one caliber all you can have

[270WIN]

ok there a post going on about 270 or 30-06 well lets open up a little more if you could only use one caliber or only aloud to own one riffle for all your hunting need what would it be. well i am a huge fan of the 270 i would have to take the 300 wsm over that

[mcrae]

For me if I had to chose one caliber it would be the 7mm/08. Enough power to handle all the critters I hunt and nice to shoot so I practice with it all the time. My biggest regret was selling my M700 Classic in 7mm/08:-| I have replaced it with another 7mm/08 but I still miss her................

[Silent Wolf]

308 Norma Mag Nuff said:wink:

[brotherjack]

As I said in the other thread, I think the 30-06 hits that sweet spot between 'too much gun' and 'not enough gun' perfectly. So, I'd vote for a 30-06, if I could only have one.

If I could have 2, it would be a 30-06 and a .22LR

If I could have 3, I'd add a .223 or a 22-250...

While we're going that way - I suppose if I had my druthers, I'd like to have one of everything, and enough ammo and game to really enjoy them... What kind of foolishness is this 'one gun' thing anyway? :)

[bcboy]

Caliber come on guys get it strait at least..dont want huntwritter all over me again//// Caliber or cartridge...should be the ??????

Me if I could only use ONE cartridge it would be ......348..

ps.. I aint flaming anyone , I like women and support all thier efforts and minorities too..

[Barracuda]

375 H&H
might not be all the gun you want, but it is all the gun you need to hunt the world over .

[bcboy]

375 H&H
might not be all the gun you want, but it is all the gun you need to hunt the world over .

Great on rabbits and blacktails too:p

[huntwriter]

No question for me it would the 30-06 because of its veratility, even if everyone and his/her uncle has one. There is a very good reason for its popularity.

[CanAm500]

I would have to say .270 aswell.

[bcboy]

No question for me it would the 30-06 because of its veratility, even if everyone and his/her uncle has one. There is a very good reason for its popularity.

Come on explain it,, me I figure if the good old 30-06 came out today it

would be a huge sales Flop...:eek:

[Brambles]

I bought a lot of guns so I didn't have to make that decision, or maybe it was because I couldn't make that decision. Either way I can't pick just one.

[Mooseman]

Just to make sure I got enough for special grizzly moments it should be the 338.

For everything else the 3006 is perfect!

[huntwriter]

It's hard to say bcboy. I think at the moment the fashion trend heads to bigger is better and so it may be that if the 30-06 came on the market today the "experts" would proclaim it as a good coyote rifle but not good for much else. It's possible.

Hunting is very much a "victim" of fashion as many other things in life too. Look at the compound bows. Over the years they got shorter and shorter and where hailed as all the latest rage and must-have-item. Now what we will see in the very near future is a reverse. Many new bow modles coming on the market next year will be longer again and as always the manufacturers have a perfect explaination for it.

I am sure the same will happen to firearms, first a new bigger calibre is hailed as the ultimate must have item and then it will go away again. There must be a reason, and a good one at that, why the 30-06 has remained one of the most popular guns the world over and has taken more game than any other. The 30-06 is a very good all around gun that can be shot comfortably by any shooter of all ages, genders and skill levels plus it is light to lug around all day. The biggest plus is that if you only can afford one gun then 30-06 is the gun that will do everything you ever likely want from a gun short of going for the big five in Africa. The 30-06 is a universal not a specialized tool and that makes for a big part of its popularity.

I guess the bottom line is this. The 30-06 can be shot comfortably by absolutly everybody. The larger guns hurt many people. In fact I know of many hunters who have purchased a 300mag because it is the in thing to have but they are so afraid of the kick and the pain resulting from a day at the range, that they rarely shoot it. This in turn has made them not better hunters as in shooting and hitting what they aim at. There is definietly a trend to be over gunned rather than under gunned. At least that is what I have experienced on my seminars and in conversations with outfitters and hunters.

[moose hunter]

300 weatherby

[Kirby]

.338 win mag. More than enough juice for everything in North America, and lots of hitting for stopping bears or that second shot on elk/moose. And the recoil ain't too bad.

