what is your favorite rifle caliber?

[lonedave]

264 Winchester Magnum

[Taco280AI]

7mm Mag

Rem mag? SAUM? RUM? Wby mag? LRM? WSM? Are there others with mag at the end? 

[rasbo]

30-06 would be my choice

[tgomez]

Thank you all for your choices. Let me remind you their are no wrong answers here. It's what you are comfortable with. I chose 30-06 because it is a LEGENDARY cartridge. Originally developed to replace the 30-40 krag, the U.S. needed a battle rifle to get out to our troops in massive quantity when we got involved in World War 1. We took the P-14 rifle (British designed) and converted the rifle to take the 30-06 cartridge. This rifle was known as the U.S. caliber 30 model of 1917, otherwise known as a Enfield 30-06 these days. I love the history of the 30-06, as well as the difference in bullet weights you can get for it .55 grain accelerators to .220 grain for animals such as brown bear. My m1917 30-06 sportarized is a real tack driver, and has one of the most robust actions every developed. To me the 30-06 is the most versatile caliber EVER developed, and you can find ammo anywhere in the world your hunting. The "aught-six" has been a workhorse for over 100 years, and still doing it today! I LOVE THE 30-06!!!!!!!!

[CAMPMEAT]

I have one of each caliber ever made in the entire world, but right now mine is my Savage Model 16 6.5 Creedmoor with a Nikon 3x9x50.

Im with you! My next gun will be one of the 6.5 variants.  Thinkin 6.5x284.

6.5x284 is on my list too. I know a guy that shoots long distance over here, out to 1100 yards, and he dings the steel more than any of us. He does reload and shoots ALOT, since he owns the range. He's a Savage guy and shoots them straight out of the box...
 

[Jonathan_S]

45/70 if range was guaranteed less than 300 yards.

True story bro, that .45/70 puts the hammer down

It has to be lobbed in from a distance but that bullet is a freight train.  I've got 300 grain bullets with H4198 behind it and that shoots nice and flat. 

Good call.  I might even switch my answer...

[bradslam]

Really no fun in owning just one,I have SQUIRREL syndrome, .204,(2) .223's(bolt and AR) .243,.270,7MM Rem Mag.I got lucky enough in 93 to draw a Goat tag,used the 7MM on him.Honestly it wasn't enough gun(3 shots in the boilerhouse and he still ran all over the backcountry  and turned into a JUMPER!),If I were to do it again(Which will never happen because I found it impossible to cook with any method) The minimum Caliber would be .338 win mag and the shot would be a blow both shoulders out.

When I shot my goat with my .257 Roberts, it ran maybe 30 yards and dropped dead.  My grandfather shot quite a few goats in B.C. with his Bob.  It is a documented fact that the caliber possesses magical properties.   

[police women of America]

.308
you can hunt Elk, Deer, Bear with one rifle!

[BOWHUNTER45]

.270 elk bear deer and anything else that wants to step in front of me 

[gr8whthunter]

.17 hmr  no one said it had to be center fire

[Jingles]

Favorite is my 30-06 can hunt any animal on the northern hemisphere can load it down for smaller species or up for the big stuff.. But having only one rifle is like only having one girlfriend becomes very boring rapidly.
Have killed a 395 pound black bear with a 243, and like the effects of the 22-250 for predators, the 300 savage model 99 is versatile for confined areas and is effective for deer, bear sized game. 22LR and Mag will bring down deer.
IMO more important than caliber is shot placement. you can have a 375 H&H mag but if you can't place the shot it is useless

[RadSav]

Really no fun in owning just one,I have SQUIRREL syndrome, .204,(2) .223's(bolt and AR) .243,.270,7MM Rem Mag.I got lucky enough in 93 to draw a Goat tag,used the 7MM on him.Honestly it wasn't enough gun(3 shots in the boilerhouse and he still ran all over the backcountry  and turned into a JUMPER!),If I were to do it again(Which will never happen because I found it impossible to cook with any method) The minimum Caliber would be .338 win mag and the shot would be a blow both shoulders out.

When I shot my goat with my .257 Roberts, it ran maybe 30 yards and dropped dead.  My grandfather shot quite a few goats in B.C. with his Bob.  It is a documented fact that the caliber possesses magical properties.

Enough gun is rarely ever the issue with goats.  They are slab sided.  Going more gun usually works in reverse on these unique critters.  Bullet design ends up being the magical factor with goats.  More and more guides up north are starting to suggest using the Hornady SST, A-Max or Berger bullets rather than more gun.  When using heavy for caliber bullets Boddington has even mentioned breaking the hips with the first shot and then following up with a shot to the chest.

In 1993 or '94 I was at the Bighorn Canyon ranch getting a pig to serve at our wedding.  While there a Barnes group was testing some bullet on Catalina goats.  Those goats were taking shots like a wishing well taking quarters.  Shots were finding their spots and those goats would just not grant the shooters wish!  Then later in the day a father brought his son up for his first animal.  Shooting a 243 and Winchester Powerpoints the youngster nearly turned his goat inside out with the first well placed shot.  Caliber, penetration and magnum velocity had zero advantage over choosing the right bullet for the job.

[buckfvr]

7mm Rem mag...........maybe 6.5 creedmoor in the near future.

[Miles]

6.5 x 55 swede.

[Skillet]

 I'll throw another vote in for the 30-06 for a breechloader, and a fast twist (ie., 1-28) tube in .50 cal for a muzzleloader.