Best North American hunting caliber?

2 reasons to pick anything that ends in "Magnum".

1. Horse power corrects for poor marksmanship.

2. All magnums automatically put more hair on your chest and deepen your voice.

3. Magnums make you more attractive to women.


Ok, there are 3 reasons, I'm from Texas and can't count....don't judge me.


Chupa
 
After all these years I find out from some can't count Texan that all I needed was a magnum in my life to make up for all of my unmanly traits.


Dang
 
Originally Posted By: Chupathingy2 reasons to pick anything that ends in "Magnum".

1. Horse power corrects for poor marksmanship.

2. All magnums automatically put more hair on your chest and deepen your voice.

3. Magnums make you more attractive to women.


Ok, there are 3 reasons, I'm from Texas and can't count....don't judge me.


Chupa
Texas-1.jpg
I guess they need to add another lane for the ones who cant count..
 
I agree with gumbooot, people shouldn't ask questions like this...........................LMAO.

I think that a 30-06 would be the rifle that I would choose.
 
I think that the best gun/cal is the one that the hunter is familar with and shoots well!
I think that skill and shot placement is more important then having a gun (big enough) having said that I do like a big gun and shoot a 45-70 Gov and .44mag bot in Marlins for ground hogs-moose and I shoot them a lot!

I don't think that one could go wrong with a 30-06 or a .270 win for all North American big game and if thats the gun you have and can afford then use it.

True bliss is when you don't have to chose (a gun) for everything but rather can imploy different guns and loads to specialize ones needs!

I have always been erked by the one hit wonder therory for this reason!

I am glad that we all have choices in different firarms and can change or interchange them when we like!
 
Originally Posted By: Chupathingy2 reasons to pick anything that ends in "Magnum".

1. Horse power corrects for poor marksmanship.

2. All magnums automatically put more hair on your chest and deepen your voice.

3. Magnums make you more attractive to women.


Ok, there are 3 reasons, I'm from Texas and can't count....don't judge me.


Chupa

i take this as it was meant im guessing, that is in jest. and its funny.

BUT, there are a lot of people that stand on the if you use magnums you are a bad hunter, trying to be tough, etc and are adiment that there is no place on the planet for them. but i personnaly think there are several places where they the best choice. in my personal experiance, i like a 338 elk hunting in MT , where i usually hunt, because it is steep nasty country, and if you dont break down an elk where it stands you will be making an awful long recovery because an elk with a good behind the shoulder shot can conver a lot on steep down hill ground in the couple seconds before it dies, and some of those places are rocky ledges that couldnt be traversed with out technical climing gear. The other is with big animals like Moose and Big bears, the first againg to break down before it can go in the water (because a moose in the water is a you know what) and a big bear to break down because before it goes in the brush because that is potentially a dangerous proposition. For those reasons, and IMO i think these situations call for a generous application of heavy lead from a big diameter bullet. It works for me, and not because i have something to prove of im a bad hunter, or have inadequacy issue, just because it works.

By the way, there is no down side to using a 338 for anything, it works extremely well even on deer and antelope with very little blood shot or damage, and most situations the animal just collapses in my personal experiance.
 
Ever read the book,,,one man, one rifle, one land by J Y Jones, he killed every big game animal that you can hunt on North America with a 30-06 useing 165 gr. handloads..
 
Originally Posted By: flyinlizard1Ever read the book,,,one man, one rifle, one land by J Y Jones, he killed every big game animal that you can hunt on North America with a 30-06 useing 165 gr. handloads..

I have not, but i would very much like to. I just read books and pass them on so its a little much to spend $45+ just to read a book.
 
Originally Posted By: Chupathingy2 reasons to pick anything that ends in "Magnum".

1. Horse power corrects for poor marksmanship.

2. All magnums automatically put more hair on your chest and deepen your voice.

3. Magnums make you more attractive to women.




Ok, there are 3 reasons, I'm from Texas and can't count....don't judge me.


Chupa

This made me laugh!