Kirby

[000buck]

270 for sure if 2 ild have 12ga 2

[boonerbuck]

:idea: 338/06:idea:
***:cool:***

[youngfellla]

My favorite cartridge has always been the 340 Weatherby.

Trajectory of a 7 Mag, and the punch of a 375 H&H. Can't ask for more.:cool:

[TinMan]

270 WSM is my vote

[ruger#1]

i like my 7 mag with hand loads. and my 6.5x55sm with hand loads.

[ringo]

I have used 6.5x55, 7mm mauser, 270win, 308win, 30.06, 7mm rem mag, 300 win mag, 338 win mag. The rifle that usually follows me out to the truck is the 270win, just seems to work well for me.

[twoSevenO]

A solid combination rifle in the over under configuration would be my choice if i was only allowed to hunt with 1 rifle.

I'd take a 12 gauge on top and 9.3x74 on the bottom.

For a one-only gun i think that would be pretty hard to beat versatility wise :grin:

[Mark_S]

I would probably pick a 7 mm Rem Mag. A 300 Win would be right at the top of the list as well.

[troutseeker]

Only one rifle for everything? .300 winmag, it will do it all and can easily be loaded down to .30-06 velocities/recoil if you must. Recoil on the .300wm is really not that bad... I guess the coyotes would kinda explode from them 150 grain bullets flying at 3800fps though...

Troutseeker

[youngfellla]

I guess the coyotes would kinda explode from them 150 grain bullets flying at 3800fps though...


??????

Not sure where you got that number from, last time I checked a 300 WinMag didn't share the same ballistics as a 30-378.:roll:

Try slowing that down by 600-700 fps.

[elkster]

I love my 300wsm, but for an all around and one only I'd pick my old 30-06.

[Schmaus]

Right on, good thread, go .338 or go home

[Ronforca]

For me it is the lowly 7x57.I have a few larger rifles up to the 338 but the 7x57 does it all for me.

[Cappy]

If I had to pick from the rifles I own now. It would have to be......nope can't do it. Sorry couldn't part with them.

[JohnS]

Hmmmm It would have to MY Tikka 7MM Rem Mag only one I have left.... I owned alot of guns and sold them .. only can shoot one at a time...LOL!

[kishman]

.270 wsm is an excellent all round caliber for the critters I'm intrested in eating......375 h&h for rabbits?:eek: ..lmao

[Dale]

bought a new 270 wsm and it does the job well, but ammo is not sold everywhere like the 30-06. I kinda miss my old 30-06, maybe i'll just buy another one and have both. but if i had to pick i would go with the 30-06, its just so practical.

[Gnarly]

35 Whelen,

[moose hunter]

the 300 may be big but it will take moose deer ect id have a 300 win mag for sure and all id need is 180 grains from wal-mart and a x 4 scope same rig my dad used on a moose at 560 yards

[Foxer]

The 300 may be big but it will take moose deer ect

So will the 30-06. In fact, if you're a handloader, there's not much USABLE difference between the two for the vast majority of hunters on those animals.

But - the 30-06 will cost you a lot less money to practice with. It has less kick - and is also therefore easier to pratice with, and in the 'same gun' would likely be faster to get back on target.

The 30-06 is available in more actions - there are levers, pumps, bolts, semis lots of singles, etc. The 300 is not available in nearly as many platforms.

The 30-06 is an easier gun to teach people on - you can get 'reduced recoil' loads that are less punch than a 30-30 for it. So it's great to introduce someone to centerfire rifles with. You can 'step them up' to standard loads as they get used to the gun.

Then there's 'mods'. If you get tired of your 30-06, you can have it made pretty easy into a host of cartridges - 270, 35 whelen, 338-06 (a fantastic little cartridge), etc.

A 300 is pretty much going to stay a 300. You can do a little, but not a lot.

Hard to beat a 30-06 for versitility and performance. Nothing WRONG with a 300 of course, not at all. But the 30-06 is a pretty hard rig to beat :)


And if you're trying to tell me your dad shoots a lot of moose at 560 yards - i'll probably have to say you misheard him. :) Very few hunters will take that shot no matter what gun they have. Conditions would have to be near - perfect.

