One caliber/gun...for North America?

[MadHatter]

Originally Posted by dclifton

22-250 ear hole em all.

LOL..


300 winnie is just hard to beat period.

30-06 would also be tough to beat although it gets no love nowadays.

It's just not cool to say 30-06 anymore .

[freerhunter16]

The .22 cal guys make me scratch my head. I don’t think anyone here would argue that a .22 to the brain will kill anything walking the earth.

However, if I’m on a 7 day grizzly hunt that cost me $20K+ to go on, I want a weapon that is going to give me the best opportunity to kill him if given the opportunity. I’m not passing up a good shot opportunity because I can only shoot him in the ear or no where at all.

[bphillips]

Originally Posted by Tom

I have been there as well and I do agree bears are soft for the most part. Soft from the side when you are hunting them. A brown bear up close head on and maybe a .270 is not the best gun at that moment!

With the right bullet selection it’s still no issue. Most people forget the bullet construction matters way more than the caliber

[MadHatter]

Originally Posted by bphillips

With the right bullet selection it’s still no issue. Most people forget the bullet construction matters way more than the caliber

Yep.
I would take a Barnes or similar out of a 270 over a core lokt out of a 300 any day.
Generally speaking though, nowadays good bullets are a dime a dozen.

[Raypo]

Originally Posted by MadHatter

Yeah, I don’t remember any prairie dogs in their books .
I'm pretty sure a .577 NE round weighs more than a prairie dog .

LOL. For sure

[rfroese]

Originally Posted by Dale Moser

Shooting livestock that you hand feed is not really an apt comparison to killing a wild elk at 250 yds....let alone a brown bear.


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Yeah because I said that it is a good comparison... I was just making a point that a bullet put it the right spot will kill.

Forums sometimes wear me out..

[rfroese]

Originally Posted by freerhunter16

The .22 cal guys make me scratch my head. I don’t think anyone here would argue that a .22 to the brain will kill anything walking the earth.

However, if I’m on a 7 day grizzly hunt that cost me $20K+ to go on, I want a weapon that is going to give me the best opportunity to kill him if given the opportunity. I’m not passing up a good shot opportunity because I can only shoot him in the ear or no where at all.

Did you read any of the thread? See any of the pictures?

Not saying I would take a 223 on a hunt like that but I mean seriously, people kill elk with recurves... The North American bison was almost wiped out with far lesser equipment than what we have now. The Indians used to hunt them with primitive bows.

[freerhunter16]

Originally Posted by rfroese

Did you read any of the thread? See any of the pictures?

Not saying I would take a 223 on a hunt like that but I mean seriously, people kill elk with recurves... The North American bison was almost wiped out with far lesser equipment than what we have now. The Indians used to hunt them with primitive bows.

They hunted with primitive bows because that’s all they had available to them. What percentage of those bison shot do you think were one shot ethical kills?

My point is, with everything available today, if you had to choose ONE gun to hunt any animal in NA that you might get an opportunity to hunt... why not choose one that would give you the highest rate of success?

[rfroese]

Originally Posted by freerhunter16

They hunted with primitive bows because that’s all they had available to them. What percentage of those bison shot do you think were one shot ethical kills?

My point is, with everything available today, if you had to choose ONE gun to hunt any animal in NA that you might get an opportunity to hunt... why not choose one that would give you the highest rate of success?

Would you say people who hunt with recurves are unethical then? I hunt with a compound bow now, much lower rate of success than a 223. Does that make me unethical?

If ones success rate with a 223 is 100% then is it even possible to have a higher rate of success?

I believe shot placement and bullet design matters far more than caliber does. I have met plenty of people who buy a 30-06 and can’t shoot it for crap because they are recoil shy. I think that causes far more unethical shots and unrecovered animals than someone using a smaller caliber. For the record, my success rate hunting whitetail with my 223 is 100%. Never lost an animal I have shot with it. I actually have lost a boat I shot in the shoulder with a 270. Ran off on it’s hind legs and it’s front legs drug on the ground. No blood trail either.

[Dale Moser]

Originally Posted by rfroese

Forums sometimes wear me out..

I can see why...


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[rfroese]

Originally Posted by Dale Moser

I can see why...


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Because people always try to “put words in your mouth?”

You would think on a forum where you can actually read what people say that there wouldn’t be so much of that going on.

[kruppa24]

My .270 is my go to gun. Probably wouldn’t be the best choice for elk, but I would be confident in it.

[bboswell]

Still amazes me how many folks don’t know the difference between caliber and chambering!

[rfroese]

Originally Posted by bboswell

Still amazes me how many folks don’t know the difference between caliber and chambering!

You trying say the difference between caliber and cartridge? Most people just use the word caliber. Guess it’s kind of like the clip vs magazine debate.

[bboswell]

Originally Posted by rfroese

You trying say the difference between caliber and cartridge? Most people just use the word caliber. Guess it’s kind of like the clip vs magazine debate.

I’m just saying a 30 carbine and 300 RUM are the same caliber but hardly share the same application.

