The oilfield has left my left wrist in sad shape. I don't think I could shoot anything much more than an 06' when I get to be 60+. I'm 40 now, and I'm thinking about looking into a bowling glove for the slobber knockers!
Matt

If I were dead broke and hunting close to home I'd stick with my trusty 270. If I could only hunt the lower 48 I'd pick my 300 H&H. If I had to pick a single rifle knowing I would use it to hunt the world, I'd pick my 9.3X64. If I had to move to Africa with one rifle, I have a 404 that would suit me just fine. It's nice to have options.

For lower 48 game, the 30-06. If we include Alaskan game, the 338 Win Mag.

7mm STW or for a more mainstream choice the good old .300 Win.

308 or 30-06 either one for me.

For anything I plan to hunt from now on, my 7x57 would do nicely.

Well, nuts. I'd planned not to contribute to this thread, but I am weak.

I'd go with my .270 Win.

My reasons: With proper bullets, it's okay for elk (and moose?), and great for deer, black bear, hogs and everything smaller, including varmints.

Why it rather than a .30-06? Because I'm more into hunting/shooting smaller animals (especially varmints) than larger creatures.

Never owned one but if i HAD to it would be an '06 for everything including Alaska. Mauser style action, 23" barrel.

.270 with 130 corelokts did fine for me for everything in the lower 48 for 30 years, prairie dogs to elk. Now it's a 7mm-08, same thing ballistics wise. Had a 300 WM for a few years, no benefit noticed at all other than more punishing, loud, heavy, obnoxious. Glad to be rid of it. Personal opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by B L O'Connor:
it's okay for elk (and moose?)

270's GREAT for elk or moose. Internet expert stories notwithstanding. All size animals get wounded every year by bad shots from ALL calibers, including the "big" ones.

No question; 7 mag.

quote:

Originally posted by mt Al:
...

.270 with 130 corelokts did fine for me for everything in the lower 48 for 30 years, prairie dogs to elk. Now it's a 7mm-08, same thing ballistics wise. Had a 300 WM for a few years, no benefit noticed at all other than more punishing, loud, heavy, obnoxious. Glad to be rid of it. Personal opinion.

Interesting. My wife and I looked at 7-08 for her but got the 270Win because the Tikka action was the same for both, and our family had a 270 tradition. So it's her 'one' in Calif. She's a one gun woman.
(For her 'one' in Africa she got a 375Ruger 20" barrel. Go figure.)

Some of you guys come up with some weird shit in an attempt to out-do the next guy! wow! (not directed at any single poster so don't bunch your panties.... unless you posted the weird stuff)

Vanilla for me, 300 Win Mag.
It goes without saying but you can load it up or down and end up with whatever you want.
Zeke

quote:

Originally posted by ZekeShikar:
Some of you guys come up with some weird shit in an attempt to out-do the next guy! wow! (not directed at any single poster so don't bunch your panties.... unless you posted the weird stuff)

Vanilla for me, 300 Win Mag.
It goes without saying but you can load it up or down and end up with whatever you want.
Zeke

I see a lot of weird stuff posted on AR, but I must say I haven't seen one single weird post on this thread. Now if someone said something like a .223 or .50BMG, for a one gun battery for all NA hunting, then that is definitely weird.

my 375 H&H

I am staying with my single shot 7x57. I will sneak up on it and shoot it the right place or go back home and eat vegetables.

This over worked question was settled many moons past, where the hell have you guy been and on what planet..

The 30-06

quote:

Originally posted by 416Tanzan:

quote:

Originally posted by mt Al:
...

.270 with 130 corelokts did fine for me for everything in the lower 48 for 30 years, prairie dogs to elk. Now it's a 7mm-08, same thing ballistics wise. Had a 300 WM for a few years, no benefit noticed at all other than more punishing, loud, heavy, obnoxious. Glad to be rid of it. Personal opinion.

Interesting. My wife and I looked at 7-08 for her but got the 270Win because the Tikka action was the same for both, and our family had a 270 tradition. So it's her 'one' in Calif. She's a one gun woman.
(For her 'one' in Africa she got a 375Ruger 20" barrel. Go figure.)

I almost went 270 in a tikka but did 7mm-08 instead (still tikka) for the same reasons: same action length. Just wanted something different, wider bullet selection. Still kind of wish I would have stuck with the 270 though!

quote:

Originally posted by mt Al:

quote:

Originally posted by B L O'Connor:
it's okay for elk (and moose?)

