Do you still hunt with larger cartridges?

[EastHumboldt]

Every once in awhile I get to missing the thump and flinch of my 30-06. It’s like an abused wife who misses her jailed husband. I’ve moved to 7-08 and .243, but seriously I won’t get rid of my 30-06. I would probably pull it out for a buffalo or nilgai hunt. Maybe moose.

 

[rickyw]

Built a 7-08 to use - my smallest yet. But I’ll also be using the 30-06 and 375 H&H. I enjoy them. I do have an itch for a 22 CM or 243 at times as well…and a custom 6.5 Swede would also be nice

 

[ihookem]

I went from a 30-06 when I was a kid, to a .270 Win. for 30 yrs. and the last 10 yrs. I use a .243 Win. for deer. I dont even think of the 270 Win. anymore. Might even start using my .223 Rem. for deer but the .223 Rem is a heavier gun so maybe not. One thing for sure,for 50 yrs. deer hunters used way more gun than we needed to.

 

[Chris in TN]

This year my kids have hunted with 5.56 and 6.5cm and two smokeless muzzleloaders loaded as lightly as I can reasonably get them to perform consistently.

I've done the same, plus have also hunted once with my 6.8spc. I've *shot* the 25-06 but haven't hunted with it. I haven't shot my .280ai since spring(?). Shot the 30-06 this morning with some reduced loads. Thinking about taking it to the woods just for old times' sake.

I honestly don't hate recoil on a casual every now and then basis, but I am coming to hate loud gunfire noises at any level. Suppress all the things. I am considering taking a carload of rifles to the local smith and having him chop/thread them all.

 

[Mammoth Steppe]

Yup, 338 WM, 375HH, 416 Rigby, 458 2M, 45-70 etc.

 

[Huntinmechanic]

I put together a 280AI in 2014 and used is for every hunt up until last year. Prior to the 280, I shot a 300RUM and a Remington 721 in 30.06.

I bought a Kimber Montana 30.06 in 2018, killed 4 animals that year, one shot DRT out to 408 yards. However, any shot after the first, vertical stringing was unacceptable. I ended up bedding the rifle, but there was zero improvement.

I ditched the pencil profile barrel and had pac-nor screw a 6.5x55se, #2 profile barrel onto it last year. It's a tack driver with minimal load development. I use it for everything smaller than elk. So far, so good. 127LRX @ 2800fps (iirc) has done the job out to 330 yards. My dad only shoots one rifle, a weatherby mark v in 30-378. He doesn't believe in small calibers!

 

[4570neal]

I have killed elk and deer both with 300 mag, 30-06 , 6.5 prc . But a few years ago a friend got me hooked on big bores. So I got a Ruger #1 45-70 killed a few elk with it and I love it. Got my biggest on a trip to Colorado. I sold it and regret it everyday. Looking to get a new one soon. Nothing like the killing power of a 400 gr cast bullet going 1950 fps, and no bloodshot meat.

 

[Running on empty]

I hunt in SEAK and mainly use a 6.5cm and 223. This year I’m building out a 6cm in a rokstock as an all around rifle. I’ve taken out the tikka 30-06 for moose because it’s the only barrel that I can travel through Canada with at 22in. All my others are chopped and threaded at 18in which is just shy of their legal limit (18.5)

 

[338edge]

I hunt elk with my LRKM clambered in 338 Terminator. I Hunt deer with my 7mmstw.

 

[SwiftShot]

I have a 300 RUM that shoots just too good. 212 ELDX 3 shots always touching. It is just too good when I want to put something down. It is just the rifle I reach for because of its accuracy.

 

[RWT]

Yes, but only because I now consider my 308 as my big gun. Sold everything else and narrowed down the hunting caliber to 223, 6.5grendel, 6.5 cm and 308. I may add a faster 22 in the future.

 

[Scoutfan]

Not saying the little stuff won't get the job done but my 35 whelen brings me a little more comfort while hunting in Big Bear country. I really can't tell any noticable difference in recoil with my braked 300rum vs no brake 22-250ai. To me the rum hits with more authority and wallop with 200+ grain bullets! Nothing carries as easy as a 6lb all up nulu- mine is a 30/06ai-180accubonds at 2950.-
It wallops on both ends!

 

[zrodwyo]

i like a 215 Berger going 3,000 fps plus when the wind is ripping hard. My hit rates are dramatically higher than with my 6 or 6.5 creedmoors.

 

[Decker9]

Love my .375’s!! 100% of low land hunts (moose/bear) the .375’s are packed.

 

[turbo406]

I pulled the scopes off my magnums and they have collected dust up until a fee weeks ago I threw a scope on my 300 win mag because I got the itch to see how fast I could run a 110 vmax... have zero desire to hunt with much bigger than a 6cm anymore. Got a very slick shooting 223 that I think ill pack exclusively next year.

 

[waspocrew]

Depends on my mood I suppose. I used my 300 PRC and 215s on my deer hunt, then used my 6.5 CM for elk.

22 CM and 300 BLK came out for whitetail does later.

Haven’t hunted with my 338 RUM in a year or so, but it’ll see some use again.

 

[Arcus Venator]

I have fast twist 222, 22-250, fast twist 270 and standard, 338-06's, and a 416 Rem Mag. Each cartridge has at least one rifle threaded with the exception of the 416.

I use whatever strikes me. This year was 270, 100th anniversary and all. Next year thinking 22-250 for antelope and 338-06 for deer if I draw certain tags. Sure I will carry 270 at some point too. 416 is for Africa, or possibly elk if I draw a special tag.

I can't say I ever moved to smaller cartridges, since I started using the 22-250 and 222 twenty plus years ago because of all the naysayers said you can't, you shouldn't, blah, blah , blah. Obviously long since disproven. Mix in a smattering of 6.5, 30's, 348, 9.3, 375, and 404 you have a person with rifle/cartridge ADHD.

 

[Yaremkiv]

I grab the 300 win mag Mod 70 throwing 180 gr TTSX for moose and, when I start hunting them, brown bear. With the 30-06 Mod 70 I'm throwing 167gr TTSX at caribou, Sitka Blacktail and black bear. If I ever get an opportunity to fly down to the lower 48 for mule, whitetail or elk I'll be bringing the 30-06.

 

[casey36]

Probably the smallest cartridge I hunt with is a 7mm-08. I still use a 7mm STW a lot. 338 Jarrett and 45-70 get used a lot also. I haven't had my 375 H&H or 416 Rem. out for awhile.

 

[IDVortex]

I own a 30-06, was my first ever rifle and gun I bought. Never harvested (using this word just to annoy folks) with it, I went to a 6.5cm due to getting a flinch from a old friend when I first started getting into guns having me shoot a 300WBY, never was able to correct it even with the -06. Ive now gone down to a 6ARC. But, I do want to get a scope for my 06 and actually start shooting it again and try to take it on a hunt. I might actually use it this coming spring for black bear in N Idaho as more of a brush style hunting gun.