U.S. Do-It-All Caliber

[davidjblythe]

.30-06!


And maybe 8mm Mauser as a close second.... wait, isn't that Europe's .30-06? Ahhhh!

 

[Bezoar]

um the mosin nagant in 7.62x54R.

so many bullet options its scary, even if you dont reload.

 

[only1asterisk]

The 8x57 would be a really good choice if handloading were a possibility but the available factory ammo stinks. It is underloaded, unavailable, overpriced or has some combination of two or more of these attributes.

David

 

[Savage Shooter]

Hmm.. let me think about this for a whole milisecond...30-06
If that don't do it for ya try the famous thutty-thutty

 

[davepool]

30-06

 

[Jeff F]

another vote for the 30-06.

 

[dmazur]

Gee...I'm late for this one.

.30-06

 

[Avenger29]

um the mosin nagant in 7.62x54R.

so many bullet options its scary, even if you dont reload.

7.62x54R is an excellent cartridge, but it has it's issues. One is that it is available in only a couple of rifles (generally the Mosin rifles and the PSL/Druganov/similar). It also has that rim on it, which can create issues...I've had rimlock on my Mosin. Not fun. The Mosin has a magazine cutoff to try to solve this, but it does not always work.

7.62x54R also does not have the widespread avialablility of .30-06. You can get it mainly in milsurp FMJ (not for hunting), and their are some manufactorers loading new ammunition with hunting bullets. In that regard, .30-06 spanks the 7.62x54R.

 

[Bartkowski]

You would be well served with a .30-06, .280 rem, .270 win, .308, 7mm-08, .260 rem, 7mm RM, or a 6.5x55.

You don't need anything bigger and I rarely see hunting rifles in 7.62x54r or 8x57. I know you don't need a hunting rifle, but they are usually easier to hunt with.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Krochus, lol!

Thirty naught six, of course. I'll give 2nd place to .280 Rem, 3rd place to .270 Win, and 4th place to 7mm Rem mag, and 5th place to 6.5x55mm. 6.5x55 *should* be first, but it's not, due to inertia of the big boys.

 

[Click Click Boom]

.308 Win

.260 Rem

 

[Deer Hunter]

45-70

 

[jpsimms]

my 30-06 has killed everything I've shot with it

one more vote

 

[SpeedAKL]

.30-06 is the one caliber potentially big enough to fell bears and bison (though it's not the best choice) using heavier 180-220-grain loads, while still being a reasonable whitetail, antelope, sheep, and even predator/varmint cartridge (with low-grain/high-speed loads).

 

[Fleetwood_Captain]

What about a Red Ryder BB Gun?

Great for shooting anyones eye out.

 

[sarduy]

That's a hard one














.308 (a very good choice)
30-06 (my favotite)

 

[KC0QGL]

What about 7.92x94?

 

[Kentucky-roughrider]

30-06
30-30

 

[Ridgerunner665]

308...

 

[moojpg2]

if ya can't beat them......



30-06

 

[86thecat]

Since the 30-06 has its well deserved support already, I'll say 375 H&H as there are some bigger beasties in Canada and Alaska.

 

[wulfbyte]

.300 Savage

 

[556A2]

The 30-06 is more like a World Do-It-All Cartridge.

 

[John Fugate]

300 Win Mag.

You say North American and Canada. 30-06 is a little light for Moose. I know it will kill one but a 300 win mag is a better choice and will do the job on everthing in between.

 

[Ivy Mike]

.30-06 or its son the .308.

Avalable everywhere and can arguably handle 99% of game in North America. The only thing I'd be concerned with would be some larger bears like Kodiaks, Grizzlies or Polar bears.