What rifle caliber would you prefer for large game?

fishslinger said:
Hard to beat the 300 win mag for all big game in North America.
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Agreed. That's what I use 90% of the time. It's less than I want on grizzly or bison and more than I want on whitetails but it will always get the job done. It kicks too much to be enjoyable at the range but not too much to get enough practice and load development. All without weighing over 9 lbs all in so I have no problem carrying it up a mountain. But now I've got a hankering for a fast twist 6mm of some kind to match the trajectory with less recoil.
 
RiMP9 said:
What rifle caliber would you prefer for large game (deer, caribou, moose, bear) and why? 303, 308, 30-30, 30-06, etc. Also do you consider the extra cost of ammo in your choices?
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One can only assume, given the question at hand that you are a new shooter and non-reloader. With that in mind a non-magnum common chambering would be preferred for lower recoil and easy to find ammo.

Any one of the following would serve you (or anyone for that matter) well. 270Win, 308Win, 30-06.

I wouldn't prefer a 303 or 30-30, but would look for a modern bolt action that is easy to scope with pointy bullets.
 
Tough call, but I think there are better choices for certain situations... Say you're over a bear bait, I'd grab the 45-70 over the 7mm Rem Mag. But if I was sitting on a clear cut or power line hunting deer, I'd take 7mm Rem Mag over 35 Rem or 35 Whelen. The 35 Whelen to me, seems to be ideal for moose in Northern Ontario. You get the idea...

The cost of ammunition isn't a consideration for me.

Cheers
Jay
P.S. Ontario bush country for whitetails? 35 Rem gets the call...
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RiMP9 said:
What rifle caliber would you prefer for large game (deer, caribou, moose, bear) and why? 303, 308, 30-30, 30-06, etc. Also do you consider the extra cost of ammo in your choices?
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Your example only provides one choice, as they are all .30 caliber... of those cartridges, either .308 or .30/06 would be suitable. I have a liking for .35 cal cartridges, .358 Win, .35 Whelen and .350 Rem Mag, but would not recommend them to a new shooter and non-reloader. Any of the cartridges in the caliber range from 6.5 thru .30 cal that can move a 150 grain bullet at 2500 fps or more are pretty versatile on the large game in question.
 
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I have developed a great deal of faith in the .375 Ultra. I can't think of a land animal on the planet that its unsuitable for, given the correct load and bullet construction, yet with low velocity small game loads its no more destructive than a .22 LR, although this can be duplicated with nearly any centerfire cartridge. There are those who predict that Ultra-mag brass will become difficult to find, and that maybe true, but I'm not worried, I have lots.

The .378 Weatherby has a more dazzle than the Ultra, and it could be argued it will do anything the Ultra can do, while the reverse is not necessarily true. But I object to paying $6+ for each piece of brass, and the bigger cartridge cuts down on magazine capacity. That said, the .378 might well be my second choice to the Ultra.

The .375 H&H has capability and nostalgia going for it, sort of a .30/06-.300 Winchester analogy when compared to the Ultra. I got my first .375 Ultra with the intention of duplicating long barrel H&H performance from a 20" barrel. As it turned out though, the Ultra eclipses the H&H's performance even from a short barrel.

Then there's the .375 Ruger which has the appeal of the masses. As a choice for coastal brown or polar bear, when mated with the Ruger Alaskan rifle, its the obvious choice for such duty. A 260 gr Accubond at 2800 fps is tough to argue against if you're a bear.

Some decry the abandonment of the .375 Weatherby, and consider it the best of the breed. Perhaps they are right, but I have no experience with it, and the Ultra matches and exceeds the Bee's book performance.

I like them all, and could find happiness with any one of them, but the .375 Ultra is my top pick, and to my way of thinking is just a bit better.
 
We all like what we like. Realistically my 2506 and 458wm cover everything ill ever hunt. Just dont tell my wife. Every animal species ive hunted ive taken with a 2506. It is allowed where i live in a caliber restricted zone and ive never felt undergunned even when stalking black bears. 458wm depending on how its loaded can be a big bore pellet gun or can be loaded hot andknock elephants off their feet. 300gr hollow point at 2700fps is great for deer and thin skinned game. 400gr ppsn at 2400fps shoot flatter than you might think and 500gr bullets for things that can hit back
 
I’m with Boomer on the use of big guns. I live in BC. Been through all the big .375s. Back to a stainless lightweight standard H&H. As for all around though. 8 1/4 lb .338. I know it considered heavy by today standards but it’s just fine for me. Shot 250 noslers for years but now with the new bullets I load 210 ttsx to just around 3000. Perfect for any situation. Oh, in crf model 70s.
 
Cost is a factor when choosing a rifle, as it must fit my budget at that time, but is not the determining factor in the cartridge, as I handload.
I have several factory and custom rifles, as I am a lefty and like oddball cartridges. I have big game rifles ranging from the 250 Savage to the 416 Taylor.

Favourite cartridges today are the 6.5x55, 280 Rem, 338-06 and 375 Win. Also like the 250 Savage, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7MM Rem Mag and STW, 338 Federal, 338 Win Mag, 356 and 358 Win, 376 Steyr and 41 Rem Mag.
Favourite rifles are Sako, Remington and Browning bolt actions, Browning, Marlin and Winchester lever actions. Also like the Ruger bolt actions, single shots (and revolvers).

All of these cartridges have a unique place in the big game hunted, but most will cover all of north american big game.
IF I had to choose just one, it would be the 280 Rem; followed closely by the 338-06. (In a pinch, the 338 Federal would be the alternate)
 
For any big game, which includes the big bears?

At 10 yards: 45-70
At 100-200 yards 9.3x62
At 300+ yards, 300WM or 338WM

Take big bears out of the equation and get a 9.3, 30-06, 308 etc or 270 if you hunt more open areas.
 
For modern, lightweight, sporting rifles, and shots beyond 100 yards, for Ontario witetail deer, black bear, and moose (caribou?).........

.270 Win, .30-06 Springfield..............long action rifles
7mm-08 Rem, .308 Win.............short action rifles

The two 30 cal cartridges offer heavier projectile selection, however, don't overlook the .270 & 7mm-08. "Modern" bullet design can comensate for lighter weight projectiles, to some extent. My .270 Win shoots Federal Premium 150 grain Nosler Partitions. I recommend .308 Win to anyone just starting out, (and on a limited income), here in Nova Scotia.

If you plan to leave Ontario to hunt brown bears and Yukon moose, it's time to get into the bigger stuff. I'll let those with experience handle that conversation.
 
For me, large game starts at Moose, through Elk, and the bigger bears.
That means I do not mind some extra persuasion, despite the fact that
lesser chamberings will work reasonably well. I would start at the 30-06,
and add the 7mm mags, the 30 cal mags, and the 8mm/338 mags for the
above mentioned game. For sheep, goats, antelope and deer, everything
from the 6mms up work great. Dave.
 
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