I knew this topic would raise interest... that's why I posted it. As it has gone on I see the "bigger better" crowd chirping up. While I agree that its not a good idea to see what the least we can get by with, I must say... given one choice in a world ending nuclear fallout, I would be walkin around with my .22 WMR. I can kill anything in america within 200 yds with an eye shot. I shoot my mag more than any gun I own...

moving or not, inside 200 yds its in trouble.
 
Last edited:


Looking out my picture window, the end of of my field is 247 yards. I would have a hard time hitting a squirrel consistently at that range.... Now we're shooting for the eyes...

Hold up a sec and let me get my boots on
 
Originally Posted By: skb2706Originally Posted By: Chris_Brice

Let's face it, there just isn't any rifle SO why in the heck would anything big be considered best?

CB

Because thats what I like. My "best" ain't the same as your "best".

The OP didn't ask which was your favorite or best big game gun. He asked for best hunting caliber. 99% of centerfire rifle hunting is from deer on down. Elk, Moose and Brown Bear account for a very small number of animals taken. So why would a magnum or even a .30-06 be best when the more moderate rounds are far more versatile? After all, we're talking the majority of centerfire rifle hunting is from varmints to predators to deer. Not Elk to Brown Bear.

CB
 
Originally Posted By: Chupathingy2 reasons to pick anything that ends in "Magnum".

1. Horse power corrects for poor marksmanship.

2. All magnums automatically put more hair on your chest and deepen your voice.

3. Magnums make you more attractive to women.


Ok, there are 3 reasons, I'm from Texas and can't count....don't judge me.


Chupa

How about -

1. I was shooting a "magnum" long before the internet and I had this ability to let a vast number of people know how much better I shot with it, how much hair I had on my chest and how many women wanted me.

2. My favorite magnum shoots incredibily accurate and few are around to appreciate me with it.
smile.gif


3. I was attractive to woman before my first magnum.

I'm from Colorado and I can't speak for everyone here but it works for me....
 
I prefer small to med cals myself.
BUT, If it gonna be a do ALL rifle one and only. I'd rather be "to big" for small /med critters than " to "small" for the big ones.

Having said that. I think the best for everything is BS anyway. Even the ammo, buy it at any store crap . If your living off in the far off bush somewhere and have limited resources ,that I can see. Chances are if a persons gonna travel to hunt,he/she also should have the money to buy the right gun for the job. Take lots of ammo and an extra gun too.
smile.gif
 
The question was..."what caliber would be the best for hunting all game in North America"...To some I guess caliber indicates rifle...Oh Well....I'm jumping in with the good 'ol tried and true 12 gauge pump with a 26 inch barrel and fitted with adjustable tru-glow rifle sights....

The 30/06 is great, but it tends to be a bit heavy for quail and doves....LOL

From ferocious quail to tasty grizzlies a 12 gauge such as my Remington 870 express will do it all and do it on the cheap. Shot for the birds, slugs for the big stuff, Dead Coyote for the predators and 00 buck if the Manson family visits your tent in the dead of night....Done deal...It ain't sexy, but it is the one choice capable of doing it all.....and doing it well....
 
I don't think hunting the big bears with a shotgun would be anywhere close to "doing it well" .
laugh.gif


Just for the record. I don't consider shotguns calibers,but gauges. That's just me though.
wink.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeI prefer small to med cals myself.
BUT, If it gonna be a do ALL rifle one and only. I'd rather be "to big" for small /med critters than " to "small" for the big ones.

Having said that. I think the best for everything is BS anyway. Even the ammo, buy it at any store crap . If your living off in the far off bush somewhere and have limited resources ,that I can see. Chances are if a persons gonna travel to hunt,he/she also should have the money to buy the right gun for the job. Take lots of ammo and an extra gun too.
smile.gif


Agreed, not one best. N.A. is too big of a place with too many variables to pick one. What is great out east might and more than likely does suck out west which in turn may suck in Canada or Alaska. I can get by with a .243 for 100% of my centerfire rifle hunting because I don't have the money to hunt larger game than deer. If I do, I dang well should be able to swing the extra coin for another gun or don't go.

CB
 
Back
Top