Best All Round Rifle Caliber?

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Crsnake

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I'm sure a thread has been started like this already, but don't have the time to go look for it.

What, in your opinion, is the best rifle caliber to keep the freezer full?
Will mostly be looking to take down moose, with the odd deer or elk thrown in for good measure.
Been looking at a lot of .308, but 30-06 always comes up in there as well.

Let me know whats tried and true for you!

Thanks,
 
The one you shoot most accurately from all field positions, at distances that you can ensure the proper bullet placement of proper velocity and energy to cleanly harvest your targeted species.

Lots of good choices.

Either one you listed will do the job, if you do yours. As always bullet placement is key.

The extra velocity of the 30-06 will just extend your effective range a bit. But most animals of the species you listed will not be able to tell the difference between the two, at the average distances most animals are harvested (less than 200 yards, and usually between 100 and 150 yards; in over 35 years, my average distance has been 137 yards on antelope to bison, from the plains to the mountains).
The bigger factor will be the individual animal and its state of mind at the time of the shot. A rut crazed big bull elk or moose is a completely different animal than an unwary deer.

Old rule of thumb for energy at the animal:
1000 ft-lbs of energy for deer
1500 ft-lbs for moose and
2000 ft-lbs for elk (elk has the densest bone of animal in North America; stay away from the heavy shoulder bone!)
 
To look at this from a somewhat different perspective, over the years of guiding up here I was often asked what rifle the hunter should bring on their hunt. My answer was always the same, "Whatever gun you can handle and shoot the best."

I truly would rather be beside a guy with a 243 who could shoot well, than a guy with a 338 he was unfamiliar with. The oldest hunter I guided arrived in camp with a very worn old Model 99 Savage in 250-3000 with factory iron sights. He had never scoped it, and showed me how well one could do with iron sights. One shot with factory ammo was all he needed on anything he decided to shoot. His name was Jim Scott. He was 83 years young, wealthy enough to own whatever he wanted, and was quite impressed that we had personalized toilet paper in camp for him. ;)

As well, at the risk of being castigated for it here, I will also say again that it is my distinct impression that over the years, I have seen more one-shot kills using a 270 Winchester than anything else.

Ted
 
Why not? said:
To look at this from a somewhat different perspective, over the years of guiding up here I was often asked what rifle the hunter should bring on their hunt. My answer was always the same, "Whatever gun you can handle and shoot the best."

I truly would rather be beside a guy with a 243 who could shoot well, than a guy with a 338 he was unfamiliar with. The oldest hunter I guided arrived in camp with a very worn old Model 99 Savage in 250-3000 with factory iron sights. He had never scoped it, and showed me how well one could do with iron sights. One shot with factory ammo was all he needed on anything he decided to shoot. His name was Jim Scott. He was 83 years young, wealthy enough to own whatever he wanted, and was quite impressed that we had personalized toilet paper in camp for him. ;)

As well, at the risk of being castigated for it here, I will also say again that it is my distinct impression that over the years, I have seen more one-shot kills using a 270 Winchester than anything else.

Ted
Click to expand...

Haha. Good story! Thumbs up.
 
Why not? said:
To look at this from a somewhat different perspective, over the years of guiding up here I was often asked what rifle the hunter should bring on their hunt. My answer was always the same, "Whatever gun you can handle and shoot the best."

I truly would rather be beside a guy with a 243 who could shoot well, than a guy with a 338 he was unfamiliar with. The oldest hunter I guided arrived in camp with a very worn old Model 99 Savage in 250-3000 with factory iron sights. He had never scoped it, and showed me how well one could do with iron sights. One shot with factory ammo was all he needed on anything he decided to shoot. His name was Jim Scott. He was 83 years young, wealthy enough to own whatever he wanted, and was quite impressed that we had personalized toilet paper in camp for him. ;)

As well, at the risk of being castigated for it here, I will also say again that it is my distinct impression that over the years, I have seen more one-shot kills using a 270 Winchester than anything else.

Ted
Click to expand...

Seen a wtb add at a gun club for 250-3000 brass, phoned the guy up and said I had 100 cases for him asked me how much I wanted? nothing they are yours. The old fella gave me a couple jars of crab apple jelly in return. And showed me pictures of the grizzlies he took with a take down savage 99 250-3000 neat guy.
 
Why not? said:
To look at this from a somewhat different perspective, over the years of guiding up here I was often asked what rifle the hunter should bring on their hunt. My answer was always the same, "Whatever gun you can handle and shoot the best."

I truly would rather be beside a guy with a 243 who could shoot well, than a guy with a 338 he was unfamiliar with. The oldest hunter I guided arrived in camp with a very worn old Model 99 Savage in 250-3000 with factory iron sights. He had never scoped it, and showed me how well one could do with iron sights. One shot with factory ammo was all he needed on anything he decided to shoot. His name was Jim Scott. He was 83 years young, wealthy enough to own whatever he wanted, and was quite impressed that we had personalized toilet paper in camp for him. ;)

As well, at the risk of being castigated for it here, I will also say again that it is my distinct impression that over the years, I have seen more one-shot kills using a 270 Winchester than anything else.

Ted
Click to expand...

Appreciated that and couldn’t agree more, .270’s my most frequent recommendation to clients. And I’ve seen the same outsized effect from it.
 
JIMMY 808 said:
Seen a wtb add at a gun club for 250-3000 brass, phoned the guy up and said I had 100 cases for him asked me how much I wanted? nothing they are yours. The old fella gave me a couple jars of crab apple jelly in return. And showed me pictures of the grizzlies he took with a take down savage 99 250-3000 neat guy.
Click to expand...

Good trade. If you eat toast.
 
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