zombie0hour
New member
Is their a single rifle cartridge that can take down all North American game such as deer,elk,moose and bear with-in reason?
The Ultimate Rifle Cartridge For Hunting
- Thread starter zombie0hour
- Start date
zombie0hour
New member
Thank you so much! I have been studying different cartridges because i am going to make a big investment into my trusty hunting rifle.
centershot
New member
If I were looking for only one caliber flexible enough to hunt anything and everything in North America, I would select the 30-06 without reservation! It's alittle big for woodchucks, and it might be a little light for the big bears, but it'll do a pretty fair job on either one! And anything in between!
centershot
centershot
30.06 for sure. But I garuntee you could take any of those with a .270 with good shot placement. The .270 is a good round. But if I was close to the bear I would be hesitent to shoot. It is a bit light for a grizzly or something like that but my .270 has taken a couple moose without a problem.
Firepower!
New member
7x57
After reading tons of articles and discussing (here and else where), I have come to a conclusion that 7mm Mauser or 7x57 is the ultimate package.
If it can bring down elephants, it can bring down any game in Americas.
Its recoil is pleasent.
Unfortunately, folks feel some sort of pride in carrying a BIG caliber and assume that answers all the question. However, that is not where truth is. Shot placement it utmost important factor and a decent caliber will do the job for you.
I have previously floated questions regarding 7x57 here, and from 'experienced' hunters I learned a great deal about this cartridge. I am convinced that if I ever had to keep one hunting rifle it will be 7x57 not the 06s or Magnums.
After reading tons of articles and discussing (here and else where), I have come to a conclusion that 7mm Mauser or 7x57 is the ultimate package.
If it can bring down elephants, it can bring down any game in Americas.
Its recoil is pleasent.
Unfortunately, folks feel some sort of pride in carrying a BIG caliber and assume that answers all the question. However, that is not where truth is. Shot placement it utmost important factor and a decent caliber will do the job for you.
I have previously floated questions regarding 7x57 here, and from 'experienced' hunters I learned a great deal about this cartridge. I am convinced that if I ever had to keep one hunting rifle it will be 7x57 not the 06s or Magnums.
Kreyzhorse
New member
As mentioned, 30.06 is great choice but a .308, 7mm Rem Mag, .270, or even a 45-70 Gov't are all good choices for North America.
The 45-70 though wouldn't be my first choice due to its ballastics. In my opinion, it's a 150 yard gun. Not that it isn't accurate at further ranges, but with the bullet drop at that point, there are much better cartridges available. I bought a Ruger 45-70 a couple of years ago and it is a fun gun to hunt with and in the hills of Kentucky, its became my go to deer gun.
The 45-70 though wouldn't be my first choice due to its ballastics. In my opinion, it's a 150 yard gun. Not that it isn't accurate at further ranges, but with the bullet drop at that point, there are much better cartridges available. I bought a Ruger 45-70 a couple of years ago and it is a fun gun to hunt with and in the hills of Kentucky, its became my go to deer gun.
Hanloader special but the .338-06 would be a strong canidate. I've got load data for 160 grain to 250 grain bullets of course these are MAX loads and I haven't tried them all in my rifle yet and I'm not too interested in the lighter than 200 grain bullets due to their low BC and SD but here are some figures for you.
Barnes bullets:
160 grain MV 3100 fps
185 grain MV 3000 fps
Hornady bullets:
200 grain MV 2900 fps
250 grain MV 2600 fps
Sierra Bullets:
215 grain MV 2800 fps
225 grain MV 2700 fps
Nosler Partition Bullets:
210 grain MV 2800 fps
I'm just using the Hornady SP 200 grain bullets at the moment at 2880 fps just a half grain shy of max load by Hornady's book. I haven't taken anything put a pronghorn at 217 yards with this load but I did develope it with elk in mind. I'll probably just switch to the 210 grain Nosler Partition for all my hunting with this rifle when I use up all the 200 grain bullets I have.
Barnes bullets:
160 grain MV 3100 fps
185 grain MV 3000 fps
Hornady bullets:
200 grain MV 2900 fps
250 grain MV 2600 fps
Sierra Bullets:
215 grain MV 2800 fps
225 grain MV 2700 fps
Nosler Partition Bullets:
210 grain MV 2800 fps
I'm just using the Hornady SP 200 grain bullets at the moment at 2880 fps just a half grain shy of max load by Hornady's book. I haven't taken anything put a pronghorn at 217 yards with this load but I did develope it with elk in mind. I'll probably just switch to the 210 grain Nosler Partition for all my hunting with this rifle when I use up all the 200 grain bullets I have.
davlandrum
New member
Nope, there are a whole bunch.
taylorce1 - What??!!?? I thought you were a die-hard .270 fan, but it seems you have strayed...
