If you had to choose
- Thread starter TrevorMack
- Start date
Funny..... This was my first instinct, and I don't even own one....... But now that I reload, the ability so send a readily available 30 cal projectile at numerous velocities would make it my choice of i could only own one....... Thankfully, I am not in that position.....
Yes..... I am well aware, since you hold most of the goodies I covet..... Lol.....
- Location
- Rockland, ON
In my own back yard the most abundant game is whitetail deer and black bear. So if I had to choose only one calibre to put meat on the table, I would choose the 30-30 Winchester.
No assumption at all. Everywhere I go I see .300s. Most of those are Win Mags, but a few more Weatherbys than I would have expected. I assume that everyone has a 30-06, or used to have one but when they dig out their wallets and passports they seem to forget to bring the "do it all 30-06" Maybe they realize that the bigger 30s can do everything better if they are stuck on the 30 bore. Heck, in international, or even inter province hunting camps I can only think of one 30-06 that wasn't brought by me and he was a high school kid. His dad had a .300 though.
What's the 30-06 best at? I can't think of much. I can think of dozens of other cartridges that are better for one use or other, and many that are better at everything.
That's not to say that I think the 30-06 is useless. Its just miles behind the things I do like for everything resembling normal hunting. Granted, many times it doesn't matter much what you use. I have 4 30-06s at the moment, and have easily killed more game with that cartridge than any other and perhaps more with it than all the others put together. I have a real good idea what it is, and what it isn't. What I like them for are certain specialized applications where the ranges are relatively modest, rate of fire high, and the magnums would melt their barrels right off.
I'll assume the ranges are very short.
Not go get "snooty".... But there are various categories of hunters and we all have our place and we should all embrace eachother at the table..... But you are right......
I was, and still am, a huge aught six fan....... I personally think long vs short is a useless debate among the masses until they actually start filling their rifle stables...... As I fill my stables, I am without an aught six and have no desire to buy one...... But I am not looking for a "do all".....
I would still maintain that, for most of Canada, the aught six is a great cartridge...... But, if you want to start venturing into different territory and different species, and different provinces (especially if you head north), the aught six is lacking....... Thinking bison, grizz etc.......
That's why my vote goes to .300 win mag........ But that is confined to the premise of the thread......
How is it more versatile than any of the .300s?
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Previously in this topic of 'If you had to choose' I was curious and asked as to what your 'pick of the litter' would be, and to add to that, why?
Good thing the OP was looking for opinions-we have lots. It is not what IS the best it is what would we keep. I do not feel under gunned with a 280 nor over gunned with a 300. We seem to agree that most will do and a little more might be good. If I only shot local and only store bought than a 30-06 would be a good choice. It is also interesting that in the "will this work for hunting threads" lots of cartridges come up, but not many here think that a 7.62x39 is a all arounder. It is similar, a 06 is very good but a 300 is a better choice for bison and even moose on cutlines up north. If a little is good more is better 
I am selling off most of my big game guns, the 06 is on the table and I think has a new home. I will keep my 280 as I like it and it is Very accurate, make up for a little loss in power. JMHO
I am selling off most of my big game guns, the 06 is on the table and I think has a new home. I will keep my 280 as I like it and it is Very accurate, make up for a little loss in power. JMHOWhen I first really started into hunting (other then going out with Dad as a kid) and had a young family, a wife that didn't work and had to watch every nickle and dime I could only afford one rifle and could barely afford to feed that.
Since it had to do for deer, moose and bear I got a 30.06 - you could get ammo for it even at Bob's general store at the corner of middle and nowhere streets and the .06 is more than sufficient for anything in North America that you may choose to hunt save a really pissed of Grizzly Bear.
My caliber choices have now grown and the 30.06 never comes out of the cabinet anymore - no need for my style of hunting.
And that should be your real question: "for my style of hunting which is......., what caliber would meet my needs" - if you only hunt whitetails @ no more than 75 yards, you certainly don't need anything magnum or even anything in the 30 caliber class.
Most guy who only have 1 gun have a 30-something caliber - 30.06, 308, 303 (not so much anymore but 20 years ago you saw more of them then anything else during the fall big game seasons) plus a ton of Model 94 30-30's, because everyone and their dog owned one of them.
Now if I could only have one rifle it would be chambered for 7.08 - because it's capable of doing everything I could ask of a rifle in my style of hunting and it's a lot easier on the shoulder than my 30.06...
Since it had to do for deer, moose and bear I got a 30.06 - you could get ammo for it even at Bob's general store at the corner of middle and nowhere streets and the .06 is more than sufficient for anything in North America that you may choose to hunt save a really pissed of Grizzly Bear.
My caliber choices have now grown and the 30.06 never comes out of the cabinet anymore - no need for my style of hunting.
And that should be your real question: "for my style of hunting which is......., what caliber would meet my needs" - if you only hunt whitetails @ no more than 75 yards, you certainly don't need anything magnum or even anything in the 30 caliber class.
Most guy who only have 1 gun have a 30-something caliber - 30.06, 308, 303 (not so much anymore but 20 years ago you saw more of them then anything else during the fall big game seasons) plus a ton of Model 94 30-30's, because everyone and their dog owned one of them.
Now if I could only have one rifle it would be chambered for 7.08 - because it's capable of doing everything I could ask of a rifle in my style of hunting and it's a lot easier on the shoulder than my 30.06...
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
glamb, my start and entry to the sport of big game was somewhat similar. My first rifle for that purpose was a Simpon-Sears sporterized Lee Enfield. Then, funds were a little tight and Moose & Deer hunting was a recreation and weekend activity I took part in with Dad. An added benefit was that it helped fill the deep freeze with meat for the winter. Dads later pick of the litter was an upgrade to a model 4000 Husqvarna light weight in 30-06 that I now have. I've used it a few years back on one of my first Mule Deer hunts on draw in AB. It will be passed on to my right handed Granddaughter in Sherwood Park AB, in a few years. My first calibre/rifle upgrade was to a 308 NM. And, there've been a few additions to my little harem since then but, in North America, if push came to shove, I wouldn't hesitate to call on the '06 again. Admittedly, for the likes of say, Bison or Grizz, there's others that would likely get the call. Bottm line though, considering the game hunted, expected or anticipated ranges, where do you draw the line?? But, as my idol once stated, 'I'd rather be over gunned than the alternative'If the premise of the thread is what I would pick for North America if I could only have one, then I'd take the .300 as well. There isn't much it isn't it isn't a first class choice for. Long range, close range, big animals and small. Grizzly and buffalo? Done it already. I was tossing 190 grain LR Accubonds (.640 BC) at 3200 fps yesterday with one of my .300 Wins with book loads. I want to see a 30-06 do that. On the other hand, if I decided tomorrow that 30-06 ballistics were somehow magical I could load it down and have that too. It doesn't work the other way around.
If it were 1 cartridge for the world it would be a .375.
Best summary for this thread..
sharp shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Essex county (Ontario)
That .222 is a dream and you wished you had one.
And I would vote 375 H&H, I love mine and will always have it.
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That may be true. I will say that the biggest cartridge in the gun safe is 30-06 although I've tried some larger calibers they just aren't fun to shoot. My preference is the 6.5 to 7mm bracket.
I am fairly new to the 9.3X62 but I am really liking it as a reload caliber. Stout loads will flatten anything or you can dial it down for smaller game.
The 375 H&H is nice too, and a bit flatter for the long range.
But for only one, I suppose the king is the 30-06.
The 375 H&H is nice too, and a bit flatter for the long range.
But for only one, I suppose the king is the 30-06.
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