Best all- around big game cal.

[high country]

location location location.....

no gun on the market today gets to more locations faster than the 257ROY. I think there is a growing following for a bunch more gun then we "need" but I can tell you from expierience that my 257 hits things dead on that my 270 has to give a foot of daylight to hit. You can't believe the speed critters hit the ground when touched by ol' roy.

[huntnphool]

I have a Cooper Arms 257 Roberts that drives tacks, too pretty for hunting though

[Buckshot Bill]

300 all the way!  30-06 runs a close second but from all my experiences, the 300 Weatherby Mag knocks em all down and at just about any distance worth shooting.  Except maybe an elephant.

[PacificNWhunter]

I'm partial to my .300 winchester mag

[M_ray]

I voted 300 win mag ... but mostley because it's the only rifle I have that's a big game round. I prefer Muzzleloader hunting but I do have a 30-40 krag that was left to me by my Grandpa ...  it's range is practically the same as my Muzzleloader!

[ICEMAN]

The answer is....there is no answer.

Too many great rifle calibers out there, all have great specs.

I would vote for .300RUM.

I have shot dozens of deer and a few elk with a .270rem and love the caliber. Bought the RUM to handle the longer range with oompf.

[jackelope]

i own 3 30-06's, for a reason  i guess 
i think that is the all time most versatile caliber, but it's in trouble now with all the new calibers coming out in the last few years.

[jackelope]

I have a Cooper Arms 257 Roberts that drives tacks, too pretty for hunting though

drooling now...thanks.
been thinking about a 257...i was looking at a 257 wthrby mag
can one kill an elk with that caliber?

[HuntinFool]

Christensen Arms Winchester model 70 7mm love it and will never buy another gun

[high country]

been thinking about a 257...i was looking at a 257 wthrby mag
can one kill an elk with that caliber?

seen it done a few times......through my scope. Just remember to keep your shots inside about 600 yards and you will do fine. I think if more folks shot elk with fast stepping rounds blood trailing would become a lost art. you need to see a bullet going 35-3800 fps smash into an elk.....they just fold.

[edmondshunter]

My vote goes to the 270w.  I shoot that round for everything bigger than a yote. 

Sorry about leaving out some very popular options...

As far as the 7mm rm,  the 250w 270w 280 are only 6% less powerful as far as ballistics go,w/ same or similar ammo.  And Its been my expierience that the 7mm's are longer in the barrel than most.  Making over the shoulder carries more difficult in the thick stuff.  Having said that,  that round is a great round, it'll murder an elk @ 500 yards

[edmondshunter]

drooling now...thanks.
been thinking about a 257...i was looking at a 257 wthrby mag
can one kill an elk with that caliber?

I think that cal. is very acceptable for an elk.  I might hesitate @ 250yrds, but inside of 200, your money

[andrew_12gauge]

I personally voted for the 300 mags with my first choice and 7 mags running a close second. I agree with what was said earlier by many about the .270 but i also agree that it would not and should not be anybodys first choice for moose. Also i once worked with a guy who worked as a mountain goat guide for an outfit outta alaska and he said that anybody who shoots anything less than a .300 for goats is highly uninformed, he told me they are a tough critter to take down especially with many shots ranging over 300 yards. a .300 is just small enough to do minimal damage on deer, but large enough to take any of the largest game in washington that is why it gets my vote.

[Intruder]

For all around versatility it is really hard to beat the 30-06.  When you consider all the aspects it would be the gun I'd recommend most often.  Unless you're into loading, lots of shooting, ballistics, etc. the vast majority (97%) of hunting scenerios being face by hunters in Washington can be covered by the ol' 30-06.

That being said, I don't even own 1 anymore... I shoot a .280 and a 300 Win Mag.

[GoldTip]

For all around all big game on this continent in all locations, I think you'd be hard pressed to really make an argument against the 300 win mag.