bad guy and the bullets will disintegrate quickly through building materials. The 110gr ballistic point ammo is good for coyotes while the 150gr SP is good for white tail deer. The 180gr SP is good for elk while the 220gr SP is good for black bear. And the 250gr SP is good (enough) for grizzly with good shot placement at close range.

My search for the "most versatile" rifle caliber is finally over. Well, okay, my search for the "no other caliber can claim to be more versatile" search is over.

 

[homers]

The difficult part is finding a gun that can shoot the entire range. One size fits all is difficult when it comes to rifles.

 

[Mike1234567]

For HD I don't need MOA accuracy so the 55gr sabots are fine. If coyotes are close enough then accuracy is still less important but if they're 100+ yards away then I can switch to 110gr ballistic tip. From all I've read nearly all .30-06 rifles with 1:10 twist rifling will be accurate with most any 110gr to 220gr bullets and accurate enough with 55gr and 250gr (short range). I realize the 250gr bullets may begin to tumble due to insufficient twist rate at close range.

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

Hello,

.30-06, 7.62x54R, or 7.92x57JS/8mm Mauser.

I list these because firearms for them are easily obtained as are all weights of bullets for the handloader.

The 7.62x51 may make it in there someplace, but IMO it's right there on the edge due to its shorter case. Bullets at around 200 grains plus just don't have the room needed.

The .303 is also a runner-up, but only because I really don't see rifles chambered for it that often.

Regards,

Josh

 

[Mike1234567]

I don't currently reload and probably never will for .30 cal (.308) so, for me, the old .30-06 wins hands down.

 

[snakeman]

The most versatile rifle cartridge depends on where you live or hunt.

 

[Mike1234567]

^^^ Okay, the "most versatile rifle cartridge for anywhere (everywhere) in north America"!! Original title changed.

 

[Rembrandt]

After months of research I've decided the old .30-06 is the most versatile rifle cartridge of them all.

The late gun writer "Jack O'Conner" just turned over in his grave......

 

[Mike1234567]

^^^ I hope he didn't roll his byootox over onto any sticker weeds.

 

[BCRider]

I dunno.... you can put a lot of meat in the ol' stewpot with a .22. And it's also good for taking care of many common varmints around a farm. And it's cheap to shoot. So cheap that I don't need to bother with reloading. And the rifles and handguns that chamber this round are many and varied but are mostly all fairly light and compact for packing in the bush.

Yep seems like the perfect cartridge to me from where I sit.....

It's nice when we find a gun and cartridge combo that works. But what works for one person's situation isn't always the ideal for another. As the old saying goes you can't lead a horse to water because the grass is always greener on the other side of the tracks.... or something like that....

 

[Mike1234567]

Let's throw some gasoline onto this fire...

I'll bet I could do just fine with a MAX of FOUR firearms in almost ANY bad situation ANYWHERE in north America.

.30-06 rifle
.458 SOCOM rifle suppressed
.22LR rifle w/ 60gr SSS suppressed
9mm pistol

 

[Googleplex]

.510 Kodiak Express. It'll kill anything dead, you just won't have much meat left afterwords.

 

[jmr40]

A few years ago I'd have agreed with you, but the 300 WSM has earned top spot for all around use in my book. I used the 30-06 for everything up until a few years ago when I figured out a 308 rifle could do the same thing, but in a smaller, more convient rifle. All 3 chamberings, 308, 30-06, 300WSM will all do the same thing, it just comes down to how far away they are effective. The 300 WSM beats the 30-06 by a considerable amount, with all the benefits of the 308. But to be honest the 300 WSM only wins if you are a reloader. If limited to factory loads, the 30-06 would still be my #1 pick.

I stumbled on a deal too good to pass up on a used 300 WSM this past summer and it has changed my mind on everything. The WSM cartridges can be loaded into the same compact rifles as the 308. While the 30-06 is good, I can beat it by 300-400 fps depending on bullet weight. Recoil with full power loads are closer to 30-06 levels than 300 Win mag levels and by handloading I can get performance from 308-300 Win mag levels in the same rifle.

BTW, you are overthinking the bullet weight thing. 150's, and 180's are all you will ever need in any 30 cal hunting rifle. Maybe compromise even more and use 165's for everything depending on which bullet your individual rifle shoots more accurately. It is not the bullet weight as much as the construction. Good quality 180 gr bullets will shoot all the way through anything in NA. The Barnes TTSX bullets will do it with 150's.

 

[Caddisflied]

I didn't see a question in the opening post, but.......
If, by versatile, you mean more bullet weight options, then you're probably right.
But something a little faster, with a flatter trajectory might reduce the margin of error in estimating drop,
and retain more energy at longer ranges, which would increase your odds of delivering an effective shot
(in terms of accurately hitting game with a projectile of sufficient energy) at longer distances.
That could be considered an increase in versatility, even if you didn't have as many options in bullet weight.
Of course I'm talking about something in a 7mm with some recoil.

 

[snakeman]

Ok then... I am going to say there are really several that are equally versatile. Smallest to largest. 7mm-08, 280 rem, 308, 7.62x54, 30-06, 8x57 mauser. That said in my locale the most versatile list ranges from 22-250-.257 weatherby.

 

[BrocLuno]

Yeah, I'll play along. Sure the 06 is maybe king, but the 308 and 303 are right there too Any cartridge with similar case capacity and bullet weights will do the job. The 06 has been field tested under the most varying conditions and all sorts of hand loads with power from nuthin to sumthin and then some.

But, it's not my favorite 30 cal to shoot (I do have a few 06 rifles), that honor goes to my Sav 99 in 308. It's a sweet rifle and cartridge combo that's handy to tote and puts enough energy down range to do the job

 

[snakeman]

oops forgot 7.5x55 swiss and 303 british +1 on the 99 in 308

 

[nipprdog]

This might be the first in the history of the interenet, that a the 30-06 has been posted as the best option for HD.

 

[snakeman]

what's wrong with an m1 garand for home defense. Loaded with sierra varminters It shouldn't overpenetrate.

 

[Mike1234567]

While I appreciate everyone's opinions and experiences I simply cannot agree that 150's and 180's are all anyone EVER needs for .30-06. After all, the .30-06 was MADE for 220gr bullets. However, we all know that "too-fast" twist rate is far more forgiving than "too-slow" twist rate.

I, too, like .308 Win... and many other calibers.. but .30-06 has far more "options" that "work well" with "common rifle configurations" than any other "option".

Nothing is "wrong" with other calibers. This is about versatility with what is available in ammo for a given caliber the open market today.

 

[taliv]

mike, dunno if you've shot the sabots or "accelerators" but i'd be surprised if you could hit a coyote with them further than say, 80 yards or so.

 

[Mike1234567]

^^^ From all I've read inaccuracy with the Accelerator cartridges (plastic sabot residue) has to do with not appropriately cleaning the plastic residue out of rifling with acetone or other correct solution.

 

[MuleRyder]

.30-06 yes...everyone I know who hunts has at least one

 

[snakeman]

I hunt a lot and don't have one. But I do have 2 308's, a 22-250, and a 257 weatherby oh and a 30-30

 

[Fullboar1]

While the 30-06 is a great round for me I think you cant beat the 308, if I want to shoot anything with a 200 plus grain bullet at longer ranges I would rather a 300wm, 300wsm, 300rcm, 300rum, 338-06, 338wm, 338wsm, 35whelen, 9.3x62, 375ruger, 375rum ect, sorry if I left out your favorite (my pick is the 9.3x62 because it hits like a truck but is a real pussycat to shoot and easy to reload). For short range heavy stuff IMO you cant beat the 45-70.