What Cartridge for Each Game Species?

[WisBorn]

Had to think long and hard about this list. But after racking my brain I thoughtfully submit:

1) Elk. 30-06: 165 gr Accubond
2) Pronghorn Antelope: 30-06: 125 gr BT
3) Sheep and Mountain Goats: 30-06: 125 gr BT
4) Black Bear: 30-06: 165 gr partition
5) Big Bears: 30-06: 220 gr partition
6) Mule Deer: 30-06: 168gr BT
7) Wild (Feral) Hogs 30-06 take your pick
8) Coyotes: 30-06 110 Var
9) Moose: 30-06 180 Accubond
10) Black Tail Deer: 150 gr BT

I like the idea of different loads from a 30-06 or many other cartridges. The closes I have came to a rifle with good accuracy from multiple loads is my 7mm mag. It will shoot many different types of bullets at 1 1/2" or less at 100 yards. I feel that <1 1/2" from a bolt rifle that I would use out to 400 yards is a good maximum. The primary load I shoot out of my 7mm is sub-moa.

 

[WisBorn]

While my 35 rem is ab old 760.....

Im really not into wood stocks anymore.
Shoulda kept my model 7 stainless w HS stock and rebarreled to
35 rem.

Yeah, not as fast as a pump but man thatd be hard to beat for an all around bad weather timber rifle.

I like how handy the model 7 is if you are going to rebarrel it I would look at 358 win or 350 rem mag for a little more knock down. The 760 in 35rem is such a great classic woods rifle it would be fun to hunt with Both rifles are great woods rifles

 

[Robert]

1) Elk
2) Pronghorn Antelope
3) Sheep and Mountain Goats
4) Black Bear
5) Big Bears
6) Mule Deer
7) Wild (Feral) Hogs
8) Coyotes
9) Moose
10) Black Tail Deer

1,4,5,6,7,9,10: 375 H&H
2,3,8: 308

Those are the rifles I have. For goats or big horn I'd want something with a bit more speed and flat shooting, but I can make the 308 work. I'll never go on a goat or sheep hunt anyway...

And honestly, if I can get to within 400y on a speed goat then i can hit it with my 375.

The 375 is big enough for the biggest brown bear or moose on this planet. But it can be downloaded to 30-06 levels and still works great. I took a small white tail buck withy 375 last year. The 270g TSX bullet opened and actually shaved the hair around the exit hole. Meat damage was next to nothing even though I was using ammo I loaded for elk hunting. One world, one cartridge. 375 H&H.

 

[T.R.]

elk/moose/bear/caribou/bighorn sheep - 300 Savage, .308, or 30-06
all deer - 30-30 or 35 Remington
antelope - .243 or 6.5mm Creedmoor

TR

 

[Chuck R.]

Shoulda kept my model 7 stainless w HS stock and rebarreled to 35 rem.

Yeah, not as fast as a pump but man thatd be hard to beat for an all around bad weather timber rifle.

I've got 2 M7s that I've put in HS stocks (3 total M7s), IF I could, I'd own a truck load of them. Positively my favorite all around hunting rifle, accurate enough for a 300+ yards shot if needed, but nimble enough for walking up game. My 2nd retirement gift to me, will be a custom M7.

 

[H&Hhunter]

.30-06 for everything using 165, 180 or 200 Gr TTSX bullets.

If you need bigger .375 H&H using 270 LRX. World is officially covered. In fact I’d have no worries at all hunting big bears with a .30/06 and premium 200 Gr bullets.

For straight walled/shotgun.
There is no better choice than another pick a cartridge you like. For me it’d be a .45/70 and a 12 Ga slug gun.

 

[Buzznrose]

With the exception of the “big bears” (which I’d only consider large Kodiak’s and coastal browns) and coyotes (which I’d want a round that preserves the hide like a varmint round), the good ole thirty-ought-six will get the job done about as well as any, given proper bullet selection and a shooter who knows the gun.

And an ought-six would work on the others, but a .338 or larger would be a smarter choice for really big bears or Sasquatch size game...

