How many calibers

357 mag
41 mag
12 ga. #6 shot ( white tail)
223
243
6.5X55
270
7X57
7mm08
7mm rem mag.
7.5X55 swiss
30/30
308
30-06
300 win mag
7.7 jap
8X57
338 mag
35 whelen
45/70
45 cal. muzzle loader
50 cal muzzle loader
 
Last edited:
For small game, mainly upland birds including waterfowl I use 12ga, 20ga, 28ga and have shot quite a few grouse with dad's 410. For big game and varmints I've used .25-06, .308, .300 Win Mag, .300 WSM and have recently aquired a .220 Swift that I'll use for wolves and groundhogs. :D
 
7x57 or .270 WSM

Other than that, I think the grand ole 7 is up to most any task in adequately skilled hands, right Bell?
Click to expand...
:)

For those who don't understand the reference to Bell:
Wikipedia: The 7x57mm can offer very good penetrating ability due to a fast twist rate that enables it to fire long, heavy bullets with a high sectional density. This made it popular in Africa, where it was used on animals up to and including elephants, for which it was particularly favoured by noted ivory hunter W. D. M. Bell, who shot 1,011 elephants using a 7x57mm rifle, when most ivory hunters were using larger-caliber rifles.
Click to expand...
Good point, and that is pretty much my opinion, too. I wouldn't want to pursue brown bear or lions or tigers with it, but after all the other big game rifles, the 7X57 is the one I kept, the others are gone.
Click to expand...

If I didn't have a nice 7x57, I'd buy a .270 WSM as my one-for-all rifle. Why? It only needs a 60cm (23,6") barrel to develop all it's potential, has moderate recoil for it's performance and reaches looong and hits hard.
 
"Beware of the fella with ONE gun!"
Click to expand...

A very good rule to follow. However... "Beware of the fella with one cartridge" doesn't ring so true. My grandfather owns 6(?) .30-06 rifles. Some are Ackley Improved, some are not; most are Springfields. He is always shooting an '06, but changes rifles so often it really hurts his consistency.
 
I've mostly used just two rifles for my deer hunting: A Weatherby '06 with a 26" barrel, and a Sako .243 with a 19" barrel. Both have the same length of pull and quite similar near-perfect triggers. So, with either, when I throw down on Bambi it's sorta like being all married up with an old pair of comfortable shoes. "It just fits right."
 
It may be I am getting older, but I started out with a $25.00 surplus British 303, remember the good old days when you could order one out of a magazine. and have it shipped to you. killed several Deer with it. Then went to the 3006. Now I’m back down to the 3030 . or 270. I read a few years back a saying that I think stands true today, The 3006 is not the best choice for anything, but works well on anything
 
I have to tell you God can not take a joke. I went out for opening day of Turkey season and on the way there hit an Elk. The poor thing got spun around and hit the bed, kind of ruined the first day of the hunt.

100_2050.jpg

100_2051.jpg
 
Big Game (whitetail and larger)
223wssm (legal where I live)
243win
257BOB
260 rem
270win
30-30
300 savage
30-06
7mm rem mag
300wsm
300win mag
300rum
325wsm
338win mag

Small Game (coyote and smaller)
17hmr
22
22mag
223
22-250
223wssm
243
 
Sadly the elk was destroyed on both sides. I did not even try to get a salvage permit. Hopefully I can get out for my "new" first day of the turkey season this upcoming week.
 
300 gr muzzy,
12 ga slug
12 ga 00 buck
.357 rem mag in handgun
.270 win
7mm rem mag
30-30 win
30-06
.50 ML
Toyota Corola
 
well lets see

.243
.270
7.62X39
.303
.30-06
muzzle loadin .50 cal

Havent used all of them but have been present... and had to make cleanup shots with the .270 for some of them.
 
Only for big game (as the OP said)

I've taken Pronghorn (Antelope), Mule Deer and Elk with...

30-06 Spring. - All three
444 Marlin - Muleys and Elk
Recurve bow (not a gun, I know but...) - Muleys
 
223
22-250
243
6mm rem
25-06
270
7mm rem mag
308 win
30-06
300 wby
338 win mag
Smallest "big game" being antelope. flyboy
 
This last elk is costing me $5,700.00 and counting. The part that hurts the worse is I did not get to recover any meat.:(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top