what caliber?

The 30-06 provides a versatility that is almost unequalled. It will do fine in Alabama or elsewhere if you decide to take some hunting trips.

It is also fine for elk or long range shooting for antelope, sheep, or deer in the West.

I have a battery of rifles, but if I could have just one for this continent it would be the 30-06.

Regards,
Jerry
 
When I hunted in L.A., I used a .35 caliber pistol. ... A .380 Auto :D (but I was on the Florida side).

If you're dead set on .30-06 or .300 WSM/WM (I think the Benelli is only chambered in .300 WM), go with .30-06.

However, I think it's too much gun for the area. Something in the 6mm to 7mm range (.243 Win, .7mm-08, 6.5x55mm, 7x57mm, .257 Roberts, etc.), or a lower-powered medium bore would be more appropriate (8x57mm with "American" loads {low powered}, .30-30, .357 Maximum, .358 Win); or even 7.62x39mm.

If you want to stick with a semi-auto, give some thought to an AR in 6.8 SPC, .243 Win, .358 Win, or .308 Win.
 
I'm the guy who thinks the '06 is over kill on deer. Heck sometimes I think my 257 Roberts is over kill, and I hunt in open country.

I guess if thats the only two choices I'd go the '06 route. If I could throw in another choice it would be the 243.
 
Even though I am a solid 06 fan,,a .243 for the critters back east would be more than adequate I would think.
.243 is an amazingly accurate fun round w/ lots of bullet choices,,
elkman06
 
Made up some ammo, sighted in my brothers gun and he fired it today. 2 shots in the heart of a deer target at 60 yards. In our field 80 yards is a long shot. Gotta vote for the old warhorse since nobody else is. 160 gr TPX bullets and it can easily do twice the distance without him having to do any hold over, aim it and shoot it. Deer aren't impressed by caliber wars but they sure do pay attention to anything put in the boiler room where the working parts are. Do you really need more than that in your area?
 
The B R-1 huh? Hmmm. Well whatever floats your boat. The 06, it does it all, even the applications you will not utilize it in, but you can if you decide to.
 
I myself dont thing a 06 is over kill for the white tail were we hunt, but there are some other nice calibers that will do the job. The .243 is a nice one no doubt. If I wanted a bigger caliber in a lever gun I would give the BLR a good look. Had one in .308. It was a fair shooter with factory, but reloads made it great.
 
For southern deer 260 Remington or the 7-08 has to be the best balanced cartridges.

Next would have to be the quarter bores 257 Robert to 25/06

A deer rifle should be very very accurate, with low recoil and easy to shoot off hand.

But of the two choices you gave go with 06.



I was raised in Mississippi reading Elmer Keith. Because of Elmer my 30/30 was replaced with a 30/06. Later for the same reason the 06 was replaced with a 338 win mag. I have hunted Elk, Deer and Antelope with a 338 win mag. It does work well :D Cross winds and dislike of tracking wounded game has keep the 338 as my go to rifle.

Now I have come to terms with the small size of my manhood and having harvested many animals with the 338 I no longer feel the need for its nearly 4000 pounds of energy. To kill an animal that weights under 300 pounds you just don't need that much power. Heck! my 308 still seems to be overkill for anything less than Elk. Next year I will be using a 7/08. (If the 257WBY is ever fixed it will be back up!):o
 
This is for ELKMAN06

Hey I was doing some reading on the 45-70 cartridge for bear hunting and happen to be reading your post as well as others and found a post saying you are related to Quanta Parker. Well kinda funny I am to! I know all about Quanta Parker he was 1/2 white, Seven Foot, and led Theodore rosevelt on some hunting adventures all over. My Grandma has a family tree showing are leneage and one of his kids or family members married into are family. any how to make a long story short I now have a Navajo Wife and my Son and Daughter is related to Quanta as well as Geronimo. Thought that you might injoy hearing that. Oh and I forgot to mention they are both half white and indian kinda funny. Getting ready to go on a black bear hunt above Cle Elum Washington and was thinking of buying a 45-70 and found your post. Anyways keep up the good fight and NOOBAMA!

thanks Jacob Cathcart
 
.45-70 will do fine for Washington state black bear.
You could even use cowboy loads.

Pick a good rifle. Imho the 1886 and its clones are the best fit for the .45-70. But there are lots of good rifles chambered in it.
 
blueovelwookie, I reckon your thread has officially been hy-jacked. lol You originally asked about a good caliber fer deer in LA and now we're on Black Bear in Washington.


I reckon a staff member will lock this soon as that's what they usually do when a thread gets hy-jacked this far off..... lol

I hope you made a good choice fer LA hunt'n and be sure and post some pics if ya score!!!
 
You cant go wrong with a 30 06 It has been around forever, and is not going away.
It is powerfull eneough for a long shot, but also very good at short range.
Ammo is plentiful, and you can find some good deals from time to time.
I would get it before getting one of the new short magnums that may be gone in the future. Just my two cents worth.
 
I see everyone recommending those tiny little pop-guns. :D

What you really need is a 458 Win Mag or maybe even a 458 Lott, you don't want them deer in LA to get away. :eek:

















Seriously though, of the 2 you listed I would pick the 30-06.
Some others that would work for deer have been listed by others, 243, 7X57, 308, 300 Win Mag.

I usually take the 300 Win Mag, it can be loaded lite for smaller stuff or loaded full power for the big stuff, but it does pack a bit of a kick, unless you compare the kick to the 458 WM then it's just a love tap, LOL


Michael Grace
 
no animal is bullet proof. you can shoot a moose with a .243, with the proper ammo. he may run 10 yards further.

I don't use my .30-06 any more. I can't tolerate the kick, and it's a semi. In fact I hate it.

I just brought a .243, and a 7mm-08

In fact, I would say a 7mm-08 can do anything a .30-06 could do. with 1/2 the recoil.
 
thanks for all the opinions.
i agree shot placement over caliber.
i am not too much worried about recoil.
(would get something in .338 lapua if the wife would let me)
hopefully one day i will get to hunt larger game. most of the deer killing around here or so i have been told, is done closer than 100yrds. (not much of a hunt IMO)
on a different note i am also looking at the 450 bushmaster and a 460 s&w rnds
 
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