Best all- around big game cal.

[addicted]

Ah.....The old accuracy vs. power argument being struck up again under another guise.

 

Gents  a busted heart is a busted heart

A crushed spine is a crushed spine

A mutilated and torn up gut sack is, well, gross but just that mutilated.

Most modern rounds in the correct hands do the job.  Know your ballistics and anatomy and you can make clean kills. 

I tend to agree with Bighorse.

i tend to agree with hunting cowboy agreeing with bighorse

[bobcat]

That would depend on the type of bullet though.

kind of what i was thinking. lots of people kill lots of deer with .243's. i'm gonna dial mine in with 85 grain barnes triple shocks and see how it does. any thoughts?

That's what I plan on using in my 243, if I ever get time to do some reloading.

[smdave]

I voted 338 but I own a 338 Federal and that is the 338 I am refering to, it is a great all around gun.

Dave

[257 Wby Mag]

They all work great, even without high dollar designer boolits. I use the 257 Roy, kill alot of critters, have killed alot of critters with alot of different cal/boolit combo's. 2 stick out, 257 Roy, and any 338 Magnum, ie, Roy, Lapua,338-378,etc. Use what you like, learn how to use it, kill game, designer boolits or not. The 243 is a good bull round in proper hands as well, seen several fall to 1 shot, its heaven for bucks.

[Dman]

 -I guess I would agree with Bighorse as well if I fully understood his point. What is meant by "clean shot", vs "busted up"?? If you shoot a deer, it's pretty well "busted up" if you killed it, I don't get it, but then apparently I'm a poor shot because I don't know my placement, or anatomy. Just because your more polite in your choice of words in jabbing someone, doesn't mean it's not noticed.  For the record, I don't equate a deer suffering longer, as also being more "busted up".

 On another note, the shot I was referring to (Josh), was a double-lung shot on a 225lb blacktail (YES, they do get that big  ). The deer I harvested this year, using the SAME brand and type of ammo, but with a .300 mag was also double-lung shot and didn't even blink, or take one step. Again, 150 grains is not 87, or 100 grains, never will be equivalent.

[jackelope]

On another note, the shot I was referring to (Josh), was a double-lung shot on a 225lb blacktail (YES, they do get that big  ). The deer I harvested this year, using the SAME brand and type of ammo, but with a .300 mag was also double-lung shot and didn't even blink, or take one step. Again, 150 grains is not 87, or 100 grains, never will be equivalent

(darrell)as i stated...i (josh) would never argue that fact.
 
however...

[Dman]

 One "L" please sir

 I know, I was repeating myself for someone else's benefit -or amusement such as it is... 

 My point seems lost on some. I was not rekindling the power vs accuracy debate and thought I mentioned as much. (I don't think the .243 would be a good elk cartridge though -may as well throw rocks at them...

  -Look for another poll on this one.....

[boneaddict]

I've killed alot of game with the 25-06.  Was my favorite caliber for years.  My choice for the 30-06 is the pure versatility of it from varmits to African game.

[WAcoyotehunter]

I've heard that the 30-30 has killed more North American big game than any other caliber...
I still carry a pre64 winchester 94 in that round.

I vote for the 30-06 to be the best, time tested and versatile. 

[jackelope]

from this:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/ever_popular_30.htm

Here in North America, where I live, there is no question what rifle caliber is the most popular for civilian use. For big game hunting, the .30-06 Springfield is currently the best selling centerfire rifle cartridge--or maybe it is the .30-30 Winchester, depending on whose sales list you look at. For sure the .30-30 is the all time sales leader. The .308 Winchester is in the top five, and the .300 Winchester Magnum is one of only three magnums in the top ten. Federal sales figures have the little .30 Carbine in eighth place, and others include the .303 British. Is a pattern emerging here? Five .30's in the top ten indicates what I would call market dominance.

Want more? The .300 is the best selling Weatherby Magnum caliber. The new calibers that are getting the most notice in the shooting press as I write this article are the .308 Marlin Express and .30 T/C. The only deer/woods cartridge to ever seriously challenge the .30-30 is the .300 Savage--another popular .30 caliber cartridge. And the .308 Marlin is off to such a good start that rifles in the caliber are scarce--Marlin can't keep up with the demand.

[boneaddict]

I agree with what is said about the 30-30.  I love that gun.

[ICEMAN]

One problem that I see with these type of stats is that I consider most folks to be total idiots. Therefore, I always hope my choice is not on one of these "most popular" lists.

For instance, polls say that most folks in this state vote for democrats...do you want to be on the list...?

[addicted]

And you can't really know till you've shot several big game with each of the calibers offered. 

[Slenk]

1949 I started with my dad's Rem . 721 in .270 and I still shoot a .270 .
The .270 has never let me down yet . For my use .
Slenk

[Intruder]

Ah.....The old accuracy vs. power argument being struck up again under another guise.

 

Gents  a busted heart is a busted heart

A crushed spine is a crushed spine

A mutilated and torn up gut sack is, well, gross but just that mutilated.

Most modern rounds in the correct hands do the job.  Know your ballistics and anatomy and you can make clean kills. 

I tend to agree with Bighorse.

i tend to agree with hunting cowboy agreeing with bighorse

Me too.

Within the ranges that most game is killed (under 150 yrds) the caliber is almost meaningless.  Shot placement and bullet construction are far more vital.  Heck under 300 yards it's almost a moot point.... you're surely pushing the limit on the .243 at that point but for the .26 cals on up you fine.  That's why I've never understood guys who go out and spend the extra dough on a Mag gun and Mag ammo and never learn to shoot the thing beyond 200 or 300 yards.  It's really range (and animal size to a degree) that's the biggest factor in givin the nod to bigger and more powerful cartridges.  When you start goin beyond 300 yards the justification for bigger faster bullets can be made with objective data.