Best rifle caliber for western hunting?

[cole96]

You definitely need another. I’ve hunted west once for the first time this year. I had a 28 nosler built last year for the purpose. Now I’m having a 300 rum built for the same purpose. On a real note you don’t technically “need” a new one but a new gun I’d never a bad option.

 

[flyfisher117]

30-06 is dead.

300 win is dying.

I vote 300 Norma. All the cool kids are shooting Normas now days.

 

[RockAndSage]

30-06 is dead.

*Laughs in core-lokt*

 

[silver15tacoma]

Hard to pass on the 300 win mag. I’ve killed 3 Bull Elk, 1 Big Horn Sheep, 3 Mule Deer, 1 Whitetail, and 1 black bear with that caliber. Although recently I’ve made the switch to 7mm Backcountry. The short barrel length was a big draw for me. So far I’ve got one big black bear with it and I am happy with how it performed.

 

[Tx270WT]

Well my old Remington 270 is about to wear a new fast twist barrel, and my new to me tikka 270 is getting a peak 44 stock. So I’m not going to tell you what you should do. 270 is boring because it just flat works.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

30-06 is dead.

Tell that to my full freezer or the aoudad and sheep on my wall. I know you’re joking (maybe?) but I had to reply.

 

[flyfisher117]

*Laughs in core-lokt*

*inserts meme of dog puking*

Tell that to my full freezer or the aoudad and sheep on my wall. I know you’re joking (maybe?) but I had to reply.

 

[Bcoonce117]

30 06 just to piss everyone off. 300 win mag if you aren’t recoil sensitive.

Personally though I think anything shooting a 7mm/ .284 projectile is the best. You can always suppress or put a brake on whatever you get to make recoil less don’t forget.

 

[Pistolpete28]

I’m using a 6.5 creed this year, while the trusty 28 nosler sits in the safe….

 

[alexnelon]

I’ll put down the .30-06 when it stops working

 

[Bleeb]

*Laughs in core-lokt*

That made my 1903a3 pop a chubby!

 

[Bleeb]

Well OP, I started elk hunting with a 1903a3 in 30-06 and 356 Winchester M94 Big Bore after my 50th birthday. After that first hunt, I bought a 340 Weatherby and shot my first bull elk with it that next season. I had a new gun and a story for it. Then I got another with it. Then I decided to lighten up, and bought a 7mm PRC a couple of years ago, and shot my third and largest bull with it (7x7). Another gun with some history for me.

Sure, the 30-06 would have been fine up to 400yds with handloads, and the 356 Win is a quick and lethal woods gun. But I just like to buy guns using the excuse of creating their own story. My next one will be a Havak Element or a custom gun in the 300 to 338 flavor. Gonna try moose.

If you want a new gun to write your new adventure story, buy one. Buy a friggin thumper. Eff it.

 

[mtnbiker208]

short barreled suppressed 338 win mag. Go big without a lot of recoil. loving the gun.

 

[chuckD]

So...if you spend much time here, reading tons of personal accounts and people's combined experiences and wisdom, you'll see a pretty clear trend and pattern, along with a lot of personal evolutions that didn't start this way:

1) The more someone shoots, especially along a dedicated training path, the less cartridge-choice matters
2) The less recoil a gun-cartridge combo has, the more someone will shoot and practice with it
3) The cheaper the ammo, the more someone shoots & practices
4) The more someone shoots, especially in field-realistic training scenarios, the more they realize lower-recoiling setups just shoot better for them, and the more they want to shoot
5) Everything in North America has been killed with .223 and 6mm bullets, but tipped "match" bullets seem to be the most effective
6) The more you like your gun, the more you'll shoot with it.

Bottom line: if you have a new gun in mind that really rings your bell, get one in a chambering that's cheap to feed it and lower-recoiling, and shoot the hell out of it. Because you'll enjoy it, and be better for it.ju

Just nailed it with this take

 

[FCCDerek]

I'd have a 22" 1-8" twist 270 barrel put on that rifle. Get a suppressor for it. Work up a load with a slick, high BC bullet of your choice. Go kill elk, or anything else you want to put a tag on.

 

[JRS3]

I have used a .300 WBY for a lot of my western adventures and is been great from Antelope through Elk. 7mms have been just as successful for me. My $.02 to consider.

Mag 7 (pick your flavor) for Occasional Elk but more deer sized game usage. Makes a great longer range setup too.

Mag .30 (pick em) for elk, moose, maybe every year or more plus still great for deer and such.

Mag .338 for mainly elk and moose.

 

[Elkhntr08]

If you have all the time to hunt and can pick your shots and pass on bad ones, then a 270 is a perfect round.
If you’re like most of us and have a few days to hunt and a quartering shot at 300 yards is all you get, you might want something with a little more power. That’s my reasoning behind carrying a 300 Weatherby or a 325 wsm when I venture out west for elk. Both are purpose built for elk hunting.

 

[bradmacmt]

When someone new to Montana and hunting asks my advice for a rifle, I tell them to get a Tikka T3 in 270 Win and put a BDC scope on top (something like the Trijicon Huron) in Talley Lwt rings. That's about all you need to know rifle-wise to kill any elk that drew breath. The 270 is The classic Western cartridge. If you can't get it done with a 270, something else is the problem. Killing is easy, being a rifle nut just complicates the process.

 

[thadf]

Channel your inner Jack O’Connor and have a great time knowing you’re not under gunned!

 

[3325]

Channel your inner Jack O’Connor and have a great time knowing you’re not under gunned!

Yes, and remember not to wear Sitka:



I’ve posted that pic a couple of times before. But hey, any excuse to post it again.