 

[Loyalist Dave]

1) Elk .530 patched round ball from my flintlock (2nd Choice .308 Winchester)
2) Pronghorn Antelope .530 patched round ball from my flintlock (2nd Choice .308 Winchester)
3) Sheep and Mountain Goats too far a shot usually, for the flintlock..... .308 Winchester
4) Black Bear .530 patched round ball from my flintlock (2nd Choice .308 Winchester)

5) Big Bears I would not hunt them, but IF I had to, .358 Winchester. ( I can make cases from all that used .308 brass )

6) Mule Deer .530 patched round ball from my flintlock (2nd Choice .308 Winchester)
7) Wild (Feral) Hogs .530 patched round ball from my flintlock (2nd Choice 7.62 x 39mm in an AR-15 platform)
8) Coyotes .530 patched round ball from my flintlock (2nd Choice 7.62 x 39mm in an AR-15 platform)
9) Moose .530 patched round ball from my flintlock (2nd Choice .308 Winchester)
10) Black Tail Deer .530 patched round ball from my flintlock (2nd Choice .308 Winchester)

White-Tail Deer
1) Straight Wall cartridge (state regulation) .530 patched round ball from my flintlock IF that's allowed, or .350 Legend.
2) Muzzle-loader or Shotgun (state regulation) .530 patched round ball from my flintlock
3) Open country .530 patched round ball from my flintlock
4) Woods .530 patched round ball from my flintlock
5) Mixed terrain .530 patched round ball from my flintlock

Rabbit, Squirrel, upland birds, turkey 20 gauge Caplock, SxS shotgun
Waterfowl 12 Gauge, in an 870

Hmmm..., there seems to be a pattern to my choices.......

LD

 

[DM~]

For a long time now, I have used my 8x57jrs (200 NP's) on everything on that list EXCEPT big bears. I always use AT LEAST a 30-06 loaded with 200NP's on big bears, but the rifle I have for big bear hunts, is a .338-06 loaded with either 275 Speers or 250 NP's...

I refuse to shoot long distance at big bears, so the 275 Speers are matched very good for that cartridge on big animals, it has worked out well and I trust it, even with me, having to go into the thick brush on follow up's...

DM

 

[entropy]

1) Elk

.300 WIn. Mag.

2) Pronghorn Antelope

.300 Win. Mag.

3) Sheep and Mountain Goats

.300 Win. Mag.

4) Black Bear

.30-06

5) Big Bears

.375 H&H Mag.

6) Mule Deer

.30-06

7) Wild (Feral) Hogs

.223 Rem.

8) Coyotes

.223 Rem.

9) Moose

.300 Win. Mag.

10) Black Tail Deer

7mm-08

White-Tail Deer
1) Straight Wall cartridge (state regulation)

.45-70

2) Muzzle-loader or Shotgun (state regulation)

12 ga. 1100 or 870 ,with Hastings cantilever barrel & the slugs that shoot best from that particular barrel.

3) Open country

.223 Rem. I won't take a shot that I can't make an ethical kill with. I also prefer not to hunt open country.

4) Woods

.223 Rem.

5) Mixed terrain

.223 Rem.

Pheasant-

16 ga. , though I have used 12 more.

Grouse-

Same as Pheasant

Woodcock & rabbit, squirrel; 12, 16, 20 & 28 gauges. Used 12 the most, though.

Waterfowl- 12 ga. 3"

Turkey- 12 ga. 3".

 

[marksman13]

I believe I can cover most of this with my Ruger No. 1 collection which would make for some really cool hunting.
1) Elk - Ruger No. 1 in 300 Win Mag. Plenty of punch at extended ranges if needed. Fairly heavy, but not terribly so.
2) Pronghorn Antelope - Ruger No. in 257 Weatherby Magnum.
3) Sheep and Mountain Goats - depending on the terrain/species 257 Weatherby or 300 WM
4) Black Bear - Ruger No. 1 International in 30-06
5) Big Bears - Ruger No. 1 in 300 WM. Perhaps under-gunned by some standards, but plenty of cartridge to kill even big bears if I am able to pick my distance.
6) Mule Deer - Ruger No. 1 in 257 Weatherby Magnum.
7) Wild (Feral) Hogs - 6.8 SPC from my AR with thermal and suppressor. No contest on this one.
8) Coyotes - Ruger No. 1 Varmint in 220 Swift. Torn between this and an AR-15 in 5.56.
9) Moose - Ruger No. 1 in 300 WM.
10) Black Tail Deer - Ruger No. 1 in 250 Savage. Plenty of rifle for the short range shooting I’d expect in the north woods.

White-Tail Deer
1) Straight Wall cartridge (state regulation) - probably gonna be an AR in 450 Bushmaster.
2) Muzzle-loader or Shotgun (state regulation) - Not really into black powder or shotguns, but would probably go with an H&R 20 gauge slug gun.
3) Open country - Ruger No. 1 in 257 Weatherby Magnum. Lightening bolt at any ethical range.
4) Woods - Ruger No. 1 in 257 Roberts or AR in 458 SOCOM. Total opposite ends of the spectrum, but trying to squeeze the 257 Roberts in somewhere.
5) Mixed terrain - Ruger M77 in 6.5x55