Hunting Calibers

redrick said:

I am sitting on my back porch looking at the backfield this evening as the sun goes down . The air has that fall chill in the air , getting close to hunting season , well dove season is in now . It got me to thinking how many calibers rifles would I like to hunt anything that doesn’t fly in North American . Here’s my list . Let’s hear yours and it doesn’t have to be 4 calibers .

Small Game - .22 long rifle
Varmint / Predator - .223
Deer size - 6.5 cm
Large Game , up to moose and brown bear - .300 Win Mag

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Agree with 3 out of four but for large game I much prefer 338 win mag to 300 win mag. Recoil is hardly any different but the projectiles have greater mass (225 grains in the 338, 200 grains in the 300) but with similar trajectories. I also like the 7mm mag for big game with 160 grain bullets.

Small Game - .22 magnum
Varmint / Predator - .223
Deer size - .308 win, also like the .243 win and 6.5CM
Large Game , up to moose and brown bear - .375 Ruger

Bren said:

Probably won't get much meat off of your squirrels and rabbits.

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That's what 20 gauge shotguns are for. Which is not what he asked about...LOL

Big Bird said:

That's what 20 gauge shotguns are for. Which is not what he asked about...LOL

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"anything that doesn’t fly in North America"

1. Small game .22lr (i dont eat squirrel or rabbit anymore but if i had to to make ends meet id use a simple .22lr)
2. Varmint/Predator's/Hogs: .22 WMR(woodchucks/groundhogs), .223 Coyotes and up also will use .350 legend on anything over woodchuck size or feral pigs
3. Deer .350 Legend something between 165-180 grain
4. Birds(Duck/Goose/Grouse/Pheasant/etc) 12 Ga pump,O/U or Semi Auto with 2 3/4 shells #BB-3 for ducks 6-8 for everything else.

I dont hunt anything larger so dont have anything larger than the .350 Legend . If i decided to hunt bear(which i get the tag for in PA and NY but never come across one or actively hunt for one) id feel fine with the .350 legend for PA/NY Black bear if i wanted to do so..

redrick said:

I am sitting on my back porch looking at the backfield this evening as the sun goes down . The air has that fall chill in the air , getting close to hunting season , well dove season is in now . It got me to thinking how many calibers rifles would I like to hunt anything that doesn’t fly in North American . Here’s my list . Let’s hear yours and it doesn’t have to be 4 calibers .

Small Game - .22 long rifle
Varmint / Predator - .223
Deer size - 6.5 cm
Large Game , up to moose and brown bear - .300 Win Mag

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6.5cm

BrentC said:

Anyone hunt with a 10 gauge? If so, hunt geese I suppose?? Heard of videos of people using 00 buck in 3 1/2 10 gauges to try to wipe out ferral pigs at a bait trap.

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I have a buddy with a 10g. I've shot it a few times. Not sure it really is much more than 12, and a lot not expensive.

I have half a 5 gallon bucket of 10g and can't even give it away.

30-06 for everything outside of grizzlies, polar bears, kodiaks and african big game.
I think .308 is overrated and not that good of a cartridge some make it out to be.
30-06, .338 lapua or 300 winmag ftw

22LR small game
12 gauge for turkey
10mm, 44 mag in handguns for deer and elk, though an elk has yet to fall to either.
308 for deer and elk
300 win mag for elk
I have still have my first deer rifle, a 1980's JM Marlin 336cs 30-30 but the barrel rusted in my parents' basement while I was in college. Someday it will be back in the woods.
I really like walking the woods for deer with a Marlin 1895 Guide gun, but the 45-70 isn't kind to saving meat.

Small Game - .22 long rifle and 410g
Varmint / Predator - .223
Deer size - 6.5 Grendel and .223 (62gr fusion)
Large Game: 300win mag and 45/70govt.

The .375 H&H Magnum is really the only gun you need for the entire planet. Perhaps not necessary in the Continental US. But nonetheless....

I guess you better head shoot then squirrels .

oof, I feel old.

There Can Be Only One!

.30-.30 Winchester. Deer, black bear - and anything below those two.

If need bigger, probably 30-06.

12 or 20 gauge for whatever else.

Having said all that, my next rifle may well be in .270 Winchester.

Ruger Single Six .22 LR / .22 WMR & a Blackhawk in .45 Colt.

Big Bird said:

The .375 H&H Magnum is really the only gun you need for the entire planet. Perhaps not necessary in the Continental US. But nonetheless....

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Something about a good 375 H&H. I’ve had three or four, some better than others. A guy could do a lot worse for just one rifle.

warbow150 said:

Something about a good 375 H&H. I’ve had three or four, some better than others. A guy could do a lot worse for just one rifle.

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Ditto. You can also say the same for a 9.3x62. I've used a .375 on 3 continents.

.22lr for rabbits, .223/5.56 prairie dogs and 30-06 all big game.

While I use a .35 Rem and .270 Wby when I’m hunting stateside (as mentioned in an earlier post)- when I hunted Africa earlier this year I had some great one-shot stops with the old .308 Win Remington Core-Lokt 180-grainers on large plains game.

12ga
30/30
300 wm
50 AE
357 Mag
22WMR

.22 LR
10mm
.41 Magnum
.30 Herrett
And my .270 because it just works so well.