What is your current go-to big game hunting firearm chambered in?

[BigUglyMan]

Reading the other poll asking what your first purchased firearm was chambered in, I'm curious what people choose to use now with their current preferences/experiences. I took some of the suggested missing popular cartridges from the other thread and included them, however the poll options are limited to 10 choices, so I've tried to group cartridges into similar groups. If yours is not included, try and pick the similar group.

Out East here I don't have need of my magnums or other open country cartridges so I've started using my Custom 7x57. 18" pencil barrel, and a fixed 2.5x Leupold makes for a nice, handy rifle in the deer blind or slippin' through these thick whitetail woods.

 

[Dogleg]

An egg in the bottom of a camp coffee pot will lock down loose grounds and clarify your brew.

A poll that has the .308 Norma and 300 Win in different categories; the STW and 28 Nosler in different categories, but the .375 H&H and 45/70 in the same is teetering on the edge of ludicrous. Unless that was point?

 

[28 gauge]

None of those listed.

 

[577-450]

Depends on where I am going and whom I an going with. 7mm mag for elk open country and .308 win for deer close cover or my 45-70 but mostly my 7mm mag

 

[ScottMisfits]

I have mixed it up over the last few years. I have gone out with 243, 308, and 30-06. Last spring I picked up a 6.5CM but didn't get out to test any reloads. It's also a varmint contour as well so it's a little heavier that I really want to go out with. Although still lighter thn the 243 that I hunted with.
Recently I picked up a 7mm Rem Mag. I haven't shot it yet but I have some loads pressed together, I just need to set the length of them when I can find a modified case.

 

[BlackRam]

All depends on what I am hunting and where I am hunting.
Elk in the open, 7mm STW, bears in the thick brush BLR in 358 Win, etc.
Have several rifles and mix them up regularly to ensure that they all get used and they get harvests and first hand field experience with cartridge and/or loads developed for them.
I know, beware the man with one gun...but it is so much fun to use new rifles and cartridges!
Looking forward to hunting and harvesting game with my new Sako 9.3x62, Ruger RSI in 250 Savage and new to me Marlin 356 Win...and more with the 338 Federal
Still love my old favourites; 6.5x55, 280 Rem and 375 Win!

 

[gwes2003]

30-06 for island black bear
7-08 for island blacktail
Honestly the cartridge isnt as important as the rifle for me Wood stocked blued beauties on fair weather days and stainless synthetics on rainy days.

 

[razorbeck]

325 wsm

 

[98ssuck]

280ai and 6.5x55ai

 

[saskcop]

.338 RUM. Have shot everything from whitetails to mulies to elk to moose. Use the right bullet and it avoids the train-wreck on the meat. Here in SK, it pays to have a long-range elk shooter.

 

[6.5Jonny]

The last few years I've been switching back and forth between 6.5x55 and 308 Norma Mag. The Norma I use for the big critters, the 6.5x55 for everything else.

 

[sgt.rock]

I have a .375 Ruger Alaskan I use about 2/3 of the time, and a .30-06 Win extreme weather/ Rem 7 in .308 that get the nod most other times.

 

[Kilo Charlie]

I bought a new Browning A-Bolt in .280 Remington in 1992. It's still my go-to. I have bought and sold lots of others in the last couple of decades but that one gets the nod.

 

[dmcdam]

.270 win *yawn* I'm boring myself just writing it.

 

[Papaclaude]

Just about the only big game I hunt is deer, and we're a shotgun-only WMU, so my go-to is a Savage 220 in 20 gauge. WHen I do get out for other critters, it's either a 95 in 45-70 or my Mossberg in 300 WM.

 

[hoytcanon]

A poll that has the .308 Norma and 300 Win in different categories; the STW and 28 Nosler in different categories, but the .375 H&H and 45/70 in the same is teetering on the edge of ludicrous. Unless that was point?

I hadn't looked at the poll when I answered... but I see what you mean... nonsense.

 

[Ardent]

.270 win *yawn* I'm boring myself just writing it.

Yet the best readily available North American all round hunting cartridge on the shelf.

 

[scott_r]

.308 does it for me

 

[300_savage]

300 Savage for me

 

[blasted_saber]

308 Win for evwrything in Ontario