Best do-it-all hunting caliber

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RYoung

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Hey guys and gals. I'm relatively new to hunting as well as firearms ownership, but am wanting to get into it more and more as each day progresses. I already have my waterfowl shotgun, and I'm looking for a hunting rifle, but would prefer one caliber that can do it all. In my search for that magical caliber, I stumbled upon a link from Bass Pro in which they have a chart with over a dozen different calibers and categorize what they're best for. 300 WinMag seems to be the only golden caliber (on their chart) that can handle all big game. I know many factors come into play like shot placement, distance, bullet type, weight, etc. But in your expertise, is a 300 WinMag a good, do-it-all caliber? Thanks for your input.

https://1source.basspro.com/news-ti...e-rifle-caliber-chart-pick-right-ammo-hunting
 
Definitely not. A 30.06 is much better. It is a lot more versatile, can take anything in North America, and won't tear your shoulder apart so you can comfortably shoot until you are confident and competent.
 
For a do it all, definitely not a magnum. I don't even own a magnum anymore. If I would have to choose one rifle for deer-moose-bear it would be 30-06 or .308 with .270 and 7mm-08 right behind.
 
A little bit like asking how long is a piece of string, or how high is up? Where do you plan to hunt - what do you consider "big game". For Yukon, I think 300 Win Mag might be on light side for buffalo, possibly great bears?? For prairies, might recoil too much for coyotes or wolves? Animals did not get armour plating in last few years - bazillion moose taken (and wounded, I am sure) with 30/30 and 303 British. You planning on 500 plus yards or 150 yards and less? For 50 years, the answer would probably have been to get a 30-06 and learn to shoot it. Still not a mistake, at all. Most common effective game rounds are probably 15% plus or minus from 30-06 - say 50 or 75 yards gain or loss. Whomever at Bass Pro created such a chart was likely a sales person, not a "real" hunter???
 
Potashminer said:
A little bit like asking how long is a piece of string, or how high is up? Where do you plan to hunt - what do you consider "big game". For Yukon, I think 300 Win Mag might be on light side for buffalo, possibly great bears?? For prairies, might recoil too much for coyotes or wolves? Animals did not get armour plating in last few years - bazillion moose taken (and wounded, I am sure) with 30/30 and 303 British. You planning on 500 plus yards or 150 yards and less? For 50 years, the answer would probably have been to get a 30-06 and learn to shoot it. Still not a mistake, at all. Most common effective game rounds are probably 15% plus or minus from 30-06 - say 50 or 75 yards gain or loss. Whomever at Bass Pro created such a chart was likely a sales person, not a "real" hunter???
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I live in BC and would like to get started close to home. But I wouldn't turn down an invitation to another province or country if one were to be offered to me. So I am looking for a versatile cartridge that can handle anything from deer to bear (bison would be nice, but probably need a much stronger round I'm guessing) from 100 yards to say 600 maybe even further. Just looking to make one purchase that can keep me going until I can afford to have a short range deer gun, a long range deer gun, an ULTRA long range deer gun, etc.
 
.30-06 is the best out of all. It has taken every animal on this planet, and recoil is more than manageable for most shooters.
 
I picked 308. Short action, versatile, and available. 308 can take pretty much anything in Canada. If you have caliber restrictions in your area, that may impact your decision. I don't think a magnum is necessary.
 
Most deer / bear / moose / elk game will have about 10" kill zone. Get a bunch of paper dinner plates - about 10". Get out in boonies and set them up at random distances. You will learn your limitations, plus for your cartridge, plus for your rifle and for your scope by: you get one shot at each target - hit or miss, yes or no. No "groups", no "sighters" - just pick a target and hit it, first time. Hit it anywhere that leaves a hole in that paper plate. You will learn about wind - that plate at 400 or 500 yards might require holding 3 or 4 feet into the wind to hit it. Don't want to be "learning" about that with an elk in your sights. Average, experienced shooters probably can pretty consistently hit 250 or 300 yards with first cold bore shot - that is all that you get. So, think in terms of what the cartridge needs to accomplish at the range that you and your gear can hit that 10" plate, every time. Many of us started with lighter, smaller cartridges - learn to shoot first, learn to hit; then move to larger capabilities as your skill increases. Don't be the "newbie" with a $3,000 rig and humungous "mangle um" belted cartridge, and a huge "flinch", who misses the 125 yard standing deer...
 