[rfroese]

Originally Posted by bboswell

I’m just saying a 30 carbine and 300 RUM are the same caliber but hardly share the same application.

Yes sir I understand. I could have used better wording. I will agree with you there.

[bowfishtank401]

I would say 270/30.06/300win mag take you pick although 300 win mag is the best all around cartridge 270/30.06 are going to have more variety and availability


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[SabineHunter]

300 win mag, 180 gr corelokt

[Bear Charge]

30.06

[skipetex]

Originally Posted by savage1134

Am I crazy. 280

Nope not at all. IMO the best all around caliber there is.

[Raypo]

Some of you are just crazy and would argue with a wall. I love you all but some of you are just simply trolls.

[ren087]

.270

[gfulton]

.300 win mag.

[JFFB]

270 wsm.

[fishman]

280 Ackley

[Hurricanebow]

Based on what the pundits say, theoretically a .338 win mag might be the best. It can be loaded up for bear and big critters or down for smaller game. I don’t own any .338’s. I do, however, own .300 win mags that I am very comfortable, confident and proficient with. They too can be loaded up or down to handle most any situation. I would probably opt for a .300 win mag because it is what I know.

[Hotrodd]

450 Bushmaster for all shots under 250 yds! Everything I have shot with mine drops like a sack of taters!

Although I really like a 7mm REM Mag though. And my 25-06 and my 30-06 and my .270 and my .300 Win Mag and my...............................

[Black Ice]

Originally Posted by freerhunter16

Meat loss has much more to do with bullet selection than cartridge used. A .300 win mag with a Barnes (or any other bonded bullet) will destroy less meat than a .25-06, .270 etc. with a soft bullet.

I shot a doe with my new 25/06 this week and there was hole I could stick my head through lol.

.300 win mag for me


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[Texas89]

.300 win mag. So many old choices. Except for dangerous game I wouldn’t hesitate to hunt anything with it


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[Deadfall65]

300 WM


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[bryan sandlin]

.270 I have never liked explosive pass thru.

[rferg84]

Originally Posted by Hotrodd

450 Bushmaster for all shots under 250 yds! Everything I have shot with mine drops like a sack of taters!

Although I really like a 7mm REM Mag though. And my 25-06 and my 30-06 and my .270 and my .300 Win Mag and my...............................

I'll almost say .45/70 because it'll do it all, under 150 yards.

[BrianL]

Originally Posted by Arrowthreat

300 WM no doubt. There's always "my buddy dropped a grizzly with a .243 guy".

But you never get to hear the. " I shot ol griz with my trusty 243, but then that sucker ate me......."

[lordvader]

It would be the 30 06 for me. It is a true and time tested cartridge. And it will dispatch any and all big game in North America, including the big bears.

[HCGedge3]

7mag

[TxBowHntr]

Originally Posted by Ksig512

7-08 with the proper pills will tackle anything in North America. Heck , the 30-30 is a popular bear gun in the north east.

I am pretty sure that there was a series where the host did exactly this but with a .30-30 lever gun. I think it was with Mossberg's 464. Not the greatest show, but a pretty cool premise. How many hunter's overthink what is needed for hunting? I know I am one, but when it comes down to it, almost any of the tried and true calibers would do the job and do it well. My personal favorite is the 7mm-08, at least here in the Greatest State of All: Texas, but I think I would opt for the .30-06 if I had to choose a 1 for all caliber. There are just so many variations of ammo available, without needing any hand loading done.

[diamond10x]

.270 or .30-06

I have both but would probably lean to .270 just cause it’s a bit flatter on average.

[bowmansdad]

300 ROY for North American game. Texas, the 25-06 is a stone cold killer but I use my 300 ROY because the 25 tears them up too bad, a bloody mess!

[James Ligon]

30.06

[jer_james]

I’m still going .270 for distance, and less carnage on the smaller stuff. .300 Weatherby is attractive as well though.

[Txhorns7]

300 Win Mag. Plenty of options on loads and will kill anything in North America

[ATI]

A lot of Power Mongers on here. Shot placement and a .270 will be sufficient for North America, but just so I don't fall behind, I suggest a 50 Caliber

[Balcones_Walker]

Originally Posted by bowmansdad

I use my 300 ROY because the 25 tears them up too bad, a bloody mess!

Are you referring to your shoulder? I still wince thinking about the kick on that 1970s Mark V.

Nobody is as accurate with a big magnum as they are with a medium cartridge. 280ai / 7 mag are right in the sweet spot in between.

[Bdub25]

.270 Win

[Jkbow]

30-06

[youngbuck1]

300 win mag. Green and yellow box. Availability and accurate.

[meltingfeather]

7mm-08 for me
Badger to nilgai so far

[SwampBuck]

Wouldn’t hesitate to go 30/06

[Headhunter]

280 Ackley or 6.5 prc.

[Calrob]

My old Rem. pump .270.... its too easy to chamber another round and get the kill shot!! .270 will and for me has done it all.