270's GREAT for elk or moose. Internet expert stories notwithstanding. All size animals get wounded every year by bad shots from ALL calibers, including the "big" ones.

Personally, my first choice would be my .338 WM, but I wouldn't hesitate at all to use my .270, and for people who are sensitive to recoil, I'd urge them to use a .270 before calibers with heavier recoil.

Only having one rifle is a scary thought. As someone pointed out, since elk was the biggest game animal mentioned, I would say 7mm-08. Had you have added brown bear, I would have said 9.3x62, which would not have been a bad choice anyway.

270 Win, with a 150 Partition does everything the 30-06 with a 180 does, and kicks less.

Jack knew a little something...

quote:

Originally posted by Brad:
270 Win, with a 150 Partition does everything the 30-06 with a 180 does, and kicks less.

Jack knew a little something...

The 270 also makes a 22% smaller hole and shoots 150fps faster, on average, for the trouble. They are both great cartridges.

My choice would be one of my .358 STA's. Bullet choices from 185 grains up to 310 grains all with plenty of speed will take care of everything you want to aim at. Good shooting.

.358 STA- Nice!

22 Hornet.

If I can get close enough, it will be dead. That's the difference between just shooting and hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by 416Tanzan:
The 270 also makes a 22% smaller hole and shoots 150fps faster, on average, for the trouble. They are both great cartridges.

Funny stuff that...

quote:

Originally posted by wasbeeman:
Questions like this makes my head hurt. But instead of showing my knowledge of rare and esoteric calibers, I'll just say a 30-06 loaded with 180gr bullets. So very common but it works. First time, every time.

That said, it's been years and years since I shot anything with an '06.

I'd modify this slightly to a 30 Gibbs,, in Alaska it would be a 35 Gibbs!

375 H&H

If I was forced to only have one gun. Since this is a hypothetical situation, I will hypothetically have the funds to choose what ever gun I want. Since that is the case, I would choose a Bailey Bradshaw chambered in 350 Rigby #2

I'm torn. only owned one 30-06. The Garand. I like the versatility of the 9.3X62 and the 35 Whelen. An over/under with 12 Ga and 35 or 9,3X74 would provide most necessary oomph for anything.

.340 weatherby. Is there any other?

Around 55 years ago at the age of 14, I bought my first center fire rifle, a 270 Mauser actioned J. C. Higgins. I have never been with out a 270 since. I have killed most North American species from Coue's deer to several moose in size. That includes 14 elk. Never felt that anything bigger was ever needed. Some may think the 270 is a little light for all around use but I never found it so.

465H&H

quote:

Originally posted by ztreh:
.340 weatherby. Is there any other?

+1

Hits like a .35, shoots like a .300. What's not to like?

Pre 64 Win 70 Fwt in 30-06 would definitely do anything I would need done. But one gun???? Terrifying!

In my early 20's I moved to Colorado and bought an Elk rifle, of course its a 30/06. For years I killed tons of Deer, Antelope, Elk, Coyotes, hogs and a Bighorn Sheep and a Mtn Goat with it.
Just had that rifle re barreled and it's still a 30/06. Wouldn't hesitate to use it on anything in North America and all but the biggest in Africa.
30/06 is a tough one to beat, lot's of good cartridges are close seconds.

While my one rifle choice is the .375 H&H, when asked by other hunters, especially beginning hunters, I recommend either the .270/.308 or the .30-06.

I choose the .375 because I like it, but in reality, for North America, even the big bears, with proper bullets/properly placed shots, any one of those three are more than adequate, and I would not have any of them for my own personal use.

But GOOD is GOOD no matter one persons personal choice.

quote:

Originally posted by airgun1:
Pre 64 Win 70 Fwt in 30-06 would definitely do anything I would need done. But one gun???? Terrifying!

Great rifle, but it should be a .270!

(Guess what my .270 is? )

If you are talking elk to coyotes, then something in .308 caliber will give the greatest selection of bullets to tune your loads. And to get a little flatter trajectory, or a little more "oomph" with heavier bullets for the big stuff, make mine a magnum. 300 Win Mag, please.

Tough decision.

Either my 375 H&H or my 350 Rem Mag.

I have a ruger 77 tang safety in 30-06. Had it almost 40 years. That would be the one.

.308
Or possibly either 7mm-08AI or .284