The Ultimate North American Hunting Round?

Best North American Hunting Round

  • .270 Winchester

    Votes: 70 8.4%

  • .270 WSM

    Votes: 11 1.3%

  • .30-06

    Votes: 358 42.8%

  • .35 Whelen (tough to find, yes, but solid)

    Votes: 19 2.3%

  • 7mm Rem Mag

    Votes: 67 8.0%

  • .300 Win Mag

    Votes: 147 17.6%

  • .338 Win Mag

    Votes: 67 8.0%

  • .375 Mag (H&H or Ruger)

    Votes: 54 6.5%

  • .300 Ultra Mag (tough to find, but hard to argue with)

    Votes: 8 1.0%

  • .300 WSM

    Votes: 35 4.2%
  • Total voters
    836
hoytcanon said:
... I AM comfortable with the term "adequate" or "sufficient" as it relates to the harvesting of game... I disagree that the .30/06 (specifically) is "barely adequate" for any NA game... used within appropriate limits, it is lethally effective.
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I would suggest that those "appropriate limits" are somewhat more restricted with an ought-six than with, say, a 338 or .375. I haven't hunted, and probably never will hunt, Polar Bear or Woods Bison, but even on Black Bear or Moose I am fond of a quartering-on shot that breaks the shoulder/upper leg and then continues on into the heart-lung area. If I were using a cartridge that I considered "barely adequate" for the animal in question, whether that were a Whitetail with a .243 or a Bison with a .30/06, I would restrict myself to perfectly broadside, behind-the-shoulder shots. Now, for me to use such a barely-adequate chambering on deer in my back 40 is easy to accept, even if I don't personally do it. If I don't get that perfect presentation, well, no big deal...there's always tomorrow, right up to the end of the season. But for a hunter who has travelled huge distances and paid large sums of money for a time-limited opportunity to hunt for a trophy animal in some far-flung corner of the continent, or the world...and who may be presented with one opportunity, with a presentation that isn't a textbook broadside...can you really suggest that he is well served by a cartridge which cannot be expected to perform not merely adequately, but in spectacular fashion?

All cartridges have limits. It's a matter of opinion and debate as to when those limits are so limiting that the cartridge choice becomes barely adequate, and it's unlikely that we will ever see a meeting of minds on this topic.
 
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And like Dogleg says.......recoil begins after .40........however I would like to add the 378 Wby to the "over forty" clan in recoil at least as an honorable mention...........
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Douglas,
When I first put up that signature line it actually was "life starts at 40, recoil starts at 375" but I changed it later. The .378 definitely rates a honorable mention.
 
bearkilr said:
The 378 has one of the most obnoxious recoils I've felt, almost as obnoxious as the 460. Come to think of it, the only Weatherby I like is the 257. :)
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There must be some mistake, Hornady's HITS says the .257 with 80 gr TTSXs is only good for 75 yard shots on deer. They couldn't have put it on the internet if it weren't true; right? I'm going to put a bayonet on mine just to make sure.
 
Let me know if this is too much of a slide for the thread, but "recoil" has come up as a theme in many comments and I have a Q. I don't own a rifle larger than 300 Win Mag and haven't shot anything bigger than that. My 300 has a muzzle brake and "felt recoil" is about the same as my 270 Win without one. But then, to me, recoil from my 30-06 and 303 and 270WSM also feels about the same as my 270 Win. They are all easy shooting without any discomfort inflicted. Now, I have put many 2 3/4 Copper Solid sabots down a model 870 Rem SG that has an 18.5" rifled barrel and that sucker hurts. I can't, enjoyably, endure more than 20 rounds at any one time. Would it be safe to assume that one of those larger, recoil inducing rifles (.40's etc) have a felt recoil like that 870 SG shooting sabots (no, I'm not advocating a 12 gauge as the ultimate NA round, but it could do it).

As a final observation, whenever I've been lucky enough to have hunted myself into a position to take a shot at game, recoil felt like my 22lr.
 
jjohnwm said:
I would suggest that those "appropriate limits" are somewhat more restricted with an ought-six than with, say, a 338 or .375. I haven't hunted, and probably never will hunt, Polar Bear or Woods Bison, but even on Black Bear or Moose I am fond of a quartering-on shot that breaks the shoulder/upper leg and then continues on into the heart-lung area. If I were using a cartridge that I considered "barely adequate" for the animal in question, whether that were a Whitetail with a .243 or a Bison with a .30/06, I would restrict myself to perfectly broadside, behind-the-shoulder shots. Now, for me to use such a barely-adequate chambering on deer in my back 40 is easy to accept, even if I don't personally do it. If I don't get that perfect presentation, well, no big deal...there's always tomorrow, right up to the end of the season. But for a hunter who has travelled huge distances and paid large sums of money for a time-limited opportunity to hunt for a trophy animal in some far-flung corner of the continent, or the world...and who may be presented with one opportunity, with a presentation that isn't a textbook broadside...can you really suggest that he is well served by a cartridge which cannot be expected to perform not merely adequately, but in spectacular fashion?

