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From: snitor!petert@uunet.UU.NET (Peter Toth)
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Subject: Re: best rifle caliber
Message-ID: <1991Jun24.063805.29345@doug.cae.wisc.edu>
Date: 24 Jun 91 11:38:04 GMT
References: <1991Jun21.063938.11989@doug.cae.wisc.edu>
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<1991Jun21.063938.11989@doug.cae.wisc.edu> smosjc!joseph@uunet.uu.net writes:
>Will...the net is kinda slow, so I'll ask the question of all questions:
>
>   What is the best all-around hunting caliber for North American game?

Of course there is no substitute for proper placement from effective
(for both the gun and the shooter) range, but the selection of the
tool is limited only by the abilities of the hunter.  If you can and
will stalk within 75-50 yards, you can use a shotgun, a black powder
rifle, or crossbow, and under 50, a bow.  Hell, if you are willing and
able to move right in, you can use an axe, a club or a knife.  Out of
range, it's the one that got away.

>[..]Which of the following would you choose and why?
>
>	.25-06
>	.270
>	.280
>	.30-06
>	.7mm Rem Mag
>	.300 Win Mag
>	.300 Wby
>	.300 H&H
>	.338 Win Mag
>	.340 Wby
>	.375 H&H
>	.416 Rem

Since the can of worms is already open, may i point out that my pet
caliber, the 6.5x55 Swedish is conspicuous by its absence.

Having said that, the answer depends on
a) how often do you get a chance at a shot,
b) what's the biggest game you want to hunt, what's the longest shot
   you'll have
c) how much punishment are you willing to put up with,
d) how long do you want your barrel to last (how much will you shoot it),
e) everything else...

a) If you have all the time and shooting opportunity in the world ;^),
and have no wish to hunt big bears, pretty much all of them will do
fine, with the 270 being the most limited for big game use, followed
by the .25-06 and the 6.5x55 in that order.

I personally know someone who anchored an elk with a .25-06 from a
very long range (i won't vouch for the claimed 500 yds, since i wasn't
there with my rangefinder, but he does have an 8x56 and a bipod on it,
and >>usually<< doesn't lie).  I also know someone who dropped a moose
with a 6.5x55 from 300 yards.  (Broke the neck straight on).  BTW the
6.5x55 is a widely used moose round in Skandinavia.

I'll assume you don't have all the time and opportunity in the world.

b) My friend's experiences notwithstanding, i would not use a .25-06
on elk, and he would pass up more shots with it than with something
more potent.

I would suggest you consider the .280 as minimum.

c) My attitude towards punishment is: the less the better, hence my
fondness for the 6.5x55.  There are some mighty cartridges on that
list, but frankly, i couldn't think of anything i'd want to shoot at
in North America i couldn't put down with authority with the .280 -
.30 calibers listed.

d) The .280 and .30-06 barrels will probably last you a lifetime.  The
magnums will eat them faster, but if you only shoot the gun when
sighting in or hunting, and don't see yourself putting thousands of
rounds through it, this is a non-issue.


All in all, if you shoot a lot, take the .30-06.  It offers long
barrel life, a wide variety of projectiles, and a good selection of
fine factory loads.

If you do not expect to put much more than a 1000 rounds through the
gun, the 7mm Rem Mag is my recommendation.  With the 175 grain
projectile it has the best ballistics available on the above list,
even better than the 6.5x55 with the finest 140 grainers, but only
slightly ;^).

Peter Toth