what is your favorite hunting rifle caliber

I always enjoy reading about Teddy Roosevelt spending his post presidency prowling Africa armned with his sporterized Springfield '03.

So, therefore, .30-06 is my favorite romantic caliber.

And Jeff Cooper seemed to like it too.
 
I like the .30 calibers. As for a romantic round (?) I'd choose the 30-40 Krag.
I like a rifle/cartridge combo that will push a 180gr .30 cal at somewhere around 2400fps on up. Not a big magnum fan so I suppose anything from .300 Savage up to 30-06 would be fine for my hunting.
My number one hunting rifle is my sporterized single shot 98 Mauser chambered for 31-40 AI which is, ballistically, more or less a 30-06 that shoots a .315 diam bullet.
If I was only allowed one rifle for hunting it would be an older Savage Mod 99 in .300 Sav.
 
Another for .270 Win, going on forty years now. Shorter range: .30-30.
Of calibers I don't have, 7mm-08...effectively .270 (ok, .280) "lite." Basic same ballistics out to 300 in a short action. Would love to have in a "mountain rifle," Win Feaatherweight,.etc.
 
I don't have a favorite caliber, I have a number of rifles and all have their own application.

my 9mm AR is going to prove it's worth against deer this fall as soon as I develop a good load for it

my 223 AR is my go to coyote gun and has proven it's worth as a deer rifle

my AK clone is more of a plinker but it's great for squirrel, rock chucks, and other pests

22lr is plinkin and cheap practice

my remington 700 in 243 was my go to deer gun for years and if I ever get lucky enough to draw for bighorn sheep then that is going to be my go to gun. it's not bad for wolf either

my enfield NO4 in 303 brit is my favorite rifle to shoot and is probably going to win out for go to bear gun this year.

my springfield 1903 is my latest bolt gun and is perfectly suited to it's role as a safe queen and maybe a deer rifle if I ever get a wild hair someday

my weatherby vanguard in 300 WTBY MAG is my kill anything in north america rifle and is going to serve it's purpose for elk and god willing moose.

my most recent longarm is a mossberg 535 in real tree camo dip and telescopic stock which is my resident turkey splatter.

variety is the spice of life...or something like that
 
.270 WIN!

One of mine is the same Remmy 721 my Maternal Grandfather bought new in 1958 ...... made a deal with the owner of the local hardware store: He could have it and 2 boxes of shells for $100, if he left it in the store window all summer ...... the store is long gone, and Grampa has passed on as well ..... I'm still killing deer with it every fall.

The other .270 WIN I own is also a Remmy 721 ....... just in case I ever need parts.
 
Favorite Caliber

For romance 7x57 (karamojo Bells favorite) I own 3. Also 257 Roberts. I have one, Rem. Mod.722, belonged to my father in law.
I have, and greatly like, my two 6.5 swedes.
Lastly my Ruger No1 in 270.
If I had to pick just one caliber to shoot, and to hunt with in the lower 48 I'd pick the 6.5x55. A choice based on emotion, since the 7x57 and 270 maybe more versital for larger game.
 
I've got a couple of favorites.

The .338 Win Mag is an excellent elk rifle. One thing about shooting elk is that you don't want them running into the nasty deep canyons to die. The .338 WM will anchor them with good shot placement. It does kick hard but it doesn't kick too hard for me. When elk hunting it is the go to rifle for me even though all the calibers below would work too.

A light weight .308 is perfect for deer hunting in the mountains. It's accurate, powerful enough and with the new bullets has erased some of the 06's advantages. I shoot lighter bullets than I used too with almost all calibers.

My 30-06 was my favorite for years and I'd be well served by it even if it was my only rifle.

My 45-70 hunts some times but I haven't bonded with it to the level of the ones above.
 
.270 is my hunting cartridge of choice. The only time I deviate is with hogs, and then it's .223. For me though, the .270 is all the gun I ever need for the game I like to hunt.
 
There are several variables involved in my decision most of the time.

For just I am going to hunt in an unknown area, at unknown distances at unknown sized game. Well I would pick 30-06. It is my feel good go to for just about anything round.

Small varmints, and predators out to 200 yards would be .221 Rem Fireball. 200 to 500 yards .223 Rem. Farther than that I would have to buy another rifle in .220 Swift, or .22-250. Possibly a .204 Ruger.

Deer in heavy brush. .30-30 Win
Deer with open fields of 100 to 200 yards .243 Win

Hogs I use a .41 Mag Ruger Blackhawk, or a 30-30. Sometimes a 7mm Mauser.

The ones I shoot the most are .221 Fireball, and .223 Rem. Both drive tacks at 100 yards. On a good day a 5 shot one hole group of less than .10 MOA is not uncommon. On a crappy windy day they will geve half MOA without problem.
 
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