Top Five Cartridges for Medium sized to Large Game?

[WisBorn]

Each year new cartridges come out to entice hunters and shooters. At the same time a few older cartridges fall off the manufacturers list of available rounds.

With the new cartridges gun writers come out with their list of 5 cartridges for hunting. Now its your turn. Your list of course can include old and new. Cartridges that you have tried and ones that you would like to try!

Have fun deciding!!!!

 

[FL-NC]

Here's a list of what I have and use: 243, 6.5 CM, 30-40 Krag (shot a deer with my carbine last year, just because), 308, 300 BLK, 223. I don't know which one is the "best", because they all have killed deer easily. I guess the "worst" would be the 30-40- not that there is anything wrong with the round or the gun, only because the ammo is hard to find and pricey.

 

[Captcurt]

For anything bigger than mule deer I would choose 7mm Mag, 30-06, 300 Mag or 300WSM, and 338 Mag. Ammo is found nearly anywhere and can handle anything that I would hunt in North America. If Africa was in the works there would be a 375 H&H.

 

[Patocazador]

Even though I seldom use the caliber, .30-06 satisfies all the requirements for North American game except the big bears.
I have killed both elk and moose with a 7x57 AI as well as 13 plains game animals in Africa.

As everyone keeps harping rightly, bullet placement is what is important along with a well-constructed bullet.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I'm a .30 guy so would likely stick with 30-30 for short range brush work, .308, 30-06, and 300WM if I need more umph.
Add a .223 in there and I'm likely good at at my 5.

 

[Chuck R.]

I'm limited for anything over "deer" sized game.

On Elk I've used and still have: .300WM, 8x68S and .350 Rem Mag.

I've used the .300WM on open country mulies and have developed a 200 grn load for the .350 that's mildly faster than the .358W for pigs and whitetails from stands. My "all-around" pick for anything in the lower 48 is the .300WM, when handloading it's a very versatile cartridge.

One cartridge I'd like to try is the 325WSM, it just about duplicates the 8x68s, but in a short action.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I have yet to be persuaded that .30-06 is not the most versatile medium and large game cartridge. Factory ammo is available from flat-shooting high-BC 150 gr boat tail antelope loads to the 220 gr elk smashers I like to use. Handloading gives an even wider range of performance- 100 gr small game "plinkers" to 250 gr sectional density studs that can mimic African greats like the .318 Westley Richards.

 

[Duster340]

I'm boring. For my hunting purposes:

303
30-06
303
30-06
303

Not necessarily in that order...lol.

 

[jmr40]

On the bottom end 223 could be used for deer sized game. I've taken deer with the round but it isn't my 1st choice. But it is cheap to shoot, no recoil, and can also be used for varmints and in an AR for SD.

For bigger stuff 375, and I'd choose the Ruger version over the classic 375 H&H. Either of the 375's can take the biggest game on earth, yet are versatile enough to still be viable for game as small as deer and at ranges of 300+ yards.

In between it is purely personal choice. Most of the cartridges 26-30 caliber will cleanly take any game animal in North America. None of the cartridges over 30 and under 375 offer any real advantage. If a 308, 30-06, or 300 magnum won't kill it, I'm skipping straight to 375.

What do I use:

I've owned just about everything from 223 to 35 Whelen including most of the 30 and 7mm magnums. But have purged the safe in recent years of the stuff I don't need.

In addition to the 223's I have several 308's that have become my go-to rifles. I still have a 30-06, but haven't used it in years. I still think it is the most versatile round, but 308 comes close enough in a lighter, more compact rifle with less recoil.

To be perfectly honest that is all that I NEED. I've also picked up a 6.5 CM. I like the round and it lives up to the hype. It's just that I like the 308 rifles I have better and still tend to reach for those when hunting. The 6.5 is shot a lot at the range though.

Nothing magic about those cartridges though. I could do the same things with at least a dozen others and won't argue with anyone who prefers something else.

If I were into real long range hunting I'd buy one of the fast 7mm's.

Top 2 for me

223
308

Just for fun

6.5 CM

And while I don't own or currently need either. If I were going to 5 I'd add

375 Ruger
7mm RM.

 

[.308 Norma]

I'm a .30 guy so would likely stick with 30-30 for short range brush work, .308, 30-06, and 300WM if I need more umph.
Add a .223 in there and I'm likely good at at my 5.

