Favorite short action caliber?

[Craig]

If you had to pick one short action caliber for deer and elk what would it be? I was looking at .270 WSM to build. Any better ideas?

[jay.sharkbait]

.260

Or if I was rich, 6.5 SAUM

[wiremonkey]

I have a 270WSM and love that thing. Winchester mod 70 super grade. Its very fast and accuracy has been great. Of course if i had it to do over i think i would go with the 300wsm just for versatility in bullet weights. Not that i doubt my 270 just would do it different is all

[splitshot]

  I vote a 3rd round for the 270 wsm.    mike w

[yorketransport]

358 Winchester hands down. It's not fast or super powerful but it sure is a neat little round.

Second place would be my 375 BME. It will never cycle through a short action but I run it on a short action single shot. That counts right?

Andrew

[coachcw]

300wsm

[CoyoteChuck52]

7-08 or 260....

[RadSav]

308 Win.  Yeah, I'm not the most exciting guy in the room

[coachcw]

308 Win.  Yeah, I'm not the most exciting guy in the room

just dump 1/3 the powder out of the wsm. 

[CoyoteChuck52]

308 Win.  Yeah, I'm not the most exciting guy in the room

 that's why .308 is not on the cool list above

[Karl Blanchard]

300wsm

[SemperFidelis97]

.270, or .300 wsm take your pick both are fantastic.

[Jim the Plumber]

6.5x47 Lapua

[actionshooter]

I really like the 7wsm, never understood why it didn't make it.

[hambone]

I have the 7WSM love it lots of knock down power never let me down

[dreamunelk]

308 Win.  Yeah, I'm not the most exciting guy in the room

Apparently neither am I!  Own a 270wsm but, my old model 700 adl 308 that I bought in 1984 has taken a lot of deer and elk.  Many I have forgotten about until I pick it up and then the memories come back one at a time.  Only had to shoot one deer twice.  Both round same hole with two exit holes.  Dead on the first shot but, since it just stood there looking at me I shot it again.

[MarkyMark]

I've been shooting a Savage Bear Hunter in 300wsm. I couldn't be happier. I love the factory muzzle break, acutrigger  and a lot of bullet choices. Very versatile.


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[magnumb]

.270, or .300 wsm take your pick both are fantastic.

 ...

[Eli346]

I've got the 7 and the 300 WSM but I really like my Tikka 300 WSM. It's put down everything I've shot at and it's a great gun.

[RadSav]

308 Win.  Yeah, I'm not the most exciting guy in the room

 that's why .308 is not on the cool list above

I feel like Amy Farrah Fowler.  Always wanted to hang out with the cool kids.  Now, thanks to Hunt-Washington, I can 

[CoyoteChuck52]

 

[wsmnut]

300wsm

But the 270 WSM is really cool, too.
Just to add another flavor to this, I'm currently working up a load for a 325wsm shooting 200gr Barnes TSX.  So far it is very promising.  Tried the 160gr. TTSX and those shoot very well and very fast.  What's not to like?!

Wsmnut

[Skillet]

300wsm

But the 270 WSM is really cool, too.
Just to add another flavor to this, I'm currently working up a load for a 325wsm shooting 200gr Barnes TSX.  So far it is very promising.  Tried the 160gr. TTSX and those shoot very well and very fast.  What's not to like?!

Wsmnut

From Chuck Hawks' site:

Cartridge (Wb@MV)         Rifle Weight    Recoil energy    Recoil velocity
7mm WSM (140 at 3200)       8.0                        20.7                12.9
7mm WSM (160 at 3000)       8.0                        21.9                13.3
325 WSM (180 at 3060)         7.5                        33.1                16.9
.325 WSM (220 at 2840)        7.5                        37.5                17.9

There is that... 

[xXLojackXx]

.243 win or 6.5 CM

[Curly]

I'm surprised no one has mention the .284 Win....... 

[carpsniperg2]

7-08 or 270wsm for me.

[DRobnsn]

300 WSM for a short action mag

308 for non mag short action

Can't have just one 

[RadSav]

325 WSM (180 at 3060)         7.5                        33.1                16.9
.325 WSM (220 at 2840)        7.5                        37.5                17.9

There is that... 

    Mine is a touch over 6 pounds...I've named it "Schnappy!"

Can't have just one 

I wake up in a lot of different moods.  It's nice to have a cartridge for each

[superdown]

.358 Winchester or .325 WSM for me deer don't take a step after getting hit with either one in my experience. I have taken two mule deer bucks at over 300 yards with the .325 using winchester 220grn power points and a leupold 2.5-8x36 and had surprisingly very little hold over.

[RadSav]

.358 Winchester or .325 WSM for me deer don't take a step after getting hit with either one in my experience. I have taken two mule deer bucks at over 300 yards with the .325 using winchester 220grn power points and a leupold 2.5-8x36 and had surprisingly very little hold over.

Just a touch over 7" for me using 200 grain Accubonds.

[superdown]

.358 Winchester or .325 WSM for me deer don't take a step after getting hit with either one in my experience. I have taken two mule deer bucks at over 300 yards with the .325 using winchester 220grn power points and a leupold 2.5-8x36 and had surprisingly very little hold over.

Just a touch over 7" for me using 200 grain Accubonds.

I am sighted a little high at 100 so it is around 10" at 300 doesn't feel like much when using the back bone to brisket ranger in the scope 

[headshot5]

350 Rem mag...   Then 260 and 7mm-08.   

[addicted]

338 Federal

[thinkingman]

7-08 or 260....

Yup...7*08