The all-around hunting calibre?

BRS9

Regular
Rating - 100%
12   0   0
Location
BC
I apologize if this topic has already come up a million times, my searches gave me nothing.

I don't know if it exists, but I'm looking for your guys' opinion of the most versatile hunting round. One that is enough for a bear, a deer or a moose, available at any shop, economical and accurate.

If you could only have one, what would it be?
 
There's no such thing.

You need to more clearly define your idea of 'all around.' If all around includes truly ALL game out there, then I'd say a 416 Rigby. If it's limited to North American game, including the massive coastal brown bears, then a 375. If you exclude those, then probably a 338. If you drop brown bears altogether, then you could probably get by with a 7mm08 or 270. Drop moose and elk, and a 257 roberts would be a good choice.
 
Well up until this year I was a big fan of the 30-06 and don't get me wrong its a great round for all around hunting. But I found a new favorite in the form of a short action the 270WSM. I know the 270 has been around for many year and a favorite of some of the most respected hunters like Jack O'Conner. But this little 270WSM has won me over to short action mags. You can take anything you want this this round maybe old Jack O'Conner would have been proud see the new 270wsm. But I have to give my vote to the to a old caliber with a new twist. I would recommend anyone to check out a 270WSM. Just my two cents on the topic.
 
Can't believe there would EVER be any consensus on this question ... it's been keeping gun writers "employed" writing articles for years !

Be like the rest of us ... You need at least half a dozen rifles, at bare minimum ... and you KNOW you WANT THEM !!!! :D
 
Most cartridges that fall between 270 Winchester and 375 H&H or so will fit this bill. There has been endless debate on whether a 7x57, 30-06 or 7mm RM or 338WM is the best choice....Just put a good bullet in the rigth place and they all work.
 
If I'm hunting deer but have a moose, elk or bear tag in my pocket too, I carry my 270.

If I'm hunting moose, bear or elk and might see a deer, I take my old 300 Winchester magnum
 
The all round hunting Cartridge is measured in personal preferance however there are a few all around cartridges that do and will perform up to any standards.
To set off in the right foot, any well placed shot with the proper bullet construction that finds a vital are will end up in th esam eresult regardless of what the projectile size is or not. Wound channel vs energy transferd to the animal has been argured as long in time as all of us can remember, whats wrigth whats wrong is up to you to determine.
There are wright and wrong combinations to play with and not play with vs game size.
I dont think thats the topic of discussion and I appologize for getting off topic but it applies to you cartidge, caliber choice.

I would think in Noth America, its possible to have one Gun, one cartridge that will do it all, loaded with different loads, or bullet combo's that will deliver what you want when you need it.
For North america an all round cartridge that could do it all would be a 338 win mag. In my mine I say this because you have a mid to long range shooting selection, that is accurate and stable at anyrange with the ability to stop and agressive animal if needed or take the lungs out of deer at 50 yards.

Thats my thoughts, or 2 cents

The story woul be much different in other countries, such as affrica! where game varry in size and the will to live is great!
 
Last edited:
Personally, I have a half-dozen varmint guns for target and varmint use, then I have a 7mm08, a 338, a 378wby, a 458 and now a 500 A-square :D :D. Which one I pick out of the safe depends more on my mood than anything
 
I don't know if it exists, but I'm looking for your guys' opinion of the most versatile hunting round. One that is enough for a bear, a deer or a moose, available at any shop, economical and accurate.


i always look in little shops and anywhere that sells ammo in bc and ab. the only things you are sure to find anywhere are; 270, 30-30, 303, 308, and 30-06. there is no guarantee on anything else, even the 7mm rem mag and 300 win mag are often absent in places like hardware stores and gas stations. any of these will do fine for deer, black bear, and moose.
 
For me an "all around cartridge" would mean being able to walk into the few ammo stores we have left in our area and buy new ammo when I needed to if I ran out of my reloaded stuff. :)
 
Prosper, good cal. selection but not enough senseless overlap. Although the .500 does make it up to some extent. My 378 should be here any time.
 
Back
Top Bottom