And anyone good enough to do it with a 300 consistantly would likely be good enough with a 30-06. You're still holding over the animal, judging wind, etc, with both of 'em.

[Gateholio]

300WSm

It is a far more versatile cartridge than any 30-06.

Other choice would be a 338-06.

[sawmill]

308 Norma Mag Nuff said:wink:
Try buying ammo in bumf%&k alberta for it.30.06 fer me.

[BlacktailStalker]

I bought a 300WSM just for that reason :grin:

[Silent Wolf]

Sawmill,

Lucky for me I hand load and have about 600rounds for the 308 Norma Mag:wink:

Here on the coast it is $104.00 a box of 20:frown: :shock:

SW

[Bison]

Reach out and touch something. Use a .300 Win Mag!! You only need to touch once!

[Ltbullken]

I bought a 300WSM just for that reason :grin:

Ditto for all round North American game hunting! If I were to add African game on to that list, I'd step up to a 325 WSM as the all in one gun. ;)

[Camp Cook]

It would have to be my 26" barreled, Rem 700 BDL, stainless steel, synthetic stocked, 300 Rem Ultra Mag with a Leupold VX111 4.5-14 X 40mm B/C reticle scope...

150gr Hornady SST's @ 3630fps :mrgreen:

180gr Swift Scirroco's @ 3380fps :eek:

200gr Swift A-Frames @ 3180fps :cool:

[CanAm500]

150gr Hornady SST's @ 3630fps :mrgreen:

180gr Swift Scirroco's @ 3380fps :eek:

200gr Swift A-Frames @ 3180fps :cool:

The smilies tell it all :grin:

[Deerwhacker]

id definatly stick with my 300 wsm.
long range , enough power to humanly kill anything in north america ,and i can shoot bang on with it from different hunting positions.

[todbartell]

260 Remington for me

[Fred]

NO FAIR!!!!:mrgreen: Fred

[Islandeer]

I'm a little slow on this one but can't pass up the calibre debate. First and foremost I wll repeat a family mantra, passed on from my great, great uncle,to my Dad,and to me, and again to my two sons. Get close.And when your close as you can get to your animal,shoot carefully and wisely with your favourite calibre, mine happens to be a .270 in 130 or 150 grain. I was at a Fish and Game club meeting years ago where there was a major firearm sales rep. He gave a detailed lecture on all of the calibres,ballistics,magnums and the like. After he had finished he was asked what he thought was the best calibre. He paused for quite a while, then a smile slowly emerged on his weathered face. "Well", he said,"all of these big guns are very nice,but they don't kill things, the person who is aiming them does" So get close and aim small.

[huntwriter]

I'm a little slow on this one but can't pass up the calibre debate. First and foremost I wll repeat a family mantra, passed on from my great, great uncle,to my Dad,and to me, and again to my two sons. Get close.And when your close as you can get to your animal,shoot carefully and wisely with your favourite calibre, mine happens to be a .270 in 130 or 150 grain. I was at a Fish and Game club meeting years ago where there was a major firearm sales rep. He gave a detailed lecture on all of the calibres,ballistics,magnums and the like. After he had finished he was asked what he thought was the best calibre. He paused for quite a while, then a smile slowly emerged on his weathered face. "Well", he said,"all of these big guns are very nice,but they don't kill things, the person who is aiming them does" So get close and aim small.

That sales rep hit the proverbial nail sqare on the head. It is exactly what I would say on my seminars to if asked the same question. That goes for bow hunting too.:-D

[Camp Cook]

And when you can't get close aim small and hit them with hard.......

[Duner]

300WSM for me too. Maybe a little much power for deer but it is good for that Grizz around the corner trying to eat me.

[Ltbullken]

300WSM for me too. Maybe a little much power for deer but it is good for that Grizz around the corner trying to eat me.
But it do drop a deer quick and clean, don't it? It got a deer last fall with my 300 WSM and a 180 grn bullet. It reared, took a couple wobbly steps and collapsed.