Big, BIG, BIGGER????
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courtgreene
Member
I would not. I suppose it depends on the definition of big game.
to participate, I’ll assume elk instead of deer and say .243.
to participate, I’ll assume elk instead of deer and say .243.
Speedo66
Member
Used to be .22's weren't even considered adequate for deer until AR's got popular, then people liked them so much they began to feel it was good for anything up to elephant.
I think big game, at least deer, begins at .243.
For something that will eat you like grizzly? Biggest freaken' caliber I can handle, certainly not a .22.
I think big game, at least deer, begins at .243.
For something that will eat you like grizzly? Biggest freaken' caliber I can handle, certainly not a .22.
LocoGringo
Member
I'd say Grizzly Bear is dangerous game rather than big game.
Mainly, I'd just pick a caliber suitable to the game...not just try to squeek by with the minimum.
Mainly, I'd just pick a caliber suitable to the game...not just try to squeek by with the minimum.
BigBlue 94
Member
Varmints get 257 Bob and under.
Whitetail get 243 to 30-06
Elk, black bear, and Moose get 270WSM or 308 or bigger
Grizzles get 8mm Mauser or bigger.
The Big Five get 375 H&H or larger, by most laws.
I save the 50 BMG for squirrels and the 950JDJ for snakes
Whitetail get 243 to 30-06
Elk, black bear, and Moose get 270WSM or 308 or bigger
Grizzles get 8mm Mauser or bigger.
The Big Five get 375 H&H or larger, by most laws.
I save the 50 BMG for squirrels and the 950JDJ for snakes
Obturation
Member
I had a tough time interpreting the exact nature of this thread but if it's "what cartridge you like from big to small" type thing, 45-70. A roundball over a light charge for squirrel and rabbit and a 500 grain over a stiff charge for grizz. Never saw a grizz in person but if one was looking at me there's no way I'd want that pointy bullet nonsense . give me big meplats and ferocious recoil if the the things got pointy teeth. 45-70 has that . I'll push hot glue into a bullet mold and pop that thing into a primed case too, sounds like a pop gun but goes clean through a full can of pop no problem (yeah, around here we say pop- you won't find a sane person saying soda).
WisBorn
Contributing Member
I have to say that I'm a deer hunter 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. I like 243win as a minimum and 7mm-08 & 308 as great all around deer cartridges. For open country deer I do like a magnum so 7mm Magnums and 300 Magnums get the job. For a woods deer rig a lever action 30-30 or 45-70 with open sights. I would like to give a 358win and/or 35 Whelen a try in mixed country with a low power scope.
I have never hunted for elk or moose, but I think a 8mm Remington Mag would be perfect!!!
I don't have the desire to hunt bears, but would love to hike Alaska with a Marlin guide rifle or 1886 Winchester with stout 45-70 loads.
Varmint hunting for me is just opportunities that present themselves. The coyotes I shot have been while deer hunting. A few other critters have been dealt with by shotgun and large caliber cartridges. Squirrels and rabbits are handled by 22lr, but it has been several decades since I hunted them.
Feral pigs just shoot them destructive swine with anything you have.
I have never hunted for elk or moose, but I think a 8mm Remington Mag would be perfect!!!
I don't have the desire to hunt bears, but would love to hike Alaska with a Marlin guide rifle or 1886 Winchester with stout 45-70 loads.
Varmint hunting for me is just opportunities that present themselves. The coyotes I shot have been while deer hunting. A few other critters have been dealt with by shotgun and large caliber cartridges. Squirrels and rabbits are handled by 22lr, but it has been several decades since I hunted them.
Feral pigs just shoot them destructive swine with anything you have.
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.38 Special
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I prefer to be slightly overgunned. As long as the recoil isn't troublesome, there's no real downside. Being slightly undergunned usually is no issue either, but when it is, it can be a real mess.
I don't have much use for the .223/22-250/220 Swift class for big game, but I do have a .228 Ackley which, with 90 grain bullets, has accounted for several mule deer bucks. I would be comfortable enough using it - or its neighbors like the Barnes .226 QT - on general big game.
On the whole, though, I think the .22 bore is best reserved for pests. Deer and pigs (and similarly sized animals) get a .25 at a minimum, and the faster the better. I don't really start to get comfortable until .27 territory, and don't start feeling silly until we get up to the .340 Weatherby or so. (I like the old .338 Winchester quite a bit. That level of recoil gets to me pretty quick, but as an all-around North American hunting cartridge, it's high on my list.)
Dangerous game? The .375 H&H is my minimum, and something starting with a "4" would make me a lot happier. And if my life really was in the balance, a .577 wouldn't be too big!
I don't have much use for the .223/22-250/220 Swift class for big game, but I do have a .228 Ackley which, with 90 grain bullets, has accounted for several mule deer bucks. I would be comfortable enough using it - or its neighbors like the Barnes .226 QT - on general big game.
On the whole, though, I think the .22 bore is best reserved for pests. Deer and pigs (and similarly sized animals) get a .25 at a minimum, and the faster the better. I don't really start to get comfortable until .27 territory, and don't start feeling silly until we get up to the .340 Weatherby or so. (I like the old .338 Winchester quite a bit. That level of recoil gets to me pretty quick, but as an all-around North American hunting cartridge, it's high on my list.)
