Best North American hunting caliber?

300 Win. Mag.

Light bullets for long-range shots on things like antelope, sheep and goats and heavy bullets for elk, moose and bears.

I hunt with a .308, but it's marginal for handling "all North American game" reliably. And you can find factory .300 Win. Mag. ammo most places in a pinch.
 
If you are going to pin me to one gun for all of North America... 12ga shotgun.

If we are talking caliber, then .270win. I dont like what .308 or 30-06 do to deer, I like to be able to salvage some of what I shoot, they mangle everything bad imo.

.270 can do it all in North America, from the smallest to the largest.
 
Originally Posted By: from-a-grandI am having a hard time deciding between .308 Win and .270 Win... My heart tells me .308, but my head says that the .270 does everything the .308 can and then a little more... I would much rather take my .270 into the woods after and elk, brown bear or moose than I would my .308.

Bravo! Me too.
 
30.06 in Big Bears are not on the menu.
338win+ if they are


(i think those who said they would shoot a brown bear with a .308 are nuts, but thats JMO.)
 
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Without a doubt, 30-06. Ammo can be found everywhere, you canreload light or heavy, whatever you need and it's just a great round.
 
If Brown Bears are involved, the 338 Win Mag. It can be downloaded for lighter and smaller game.

Without Brown Bears on the list, a 7MM Rem Mag would be my recommendation.
 
Originally Posted By: getfoxyNo brainer-

Caliber- .308

Cartridge-30-06

+1 I stopped reading the thread after this so forgive me if this has been stated. Can't agree more.

I'm partial to the .308 caliber. I used to own a .30-06 and while I don't have experience with larger cartridges, I've read where folks have taken big Moose with a .30-06.

I consider North America to include the US and Canada. Things grow bigger in the Canadian tundra. Short of a Polar Bear, I would think the .30-06 can handle a Grizzly, Caribou, Elk, Moose, Deer, Mountain Lion, and on down.
 
Originally Posted By: Winny FanIf Brown Bears are involved, the 338 Win Mag. It can be downloaded for lighter and smaller game.



you described exactly what i use and do in AK
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The issue of finding ammo in a pinch is definatly an important one, i can tell you that in the village i am in they sell:
22 shorts
12ga
223
22-250
243
30-06 (3 different grain offerings) that should say something right there
30-30
338win
 
Originally Posted By: bigsky_songdogs30.06


(i think those who said they would shoot a brown bear with a .308 are nuts, but thats JMO.)

So, it's that extra 150 fps with a heavy bullet that actually does the killing, huh?

I did not know that.
grin.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Evil_LurkerOriginally Posted By: bigsky_songdogs30.06


(i think those who said they would shoot a brown bear with a .308 are nuts, but thats JMO.)

So, it's that extra 150 fps with a heavy bullet that actually does the killing, huh?

I did not know that.
grin.gif


I did not say i would shoot a Brown bear with an '06 (i would not) i simply stated that i would not shoot one with a .308. Thanks for the sarcasim though, i was a quart low of it today and in need
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i would not shoot a Brown Bear with anything smaller than a 338, thats of course JMHO
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: bigsky_songdogsOriginally Posted By: Evil_LurkerOriginally Posted By: bigsky_songdogs30.06


(i think those who said they would shoot a brown bear with a .308 are nuts, but thats JMO.)

So, it's that extra 150 fps with a heavy bullet that actually does the killing, huh?

I did not know that.
grin.gif


I did not say i would shoot a Brown bear with an '06 (i would not) i simply stated that i would not shoot one with a .308. Thanks for the sarcasim though, i was a quart low of it today and in need
tt2.gif


i would not shoot a Brown Bear with anything smaller than a 338, thats of course JMHO
smile.gif


Ah, okay. You think the bullet diameter is too small and light.

You may be right, I thought you were saying a 30-06 and a .308 Win. had enough difference to actually amount to anything.
grin.gif


Chasing a wounded brown bear back into the pucker brush is something I'd prefer to avoid, too.
 
If I were going to limit myself to one rifle and I had my priorities set in this order... 1) Ammunition availability 2) Absolutely capable of doing the job on anything native to North America with good to perfect bullet placement 3)maximum flexibilty through reloads

Well, the only answer in my opinion is the .30-06. If I was not worried about ammunition availability it would be a .338 WM. I don't think either one is going to leave a rabbit or squirrel much different so I will err on the upper scale if big bears are possible.
 
I have to agree with Neihbor Guy if I had to hunt every thing with one gun I'd pick a 12 gauge. But if I had to choose a rifle it would be a 30/06, mainly because if you run out of ammo or heaven forbid leave it at home, chances are the next guy you meet can loan you some or knows someone who will.
 
.300 wm.
The .30-06 has and would serve me well here in the lower 48. Still I like the .300 performance and would choose it for an everywhere choice.
Would hate to be limited to a shotgun. Way to close at times.
In general most calculate the size or power of the gun needed by the size of the animal. Sometimes it is not needed and other times with surprise situations it doesn't seem enough.
Extremes have been met in the past like stopping a charging grizzly with a .22. Most recent memory in Montana a hunter dropped a charging grizzly with the last shot from a 20 ga to the face , up close. Too close.
The other side when I shot the heads off two blue grouse with one shot from the .300 wm. Good thing a friend was with me or no one would ever believe it.
 
30/06 is the best all around IMHO. Can handle anything that comes up, with proper shot placement being top priority. Can be loaded from anything from 100 gr to 225gr bullets. 105 years of military service has something to say for it. May not be the fastest and flatest, but will get the job done.

Tony
 
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