For each of these scenarios choose your cartridge and bullet from your current arsenal you would use in each, with a one sentence comment. I will start with my answers in parenthesis. Just for something to do.

Groundhogs open field, 100 to 500 yards, calm and hot. (25-06, 75gr vmax, plenty of power for all shots.)

Coyotes called in 20 to 200 yards, mixed cover, cold and windy. (223, 45gr winchester, plenty of power and quick handling rifle)

Mule deer, canyon country 250 to 500+ yards, cold slight breeze. (25-06, 117gr sierra gameking, would limit shots to 350 yards.)

Elk, thick cover, 15 to 100 yards possible moving
shots, cold snow on the ground. (300win mag, 200gr nosler partition, hard hitting would want complete pass through to leave sign in snow)

Elk, open canyon country, 250 to 500+ yards, cold and very windy. (300 win mag, 180gr nosler partition, would limit shots to 300 yards max if I had a perfect rest)

Bear, over bait, up to 50 yards, warm no wind.
(300 win mag, 200gr nosler partition, wait for right spot and take my time shooting from a rest)

Groundhogs open field, 100 to 500 yards, calm and hot. (243 Win, 107 Sierra MatchKing,scope set on 5.5 power change to 22 as needed.)

Coyotes called in 20 to 200 yards, mixed cover, cold and windy. (243 Win, 107 Sierra MatchKing, scope set on 5.5 power change to 22 as needed.)

Mule deer, canyon country 250 to 500+ yards, cold slight breeze. (308 Win, 175 Sierra MatchKing, Scope set on 10 power initially.)

Elk, thick cover, 15 to 100 yards possible moving
shots, cold snow on the ground. (338 Lapua, 300 Sierra MatchKing, Set scope on 3.5 power.)

Elk, open canyon country, 250 to 500+ yards, cold and very windy. (338 Lapua, 300 Sierra MatchKing, scope set on 10 power initially)

Bear, over bait, up to 50 yards, warm no wind.
(308 Win, 175 Sierra MatchKing, scope set on 3.5 power)

Groundhogs open field, 100 to 500 yards, calm and hot. (.223 52 grain Sierra HPBT Match 6.5-24X Weaver)

Coyotes called in 20 to 200 yards, mixed cover, cold and windy. (.308, 150gr BT, Savage 99 with 2-7 NIkon)

Mule deer, canyon country 250 to 500+ yards, cold slight breeze. (30.06 165gr Sierra HPBT, VX-III 2.5-8)

Elk, thick cover, 15 to 100 yards possible moving
shots, cold snow on the ground. (30.06 180gr Partition)

Elk, open canyon country, 250 to 500+ yards, cold and very windy. (Same as above, that's all I got!)

Bear, over bait, up to 50 yards, warm no wind.
(.32 Win Special 170gr Horndady or .44 SRH 320gr WFNGC 1-4X Weaver)

Ill play,

Groundhogs open field, 100 to 500 yards, calm and hot. (257 AI with 75 grn sierra Varminter.)

Coyotes called in 20 to 200 yards, mixed cover, cold and windy. (same as above but with sp bullets to save pelts)

Mule deer, canyon country 250 to 500+ yards, cold slight breeze. (same as above but with 120 grn hot cores)

Elk, thick cover, 15 to 100 yards possible moving
shots, cold snow on the ground. (8X57, 196 grn Interlocks, Weaver K/V with post recticule, set on 3X)

Elk, open canyon country, 250 to 500+ yards, cold and very windy. (30-06 180 Deep Shoks, Id limit myself to about 325-330 yds)

Bear, over bait, up to 50 yards, warm no wind.
(model 81 Woodsmaster 300 savage, 165 grn Deep Shoks, Williams peep sight)

Thats how Id do it today, I may change my mind tomorrow.

