Favorite Big Game Rifle Caliber?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Favorite Big Game Rifle Caliber?

Posted: 7/9/2002 6:18:05 PM EDT

What is your favorite big game rifle hunting caliber? For white-tails I like the .308 WIN and for even bigger critters I like the .300 WIN Magnum. This is not say I don't have or shoot other calibers it's just these two are my favorites. CRC

Posted: 7/9/2002 6:20:06 PM EDT

[#1]

7mm Rem Mag and with the muzzle brake I can stun the stuff I miss (and the guys I hunt with).

Posted: 7/9/2002 6:20:13 PM EDT

[#2]

Edited because I didn't see the poll...

Ryan

Posted: 7/9/2002 6:30:15 PM EDT

[#3]

Marlin .444

Posted: 7/9/2002 7:02:30 PM EDT

[#4]

.375 H&H

There is no such thing as overkill, dead is dead!

I had a guy at the range ask me, after I hit the 220 yrd. gong, off hand at 300 yrds. three times consecutively, what do you hunt with that?

To which I replied, anything that walks the earth.

Posted: 7/9/2002 7:06:07 PM EDT

[#5]

Rem 700 BDL 7mm mag.

Posted: 7/9/2002 7:06:19 PM EDT

[#6]

.30-06 Springfield. I'm an old school type of guy. It is a very versatile round. It can be loaded in numerous configurations and will take any game in North America. It's not quite as forgiving when it comes to range estimations as some of the belted magnum loads that shoot flatter. I prefer to practice and know the distance that I'm shooting.

Posted: 7/9/2002 7:07:53 PM EDT

[#7]

AR10er beat me to it.

The Original Magnum, .375 H&H.

An oldie, but a goodie which has killed virtually everything on the planet at one time or another.

Great plinking rifle as well!

Posted: 7/9/2002 7:55:14 PM EDT

[#8]

The 30-06 gets my vote. It has a wide variety of loads for it and the caliber has been around so long that is has been refined to perfection. I find the 150 gr loads very potent on whitetails. If I want elk, I just get heavier bullets. And ammo is easy to find for it. Any store you walk into will usually have it stocked.

I have no problem with the larger magnum rounds, but I find that the 30-06 is about as much as I can comfortably shoot without discomfort effecting my shots. I figure the 30-06 that hits where I aim is better than a 300 Win Mag that misses because I flinch. The ol' 30-06 will take anything that I can expect to hunt in my area...and do it well.

Posted: 7/9/2002 8:04:06 PM EDT

[#9]

.375 H&H "big game"

Posted: 7/9/2002 8:05:51 PM EDT

[#10]

For hunting big game when it counts I'll use a .300WM for up to buffalo. 180 and 200 grain Trophy Bonded Bearclaws.

From buffs up a new .458 Lott will be completed in a few months. 500 grain Speer steel-core Penetrator solids at 2150 ft/sec.

Prior to the Lott I've used a .375H&H. 300 grain Trophy Bonded Bearclaws and Sledgehammer solids.

Posted: 7/9/2002 8:13:23 PM EDT

[#11]

.30-06 Spfld. for the reasons stated very well by Sukebe and Charging_Handle. As I am an avid hunter, I have killed many, many critters with it.

Posted: 7/9/2002 8:13:30 PM EDT

[#12]

.375 H&H Magnum

It's the ONE.

In the meantime, I'll settle for my Remington 700 BDL in 7mm Rem.Mag.!!!

A Remington 700 BDL-SS .375 H&H is in my future...

Posted: 7/9/2002 11:02:12 PM EDT

[#13]

7x57 Mauser. 5 shots, 5 kills.

Posted: 7/9/2002 11:17:42 PM EDT

[#14]

I must concur: .375 H&H Magnum

Posted: 7/9/2002 11:21:51 PM EDT

[#15]

Old Roy's first cartridge!! .270 Wby Mag. Hits harder than the 7mm Mag. Use 150 grain Nosler.

