What is the best caliber for big game hunting?

... 338What is the best caliber for big game hunting?
the eternal question....


30.06 is most versatile inside of 300 yards: moose, elk, deer, choose your bullet weight and be happy. .270 is similar though probably better for smaller game (muleys and smaller) and above 300 yards, again bullet weight important, and the 30-.30 has put more venison in the stewpot than any other modern caliber, but ya gotta be close, and don't shoot big muleys or anything bigger unless they can breath on you.





See Outdoor Life for the last 50 years of this argument.What is the best caliber for big game hunting?
Probably the best all-round caliber would be the .30-06. You can get a variety of bullet weights and point styles, so it can be used for anything from groundhogs to bears. Just remember that no matter what the game, bullet placement is as important as bullet size. make sure to practice with whatever bullets you will hunt with , and be aware of your capabilities. Happy hunting!
you can't go wrong with a 30-06 given your selection, same with the 270 winchester, those two everyone argues which is best, but they are the two greatest rounds around.





Of course, no chambering does all things equally well. If you tell us more about which game you will be hunting most of, which game you will hunt rarely, and which game is something you'd love to hunt, but it woudl probably be a special trip, maybe once or twice in your lifetime, we'd be better able to answer.





for example, my first 'rifle' was a 7mm remington magnum, but truth be told, I would have been better served by a 270 winchester, as it was many years before I got my first chance to go elk hunting, so I was well overgunned for the deer I normally hunt. I bought a 270 later, and that became my deer gun. Sure my 7mm remmag is my 'do anything gun' but my dedicated deer gun gets a lot more action than my 'do anything gun' does





Also, what do you mean by bull? Going to go shoot some farmer' prize bull?
When you say bull, I speculate that this can mean Bison or Cape buffalo. There is a club of folks who use the Model 1895 Marlin in 45-70 for such use in Africa, neither over nor undergunned, and with an enjoyable recoil level, on big 5. They use the big loads, intended for the Marlin's strong action. Check the Hornady and Speer reloading manuals for details on this power situation, for loading specifics (MidwayUSA.com), and such ammo is available factory loaded, as well. Regards, Larry.
the .270, 7mm08, 30-30, .30/06, .308, 7mm magnum, .300 magnum all are good for whitetail, mule deer, and black bear. of those, i wouldn't use the .270, 7mm08 or the 30-30 for elk but the others are good. it all depends on shot placement and distance. bullet weights and the size of the animal are also very important.
Define Big Game please





If you want to hunt all of the above without any worries of making an unethical shot then go with a .338 win mag. Now mind you if you can leave the larger animals off of that list then you will do well with a .30-06 , .270 or a .280 without getting into magnums. If you want the magnums go with the 300 win Mag it will do it for all of those. have a great day
I have a 375 HH mag for elk,moose and a custom made 257 roberts for whitetail I also have about all the calibers listed in the lynman reloading manual but I like these two,and my favorite wildcat long range gun is a custom 50 caliber browning necked down to a 358 norma magnum
i have hunting 7 mule deer,31 white tail,1 black bear and 1 elk. 6 pronghorns and i have never lost a animal 95% were killed with one shot to the heart. from 10 yards tp 475 yards. 150 grain rem 30-06 bolt, take my word get this gun, it is a all around great gun make sure you get bolt action not a pump.
The tried, true, tested, and proven 30-06 since 1906.* You have a greater variety of bullet weights to choose from with the 30-06.* I prefer using the 180 or 220 grain myself in mine.*
.270 or 30-06 are popular calibers.


P.S. way to keep the hunting traditon going while the animal activists are trying to stop it all together. Hunting wont stop and if it does ill turn my head the other way and wonder what this world has come to.
if you look up any ballistic chart their is a few guns that have a quality range and knock down power but the ballistics don't lie


270 bolt action hands down other recommendations 7mm,30-06,my favor it 7mm-08
The most versatile caliber for this continent is the venerable .30-06. Choice of bullets and loads will handle All of the above.
.270 has probably taken more game than any other caliber.
.338 Winchester.
there's really no best, there's a lot of great rounds out there


If I were to choose one it would be .30-06
.444,338,300 ultra mag