That's me, except of course for my beloved .308 Norma Mag - the ballistic twin of the .300 Win Mag. I did stray from my 30 calibers to a .338 Win Mag for mule deer and elk for a few seasons. The .338 Win Mag worked very well, but no better than either of the .300 Win Mags I had. And to be honest, I've never really done any better with my 30 caliber magnums than I did with my old 30-06. My .308 Norma is my custom built retirement rifle though, so of course I like it best. Besides, nobody says you have to hotrod a 30 caliber magnum just because you can.
I prefer my .22-250 over a .223 for my fifth choice too. Nothing against the .223 though - it's a fine coyote and rockchuck round. And relatively inexpensive .223 ammo is readily available - at least it used to be.
BTW, I've been saying for a while now that I'm hoping to buy a .257 Weatherby for antelope (pronghorns) and mule deer. I'm still hoping. But if and when I do buy it, it won't be because I figure I really need it. I just want a .257 Weatherby, and until our well crapped out a couple of months ago, we had enough disposable income this year to buy one. As it stands now, I'll probably be hunting mule deer with my .308 Norma Mag again this year. And I didn't draw a pronghorn tag anyway, darn it!

 

[AK Hunter]

I own a lot of rifles calibers capable of taking down deer like .308, 6.5 CM, 7.62x54r, 7.62x39, 5.56, .300 BLK, 350 Legend. But the only ones I can use on the public land that I hunt is the 350 Legend & the .300 BLK in a pistol.

 

[Mr. Hill]

.308 Winchester
.30-06 Springfield
.270 Winchester
7mm-08
I’d like to try one of the WSMs for elk someday, a guy at elk camp uses them with excellent one shot success

 

[Meeks36]

35 or 303 is all that is needed.

 

[EIB0879]

30-06
.308 Win.
.30-30
.270
.300 Wby.

That's my top five.

 

[mcb]

Grew up in Ohio that was slug only until the year I moved south. Since moving to a state were I could use a rifle for deer I have used the following rifle cartridges

270 Win (one deer)
44 Magnum (no deer yet)
300 Blackout (no deer yet but a heap of armadillos)
450 Bushmaster (one deer, and made messes of several armadillos and a raccoon)
30 Remington AR (no deer yet but I got my first Bobcat with it)

Honorable mentions 10mm Auto in a revolver (two deer same morning seconds apart)

If I was to add another cartridge I would love to find an old Remington 8 or 81 in 35 Remington. Given where I hunt I think that would be a fun gun to try.

 

[PonyKiller]

I'll bite,
I have a 12 gauge,w/ slug barrel that can handle most.
50 cal traditions muzzle loader
30/30 win 94
308 spanish mauser
And a p14 enfield in 303.
I've got 4/5 that will do 5/5.
In the end I'd like 1 more in 7mm08 or 6.5 cm as a hunt

 

[courtgreene]

I’ll make a list, chambering-if I have one- why I listed it. If I have one performance may be involved in the reasoning.

1. 6.5CM -I don’t have one- I hate fads, but the more I read about them the less I think this will be a fad. The cartridge seems to take the best ideas of short magnums or other short fat cases, and put them in an accurate but mild cartridge. If I wasn’t awash in other rifles I’d have one.
2. 8x57mm js mauser - have one - it’s very versatile and under rated in the USA, but it gets the job done well. It’s also chambered in mausers and I love mausers. So that’s more of a personal reason that isn’t universally applicable. As a hunting load, though, it lays the hammer down and doesn’t hit ME as hard as an 06. It feels softer to me than a .308, but that’s probably the rifle, not the chambering. Oh, and speaking of the .308…
3. .308win - have two- it doesn’t do anything the 8mm doesn’t also do, but it’s remarkably efficient and seems to hit above its weight class.
4. .243- I do not have one- I debated between this and 7mm-08 for this slot. I went with this guy because it’s so mild to shoot. It’s great for those who are recoil shy, and is perhaps even better for those who are not, and want to remain that way. It’s quite flat shooting and like the .308win puts the lights out quickly. I’ve shot one enough to know that it’s a very good round, and perfect for its role.
5. .300wsm- I have one of these- this isn’t my favorite round in practice, but on paper it is (in my opinion) the perfect American hunting cartridge. It uses powder very little compared to the speed/power that it produces, shoots a large range of projectiles well, and does all of this from shorter barrels than it’s competitors. The fat case takes up a lot of magazine room which detracts from its usefulness somewhat, but that’s never been a problem in my experience.