Posted: 7/10/2002 7:05:00 AM EDT

[#16]

7mm mag. But I've been reading about the .270wsm, 7mmwsm and the .300wsm (wsm=Winchester Short Magnum) it's a shorter fatter round that kicks ass as much if not more than the regular magnum cartridge, the .300wsm was ammo of the year last year so they added the .270 and 7mm to the WSM family. Has anyone tried these rounds yet? It's definately making me think twice about what rifle get since the rifle for the round is lighter and a bit shorter. Ooops kinda veered there, but 7mm for me.

Posted: 7/10/2002 8:50:08 AM EDT

[#17]

.308. It's a light, efficient cartridge, cheap to load and comfortable to shoot compared to the big powder sucking magnums. It's effective on big game out to most folks effective killing range-around 300yds.
Now if you meant big dangerous game-I'll take the .458WinMag.

Posted: 7/10/2002 10:01:41 AM EDT

[#18]

.300 win mag is my favorite. 180 grain Nosler Ballistic tips for whitetails and the like, The Original Nosler Partition Bullets for anything bigger/tougher

Although My first rifle, And still my most accurate shooting, is chambered in .280 remington. It has taken more deer than the plague.

Posted: 7/10/2002 12:43:07 PM EDT

[#19]

Make mine a 300 Weatherby.It's better than a 30-06 and has a slight advantage over the 300 Winchester.For big and dangerous game I'd go with the 460 Weatherby.I've shot the 460 and talk about kicking like a mule!!!

Posted: 7/10/2002 12:53:10 PM EDT

[#20]

I kinda like the 35 Rem.

Tony

Posted: 7/10/2002 1:02:49 PM EDT

[#21]

.338 Win Mag

Very accurate out to distance and packs a huge punch for all sorts of large game.

For smaller game, my favorite is the tried and true 30-06.

Posted: 7/10/2002 1:14:27 PM EDT

[#22]

My choice is either a 7 Mag or .300 Win Mag

For deer hunting, .30-06 or a .270

Posted: 7/10/2002 1:18:59 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
For big game I'd want a caliber that would be sure to take the animal down quickly with good bullet placement. A 45/70 would be my choice for most game here in the U.S.

I shot an eight point 2 years ago with a 45/70. Went right through his lungs(he was broad side at 60 yards). Much to my suprise, he ran some 350 yards. Bullet did not expand...the entrance hole was same size as exit...300gr softpoint...remington green/yeller box. Apparently this was a poor choice of bullets on my part.

I have since set up to reload this round, anyone know of a bullet that should expand on deer sized game in this caliber? I generally have no problem with bullet placement, just need the bullet to do its part.

Posted: 7/10/2002 2:18:32 PM EDT

[#24]

I've recently been converted to the Swedish 6.5x55mm round. Easy on the shoulder, accurate, and due to its sectional density, penetrates extremely well. It really is a fantastic round-something the Scandinavians have known for years. 30-06 is my second best choice.

Posted: 7/10/2002 10:21:00 PM EDT

[#25]

7 mm rem mag for me. Via a Browning A-Bolt II composite stalker topped by a Leupold vari-x III 4.5-14x50. Not too many things in north America I could not hunt with that setup. Not too much recoil and gets the job done.

Posted: 7/10/2002 10:30:13 PM EDT

[#26]

What does rhinocerous taste like?