All cartridges have limits. It's a matter of opinion and debate as to when those limits are so limiting that the cartridge choice becomes barely adequate, and it's unlikely that we will ever see a meeting of minds on this topic.
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I think this is a really good point. If I lived near the hunting I'd be playing around with all kinds of different rifles knowing that I can come back and try again the next day if the opportunity isn't perfect. As it is, a good elk hunt is at least an 8 hour drive and it's completely possible to drive 30 hours (each way) for a hunt from my corner of BC. I take a rifle that will cover me in a lot of different scenarios, not just an ideal broadside shot.
I believe it was Bob Hagel who said something like, "don't use a rifle that will do the job when everything goes right, use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." It's hunting and things can and do go wrong. Even if you don't seek to make a difficult first shot, if something goes wrong do you have the ability and rifle to make a long distance, quartering shot to follow up?
I still like the 338 Win Mag or 340 Wby Mag for the original question. Reasonable flat trajectory for long shots and enough power for the large and dangerous critters.
 
FoymountFarm said:
Let me know if this is too much of a slide for the thread, but "recoil" has come up as a theme in many comments and I have a Q. I don't own a rifle larger than 300 Win Mag and haven't shot anything bigger than that. My 300 has a muzzle brake and "felt recoil" is about the same as my 270 Win without one. But then, to me, recoil from my 30-06 and 303 and 270WSM also feels about the same as my 270 Win. They are all easy shooting without any discomfort inflicted. Now, I have put many 2 3/4 Copper Solid sabots down a model 870 Rem SG that has an 18.5" rifled barrel and that sucker hurts. I can't, enjoyably, endure more than 20 rounds at any one time. Would it be safe to assume that one of those larger, recoil inducing rifles (.40's etc) have a felt recoil like that 870 SG shooting sabots (no, I'm not advocating a 12 gauge as the ultimate NA round, but it could do it).

As a final observation, whenever I've been lucky enough to have hunted myself into a position to take a shot at game, recoil felt like my 22lr.
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The recoil of the "real" kickers is equal to three 3" magnum slugs at once from a standard 7lb shotgun, so while I'm arguing recoil isn't an honest criticism of a cartridge, the perspective must admittedly be illustrated, as the hottest 3" magnum slugs don't even come close to the true kickers. You get used it very quickly, and I cringe comparing the recoil this way as already people who feel slugs kick will start making up their minds on recoil as a consideration. With practice everything is manageable and if you can shoot a real kicker, hopefully with the triple-3" magnum slug comparison in mind it becomes immediately apparent a .300 Magnum produces utterly no recoil in comparison and is exceedingly comfortable. With the perspective of actual kickers in mind, the .308, .30-06, and .300 Win are all in exactly the same recoil class and why not take advantage of the .300's trajectory and heavy bullet performance.

Now, I've included the video below again to show recoil will not hurt you. These rifles are real kickers, less for the .375 H&H, none of them are objectionable despite the top of the range equalling the aforementioned three, 3" magnum slugs at once recoil level. In fact, they are rather boring to watch being shot and to shoot even, none of the drama one expects. My impression was actually one of slight disappointment as I realized they are all just rifles, not some beast one requires enormous talent and a steel constitution to wield effectively. Yes, you must be well practiced and not afraid of recoil, but anyone who puts in the time will find them rather anticlimactic. With this in mind the criticisms of recoil and talk of dropping to a .30-06 from a .300, .308 from .30-06, or even worse a 7mm-08 from a .308 start to ring of bad comedy. There isn't a cartridge in my poll that isn't completely comfortable for any shooter willing to learn to shoot it, and recoil isn't a valid criticism of the cartridges in the list as it's so shooter dependent.

 
I've shot 3.5" 2 1/4 ounce turkey loads from a 5.5 pound Pardner break action... that will get your attention! I perceive the "felt recoil" to be significantly stiffer than from my 8 pound .45/120 @ max.
 
hoytcanon said:
I've shot 3.5" 2 1/4 ounce turkey loads from a 5.5 pound Pardner break action... that will get your attention! I perceive the "felt recoil" to be significantly stiffer than from my 8 pound .45/120 @ max.
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That calculates at something like 110 lbs of recoil. I used to hunt deer with a CIL 402, no recoil pad of course, 3 or 4 shots at a time was about all the practice I could take.
 
MiG25 said:
That calculates at something like 110 lbs of recoil. I used to hunt deer with a CIL 402, no recoil pad of course, 3 or 4 shots at a time was about all the practice I could take.
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Hoyt's a big guy too and it likely fit like a Phillips screwdriver in a Robertson screw, fit and stock design is huge, neither of which H&Rs or CIL are particularly known for. That always adds to the flavour and experience. I like a long length of pull and the GMA .450 Rigby in the video is quite short, was the least pleasant of the group for sure.
 
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