I'll try:

groundhogs: 22-250 55 grain v-max

yotes: 30.06 110 grain barnes solids
(I save the fur)

mule deer: 30.06 165 nosler

elk: 338WM 250 nosler

black bear: 416Taylor 400 hornady r.n. @2300fps
(lots of brownies here)

Just a little slant to the mix. These are not necessarily my first choices, but what I have. I do not have to track much.
best,
bhtr

Groundhogs-25/06,75gr.v-max

Yotes-same

Mule Deer-25/06,100gr. partitions

Elk, thick cover-308 win., 200gr. partition

Elk open-7mmRM-160gr. XLC BT

bear-308 win,180gr. hot core

My choices would be:

groundhogs & coyotes 22-250

mule deer & black bear 100 yards+ 7mm-08 140gr. Fail Safe

elk & moose 338WM 230 gr. Fail Safe

bear over bait 45-70

I don't have the opportunity to shoot alot of gophers..

For the rest I would use my 7MM RM with a 160 gr Partition or 150 gr X bullet, or my .300WSM with a 180gr partition or Failsafe..Or maybe my .375 CZ with 300 gr Partitions..

I like to keep it simple

ground hogs, never hunted them, do not have "proper" rifle. I would get a 22-250 and a 300 win mag tgt bbl for my Blaser R-93.
If leaving tommorrow my Rem 700 308 heavy bbl would do, and a 223 bolt rifle I have shot prairie dogs with.

Coyotes 223 Blaser R-93. Although most of my coyote hunting is done incidental to deer and pig hunting I have used a 308 win, 9,3x74R and a 450 No2 double for my last several coyotes.

Mule deer 300win mag. Blaser R93

elk close cover 450/400 3 1/4" or 9,3x74R

elk far 300 win mag.Blaser R93

bear over bait 9,3x74R [rifle has scope in QD mounts]. If bear are comming into the bait while sun is still up I would like to use the 450 No2 [iron sights]. I have killed a bear with the 450/400 3 1/4" [spot and stalk].

rukidnme -- Groundhogs 100 to 500 yards, .257 Wby 110 grain Berger Moly coated bullet at 3700 fps. ---------- Coyotes 20 to 200 yards, .257 Wby 120 grain Nosler Partition bullet at 3450 fps. -------- Mule Deer 250 to 500 yards, 7mm STW with 160 grain North Fork bullet at 3200 fps. -------- Elk in thick cover 15 to 100 yards, .358 STA with 270 grain North Fork at 2900 fps. ------- Elk in open country 250 to 500 yards, .358 STA with 250 grain North bullets at 3100 fps. ------- Bear over bait, .300 Win mag with 200 grain North Fork bullets at 2900 fps. ------- I could substitute my .340 Wby for the .358 STA on the Elk, also using 240 grain North Fork bullets at 3000 fps. A good post. Good shooting.

For the varmint hunting scenarios, I'd use my .270 Win. with 130 gr. Hornady handloads @ 3100 fps., which I've used it on 'chucks and coyotes many times over the years.

For the rest of the situations you mentioned, I'd use my .300 Winchester with handloaded 180 gr. Nosler Partitions @ 3100 fps. It works well on elk up close as well as it does at the longer ranges, plus it's a superb mule deer rifle under all conditions. I like to keep things simple....

AD

allen
Did you use 180 Noslers on your cape buff? What ever bullet you used you proved , "hit them in the right place with a good bullet and they go down."

Groundhogs open field, 100 to 500 yards, calm and hot.
Rem 700BDL 7mm Rem Mag, 160 gr Nosler Accubond. I ain't a serious varmint hunter so I veiw it only as off season practice with my hunting rifle.

Coyotes called in 20 to 200 yards, mixed cover, cold and windy.
Would you believe a 1954 Russian SKS? With 122 gr HPBTs or BMJBTs, it would work, and I believe it is accurate enough for coyotes out to 200 yards--plus semi auto and 10 rounds helps for follow up shots or multiple yotes.

Mule deer, canyon country 250 to 500+ yards, cold slight breeze.
7mm, 160 gr Accubond--been practicing on those varmints, so I am confident in it.

