what is the best all round big game hunting rifle?

Best Caliber

Outdoor Canada did a coast to coast survey last year. The survey was directed at outfitters and guides as to the best all round caliber rifle. The 300Win Mag was the first choice and the 30-06 Springfield came in at number second as the best all round caleber for Canadian game species.
 
I'd vote for a Thompson/Center Encore in .30/06. Extremely accurate, powerful in a short package that with a 24" barrel is the same overall length as a 20" barreled M94 Winchester.
Also - if you decide you want another cartridge you just buy another barrel (including shotgun or muzzleloader). And - even if you have 10+ barrels you only have to register 1 firearm!
 
For the world, the .375 H&H. For North America a .300 of some description, most likely a Win Mag. A .338 would be a great alternative if you are actually going to hunt the big bears instead of talk about it.

People who hunt all over tend to have a pile of guns, and might use just about anything for ####s and giggles. Once they are paying outfitters for it there sure are a lot of .300s in camp.
 
Do some reading/research on ballistic tables. You'll find your current 303 is Dangerously close to a 30-06, ballistically speaking. Only problem with it is the availability of different weight projectiles.

If you're planning on keeping your 303 I'd suggest either bigger (338, 375, 450/45-70), or smaller, (270, 22-250)depending on what you plan to hunt??

If it makes you feel any better we're currently debating which calibres would suit our current hunting demands best, and I've been hunting for over 40 yrs. :confused:
Damn EE, :HR: :D
 
In the Bulkley Valley area I would be carrying a .338 or more . There are a pile of Grizzly in that region, so even if you are not hunting them , I would still be prepared for them.
 
The answer obviously depends to a very large extent on whether you are a handloader or not.

If not, then stick with one of the top 10 cartridges, or even the top 5. Then, as a cartridge for everything in North America under all conditions, the .223 Rem is excluded and very likely the ubiquitous .30-30. The Brit .303 doesn't come close to making that cut.

I'm a handloader, so it makes little difference to me... my favorite is a Big Bore in .45-70... but only because I handload them. On the practical side, I also own a very accurate .300 Win Mag. There's lots of quality factory fodder for it anywhere in the world, since it's a world-class cartridge. One could do a lot worse. Ammo for the .338 Win is VERY costly if you don't handload. I've owned a couple. In .338, my favorite is the .340 WBY. Though the .375 H&H has good quality ammo available... if you have a fat wallet.

So, it depends...:yingyang:

Bob
 
Depends on where you live, where you hunt, what you hunt and what you like to shoot.
For an all around yukon rifle, It's hard to beat the 338's -375's
 
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