Ultimate do everything but not over do anything cartridge for all big game hunting

That applies to any caliber, along with a reasonable level of shooting ability.

Of course, but when I think of something that is the "ultimate" "all-around" I think of a cartridge that is also useable by the average joe. It is also why I chose 9.3x62 instead of the .375 H&H when looking at dangerous game.

In the end there really is no "one-size fits all". Being limited to one cartridge would inevitably mean a compromise of some sort. So accepting that compromise, to me anyways, the question becomes: "what would be best for most people most of the time"? Most people can handle a .30-06 and most hunting situations in the world could be handled with it. Of course ymmv and that is just fine!
 
Of course, but when I think of something that is the "ultimate" "all-around" I think of a cartridge that is also useable by the average joe.

Should the ultimate fighting championships only be valid if the Avon lady had a solid chance of winning? Would the ultimate racecar be capable of winning with my wife driving?
Will a cartridge gain ability just because it's the biggest thing someone can handle?
It's all well, good and fun to debate what the most versatile cartridge is, but it was settled about 100 years ago. Your 9.3 is allowed in Zimbabwe for dangerous game hunting, but only because they aren't paying much attention. I'm not aware of one factory load that meets their minimum joule requirement. I don't think there's another country that will let you use it for the big boys.
When the day comes that I have to equip troops I'll worry about what the average guy, who probably doesn't want to be there can shoot. In the meantime I'm more interested in results.
I doubt that anyone is taking this thread seriously, I know I'm not.:D Who wants to only have one gun, or be average anyway?
 
Following your criteria my 375RUM loaded with 260gr Accubonds @ 3020fps/300's @ 2775fps/350gr TSX @ 2450fps is the ultimate do everything rifle cartridge combo but that is only because I can handle the recoil...

I definitely don't feel under gunned or over gunned when I am packing it...


:D
 
well, there are large swaths of the world where the 375 isn't legal for hunting. places ranging from areas in BC, AB, Ont, to large parts of the US, IIRC places like ireland have restrictions on calibers over 7 or 8mm, and some countries only allow shotguns.
 
Without getting too specific about bullet choice, a .375 RUM would definitely be in the running. You could even make good case for being able to practically everything, everywhere with only one bullet too.
 

OK - what about .270 vs. .280? Or the "is the .243 Win good enough for deer/elk/moose?" threads. This surely must be better than those...:)


Dogleg said:
Should the ultimate fighting championships only be valid if the Avon lady had a solid chance of winning?

Lol! Applying this type of logic would greatly decrease the number of hunters in the bush.
 
well, there are large swaths of the world where the 375 isn't legal for hunting. places ranging from areas in BC, AB, Ont, to large parts of the US, IIRC places like ireland have restrictions on calibers over 7 or 8mm, and some countries only allow shotguns.

I'm going to beat Gatehouse to it!
Please tell us where in BC it is not legal to hunt with a 375, as long as it is legal to hunt with other centrefire calibres?
 
well, there are large swaths of the world where the 375 isn't legal for hunting. places ranging from areas in BC, AB, Ont, to large parts of the US, IIRC places like ireland have restrictions on calibers over 7 or 8mm, and some countries only allow shotguns.

You easily win the "Most ill thought out statement based on zero research" award for the year with that one.
And where pray-tell is there anywhere in Alberta or BC, let alone the US that you can legally fire a gun and not use a .375 caliber on Bambi?
Just curious is all.
 
well, there are large swaths of the world where the 375 isn't legal for hunting. places ranging from areas in BC, AB, Ont, to large parts of the US, IIRC places like ireland have restrictions on calibers over 7 or 8mm, and some countries only allow shotguns.

I'm going to beat Gatehouse to it!
Please tell us where in BC it is not legal to hunt with a 375, as long as it is legal to hunt with other centrefire calibres?

Yes, please enlighten us...Where in BC is there a caliber/cartidge restriction ?(except bison, where you need a certain power level that does not exclude a .375?)

In BC we have ARCHERY ONLY zones and SHOTGUNS WIHT SHOT ONLY zones, but anywhere you are allowed a centerfire rifle, you can use a .22 Hornet or a 50BMG...
 
You easily win the "Most ill thought out statement based on zero research" award for the year with that one.
And where pray-tell is there anywhere in Alberta or BC, let alone the US that you can legally fire a gun and not use a .375 caliber on Bambi?
Just curious is all.


strathcona county, edmonton bowzone, canmore bowzone. all in alberta. and yes, you can hunt with guns in strathcona county (shotguns and muzzleloaders) but not a 375. i'll politely suggest you read your hunting regs before calling me uninformed.
 
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... I'd have to agree on the 30-06, with maybe the 270 Win. ( The 7mmMag. and the 300Win.Mag, are perhaps a little over Kill for thinner skinned Game. ) I'm not much of a Hunter, and haven't done so so for years, so my choices are definitely not based on wide experience or current development's. ...... David K
 
Yes, please enlighten us...Where in BC is there a caliber/cartidge restriction ?(except bison, where you need a certain power level that does not exclude a .375?)

In BC we have ARCHERY ONLY zones and SHOTGUNS WIHT SHOT ONLY zones, but anywhere you are allowed a centerfire rifle, you can use a .22 Hornet or a 50BMG...

can you hunt everywhere in BC that it is legal to hunt with a 375? no. anywhere you can hunt with a centerfire rifle. yes.

there is no such thing as the ultimate rifle and to add one legal qualifier (big 5 in afrika or bison in BC), means you have to add other legal qualifiers.... muzzleloading RIFLES in strathcona county, sub 270 in parts of ontario and ireland, no former military calibers in many other countries.

it might be possible to load a 270 weatherby with 180 grain bullets and be legal for bison in BC and fit in ontario and ireland and all the no military cartridge countries, but this wouldn't work in afrika or strathcona county (which has some tremendous whitetailed deer) or large parts of the US (why are there so many new slugs and slug guns???).

just the other day i was in some thick steep timber wishing my rifle barrel was 6-8" shorter and i didn't have a multi hundred dollar scope to break my fall on some moss covered scree. i actually thought a revolver would have been perfect. later in the day i was glassing the edge of a hayfield on the far side of 300 yards.

the ultimate rifle to me would have to be adequate for elk to 400 yards, legal for elephant (let's go with that since i can't get excited about WT deer, or lets add interchangeable barrels, i could get excited for drinking guinness and hunting red deer in ireland though), short and light for climbing in the timber, fit in a saddle scabbard, weatherproof, look nice, be stocked (with wood) for open sights and a scope, be built on a mauser action either 1909 or 1935. have light enough recoil so that i can shoot it well and my son can shoot it, and do this without handloading tricks, one rifle-one load. not to mention accurate.
 
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