what is your favorite rifle caliber?

[GurrCentral]

I really like my 308 win. Shooting Fed Premium 165gr  Sierra Game kings.

[Biggerhammer]

.300 Win Mag

Shortly followed by,

.375 H&H

And the,

7x57

[Blacklab]

Carried a Rem 742 06 for years. IMO you can hunt anything in the lower 48 with it. Then I married up with the GRENDEL and couldn't be happier 

[hoyt2002]

300 rum is my go to rifle.

[wildweeds]

Interesting Radsav,

My situation was 300 yards,couldn't get an inch closer,very good rest,Same elevation,not uphill or downhill, 162 grain speer magtip bullets(I didn't reload them my grandad did and I'm pretty sure  they were boattails) propelled by IMR 4831,All three shots in the boilerhouse were in a 3 inch group on entrance and they were stopped in the hide on the backside,animal had a 2inch layer of fat all the way around,He soaked them up like bee stings.Ultra minimum bloodloss,not a drop on his hide.He jumped off a steep chute and traveled across a glacial boulder field.At that point he was 700 yards and sick,I had another rock solid rest to shoot from,torched on off and shot him through the ankle,he hobbled around and I let another one go on a facing dead away shot,hit a tree branch that was just over his back,Let another one go and got him right in the back of the head.With those same shells I flat out laid down mule deer with that never moved an inch.Not a goat expert by any stretch,My Buddy who lives in Alaska shot his last year with a .375 H&H at 50 yards,blew the heart out and the critter ran 75 yards before piling up.His was a young goat,5 inch horns,Mine was a 9 inch Billy that the Taxidermist estimated at 12-15 years old.I've been shooting 175 grain Barnes X bullets for quite a few years now.I have about 100 left that my grandpa loaded up years ago.

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.

[Shane54]

300wm followed by 270

[CAMPMEAT]

300wm followed by 270

So, after many, many questions, what gun did you buy ? Show us a picture if you have bought one yet.

[huntnphool]

7mm Mag

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

 It's been my experience that 7mm Mag refers to Remington Magnum, anyone using one of the others typically posts specifics.

 I'd be surprised if anyone on this forum read my post and thought I was referring to anything other than the Rem Mag.

[Encore 280]

280

[dontgetcrabs]

7mm Mag.   

[Timberstalker]

6.5 x 284.

[iusmc2002]

338-06

I love mine.  Someday I'll kill something other than grouse and rabbits with it 

[robescc]

30-30, 7wsm and 30-06. My go-to all around gun is still the old 30-30. It knocks down anything it connects with. anything over 150 yards, the 7wsm is the ticket. With Burger Hunting VLDs, it is very accurate and deadly. I currently don't own a 30-06 but, in my opinion, it is the best all around cartridge for availability and effectiveness.

[EDT]

270 WSM, no doubt!

[demontang]

338 win