How many calibers

P

pilothunter

Moderator
I've read what seems like a lot of "experts" opinions on a LOT of calibers for big game hunting. My question is this.. How many different calibers have you actually "used" to collect big game vs what you "think" you really know..???

(Sorry, my number is 18)

.257 Roberts, 7/08, 7x57, .280, .270, .300 Sav., .308, 30/06, .300WSM, .300SAUM, 8x57JS, .338 Fed., 356 Win, .358 Win, .35 Whelen, .350 RM, .44 mag, .50 cal ML,
 
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10 calibers

.243 win
.270 win
7mm (7x57 7mm08)
.308 (30-30,30-06)
.35 Rem
9mm Luger
45 (muzzleloader 45-70)
50 muzzleloader
20 ga slug
12 ga slug
Ten calibers.
 
30.06 and well 22 LR, unfortuanately none of my other calibers have had the oppurtunity to take game, as my 30.06 seems to always be in my hand when game is spotted.
 
Having been a trader for over 40 yrs. I've shot many things with many firearms. One thing is certain, they will all kill something.

I've used many calibers and don't "think" except for how to use them for their capacity. Knowledge comes with experience.
 
.17 HMR.,222 Rem.,223 Rem., 22-250 Rem.,250-3000 7x30 Waters,7mm Rem. Mag.,30-30 Win.,308 Win,30-06 Gov.,40-70 Sharps Straight,45-70 Gov.,36,45,50,54 cal M/L's. I've only taken animals with rifles but have a small armies worth of pistols.
 
Hi all,

I've used 3 cartridges to harvest big game. 303, 3006, and 338wm.

My current goto is the 338 and I shoot everything in North America with it.
 
.22" - 22lr
7mm - 280, 7x57
270
.3" - 30/30, 300 WM
12G
20G

9 different long guns with 6 different calibers in 8 different cartridges.
 
30-06, 270, 7.62x39, 380acp, 9mm, 40 cal, 45acp for large game. Lots more different cal-ga's for small game.

masterhunter F-350
Click to expand...
It seems every time I take a trip to Colorado with my F350 I hit something. To date a deer, an elk, several birds, large and small, on the last trip we were lucky enough to just miss a bear. I think I am going to buy a CO hunting license for my truck.
 
small game:

.177 air, .22 air, .17 HMR, 22 LR, 22 mag, .221 fireball, .222 rem, .223 rem, .22-250, .220 swift, .22 hornet, .218 bee, 6mm TCU, 7mm TCU, 243 win, 260 rem, 7mm-08, .308 win, .270 win, .30-06, .30-30, .35 rem, 300 WBY mag, .45-70, .410 bore, 20 ga, 16 ga, 12 ga, .28spl, .357 mag, .41 mag, 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 Long colt, .45 acp, .44 spl, .44 mag

Big game: .243 win, .260 rem, 7mm-08, .308, .30-06, 12 GA
 
Not caliber savvy...
total I can remember...
.410 extensive use
.22 lr extensive use
20 gauge extensive use
12 gauge extensive use
.30-30 quite a bit of use
.30-06 some use
.308 a few rounds fired.
several pistol rounds of a total under 5,000 rounds combined.
Brent
 
My list is pretty short for big game:

12 ga with slugs - deer
30-06 - deer
bow - deer (I know a bow is not a caliber...)


I am 0 for 9,000 on elk with any weapon, but this year......
 
To answer the OP question. I have killed most of my big bucks with a 250 grain Hornady XTP out of a 50 caliber Hawken sidelock, about 1800 FPS. Splat.
I've also killed several with a bow, several with 00 buck, several with a 30/06, several with a 280, several with a 300 WBY.
I've killed elk with the 30/06 and 280.

Although I'm sure you could kill them with something smaller, I never saw the point.
 
Big Game?

17 HMR.,
Click to expand...
?!?!?

Is that legal? Wise?

Me: Deer -.243 WIN, 30/30, .270 WIN, .30-06....... mostly .270 WIN...

Nebraska considers Turkey as "Big Game" ...... 12-24 lbs is not "big" to me, but it allows them to charge more $$$$ for a permit that way .... 12 guage.
 
Short list

Deer: 12 ga slug, 105 gr .243, 140 gr 7X57, 130 gr 270 WSM, 50 lb recurve bow

Elk: 150 gr 7X57

Prairie dog: 103 gr 7X57

Dove, ducks, crows, rabbit: 20 ga, mostly, some 12 ga, also.
 
Hmm...
Calibers:
Rifle
.172 (coyotes, small game)
.224 (coyotes, small game)
.243 (foxes, coyotes, deer)
.277 (coyotes, deer)
.284 (coyotes, deer, bear, elk, antelope, buffalo)
.452 (still working on bloodying this one)
Handgun
.22 (small game, furbearers)
.312 (small game, coyotes)
.357 (small game, coyotes, javalina)
.452 (still working on bloodying this one, too)
ETA-.40 Forgot about a couple of javalinas I shot with a .40 S&W.
Archery
2213 Easton alumimum arrows tipped with various broadheads (deer, javalina, antelope, bobcat, small game)

Daryl
.
 
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How many calibers? What kind of a question is that? Caliber refers to the bore diameter, so that should cut down on how much space it takes to respond. If you mean cartridges or chamberings, then:
22 Hornet
223 Rem/5.56X45mm NATO (actually harvested the most dangerous animals with this one)
219 Zipper
22-250
243 Win
6mm Rem
6.5-06
7mm BR
7X57mm
7mm Rem Mag
7.35 Terni
30-30 Win
308 Win
30-06
300 H&H
32-20
8X57mm
8mm Rem Mag
338 Win Mag
9.3X57mm
375 H&H
11X60mm Mauser
450 NE #2
44 Mag
45 ACP
I guess it's a few, but it's not finished because I am still working on expanding my list.

I have also seen many more animals harvested using lots of other chamberings, but that's my list.

But I don't need to kill an animal with a certain cartridge to know whether or not it will kill it, just like I don't need to actually drive a Ferrari Testarossa to know it will go really fast, but the experience is exhilirating.
 
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