Elk, thick cover, 15 to 100 yards possible moving
shots, cold snow on the ground.
Afermentioned 7mm Mag, for designated elk, Id probably have a 175 gr Partition, but beings as I hunt everything with the same rifle, most likely still have 160 gr Accubond.

Elk, open canyon country, 250 to 500+ yards, cold and very windy.
Same as above...

Bear, over bait, up to 50 yards, warm no wind.
Just to say something different, I'd get some 3" Mag rifled slugs for my 12 gauge Wingmaster and pick my shots.

My "arsenal" is pretty limited, so it's reduntant.

Moose in bear country, deer, bison, elk:

.338WM

The .338WM is a favorite with Alaska hunters. It has all the power needed for hunting Alaska game, and is just as popular as the .30-06, and the .300WM. But when bears are in the picture, most hunters grab their .338's. If I was solely a brown bear hunter and wanted the next best rifle, the obvious choice would be one of the .416's, but the .338WM is the all around Alaska cartridge.

My dream rifle battery:

.270 (or similar)
.338WM
.416 (any of the .416's)

Fun topic! Out of what I currently own, my choices are:

Groundhogs open field, 100 to 500 yards, calm and hot. (Rem 700 VSSF 22-250 Leupold VX-III 6.5-20x40mm - kaaapop!!! Ahhhhhh!!!)

Coyotes called in 20 to 200 yards, mixed cover, cold and windy. (Colt AR-15 223 flat-top Weaver V10 2-10x50mm)

Win 70 300 Win Mag Leupold VX-III 3.5-10x40mm for:
Mule deer, canyon country 250 to 500+ yards, cold slight breeze.
Elk, thick cover, 15 to 100 yards possible moving
shots, cold snow on the ground.
Elk, open canyon country, 250 to 500+ yards, cold and very windy.
Bear, over bait, up to 50 yards, warm no wind.

FarRight, I love your rifle philosophy. It's smart to stick with one primary cartridge, no question of it! Brad has referred to nitpicking and fussing over cartridge selection as "mental gymnastics", and he couldn't be more right....

NE 450, I used a Winchester 180 gr. Fail-Safe on the buffalo you're referring to, plus one other. This was with regular factory ammo that chronographed 3050 fps. out of my rifle with a 24" Hart barrel. Great bullet in all respects, but later batches didn't shoot so well for me, so I've been hunting mostly with Trophy Bonded Bear Claws and Nosler Partitions in the .300 Winchester in recent years.

AD

Allen,

I noticed that your picks (270 Win and 300 Win mag) are very similar in terms of trajectory. Sounds like a nice match.

For varmints up to coyotes my 22-250 get the nod, for all spot and stalk hunting of caribou, moose, and grizzly/brown bear my .300 Win mag with handloaded 200gr Nosler Partitions, bear over bait means either a .44 mag, 45 Colt, 454 Casull, or my Marlin stainless guide gun in 45/70 with home cast 420gr bullets.

bullet and cartridge from my own arsenal.

Groundhogs open field, Coyotes called in 20 to 200 yards, (308 win and 147 fmj UMC ammo. Very accurate and cheap.)

Mule deer, canyon country 250 to 500+ yards,(375 ultra 260 ballistic tip)

Elk, thick cover, 15 to 100 yards possible moving,Elk, open canyon country, 250 to 500+ (375 ultra 270 fail safe)very windy 300 yrd max shooting

Bear, over bait, up to 50 yards,(most likely my bow, or 458 win 350 or 400 gr barnes x, or the 308 with 180 core lokts)

Let's see...

smaller than deer...600 nitro express...

Deer size to elk....600 nitro express...

Bear to elephant....600 nitro express...

Get the "picture"....Use enough gun, and when in doubt use "more gun"...

Mike R.

I've never hunted ground hogs but have shot ground squirrels with my 458 WinMag. For deer up to 200 yd and in cover, my 45-70 Marlin GG. For deer 200-400 yds, which is a very very long shot, my converted Ruger 375 RUM with 240 gr bullet. For Elk, in cover up to 150 yds, my Marlin 45-70. For longer range, my 375 RUM with 270 gr bullet. For anything bigger, my 416 Rigby, 470 Nitro, or 475 Jeffries No. 2.

