What one caliber for North America?

[BlackSky]

To preface this post, I don't hunt very much. I would like to but just haven't been able to make it a priority with life always getting in the way. In the past when I've been on hunts I've used .243, .303, .308 and 30-30. I currently do not have a hunting rifle and will be getting one soon.

My goal here is to identify just one caliber that would be appropriate for most North American big game and at ranges from 50 yards out to 300 yards. I'm not super recoil sensitive so I don't mind a rifle that lets you know you fired something. That being said, I don't want to get into the crazy large calibers because I'd like to avoid something where the recoil is going send me to rehab after 20 rounds at the range sighting it in and I don't want to end up paying ridiculously huge amounts of money for a box of ammo.

I can foresee hunting trips in the future for Black & White tail deer, Mule deer, Black and Brown bear, Elk, Caribou, Moose, Mountain lion and Boar. My next trip, this October, will be for Mule deer and Mountain lion.

I've pretty much fallen in love with the Browning X Bolt Hunter after fondeling the one at my local shop today. Below are the calibers available for the X Bolt Hunter. Do you guys see any caliber on the list that would be that great "magic" all around, all purpose North American big game round?


243 Win.
7mm-08 Rem.
308 Win.
25-06 Rem.
270 Win.
280 Rem.
30-06 Spfld.
7mm Rem. Mag.
300 Win. Mag.
338 Win. Mag.
300 WSM
270 WSM
7mm WSM
325 WSM
223 Rem.
22-250 Rem.

 

[monwa]

Your list includes many good choices.

I'm just partial to 30 '06 for all of your listed possible uses.

The versatility, affordability, availability and other itties are all covered with 30 '06 I think.

I hope you get to realize these hunts and good luck to you.

 

[saturno_v]

This is the fiirst thread on the topic....

The choice is obvious...30-06.

From 55 gr. sabot zipper, through 110 gr. varmint bullet for very flat shooting , 150 gr. deer slayers up to 240 gr. bone busters.....

 

[joeq]

I would definitely pick the 30-06. It is a very versatile cartridge.

 

[LeontheProfessional]

30-06.

 

[OpenSights]

I have a nice "brush" Savage 30-30 my Dad gave me. It has killed many deer! Though I wouldn't really want to use more than 150 yards. I've been looking into getting a 30-06 when funds come around.

I have a long range rifle project in the works of the 7.62x54r flavor. Don't know of it's capability yet. Going to take it for a test fire this weekend. Hoping It will work out to 300+. Not to good with a scope myself though, Irons are better for long range IMO.

 

[Grumulkin]

For all the species you may hunt at ranges up to 300 yards (i.e., deer to brown bear), I would pick the 300 Win. Mag. though the 30/06 would do it as well. The 300 Win. Mag. is flatter shooting and a bit better on handling heavy bullets than the 30/06 though 30/06 ammo is cheaper.

I see 22-250 on you list. Were you really considering using that on brown bear? As for the short magnums; forget about them. They're no better than older cartridges of the same caliber, are more expensive and, should your ammo be lost on a trip by air, will be much harder to find a replacement for than more established chamberings. The way I see it, there was no reason for the short magnums other than marketing.

 

[RebelRabbi]

30-06

 

[Leaky Waders]

If you don't reload - 30'06.

If you do reload....30'06!

 

[W.E.G.]

http://www.chuckhawks.com/optimum_30_rifle_cartridge.htm

 

[Old Shooter]

Did anyone mention 30.06 yet?

All your choices look good but for your uses I would forget the .223 and .22-250, both good cartridges but not what you will be going for.

Did I say I recommend 30.06 yet?

 

[ChuteTheMall]

There ain't nothing a man can't fix
with $700 and a .30-06.


Lindy Cooper?

 

[a-sheepdog]

I would say 30-06 Springfield even though my most used rifle is my 7mm Rem Mag. I have always like the 06, it is a very versatile round.

 

[saturno_v]

Just to add to my previous short comment.....the versatility of the 30-06 it's just incredible either if you reload or not....every gun shop in this continent is going to have a box of 30-06 available....and commercial offerings go from exotic bullets and loads $50+ a box to cheap Winchester or Remington SP at $15 a box (under $10 before the "ammo crisis") at Wal Mart.

No other cartridge can even come close...from prairie dogs to elephants the 30-06 has done it all...

IMHO the "essential" gun stable in North America is a 22 Rifle, a lever action rifle (either 30-30 or 45-70) a 30-06 rifle and a 12 ga. pump shotgun.

 

[Art Eatman]

I've been loading for the '06 since 1950. But in an off-the-rack rifle for somebody who's not a handloader, the .308 will do just as well.

FWIW, since my legs cheated on me and went sorta weaker, I've gone to a Remington 700 Ti in 7mm08. But the basic load for it is only 10 grains less bullet weight than the usual 150-grain .308 load. No serious difference in recoil. I've found at the benchrest with that 6.5-pound package, recoil is not a problem.

 

[kyle1974]

I've never understood why someone who can theoretically afford to hunt ALL animals in north america can only afford a single gun....

 

[7.62 Nato]

Let me say first, whichever caliber you choose, practice with it to know its and your capabilities. Now having said that, ummm, .308 !

 

[chas08]

I've never understood why someone who can theoretically afford to hunt ALL animals in north america can only afford a single gun....

Well, it's not so much true any more. But a few generations back, my Fathers and Grandfathers generations specifically. They only owned one Centerfire Rifle, One Shotgun, and One Rimfire (.22) and if you would have invited my Dad and Grandfather to hunt Grizzly Bear they would have brought their only centerfire rifle. In my Dads case, a .270 Win. and in my Grandfathers, a 30/30Win. In either case I would have really hated to have been a Grizzly Bear. If I had to trim mine down to three, I'd take the .270 bolt action, the 12ga pump and a .22lr semi auto.

 

[TehK1w1]

30-06...
308 and 270win, 280 rem, 7mm mag, would all kinda tie for second IMO.

 

[jeepmor]

.270 in lower 48

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

I'm going to buck the trend and say 30-06.

 

[Hani Pasha]

I would personally prefer a .243, but that is because I'm more used to it. I find it to be a very adequate round for everything, except perhaps brown bears.

 

[jbkebert]

My vote would be for the .270 win or a .300 win mag. Either rifle is fully capable and no matter what people say. They don't kick all that bad.

 

[Brad5192]

30-06

 

[oneounceload]

Except for the big Brown bears, I'll be different and say 7mag - shoots flatter at longer ranges than the 30-06 and a 160 Partition or 175 will do the job on everything on your list.