Dangerous game? The .375 H&H is my minimum, and something starting with a "4" would make me a lot happier. And if my life really was in the balance, a .577 wouldn't be too big!
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MacAR
Member
From 22 short to 243 comprises the varmint cartridges in my opinion, with the old Triple Deuce being my favorite. Anything larger than that, up 7mm mag, constitute the deer/elk cartridges, and black bears as well. Anything above that is approaching elephant gun territory, and quite useless in this locale. For griz, I'll take my '06 and some flat nosed 220's and trust the rest to luck, otherwise my 30-30 would adequate for any type of "big game" which dwells in the Ozarks.
Mac
Mac
I've slaughtered pigs with a .22. Would I use a .22 on a wild boar hunt? Not a chance. I've slaughtered cattle with a .32 pistol but I'll use something more suitable if I was hunting buffalo.
We don't have bear in southern Sweden but when I'm out hunting moose or boar I want to be armed with a rifle that will kill the biggest, meanest moose or boar that will cross my path. So I have a rifle and ammo combination and the shooting skill for the job at hand. For me .308 with 180 grn Norma Oryx or 150 grn Fox classic hunter. 8x57jrs with 180grn Fox or lapua mono bullet work perfectly.
If I was going large bear hunting then I would be asking the hunting guide what would be a suitable caliber.
We don't have bear in southern Sweden but when I'm out hunting moose or boar I want to be armed with a rifle that will kill the biggest, meanest moose or boar that will cross my path. So I have a rifle and ammo combination and the shooting skill for the job at hand. For me .308 with 180 grn Norma Oryx or 150 grn Fox classic hunter. 8x57jrs with 180grn Fox or lapua mono bullet work perfectly.
If I was going large bear hunting then I would be asking the hunting guide what would be a suitable caliber.
FL-NC
Member
I have had good results with 223 on hogs and deer using Hornady's 75 grain BTHP in various locations through the southeast US. My favorite deer round is 243, which I am about to use shortly when I head out here in a few minutes.
I consider the 22 centerfires varmint rounds that will work on deer size game if bullets are chosen carefully and with range limitations.
The 24 and 25 calibers are probably ideal deer cartridges that are borderline suitable for elk, moose, and black bear. With the right bullets can be varmint rounds.
To me 26 caliber with 140 gr or heavier bullets is the smallest cartridge I'd consider an all-around big game cartridge. I'd have no issues hunting deer, elk, moose, or black bear with any of the 26 caliber rifles and if necessary, they should be borderline suitable for big bear with carefully chosen bullets.
The 28 and 30 calibers are the most popular for a reason. In 30 caliber bullets from 125-220 gr are pretty common. With 200-220 gr bullets I'd not think twice about using a 30-06 or 300 magnum on the biggest game in North America. Maybe 308, but 200 gr bullets are pushing the limits in 308. Can say pretty much the same for comparable 28 caliber cartridges shooting 175 gr bullets.
If someone just enjoys using anything between 30 and 375 caliber, they kill stuff. But I see no advantage with them over comparable 30 caliber cartridges.
The next step-up IMO is 375 caliber, but it is only NECESSARY for about 4 animals on the planet, and none are in North America. Some guys prefer it on big bear, elk, and moose. But I'd hunt those game animals with a 30-caliber rifle shooting heavy loads.
The 24 and 25 calibers are probably ideal deer cartridges that are borderline suitable for elk, moose, and black bear. With the right bullets can be varmint rounds.
To me 26 caliber with 140 gr or heavier bullets is the smallest cartridge I'd consider an all-around big game cartridge. I'd have no issues hunting deer, elk, moose, or black bear with any of the 26 caliber rifles and if necessary, they should be borderline suitable for big bear with carefully chosen bullets.
The 28 and 30 calibers are the most popular for a reason. In 30 caliber bullets from 125-220 gr are pretty common. With 200-220 gr bullets I'd not think twice about using a 30-06 or 300 magnum on the biggest game in North America. Maybe 308, but 200 gr bullets are pushing the limits in 308. Can say pretty much the same for comparable 28 caliber cartridges shooting 175 gr bullets.
If someone just enjoys using anything between 30 and 375 caliber, they kill stuff. But I see no advantage with them over comparable 30 caliber cartridges.
The next step-up IMO is 375 caliber, but it is only NECESSARY for about 4 animals on the planet, and none are in North America. Some guys prefer it on big bear, elk, and moose. But I'd hunt those game animals with a 30-caliber rifle shooting heavy loads.
Chuck R.
Member
Right or wrong, here's what I use a lot of it has to do with how the rifle is configured and the conditions. I also tend to error on the side of "overkill".
Varmints: .223-.243Win (Now a 6mmSLR)
Deer/Black Bear: .243, .260Rem, .270Win, .300WM & .350RM
Elk: .300 WM, 8x68S, .350RM
Varmints: .223-.243Win (Now a 6mmSLR)
Deer/Black Bear: .243, .260Rem, .270Win, .300WM & .350RM
Elk: .300 WM, 8x68S, .350RM
Rpod86
Member
Varmints 22-250 deer 243 grizzly 300 rum would be preferable. But if I only had 1 do all rifle it would have to be a 264 win mag
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