My choices using current arsenal:

Groundhogs open field, 100 to 500 yards, calm and hot. (.243 win. 58 grain v-max molly)

Coyotes called in 20 to 200 yards, mixed cover, cold and windy. (.243 win. 58 grain v-max molly)

Mule deer, canyon country 250 to 500+ yards, cold slight breeze. (30-06 150 grain ballistic tip.)

Elk, thick cover, 15 to 100 yards possible moving
shots, cold snow on the ground. (50 caliber smoke pole with 300 grain hornady XTP'S or 30-06 180 grain partition.)

Elk, open canyon country, 250 to 500+ yards, cold and very windy. (Again I choose my 30-06 180 grain partition.)

Bear, over bait, up to 50 yards, warm no wind.
(250 grain gold tip with a 100 grain thunder head propelled at 302 FPS by a Darton Wrangler compound bow 70 lbs.)
Good shooting!!!
Fordfreak

For woodchucks I would have to use a bullet that would stand a chance of breaking up and not richocet. Not that there are not a few spots or directions that I might be able to shoot to get a backstop. I could carry more than one load for this.

This year I am using a 220 Swift with 50 gr Blitz Kings. This is not a 500 yd chuck rifle due to it's lack of power but I can always get closer.

For coyotes at moderate range I use whatever hunting rifle that I fancy at the moment. I don't save the pelts and for the last few years I used a M 70 Featherweight in 308 Win.

The use of just a single cartridge, bullet etc is not of great interest to me. I can use anything and I do.

Hmmm,

let�s see. This will be some big compromises, as my gun cabinet is for Scandinavian hunting.

Groundhogs open field, 100 to 500 yards, calm and hot. (.222 Rem, 50gr vmax, not beyond 300 yards.)

Coyotes called in 20 to 200 yards, mixed cover, cold and windy. (6,5x57R, 95 grs V-max, drilling with two shot gun barrels for extra blasting power for near-range shots)

Mule deer, canyon country 250 to 500+ yards, cold slight breeze. (8x60 S, 180 grs RWS H-Mantel, would limit shots to 350 yards, too.)

Elk, thick cover, 15 to 100 yards possible moving
shots, cold snow on the ground. (8x60 S, Barnes X 200 grs)

Elk, open canyon country, 250 to 500+ yards, cold and very windy. (8x60 S, 180 grs RWS H-Mantel, would limit shots to 350 yards, too.)

Bear, over bait, up to 50 yards, warm no wind.
(8x60 S, Barnes X 200 grs)

Best regards,

Fritz

One more Scandinavian answer;

Groundhogs; 6,5x55 with a 85 gr Varminter

Coyotes; Same as above

Mule deer; 6,5x55 with a 140 gr GameKing, max 300 yards

Elk, thick cover; 375 H&H with a 300 gr GameKing

Elk,open country; Same as above, max 300 yards

Bear; Same as above

OK - I'll play on this one.

Groundhogs open field, 100 to 500 yards, calm and hot. (243 Win, 70gr Speer TNT).

Coyotes called in 20 to 200 yards, mixed cover, cold and windy. (243 Win, 70 Gr Speer TNT)

Mule deer, canyon country 250 to 500+ yards, cold slight breeze. (270 Win. 140 gr Nosler Partition or 7x57 Mauser 140 gr Barnes XBT, limit shots to 350 yds)

Elk, thick cover, 15 to 100 yards possible moving
shots, cold snow on the ground. (35 Whelen, 250 Gr. Nosler Partition or Barnes X).

Elk, open canyon country, 250 to 500+ yards, cold and very windy. (338 Win Mag., 225 gr. Hornady or 230 gr. CT Fail Safe, personally never taken an Elk at more than 300 yds.)

Bear, over bait, up to 50 yards, warm no wind.
(416 Taylor, 400 gr. Hornady IL or 35 whelen 310 gr. Woodliegh)

Good day!

BD