OK - this is a long argued topic - one that has been asked in "many a camp". If you had to pick one cartridge to hunt North American big game what would it be?
Well, I have 6 favorites: .260 Remington, .270 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, .308 Winchester, 300 WSM and .338 Winchester - what do I usually shoot? 300 WSM...Lately anyway.
Why .260? It is nuts accurate, has no recoil, shoots flat, it has unbelievable sectional density, awesome B.C. and when you do your job placing the bullet where it is supposed to go - well, the .260 does its job!
Why .270? Does Jack O'Connor ring a bell? The .270 is a fast and accurate cartridge that also has good sectional density, great B.C. and low recoil. I have shot quite a few deer and pigs with lethal results. My two largest pigs were shot with a .270 (285# and 300#).
Why 7mm? It shoots flat and hits game as if struck by lightning. This cartridge is a hard hitting long range killing machine. I have shot deer and dozens of pig with the 7mm Rem mag. It out penetrates the 300's due to its awesome sectional density and has an excellent bullet selection with amazingly high ballistic coefficients. Both of my hunting partners grab their 7 mag more often than not when leaving on a trip. It is and has been the most popular cartridge in our elk camp. If you were just going to hunt the lower 48 from moose to antelope- the "7 Rem mag" would be an outstanding choice.
Why .308? It is accurate! Did I say it's accurate? It is accurate and it has a fabulous bullet selection too. Its bullets have good sectional density and you can find ammo anywhere in the world. I have shot pigs, deer and elk with it and never worried about having enough gun or where the bullet was going. Awesome cartridge...its a .30 caliber short action- enough said!
Why 300 WSM? Well most of all, its a .30 caliber magnum that is barreled in a short action. This means it can be built or bought housed in a very light rifle. Like the others mentioned above, it has great bullet selection, great sectional density, great B.C., it shoots very flat, its accurate and takes game down at extreme ranges as if hit by a freight train! I have shot a half dozen elk plus with the 300 WSM and I have been very pleased with the results - The elk on the other hand have not been so pleased!
Why .338? Because it is accurate, it shoots flat with 210-grain bullets and it just outright smashes game - period! I have shot quite a few elk and an oryx with it and it is very effective. I would have no problem hunting all game (including large angry bear) in Alaska and the lower 48 and do so with total confidence. My buddy carried his through Africa and lets just say he has quite a trophy room due to his .338's ability to flat out put game on the ground.
All of the above calibers are readily available over the counter but they are also very easily reloaded and offer a hunter many options in bullet weights and styles. All of them can be purchased from almost every major gun manufacturer too.
My picks:
If I were to hunt all of North America I would pick the .338 hands down. You can shoot bullets from 165 grain all the way up through 250 grain. Its is definitely a one stop shop for all game animals that roam North America.
Like I said above, if I were just hunting the lower 48 and could only have one gun it would be the 7 Rem mag…Enough said.
Currently I am shooting the 300 WSM, which is the best of both worlds for me - sort of. Less large brown or white big-headed carnivores, the 300 is an effective and lethal "do all" tool. Its light, fast and kills what you point it at!
Now if you ask my son the very same question about what he thinks is the best cartridge, he will swiftly answer back - "The .308 Winchester". I have never as much as seen an animal take one step after he has dropped the hammer with his .308. But what does he know - He hunts geese with a 20 gauge.
These are my express opinions derived from my experiences - I know less than most and half as much as some! ???
John
Well, I have 6 favorites: .260 Remington, .270 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, .308 Winchester, 300 WSM and .338 Winchester - what do I usually shoot? 300 WSM...Lately anyway.
Why .260? It is nuts accurate, has no recoil, shoots flat, it has unbelievable sectional density, awesome B.C. and when you do your job placing the bullet where it is supposed to go - well, the .260 does its job!
Why .270? Does Jack O'Connor ring a bell? The .270 is a fast and accurate cartridge that also has good sectional density, great B.C. and low recoil. I have shot quite a few deer and pigs with lethal results. My two largest pigs were shot with a .270 (285# and 300#).
Why 7mm? It shoots flat and hits game as if struck by lightning. This cartridge is a hard hitting long range killing machine. I have shot deer and dozens of pig with the 7mm Rem mag. It out penetrates the 300's due to its awesome sectional density and has an excellent bullet selection with amazingly high ballistic coefficients. Both of my hunting partners grab their 7 mag more often than not when leaving on a trip. It is and has been the most popular cartridge in our elk camp. If you were just going to hunt the lower 48 from moose to antelope- the "7 Rem mag" would be an outstanding choice.
Why .308? It is accurate! Did I say it's accurate? It is accurate and it has a fabulous bullet selection too. Its bullets have good sectional density and you can find ammo anywhere in the world. I have shot pigs, deer and elk with it and never worried about having enough gun or where the bullet was going. Awesome cartridge...its a .30 caliber short action- enough said!
Why 300 WSM? Well most of all, its a .30 caliber magnum that is barreled in a short action. This means it can be built or bought housed in a very light rifle. Like the others mentioned above, it has great bullet selection, great sectional density, great B.C., it shoots very flat, its accurate and takes game down at extreme ranges as if hit by a freight train! I have shot a half dozen elk plus with the 300 WSM and I have been very pleased with the results - The elk on the other hand have not been so pleased!
Why .338? Because it is accurate, it shoots flat with 210-grain bullets and it just outright smashes game - period! I have shot quite a few elk and an oryx with it and it is very effective. I would have no problem hunting all game (including large angry bear) in Alaska and the lower 48 and do so with total confidence. My buddy carried his through Africa and lets just say he has quite a trophy room due to his .338's ability to flat out put game on the ground.
All of the above calibers are readily available over the counter but they are also very easily reloaded and offer a hunter many options in bullet weights and styles. All of them can be purchased from almost every major gun manufacturer too.
My picks:
If I were to hunt all of North America I would pick the .338 hands down. You can shoot bullets from 165 grain all the way up through 250 grain. Its is definitely a one stop shop for all game animals that roam North America.
Like I said above, if I were just hunting the lower 48 and could only have one gun it would be the 7 Rem mag…Enough said.
Currently I am shooting the 300 WSM, which is the best of both worlds for me - sort of. Less large brown or white big-headed carnivores, the 300 is an effective and lethal "do all" tool. Its light, fast and kills what you point it at!
Now if you ask my son the very same question about what he thinks is the best cartridge, he will swiftly answer back - "The .308 Winchester". I have never as much as seen an animal take one step after he has dropped the hammer with his .308. But what does he know - He hunts geese with a 20 gauge.
These are my express opinions derived from my experiences - I know less than most and half as much as some! ???
John
