U.S. Do-It-All Caliber

[Aaryq]

Howdy, folks,
In your opinion, what's the best do-it-all caliber for hunting in USA/Canada (excluding anything smaller than a Coyote)? If you had one rifle cartridge to do it all and had to depend on factory loadings (non-reloader) what would you choose?

 

[Avenger29]

.30-06.

 

[only1asterisk]

You mean, besides the 30-06?

David

 

[Sistema1927]

Did anyone say .30-06?

 

[brentwal]

This is a trick question, right?


.30-06

 

[brian923]

7 mm remington magnum. it will do everything the 30-06 will do, and do it at a longer distance, with less bullet drop!

 

[Mike Franklin]

.30-06

 

[atlanticfire]

.308

 

[mtngunr]

Since I live in the SEUS, not Canada, not north-western states, a .45 Colt handgun shooting 250gr SWC's circa 900-1000fps works fine for all chores, deer/hog/'yote/feral-dog/blackies/'dillers/etc., and my .32-20 rifle would so for all iron-sight brush chores..before anyone pooh-pooh's the 32WCF, my MILD loads shoot 20:1 115gr SWC's at 1200-1400fps, the upper loads working fine for deer with classic front 1/3rd .50cal bullet expansion and 14-16" penetration....the hotter loads push 100gr JHP's at 2000fps, quite effective....very low noise and recoil, about 2000rds per lb of powder for the 1200fps loads which hit 3x's harder than a .22LR with lower noise....

 

[scrat]

oh wait i want to be the first to post this.

ready

















.30-06

 

[George Hill]

7mm Rem Mag.
.270.
.25-06
.300 Win
Take your pick...

But really, with big game from deer on up... .300 RUM wins. Especially since Remington is loading it to three different power levels. So there you go... off the shelf ability to go from .30-06 level to .300 Win to .300 RUM. Take down everything in North America and most of the rest of the world.

 

[younganddumb]

.308

 

[txjeep]

Here's another thought...

"From mice to moose, the .257 Weatherby Magnum does it all."
http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammunition/ST257weatherbymagnum_031706/index.html

 

[whiskey]

.308
.30-06
.280
7mm Mag

I like short action rifles so the .308 gets my vote, but they all will work.

 

[only1asterisk]

7mm Rem Mag.
.270.
.25-06
.300 Win
Take your pick...

But really, with big game from deer on up... .300 RUM wins. Especially since Remington is loading it to three different power levels. So there you go... off the shelf ability to go from .30-06 level to .300 Win to .300 RUM. Take down everything in North America and most of the rest of the world.

If you don't handload, I think something like the .300 RUM would be a huge mistake. Remington isn't going to load the their reduced velocity ammo forever.

If you get some practice with you rifle, the 30-06 has sufficient trajectory to make 300+ yard shots. If you don't practice, none of the higher velocity numbers will help you in the least. If you are going out with the intent to take shots longer than 300 yards... In that case it really doesn't matter what you shoot.

David

 

[220_Swift]

30-06 hands down. Factory loadings available from 125-220 gr, not to mention the 55gr accelerator.

Col. Cooper, or his daughter I can't remeber, said: There are few problems a man can't fix, with $700 and a 30-06.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

7.62x54r.

 

[Shawnee]

7mm/08

 

[dirtyjim]

6.5x55 or 35 whelen

 

[R.W.Dale]

 

[Curiousity]

I got it.


























.22

 

[Art Eatman]

I can't even begin to envision not reloading. Sheesh!

 

[Drgong]

If your the metric type, 6.5x55

if your the standard type, 30-6.

 

[amprecon]

.308

 

[MaterDei]

Any caliber expressed in mm should not be in the running for the most versatile U.S. caliber. Just my opinion.