One Cartridge for All North American Game

[robby denning]

Ryan and Jake wanted me to say 6UM.

I've killed one deer with but Ryan killed a circus animal, so I know it "the best ever, #1"

 

[SC HUNTER]

If I were going to hunt bears and could only have 1 it would be a 300 win mag. Shoot deer with 150-165 grain bullets up to bigger projectiles for bears. Is a 300 needed? Absolutely not but if I was picking just one, that's the caliber I believe.

Let me just add in here I have several magnum calibers in a safe but almost always grab a 6.5 creedmoor or 7mm-08 when I go hunting.

 

[sll]

30/06 here too. The most famous cartridge of all time now has the least amount of followers.

 

[MCS]

30 Nosler with the 225 or 230 would work good on a polar bear and would demolish everything else.

 

[MTlan66]

6.5 Creedmoor

Why?

It works

 

[43.6N]

I like to think the type of caliber you select might relate to when you came into your own as a hunter:

60’s/70’s: 7mag or 300mag
80’s/90’s: 7mm-08
Early 2000’s: the WSM generation.
Late 2000’s: the Creedmoors.

 

[Forestryguy]

375 Whelen or 375 H&H.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

No love for the .308?

As far as cartridge debates go I thought .30-06 vs. .308 was the OG.

I’ll say it then. .308.

 

[dustyboots]

300 Weatherby Mag

 

[Anschutz]

Is this Rokslide??? What year is it??

6.5CM. Out of a short barrel it's functionally identical to 6CM. Run it out of a 26" and it's functionally identical to 6.5PRC. Load anywhere from <100gr to >160gr bullets, any type of construction to suit the game of interest. Tons of powder and primer options. Factory ammo anywhere/everywhere. Any gun comes chambered in it. Teach your kids, buddies, grandparents to shoot it without issue. Accurate by design. Good barrel life. I think you catch my drift.

But then you've got a 26" barrel to deal with. I have a 30" .224 barrel on the bench but it's not for a hunting rifle.

For me, a .308 will fit the bill for all of my centerfire uses (including competition) but since the question is about hunting, I'll take my .270 Win please.

 

[Jpsmith1]

Guess I'm the "odd man out" in that I chose the 7mm RM.

Elk is my goal species and the 7mm is PLENTY for elk.

 

[The_Yetti]

I'd probably choose my 6.5 Creedmoor, but this season my 7x57 is getting the nod.

 

[Matt5266]

My old 300 WSM

 

[HandgunHTR]

For me it is the 7-08AI out of a 20" barrel with a suppressor. The OG makes it a really nice package to carry.

Enough velocity to effectively kill at the distances I want to shoot to and if I need to I can load up or down to suit the game and terrain I am hunting. If I want to really get squirrely I can load up some 277 Fury brass with a spicy load and essentially have a short barreled 7RM.

 

[solarshooter]

But then you've got a 26" barrel to deal with. I have a 30" .224 barrel on the bench but it's not for a hunting rifle.

For me, a .308 will fit the bill for all of my centerfire uses (including competition) but since the question is about hunting, I'll take my .270 Win please.

Just saying, if outright performance is your goal, 6.5CM can do it with a longer barrel. I would personally only want 18-20" for hunting, with a suppressor. And 6.5CM also does well at that length.

At the end of the day, 6.5CM bullets are the highest BC in a weight class that is enough to kill anything on earth, but still have manageable recoil. I think 6CM is a close second, even more performance per recoil, but bullets are maybe a touch light/low BC to win in absolute terms.