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

Camp Cook

Camp Cook

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I've been thinking about the ultimate do everything but not over do anything cartridge including recoil for big game hunting and after seeing my 25 year old son shoot a mule deer buck Monday afternoon with my appr 50 + year old Husquavarna chambered in 270 Weatherby that my grandfather had given my dad 40 years ago and the rifle I shot my first 10 or so deer with I was reminded how proficient a 140gr 270 cal bullet @ 3200fps - 3300fps is especially now that premium bullets are available.

After giving us the rifle my grandfather appr 25 - 30 years ago demanded the 270 back and gave us 4 other rifles a 243, 30-06, 300 Mag and a 308 Norma Mag in exchange for it then to my amazement a few months before he died @ 94 years appr 3 years ago he gave me back the 270 Weatherby it was a dream come true for me getting that gun back I worked up a load with 140gr TSX and gave it to my son wow history...

So my pick is obviously a 270 Weatherby now loaded with 140gr TSX @ 3200 + fps...


:D
 
358 Imp.

160-225 grain premium and non-premium bullets readily available.
Short action (for all the guys so worried about long vs. short action)
Readily available brass, powders, bullets, primers
Every bit as good ballistically as a 7RM (160 grains @2950)
Every bit as good ballistically as a .30-06 (185 grains @2700)
Every bit as good and better ballistically as a .358 Win. (225 grain @2400)
:stirthepot2:
 
archie_james_c said:
358 Imp.

160-225 grain premium and non-premium bullets readily available.
Short action (for all the guys so worried about long vs. short action)
Readily available brass, powders, bullets, primers
Every bit as good ballistically as a 7RM (160 grains @2950)
Every bit as good ballistically as a .30-06 (185 grains @2700)
Every bit as good and better ballistically as a .358 Win. (225 grain @2400)
:stirthepot2:
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I totaly agree! Mine is reg 358Win shooting 200gr bullets at 2600fps from 20" barrel, with 200yds zero I am 11" low at 300yds and 34" low at 400yds ( not that I shoot anything past 300yds anyway ) and there is no need to improove on that perfection.
 
gunrunner8 said:
I totaly agree! Mine is reg 358Win shooting 200gr bullets at 2600fps from 20" barrel, with 200yds zero I am 11" low at 300yds and 34" low at 400yds ( not that I shoot anything past 300yds anyway ) and there is no need to improove on that perfection.
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:D...the .358 IMP I was referring to is the ALL MIGHTY.....338 Federal :p

.358 WCF's work awesome too...just a damn shame there aren't more .35 cal bullets on the market!

A couple friends of mine use BLR's in .358 and seem to kill every moose they shoot at.
 
30-06 first choice, then one or the other of the big 30's [if grizzly bears are a possibility.] If no big bears, then your 270 mag is fine. Eagleye.
 
archie_james_c said:
.358 WCF's work awesome too...just a damn shame there aren't more .35 cal bullets on the market!
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How many would you use if there?

Most folks use only one or two bullet type/weight per rifle, and there's more than enought 35cal bullets out there to keep any gun crank going.

If I only had two big game rifles, they would be a 270Win and 375H&H.


.
 
SuperCub said:
How many would you use if there?

Most folks use only one or two bullet type/weight per rifle, and there's more than enought 35cal bullets out there to keep any gun crank going.


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I'm aware of that Cub, but it's nice to have a diversity of bullet weights available in premium and non-premium models. That, to me at least is what defines "Do everything" hunting-wise at least.
 
I've thought about this quite a bit too. Before I give you my choice, I have to say the the .338 Federal is not, imo, even close to the ballistic equivalent of the 7mm RM.

The .30-06 is probably the very best for all of our big game hunting. For world-wide I'd say the 9.3x62 is pretty close to perfect (of course the .35 Whelen is great too, but is not legal for some large African game).

In addition to big game the .30-06 can be loaded with 100gr plinking/grouse/small game bullets and 110-125gr varmint bullets. It works well with lighter loads - you can use open sights and .30-30 bullets at .30-30 velocity for shorter range deer hunting. That would be very mild recoil too.

The 150-165gr bullets at 3000 makes for a fine sheep/goat/tar/ibex type load (or the 130gr TTSX). In fact the 130gr TTSX whould be able to give you a +/- 3" point blank range of about 310 yards. That is a flat shooting load! And think of the .270 Win's success with 130gr bullets over the last 85 years - and that with bullets that cannot hold a candle to the TTSX.

The 180's at 2750 to 2800fps need no introduction - they should be able to handle all non-dangerous game in the world - this is especially true with the modern premium bullets like the TSX and A-Frame. The 200gr bullets at 2650fps or so would also do well for game in this category. In fact I think that for most circumstances these loads would be plenty for even the largest bears.

For closer range hunting the 220gr Partition or other 220gr round nose bullets at 2500fps might get the nod. There is even a 240gr offering from Woodleigh.

The .30-06 is not the flatest shooting cartridge out there and it is certainly not the best choice for stopping an agitated grizzly - but it is capable shooting flat enough and, when loaded properly, there are certainly worse choices when faced with said bear. But how often do you need to shoot 500 yards or stop an anrgy, dangerous animal? The vast majority of hunters in Canada have probably never even seen a grizzly, brown bear or polar bear. The vast majority of shots are probably less than 250 yards.

The .30-06 can handle all of it - and with recoil that is very tolerable. I think it is the best all 'rounder out there.


The reason I chose the 9.3x62 for world-wide is that it will do for the largest of critters and still have relatively mild recoil. Like it or not, recoil is a factor in most hunter's ability to shoot accurately. You can also have a trimmer rifle that still holds 5/6 cartridges.
 
It is difficult to say anything less that .30-06 is the best all round cartridge. If one could handle the recoil etc, the 338 magnum is my choice.

bit of an offshoot, but:

To be fair, i have never seen a grizzly bear while hunting. I have however seen them when i was driving on highways.

people who ride bicycles in or near the mountains are crazy. I would not want to meet a grizzly or black bear on the highway while riding a bicycle.
 
1899 said:
I have to say the the .338 Federal is not, imo, even close to the ballistic equivalent of the 7mm RM.




The vast majority of shots are probably less than 250 yards.
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So is it safe to say, that inside of 250 yards a 160 grn. out of a .338F is as close, ballistically as a 7mmRM 160 as damn is to a swear?

Just getting everyone thinking....
 
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