Potashminer said:
Most deer / bear / moose / elk game will have about 10" kill zone. Get a bunch of paper dinner plates - about 10". Get out in boonies and set them up at random distances. You will learn your limitations, plus for your cartridge, plus for your rifle and for your scope by: you get one shot at each target - hit or miss, yes or no. No "groups", no "sighters" - just pick a target and hit it, first time. Hit it anywhere that leaves a hole in that paper plate. You will learn about wind - that plate at 400 or 500 yards might require holding 3 or 4 feet into the wind to hit it. Don't want to be "learning" about that with an elk in your sights. Average, experienced shooters probably can pretty consistently hit 250 or 300 yards with first cold bore shot - that is all that you get. So, think in terms of what the cartridge needs to accomplish at the range that you and your gear can hit that 10" plate, every time. Many of us started with lighter, smaller cartridges - learn to shoot first, learn to hit; then move to larger capabilities as your skill increases. Don't be the "newbie" with a $3,000 rig and humungous "mangle um" belted cartridge, and a huge "flinch", who misses the 125 yard standing deer...
Click to expand...

I was hoping to first pick the cartridge, find a decent rifle chambered in that cartridge, then spend lots of time sighting it in and experimenting with it at range. I'm not one to buy something and test it in the bush. I know there are several variable that can make or break a shot. I'm just asking, if conditions are perfect, what is the most versatile cartridge for all larger game at ranges between 100 to 600 plus yards?
 
Practice, practice, practice. That’s the key. Always try to learn something new. Don’t go too heavy or too Light as far as caliber and actual rifle weight. Something middle of the road like 30-06, 308, 270, 7mm08, etc.
 
You're asking and have been answered.
30-06 or .308.
Mean average.
Bigger is overkill for deer, bear, antelope, etc.
Smaller not ideal for the biggest stuff.

And consider recoil, shoot a .300 mag before buying.
7mm Remington mag an option, but shoot the bigger boys first before purchase.
 
For sure, if you want an all around caliber, the 30-06 is about as versatile as anything out there.

The 300 Win Mag is a flatter shooting, more powerful cartridge, but it isn't nearly as versatile. Every 300 WM I've owned has it's preference of bullet and is a bit more finicky to load for. The 300 Win Mag, because of the magazine length in some rifles, can be a bag of snakes. An OAL of 3.340 is not ideal, in many instances that is too short.

The 30-06 doesn't seem to have many reloading or factory ammo issues. Sure it prefers a 165 grain bullet, but mine shoot 220's just fine. Cast bullets work as well. If whitetail is your main game, a 270 is a good choice as well. As mentioned above, so is the 7mm Rem Mag, but it has issues, mostly minor, but it can be a challenge to load for, sometime not.

If a lighter rifle is your cup of tea and you'd prefer a short action, hands down the best caliber is the 270 Winchester Magnum. I've never owned or shot one, but the hunters that I've talked to think it's good. Do yourself a favor and select a rifle with a magazine a bit longer than the 2.8" norm as found in the 700 Rem.

A 308 will never be 30-06, but it does come close.

The newer high BC bullets do change the game somewhat, in my 300 Win Mag I loaded up 208 gr ELD-M bullets, they will reach out there. My OAL on my ammo was 3.42". The rifle was an old BSA, with a crusty barrel that would still shoot MOA or better.

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Nitro
 
30-06. Large spread in available bullet weights, plentiful factory ammo, and plentiful components at reasonable prices. Powerful enough to put down anything in NA reliably, with moderate recoil in a nicely sized rifle. Its longevity isn’t an accident.

Of course, .308 will provide 99% performance in a smaller package.

I went 30-06 because I got a decent deal on the rifle. Had the .308 been discounted in place of the 30-06, the .308 would have followed me home.
 
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