Jack O and FirstFreedom
+1
Glockopop
Is there anything (outside of Africa) that I can't hunt with a .308?
Absolutely...
Jaguar, Grizzly, Polar Bears... and even pissed-off Black Bears
If it's dangerous... get something heftier.
Even the 30-06 is not the best choice for these critters...
The 8mm Mag (or .325WSM) and .338, and .375 would be better and all three are excellent for Elk as well.
Rifle types each fill a specific purpose...
"Tacticool" is not the best for Big Game hunting...
Browning makes a really "cool" lever (BLR) in the .300WSM and 30-06 for elk/moose sized animals and down. And of course they make it in the 30-06
SHORT...
Also, carefully consider why the bolt action is the most numerous hunting rifle.
After you get a good hunting gun (30-06
)
then go for the tactical weapon.
NOTE: If the military (& NATO) had not needed a shorter round for automatic weapons... the 30-06
SHORT would never have become popular in the market and possibly never mass produced... It wasn't a necessity.
When I look at .270, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm-08 and even the .308...
I can't help but wonder...
WHY?
I can see making it bigger-better like the .35 Whelen etc.
But there is
very little, if anything, to be gained from downsizing the bullet mass. (Maybe for those who are recoil sensitive?) The 25-06 is a possible exception because it is the best .25 caliber, bar none, and it fills a niche that isn't adequately filled by others...
They are all
children of the 30-06 which will easily perform as well or better...
If you gotta move a few tons of hay bails you would ask the big brother for help
first and then maybe you'd ask the little brother... But one of them will get the job done quicker and better.
I would apologize and say this is MHO...
But, how can I be humble when my opinion is soooo right?
If the 30-06 ain't broke...don't fix it!"