Best "One Rifle" Caliber?

[cowdisciple]

CA guy wants a rifle for the next couple years for deer, hogs, bear, cow elk. But we’re talking about AK bison and a PIG guides abandoning customers for bringing a 6.5 creedmoor?

Lol.

If OP is talking about replacing barrels as an annual thing, that's certainly high enough volume where a .223 trainer would pay off just in ammo costs.

The "which one caliber" answer? I dunno, it's somewhere on a continuum between .223 and 30.06, centered roughly on 6mm or 6.5mm creed. Anything in there with the right bullet will do it. But then what do we argue about?

And if I ever draw that damn bison tag I'll take the .300 win mag. But only for compliance reasons!

I guess if I was in CA and had to shoot monos, I'd want whatever makes the 127 LRX go fast enough for my range.

 

[Jordan Smith]

127LRX was about same accuracy, but velocity was very low for a "middle of the road" charge weight initial test coming in under 2600fps. I probably could work this higher towards 2750 fps,

You can easily get 2850 fps out of a 22" barrel.

 

[UngulateGuardian797]

6.5 PRC/ 147 ELDM would be hard to beat.

If you’re stuck on using monos, I would recommend looking towards 7mm or 30 cal.

7 PRC is a great option now a days with the 160 CX or Barnes LRX 160 gr. Another great option is a 300 Win. Mag.

 

[UngulateGuardian797]

I would personally go for a Tikka T3X Compact in .243 20” barrel 1/8” twist and shoot the 108 ELDM or 95 TMK.

 

[Ringbill27]

Well I know I said 30-06 or 7mm08 originally, which are still the correct choice for me when it’s comes to ammo cost and availability. But since I reload, ADG now makes brass, and I think the PRCs are a tad over hyped. I’d spin a 20” 6.8western barrel on a mag bolt face Tikka. Mono bullet grain weights in .277” range from 85-162. Seems like a very versatile cartridge. Just me being different over here.

I’m suppressing the 20” barrel since you aren’t I’d go 24” and really get some speed.

Again I reload and the 6.8western is my thought because I reload.

 

[Matt5266]

I wouldn't go 6.8 Western. Ammo is much harder to find on the shelf than many of the calibers recommended. I don't think it will be around long, it doesn't seem to be gaining traction either. Atleast not out west where I live.

 

[Jimmy O]

Nothing wrong with the 30/06 for a dedicated hunting rifle!