You may have noticed that most of these (all but two really) are the same class. I guess I just like the mid-range stuff. Even the magnum is the softer shooting flavor. I suppose I love hunting effectively but don’t love shoulder damage. I’ve never really thought too much about it until making this list.

 

[Choctaw]

These are the calibers that work for me on Texas deer and hogs:

45 Colt
10mm
270
308
54 caliber traditional muzzleloader

 

[Space Ghost]

In the Indiana woods you need not shoot long distance,
I also have a thing for old calibers,
but sometimes you want pin point accuracy at range...

12 gage
.44 mag
.303 British
7mm Mauser.
.243

 

[WisBorn]

These are the calibers that work for me on Texas deer and hogs:

45 Colt
10mm
270
308
54 caliber traditional muzzleloader

Flintlock or cap?

 

[Choctaw]

Flintlock or cap?

Well, both of course.

 

[WisBorn]

My list has shifted over the years with the introduction of different cartridges in the past 20 years or so.

Starting with the big guys - I like what I read about the 375 Ruger. This would replace rhe 458 win, 416 rem, and 375 h&h. Thanks @LoonWulf and @WrongHanded and others for sharing your 375 experience.

The mid sized mag - I'll stick with the 8mm Rem Mag. Craig Boddington's writing about this cartridge has stuck with me.
Someday I will spend the cash on a custom rifle in the cartridge.

The workhorse mag - The 300 wsm is a super choice and covers the 7 & 30 caliber mags. I feel that the recoil is manageable and will cover anything that standard 06 cartridge can plus.

All around cartridge - 308 win the cartridge to start with and stick with. For deer hunters just buy one and fill up the pickup bed with venison.

Reach out and touch it cartridge - 6.5-300 Weatherby. With more and more high BC bullets in 6.5 why not one that goes 3500.
This cartridge would be awesome for antelope and bean field whitetails were a 400 yard shot would be more common.

I didn't leave room for a woods walk deer rifle (as a honorable mention)- I would go with 45/70. This also makes a great camp rifle and hike cartridge in big bear country!

Yes - my 7mm rem mag is not on the list. I think the 300 wsm is a better cartridge.

The 308 win will do 99% of what the 30-06 will do. I still love the 30-06 but would recommend the 308 for its available short action rifles.

The 30-30 will always be my favorite woods rifle but the 45/70 has it hands down in big bear country.

 

[LoonWulf]

.223/5.56
Theres nothing Ill ever hunt here I couldnt and wouldnt comfortably off with a .223.

6.5 Creedmoor
More capable on heavy medium game than the .243 i would other wise choose.

7mm Remington Magnum
My favorite cartridge of all time. Theres nothing that Id rather have, short of my .375, were I hunting a place ive never been, and game ive never taken.

30-06
About the top of what most people can shoot comfortably, with a better selection of bullets/weights than even the 7mm Remington.

.375 Ruger
Pretty much the heaviest "general" purpose cartridge you're going to cram into a standard length action, and I like it.....

 

[Bwana John]

.257 Roberts
7mm Mauser
30-06
338 Win Mag
375 H&H Mag

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Each year new cartridges come out to entice hunters and shooters. At the same time a few older cartridges fall off the manufacturers list of available rounds.

With the new cartridges gun writers come out with their list of 5 cartridges for hunting. Now its your turn. Your list of course can include old and new. Cartridges that you have tried and ones that you would like to try!

Have fun deciding!!!!

Here's what I SEE in my area as the five most popular
6.5 Creedmore
.308 Winchester
.30-06 Springfield
.338 Winchester Magnum
.45-70 Government

Here are the five that I'd suggest based on my personal preferences..,
.270 Winchester Venerable deer slayer with moderate recoil, and moderate trajectory
.350 Legend in my area we have locations where only straight walled rifle cartridges are allowed for deer. Come as bolt-actions as well as AR platforms
.243 Winchester A "best kept secret" for deer, and if one does not have a straight-wall restriction, this I'd choose over the .350 legend. Light recoil; very accurate. Great for aged shoulders.
.308 Winchester Very widely available, lots and lots of bullet choices and used in a medium action
.358 Winchester A bigger version of the .308 Win for the folks that want more umpf but still in a medium action
.35 Whelen An old elk load based on the .30-06, not a belted magnum, and new .35 caliber bullets has brought this one back!

LD