Best all around caliber

[Tuker]

whats everyones opinion on the best do it all caliber for western big game?

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[Koda]

The 280 Ackley Improved.
Has a large selection of bullet weights to choose for the game at hand with great velocity and flat trajectory.

 

[PORSCHE928S4]

If I had to pick one it would be the 270 win as for a niche cartridge of course the 6.5c but if I want to see the pink mist the 338wm !

 

[Nosferatu]

6.5 PRC

 

[2ndtimer]

.270 Win. Might be considered on the light side for elk, but I have to believe that a 150 gr Nosler Partition at 2800+ FPS should be sufficient at reasonable range.

 

[Pepe-lepew]

You ask for caliber. Caliber would be 0.308 which can include 308 win, 30-06 or 300wm. It has adequate diameter, comes in many great readily available cartridges commonly chambered in new rifles and has a wide range of bullet selection.

If you are really looking for cartridge then it is 30-06. A balance of power and recoil, available everywhere and chambered in most new rifles. Look at any top list of big game cartridge lists and it will be near the top. It is good balance of everything. It is boring to a gun culture that always is looking for the next greatest cartridge. In 50 years, 30-06 will still be near the top of lists but other cartridges around it will all have changed.

Everything else improves on an area of the 30-06 to the sacrifice of another area. For example, 300wm is more powerful and flatter, all at the expense of significant more recoil, cost/availability of ammo and less options for rifles. There are lots of more modern cartridges that are really good but half are a fart in the wind and others that stick around you are limited in ammo type and availability and rifles chambered in them.

 

[NeoBlackdog]

Another vote for the 270 Winchester.

 

[PORSCHE928S4]

Another vote for the 270 Winchester.

Tell the elk a 270 win won't work that's right they is dead lol

 

[NeoBlackdog]

Tell the elk a 270 win won't work that's right they is dead lol

Yep. 10 for 10, all with one shot.

 

[osprey]

whats everyones opinion on the best do it all caliber for western big game?

Talk about a loaded question. Hard to argue about any cartridge based off the 30-06 in the .27-.30 cal range. Good combo of good downrange ballistics and recoil that lends itself to being shot well. Many would do well to ditch the magnums and pick a cartridge in this range.

 

[Tuker]

Talk about a loaded question. Hard to argue about any cartridge based off the 30-06 in the .27-.30 cal range. Good combo of good downrange ballistics and recoil that lends itself to being shot well. Many would do well to ditch the magnums and pick a cartridge in

 

[Pepe-lepew]

The 270 has a lot going for it, partly because of it's age. It was an early improvement to the 30-06 and became widely popular. The one thing that hurts it is the caliber. All modern cartridges gravitate to 7mm or 30 cal. The .277 bullet diameter is losing popularity and bullet manufactures are less likely to consider offering their new designs in that caliber. However, that is insignificant if you don't chase The newest and greatest in bullet design.

 

[mhayd93]

300 Winchester Magnum is tried and true, and ubiquitous as "Big Game" cartridges go for good reason. Lots of great factory ammo choices, and even more flexibility when it comes to reloading for it (bullet choice, powder selection, etc.)

While "power" can be a subjective measurement—and certainly not the be-all-end-all of big game hunting—the 300WM easily satisfies the perceived power factor required to kill the biggest game animals such as Elk. Recoil can be severe, but is not what I'd consider abusive; get a solid, well-fitted stock with a shock absorbing recoil pad and the recoil becomes a non-factor (especially in a hunting situation where you aren't blowing through boxes of ammo).

 

[NeoBlackdog]

bigger caliber for better knock down is what i go off of

Well, in that case a 600 Nitro Express should be near the top of your list.

 

[osprey]

bigger caliber for better knock down is what i go off of

Magnums are seductive trap to fall into but being able to place shots with precision usually trumps all that "knock down" power. Now if we feel we need all that speed and energy of a magnum so we can still harvest an animal out to obscene distances, I would counter with the thought of becoming a better hunter and getting closer. Many I have been around have no business shooting past 200-300 yds with their magnums judging by their marksmanship at shorter ranges.

 

[NeoBlackdog]

I would counter with the thought of becoming a better hunter and getting closer.

Spot on, Osprey!

 

[25-06]

.270 Win. Might be considered on the light side for elk, but I have to believe that a 150 gr Nosler Partition at 2800+ FPS should be sufficient at reasonable range.

We all know anectdotal evidence is the best evidence, but I've chased more elk shot with a .270 than any other caliber.

 

[Joe13]

30-06 vote here

 

[bionic knees]

I don't think that there is a "best all around caliber" depends on what you are expecting of said caliber. quarter bores work well in some cases, .30 cals work well in some instances. bigger magnums do a better job on bigger dangerous game. if I had only one rifle it would probably be a .30-06.

 

[Ruger Rich]

308 or 270, they always work. And a distant 3rd would be 300 WM. I've loaded 125gr for antelope, 150 for
deer and 165 for elk.