Best all around elk/deer caliber?

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Michael Eichelle wrote a great article called "Making the Case for the 308 Winchester:

http://www.longrangehunting.com/articles/308-winchester-1.php

These are the shots he's made with the .308

A few noteworthy long range kills with the 308:

1: Dall sheep 763 yards. One shot.

2: Dall sheep 600 yards.

3: Bull moose 438 yards. Dropped with one shot.

4: Dall sheep 400 yards. 2 shots (only needed one)

5: Mule deer 318 yards. Dropped with one shot.


I'm personally not a 600+ yard shooter on game...(more like 400 and under) but obviously even the awesome .308 will do what you need it to do with minimal recoil (though if elk was a big one on the list I would still probably step it up on notch to the .30-06)  .

[PolarBear]

.300 Win Mag or .22 mag. 

[csaaphill]

Your 300 RUM is a great all around rifle. I can't imagine anything it wouldn't do. But I guess you must be looking for something lighter, and perhaps with less recoil?

I would go with a 270 Winchester or maybe a 30/06.

You really can't beat the 30/06. But if you want a little less recoil then get the 270.

love my .270

[huntnphool]

Your 300 RUM is a great all around rifle. I can't imagine anything it wouldn't do. But I guess you must be looking for something lighter, and perhaps with less recoil?

I would go with a 270 Winchester or maybe a 30/06.

You really can't beat the 30/06. But if you want a little less recoil then get the 270.

Recoil is going to be vurtually the same, basically the same caliber, except you get a better overall BC from the .270 bullet, they both utilize the same case. Step up to the .280 and get even better BC while utilizing the same case as both the .270 ans 30-06.

Stick with the 7mm.

[bobcat]

I have both a 270 and 30/06. The 270 recoils less using a 130 grain bullet versus a 150 or 165 in the 30/06. Admittedly, it's not a significant difference. If you can shoot a 270, you can probably shoot a 30/06 just as well.

There's no advantage to the 280. It's a great cartridge, I'll give it that. But the 270, 280, and 30/06 are all so close they're virtually the same. What one will do so will the others.

The 280 is great if you want to shoot something that is "different" especially if you're a reloader. If you don't reload, there's no sense in paying extra for ammo that doesn't perform any better than the 270 or the 30/06.

[huntnphool]

I have both a 270 and 30/06. The 270 recoils less using a 130 grain bullet versus a 150 or 165 in the 30/06. Admittedly, it's not a significant difference. If you can shoot a 270, you can probably shoot a 30/06 just as well.

There's no advantage to the 280. It's a great cartridge, I'll give it that. But the 270, 280, and 30/06 are all so close they're virtually the same. What one will do so will the others.

The 280 is great if you want to shoot something that is "different" especially if you're a reloader. If you don't reload, there's no sense in paying extra for ammo that doesn't perform any better than the 270 or the 30/06.

All three utilize the same case, however the BC is better with the .270 bullet and even better with the .284 bullet. 

[bearpaw]

If you want to try and make your current gun work, try using lighter bullets, have a limb saver recoil pad installed, or get a muzzle break installed. Even if you choose a 7mm or 300 win mag, which are both great all around rifles, to escape the recoil, you will likely need to use lighter bullets, a limbsaver, a muzzle break, or choose a smaller cartridge.

I purchased some 130 gr barnes ttsx to give a try in my .30 mags, not sure how the accuracy will be yet, but if I can find an accurate load they will be fast, flat, and not recoil badly, and with the barnes as soon as that 130 is halfway through the animal it will weigh more than most brands of 180's which come apart, so it's going to exit leaving a good hole. But I have not got the loads worked up yet to prove this, it's only a theory, but based on the performance of 165 and 150 gr bullets, and if the 130 will shoot accurately, my theory should be sound.

Having said all that, if you're not a handloader and you want a great shooting caliber with the least recoil and the most knockdown, I don't think you can beat the 280 remington. However, the catridges are a little tougher to find and that caliber is underproduced, it's hard to find that caliber of guns because more people want them than what's being produced.

For easy to find cartridges and a huge choice of guns, with coniderable less recoil than the magnums, look to the .270 or 30/06, those cartridges are always available and they will kill almost anything in N.A., deer and elk can be taken regulary out to 300 to 400 with a little practice and quality bullets.

Bottom line, the basic cartridge used for the 30/06, 280, 270, and 25/06 produces excellent results for anything from coyotes to elk with moderate recoil. Pretty tough to beat unless you want to deal with magnum recoil.

If you want something a little exotic, fast and flat with lots of shock without too much recoil (but the catridges are tougher to find), try a 257 wtby, 264 win mag, 270 short mag, or 270 wtby.

There, I did my best to make your choice even tougher. 

[BigBucks]

50 BMG that thing will kill anything from trucks to squirls!!!    I personally like the 7mm I have one and it shoots super flat.  I also have a 338 RUM that with a little bit of gun work is shooting exactly the same ballistics as the Lapua.

[D-Rock425]

I vote 7mm mag or 300.

[CP]

I like my .35 Whelen a lot.  It has dropped an elk at 425 yards, I mean dropped, not one step.  I’d use it for everything from deer to Cape buffalo if I ever got the opportunity. 

Factory ammo can be pricey but I load my own into .270 or 30-06 brass which is easy to come by. 

[FisherKing]

Speaking of all around guns I just picked up this ruger 77 mk-ii in .280 the other day.  Which brings me to another question who does good scope mounting in the seattle area?

[Mongo Hunter]

+1

7mm RM

[BULLBLASTER]

I'd say brake your 300 rum! Wear ear plugs when shooting. I have one and with a brake it is a dream to shoot. I can easily spot my own shots outside of 400 yards or so. That is unlessyou just want another gun... which is reason enough for anyone to buy one. Then I'd stick with a 7mm of some sort. Maybe a wsm...

[vaz,,66]

+1

7 mm.rem. is the best all around cal. my

[Eli346]

300WSM with a butt pad on it for the kick. Works like a charm for anything out there that brown or black and needs to go down.