The Ultimate North American Hunting Round?

Best North American Hunting Round

  • .270 Winchester

    Votes: 70 8.4%

  • .270 WSM

    Votes: 11 1.3%

  • .30-06

    Votes: 358 42.8%

  • .35 Whelen (tough to find, yes, but solid)

    Votes: 19 2.3%

  • 7mm Rem Mag

    Votes: 67 8.0%

  • .300 Win Mag

    Votes: 147 17.6%

  • .338 Win Mag

    Votes: 67 8.0%

  • .375 Mag (H&H or Ruger)

    Votes: 54 6.5%

  • .300 Ultra Mag (tough to find, but hard to argue with)

    Votes: 8 1.0%

  • .300 WSM

    Votes: 35 4.2%
  • Total voters
    836
hoytcanon said:
As in, 110 pounds to the eyebrow???
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Ahhh...the eyepiece monocle. Last time it happened to me was with that 870 mentioned above. Of all places, I was at a public range too. I was using my Lead-Sled for the first time. Two 10 kg weights on it, SG all settled in, reticle on target, squeeze, bang...oowwieee! Who knew you still had to control the fore-end. After much cursing and swearing, probably which resulted in nobody coming by to see if I was OK or to laugh too hard, I managed to staunch the bleeding and get back to business at hand. I managed a good laugh at myself after a while too.
 
Although this thread is getting entertaining, .....kinda like a discussion in the bar after 8-10 drinks!
But it does remind me of the Shah of Iran's sister, .....cute little blond, about 4 foot six, and ninety pounds, but great shot, and she took lots of game world-wide, along with her brother, .........the rifle she carried and shot so well in Africa was a .460!!! Took elephant, rhino, hippo, ......never flinched a bit!!!
Practice makes perfect, .......lots of kids shooting big calibers well because they practice. Get kicked enough times in the crotch and it doesn't bother you as much as the first time!!
 
NorthernCX said:
OK, then, for those that need to read the OP again, and still argue, here's why the .30-06 is the leader here. The OP uses two different defining words: 'ultimate' and 'best'. He then defines that further as being capable of taking anything, not just limiting the hunter to NA big game. When I said the the .30-06 was the bare minimum for Africa, that was to accentuate the point that if it's the minimum that guides will allow there, it is sufficient, more than sufficient, for the biggest on our continent.

So, for clarification, the .30-06 can utilize bullet weights from 110gr to 200+.... no other caliber can boast of that range. I've loaded ammo for mine from 110 to 220 grain, and it is able to handle everything I've thrown at it, obviously with results varying from one bullet weight to another, but still capable of 'hunting accuracy' with nearly everything.

Ammo availability: no other caliber with the exception of the .22LR is as prolific. I dare anyone here to hit a random business that sells ammo that can't find something for you in .30-06. Can you say the same for the .338? .35 Whelen? Didn't think so. Granted, the .300 Win Mag and .270 come close, but still can't catch it.

By those criteria, the .30-06 is the 'best' for a one-caliber shooter as it will take anything from squirrel to Grizzly, ammo can be had anywhere, the recoil won't kill you, etc., etc.
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Here in NB, it sits between 3030 and 303!!!
 
fraserdw said:
Here in NB, it sits between 3030 and 303!!!
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Please read the first post, these are exactly the answers this thread is seeking to avoid. ;) .308 is a lovely cartridge but a miserable choice for a continent wide cartridge from Wood Bison to mountain sheep, when the even more common .30-06 outperforms it. From a tree stand in the east? Absolutely it's close to the best, up north on a Polar Bear you've invested tens of thousands in, and out west on mountain goats that look like little white dots on a cliff? There are much better choices. :)
 
People are so afraid of shooting a gun like .338WM which is really only about 35-40ft/lbs of recoil, not a big hitter.... but apparently more the most can comfortably handle. I know for myself 35-40ft/lbs I could shoot multiple box's without trouble. Now take that number go to the range with some large 3" shells or 3.5" shells and your shooting anywhere from 60-80ft/lbs... close to and sometimes double the .338wm. Not even mentioning hoyt's massive 110ft/lb shell...... I've always found the shotguns not to be light in recoil, especially since they are all lighter then my rifles. However I read an article once, I believe it was field and stream, can't recall right now. However they said the perceived recoil and type of recoil was not the same. They attributed the differences to be things like shotguns you are not on a bench, you are most likely moving, swinging and pointing, have proper stance, adrenaline going etc.... Where as most people shooting these rifles have a perceived thought about how bad it will be. Then they sit at a bench and shoot it with the mindset that it will be horrible. Get off the bench, use your lower body to take some of the recoil away, let your body swing in motion to disperse the recoil. It really is a science. the way you stand or sit, hold or don't hold..... Basically they attributed a lot of recoil to be perception and lack of technique. Sure there are always going to be people that have low limits. Also studies just because your big doesn't mean you can handle large recoil, the opposite is true as well.... Just because your or small doesn't mean you can't handle large recoil. I'm not the biggest, granted I work out all the time but at 5'11 170lbs I can shoot a box of .416 comfortably. Recoil really is a person to person issue, but much of which can be changed
 
