Best all around Calibre

[labgrade]

If it was varmits - .223 or .22-250.

Just regular ol' deer/antelope - .243

anything kinda in here - 7-08

Long range antelope, sheep, etc. - .270

Long(er) range deer, elk, etc. - .30-06

Got 'em all & a few besides, but the gent did ask "hunting (deer mostly) and plinking"

That's why I said .308 first 'cause it does deer (all of 'em & frankly anything else). & it is very suitable for plinking due to cheap surplus (except for .223, there's not much out there cheaper than .308 surplus) + if you reload, you about quadruple your choices & if you cast - shoot the moon for plinkin' fodder. Downloaded/cast bullet .308s are superb for small game as well.

(& a .22LR)

 

[pinetree]

Let me start off by stating I own an 30-06AI, however, if I were starting over I'd look at a lightweight 308. That being said, I must state that the 30-06 is a better all-around cartridge. Why? Though the off the shelf 30-06 only gives the shooter 100 more fps and an inch at 300 yards, It can shoot heavier bullets better. You said all-around - what about bear - I'd rather have a 200g or a 220g Hawk in my gun than a 180. The big bullets really eat into case volume.


tjg

 

[sjones]

I'll keep my rem 7600 in 308,thank you. It will shoot under an inch at 100 yards. Depending on the bullets I can shoot everything from praire dogs to elk and moose. As to bear,if I use 180 grain nosler partitions,then I'm not to worried about them either.I can always stick in one of my ten round mags and put out some firepower,almost as fast as a semi. sj

 

[H&Hhunter]

.375 H&H (enough said)

 

[Leafy]

Which ever one (other than maybe the .223) that your father-in-law, Dad, Grandpa, whoever you hunt with says is best. All will kill deer dead as door nails and for the average hunter supply adequate ballistics. If it doesn't matter to the deer might as well please the people who are taking you hunting. I might be cynical but atleast I'm honest.

 

[Melvin-Purvis]

.308...only because...

It's just so easy to find on the cheap, even for the "good stuff", both plinker and hunting...

Mind you, I love my .06 Garand and Win mdl. 70...but I still think the .308 beats um hands down when bought by the case...

.223? Love um too...priced right by the case, flat shooting, low recoil..

Never ever be without a good .22 though....sweet in any book!

My choice for all around...308 of course, bolt, lever, and autoloader...

 

[Hal]

.30 caliber--whatever the cartridge.

Other, simply because,,,and I'm really only picking a nit here,, a .30/06, .308 and .300 are all basicly the same caliber.

Even though I own a .30/06, I'd say someone starting off today would be far better off with a .308 as a cartridge for all the reasons listed so far.