Best all around elk/deer caliber?

[MikeC]

Thanks for your quick replies, my buddy is looking for a rifle as well so I will share with him. Most common response seems to be 7mm and 270. Would you prefer standard or wsm? I love my 300 RUM but it beats the hell out of me and I think it causes me to jerk some of my shots.  I was thinking of having a muzzle brake installed on it here soon.

Don't ever put a brake on a hunting rifle! Your ears will hate you!! But your buddies won't be hunting near you either so it's a catch 22 ; )
 If you think they kick hard I take back the 338 suggestion, what are you running through it and what kind of stock is on it?

The rifle is a Browning A- Bolt Stainless Stalker. Nothing custom....  There are not too many ammo options for it although it has grown over the past few years. I have tried the remmington power level ammo and it definitely helps with the recoil.  My thought was to buy something smaller, if nothing else to add to the collection right.

[bobcat]

That explains why it's hard on your shoulder.   (A Bolt) 

If I had a 300 RUM, I'd want it in a much heavier rifle.

[Dan-o]

7MM rem mag.

Great round.

Ammo available everywhere.

Incredible bullet selection.

[bobcat]

A 7mm Rem. Mag. needs a minimum 24 inch barrel. With a 30/06 or 270, you're fine with a 22 inch barrel. Just something to think about.

Since you already have a good long range rifle, I'd go with a nice, light 270.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Thanks for your quick replies, my buddy is looking for a rifle as well so I will share with him. Most common response seems to be 7mm and 270. Would you prefer standard or wsm? I love my 300 RUM but it beats the hell out of me and I think it causes me to jerk some of my shots.  I was thinking of having a muzzle brake installed on it here soon.

Don't ever put a brake on a hunting rifle! Your ears will hate you!! But your buddies won't be hunting near you either so it's a catch 22 ; )
 If you think they kick hard I take back the 338 suggestion, what are you running through it and what kind of stock is on it?

The rifle is a Browning A- Bolt Stainless Stalker. Nothing custom....  There are not too many ammo options for it although it has grown over the past few years. I have tried the remmington power level ammo and it definitely helps with the recoil.  My thought was to buy something smaller, if nothing else to add to the collection right.

You got a synthetic stock on it?  A wood stock might help eat some recoil. I got the 338 rum with a wood stock, they do kick a lot, but with practice and a scope with good eye relief they can be mastered! I have  noticed a huge difference between rifles with wood stocks and synthetic.  You got a great all around flat shooting caliber that will knock the heck out of anything you point it at.  Lots of good suggestions already named for a caliber to add to your collection, which is never a bad thing! Just don't put a brake on it, they are like training wheels on a bike, you'll never really learn how to ride or shoot with one on. 

[EDT]

Thanks for your quick replies, my buddy is looking for a rifle as well so I will share with him. Most common response seems to be 7mm and 270. Would you prefer standard or wsm? I love my 300 RUM but it beats the hell out of me and I think it causes me to jerk some of my shots.  I was thinking of having a muzzle brake installed on it here soon.

I love my Rem 700,  270 WSM.  I use it for everything...no issues at all.

[huntnnw]

shot many of braked guns and they are a pleasure to shoot..u can shoot them all day..my next rifle purchase is a braked 338 Lapua

[Smokepole]

It depends on how dead you want your deer or elk to be when you shoot them.  I have shot deer with my 308 winchester 88.  Dandy little gun that will let the air out of a deer or elk just fine.  If I want them really, really dead, I'll use my 7mm Mag and let them have it.  But lately I've been hunting a lot with my 50 cal.  inline muzzy.  It'll be a great caliber for deer and elk once I learn to hit what I'm shooting at. 

I think the 30-06 is a great one to mention, even though I've never owned one.  You can find shells where ever you travel.  Great all-purpose gun.  But I'll take my 7mm.   

[6x6in6]

Own 2 7mm RM's. 
I also own 6 other rifles, some bigger some smaller.  These hold down the gun safe during deer and elk season. 

[6x6in6]

I do take the 270 on deer hikes and the 338 WM on elk hikes every now and then.  But neither of these go both ways, so to speak.

[GEARHEAD]

With the quality of bullets these days, and availabilty, i gotta say 7mm mag does it all.....and i dont have one. with all the guns i have, and have had, if i could do it all over and only choose one, it would be 7mm Mag.

[FisherKing]

Remington .280

[carpsniperg2]

I would give it to the 300 wm. So many choices in bullets and plenty of power. I am also a big 270 fan and my 270wsm would be a very close 2nd.

[huntnphool]

Seven millimeter magnum!

[DBHAWTHORNE]

If you are wanting to go lighter on the recoil (which I honestly think is always a good thing to do if humanely possible) .308, .270, .280, 30-06, 7mm magnum (and even the 7mm-08 on the low end).

The above cartridges are truly Deer/Elk Combo Cartridges (which if I understand correctly is what you are looking for). There are other ones but those are the most popular chamberings and unless you are a reloader or just prefer something "different" I would go with one of those. Any of those cartridges will do the job and have recoil and muzzle blast that most hunters can tolerate. Anything above these becomes intolerable for most people (no matter how much they won't admit it)... it's not that they are afraid to shoot the gun in and of itself but most people I see trying to shoot the bigger magnums have poor shooting habits (I know I do after a few rounds). The older I get the more I lean toward shooting guns that will get the job done effectively and efficiently (i.e. least amount of recoil). Certainly thousands of elk have been killed with 25-06 and .243 but I wouldn't classify those true deer/elk combo cartridges.

If you are leaning more towards primarily elk and wanted to go a little bigger than the above chamberings I would get the .300 Win Mag (which will bring your recoil down 7-8 pounds vs the same size rifle and bullet in the 300 Ultra). The 338 is a great elk caliber but you would be over gunned for deer and back up to 300 Ultra recoil.

My personal choice for a true Deer/Elk Combo without being over gunned or under gunned???... To me it would come down to the 7mm Magnum or the 30-06. I think of all the calibers I mentioned they provide the perfect balance of manageability and performance. I would probably go with the 30-06 because I prefer .30 calibers over 7mm's...but thats just a personal preference. Both chamberings have similar recoil that is on the heavy end of manageable in hunting weight rifles and thus tolerable for most shooters. The .30-06 will probably work just fine but if you want better trajectory then obviously the 7mm Magnum is the rifle you want. The 300 Win (which I love) is manageable for some but still a little more recoil than I personally like to deal with for extended target practice on the range with a hunting weight rifle.

I currently use .308 but that is because my primary interest is deer with Elk barely on my radar.