Worst thing you can do is sample recoil, as in "I tried my buddy's .460 Weatherby", as you go in to shoot it for no other reason than to perceive the recoil. You can pick up and shoot a .458 Lott or .470 Nitro without a second thought if you approach as just being a rifle, and by that I mean focusing on your target and not the coming recoil. That's why nobody notices recoil when hunting, you're focused on something other than "Is this going to hurt?" as the trigger is pulled. With very little effort you can use the same mindset when practicing, aim at your target and focus on hitting where you want, not on the recoil to be and you won't even notice it. With something like a .300 or .338 Mag this is extremely simple as the recoil is really very reasonable.
 
Recoil has a lot to do with shooting position as well. Standing, shooting off sticks, most people can comfortably shoot most rifles. Recoil becomes much more noticeable/unpleasant when sitting or shooting prone. Body size plays little role in recoil tolerance. In fact,, bigger guys often try to fight it where smaller people let their bodies move with it. Almost anyone can be taught to shoot a .375 well from the standing position.
 
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sheephunter said:
Recoil has a lot to do with shooting position as well. Standing, shooting off sticks, most people can comfortably shoot most rifles. Recoil becomes much more noticeable/unpleasant when sitting or shooting prone. Body size plays little role in recoil tolerance. In fact,, bigger guys often try to fight it where smaller people let their bodies move with it. Almost anyone can be taught to shoot a .375 well from the standing position.
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I also find shooting with scopes vs without makes a huge difference. I don't have to brace myself for a pounding to the shoulder, but I do have to fight my bodies natural defences of having a scope quickly accelerate towards my eye, and this of course is worse in prone as the scope is slightly closer to the brow. shooting with a 4" eye relief on scopes has helped me a tonne.
I know this is backwards to what everyone says about working up in recoil levels to not develop a flinch, but just for me personally I find that if I can shoot a gun that is extremely heavy recoiling I shoot smaller guns much better because they seem less in comparison. I don't have any super heavy kickers but just my most usual example, if I go to the range and shoot my 270 first I notice a bit more recoil in that than if I shoot my 300 WM first and then switch to the 270. I'd love to be able to put 20 rounds in a 458 down range and then start practicing with my 300.
 
Ardent said:
Surprisingly, it has remained civil and there have been no fatwas issued or multi-generational feuds initiated, despite my best efforts to nudge it in that direction. I do believe this to be a first in Canadian Gun Nutz history with regard to "which cartridge" queries.
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Angus just asks and you will receive lol ....
 
Ardent said:
Surprisingly, it has remained civil and there have been no fatwas issued or multi-generational feuds initiated, despite my best efforts to nudge it in that direction. I do believe this to be a first in Canadian Gun Nutz history with regard to "which cartridge" queries.
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I think ur a panty waist...





;)
 
Ardent said:
In my mind there is only one best choice, which I do not presently own, .300 Win Mag. It has the trajectory, bullet weight options, light enough rifles, easily available ammunition, power for big Brown bear and Ungulates, affordable rifles... everything really.
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I agree with you and curiously neither of us own one. It's next on the list for me. You?

I also appreciate the comments re: .308. Personal favourite of mine as well and the explanation makes sense.
 
Likely will be a .300 Mag, building the rifle so planning it out still. I'm a big fan of the .308 too, mostly because of the vast variety of firearms and actions it's available in. I'm a pretty eclectic shooter and enjoy everything from English double rifles to AR10s, and I don't think you'll find a more widely applied cartridge amongst various platforms than it. This said, indeed for this purpose, with its equally available competition, it's a poor choice.
 
Ardent said:
Likely will be a .300 Mag, building the rifle so planning it out still. I'm a big fan of the .308 too, mostly because of the vast variety of firearms and actions it's available in. I'm a pretty eclectic shooter and enjoy everything from English double rifles to AR10s, and I don't think you'll find a more widely applied cartridge amongst various platforms than it. This said, indeed for this purpose, with its equally available competition, it's a poor choice.
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If you're building it, plan for a 3.6ish mag box.
 
I don't get to select 375/06 improved. I'm nuts for that little unit. Low recoil but flattens anything in North America
 
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