Posted: 7/10/2002 10:43:07 PM EDT

[#27]

Velocity:
I picked up a Browning A-Bolt II in 300WSM. I've only shot it a little and I think that it's a little overated. It shoots groups as good as you can expect out of a Browning. I haven't taken any critters with it yet, but here in WI there will be plenty of oppurtunity to shoot all the "chronic wasting disease" deer this fall. This thing has some pretty good recoil even compared to the regular 300 Win. Also, I'm still not sure why they only put a 23" pipe on it.
-GM

Posted: 7/10/2002 11:06:31 PM EDT

[#28]

I like my Ruger #1 Tropical Model in .416 Rigby. I haven't blasted any critters with it yet, but I am sure it won't be pretty when I do. I use 325 gr. Barnes X-Bullets, and Hornady 400 gr. F.M.J. The 400 gr load uses 105 gr. of IMR-7828, and will do an inch at 100 yds. Thats good enough for me.

P.S. everyone knows that Rhino tastes like Chicken.

Posted: 7/11/2002 8:48:35 AM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:
Quoted:
What does rhinocerous taste like?

Awww...please don't hurt the rhino. They have enough problems with the poor eyesight and all.

On the other hand, I have to admire anyone with the nards to stand still and shoot a charging rhino. If they miss, or if the rifle misfires, or if their shot doesn't do it job, they are going to die a very unpleasant death.

Ummm...one of the guys in my hunting club took a rhino with a PISTOL. A .454 Casull at about 0.0 range. Has is on film too. CraZeee!!...

Posted: 7/11/2002 9:29:40 AM EDT

[#30]

338-378 Kugla-khan for long range stuff

416 Taylor for up close and personal.

Hack

Posted: 7/11/2002 9:44:26 AM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
Velocity:
I picked up a Browning A-Bolt II in 300WSM. I've only shot it a little and I think that it's a little overated. It shoots groups as good as you can expect out of a Browning -GM

I could not disagree more. I think the browning A-bolt is the most underrated bolt action on the market. If you are building a bolt gun the 700 is the way to go simply for parts availability. For my taste the feel and layout of the Browning, fit and finish, quality of machining it is the best. The stock trigger on mine breaks like a glass rod at 3 pounds (a bit heavy, but it is a hunting rifle not a bench gun). With my quality optic setup, handloads and the BOSS tuned I have shot many 1/3 MOA groups. Three shot groups at 100 yards that are completely covered with a dime with 140gr, 150gr, and 168gr. I have also shot a number of factory loads, 153gr hornady, 150gr winchester, 150gr federal, all of which have been 1/2 MOA after adjusting the BOSS a bit.

Sorry to hear you are not completely satisfied with your Browning, I don't know what you have for mounts/scope, but you may want to check that out if you are not getting the accuracy you want. Also you can adjust the trigger with the adjustment screw in on the bottom of the trigger group so it is not as heavy. Good luck.

Posted: 7/11/2002 9:57:25 AM EDT

[#32]

What! Steyr .376 not mentioned? Heh

Posted: 7/11/2002 12:10:51 PM EDT

[#33]

308 for practice (cause its cheap!)

50 BMG for hunting (varmints too)!

Posted: 7/11/2002 1:33:55 PM EDT

[#34]

I like using my Ruger 10/22 for Elk hunting.

Really gets yer heart racin' when they start charging you...

Posted: 7/12/2002 12:35:47 AM EDT

[#35]

As mentioned, the greatest of all time would have to be the .375 H&H Magnum.

My personal favorite is the .300 H&H Magnum.
Pre 64 Model 70.

Shot very many whitetails with 150 grain bullets.
I have made some amazing long range shots with this combination.

I like to use 180 grain bullets for elk.

Great moose caliber with 220 grain bullets.

Everything that I have shot with the .300 H&H
has gone straight down, deader than a doornail.

Posted: 7/12/2002 3:35:51 AM EDT

[#36]

I second the 6.5x55. A friend did a one-shot kill on a Canadian black bear with the 156 grain Norma RN factory. Mach 1 is correct: The Swede does not kill at both ends, is inherently accurate, and has the downrange juice to get the job done.

At the upper end I like the 35 Whelen and 45-70, but anything I hunt can be handled with the 6.5 Swede, varmints to caribou.

Noah

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Favorite Big Game Rifle Caliber?

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