I haven't strayed too far and I do love the .270 dearly, I still use the same parent case. My real love is the 06 cartridge. I have a .25-06 being built and own the .270, .30-06, 8mm-06, .338-06, and .35 Whelen and plans for many other calibers based off of this case. I'm really craving a .375 Brown/Sisk or a .400 Whelen and 6.5-06, the .375 will probably wait as I've got a .375 Ruger that I'm still playing with. I still reload for the .280 that my BIL stole from me and will not give back!taylorce1 - What??!!?? I thought you were a die-hard .270 fan, but it seems you have strayed...
The reason I say a .338-06 is the critera by the OP. While my .270 will kill a bear, even the big ones if I get a jump on them first and can make a well placed shot. My .338-06 with a 250 grain bullet will put down the big boys if they happen to get the jump on me, and if I have time to get off a well placed shot before I’m dinner! While it isn't the .338 WM it is close enough to get the job done. Unfortunately it has never caught on with the main stream ammunition suppliers like Federal, Winchester, Remington, and Hornady.
If I got to hunt all of NA Alaska and Canada included this would be my go to rifle cartridge. Since I don't save fur on varmints this cartridge would work as well for coyotes and such. Would hate to shoot it all day at prairie dogs though!
FrontSight
New member
Savage 110 in .30-06 and you will never have any regrets. Trust me on this one.
There are lots of cartridges capable of doing what you want. You just have to pick the one that best suits your needs.
For the really big bears, I'd want a minimum of something like a .338 Win Mag. That's just me, but it's also capable of taking about anything else in North America.
But, I haven't hunted the big bears. If I ever do, the rifle won't add up to much of the cost, so I can afford another.
For everything else, I really like the 7mm Rem Mag. It's performed perfectly for me for the last 20 years or so. I've taken game from coyotes to buffalo, including black bear, mule deer, whitetails, antelope, elk, and others with no problems. It'd also work for the big bears, but I'd personally like something more, just because I'd like to spend as many years here on earth with my wife as I can.
Like I said, there are a lot of cartridges out there that'll do the job; you just need to decide which one best suits your hunting and shooting style and needs.
Having choices is good. Good luck with whichever y ou choose!
Daryl
For the really big bears, I'd want a minimum of something like a .338 Win Mag. That's just me, but it's also capable of taking about anything else in North America.
But, I haven't hunted the big bears. If I ever do, the rifle won't add up to much of the cost, so I can afford another.
For everything else, I really like the 7mm Rem Mag. It's performed perfectly for me for the last 20 years or so. I've taken game from coyotes to buffalo, including black bear, mule deer, whitetails, antelope, elk, and others with no problems. It'd also work for the big bears, but I'd personally like something more, just because I'd like to spend as many years here on earth with my wife as I can.
Like I said, there are a lot of cartridges out there that'll do the job; you just need to decide which one best suits your hunting and shooting style and needs.
Having choices is good. Good luck with whichever y ou choose!
Daryl
While fatter bullets hit harder, one would hardly call the .45-70 an okay varmint rifle.
While the .270 will kill a Kodiak with a 160gr bullet placed right, bullets of .30 cal & greater and 200gr or more sure inspire confidence.
And while there are newer and better things, they either lean more towards the "bear" side or the "varmint" side.
When you factor in available bullet choices (100gr-220gr), light recoil, flat trajectory, meat damage, ammo availability, and proven track record; it would be hard to argue with the U.S. .30 caliber rifle cartridge of 1906.
This goes double for those willing to handload.
While the .270 will kill a Kodiak with a 160gr bullet placed right, bullets of .30 cal & greater and 200gr or more sure inspire confidence.
And while there are newer and better things, they either lean more towards the "bear" side or the "varmint" side.
When you factor in available bullet choices (100gr-220gr), light recoil, flat trajectory, meat damage, ammo availability, and proven track record; it would be hard to argue with the U.S. .30 caliber rifle cartridge of 1906.
This goes double for those willing to handload.
I have to agree the 30-06. However, I would probably take my .308. I know the ballistics and what I can do with it. With bullet weight 150 to 180 grains, one should be able to take any thing that walks in North America. As we know the 308 is nothing more than a "short" 30-06, so it should get the job done. ( I know here comes the Flames)
:barf:ARE YOU KIDDING! The .308 is for wussies, criminals, commies, liberals, and baby-eating satanists! Anyone advocating it's use should be brought before the House Commitee on Un-American Activities and tried publicly for treason! He should be slow roasted over a hot. . .. . .Actually, I like the .308. Not my first choice on the Kodiak, but if it's what I had it's what I'd use. Darned sensable cartridge.
