Several friends and I are having a debate on the best Cartridge choice for hunting all of the following: Pronhorn, Deer, and Elk. Now I know there are a lot of variables, But if you had to choose just 1, What one would you choose and Why. The choices are:
308, 270WSM, 6.5 Creedmoor. If your choice would be something else – Feel free to throw it in there.
A 270WSM is the most versatile cartridge in my opinion.
6.5 creedmoor. Flat shooting accurate and out performs 308. 270 is a great round all around well proven on elk deer and pronghorn. the 6.5 has great down range performance and since it introduction in 07 has shown to handle elk well. Off course like mentioned a lot of variables. Cost for 6.5 around 25 box vs 270 wsm closer to 45-50. I personally don’t have one I have too many other options and don’t rifle hunt enough to purchase something when I have 20 other rifles to choose which will work fine for all the above.
“IF” there was one truly best choice out there, we’d all be using the same one!
Many LOVE to the 270 and why not, it is a great round. But I’d prefer the 6.5, then 308, and put the 270 as third (on your list). That said, my number one choice isn’t even on your list.
“IF” there was one truly best choice out there, we’d all be using the same one!
Many LOVE to the 270 and why not, it is a great round. But I’d prefer the 6.5, then 308, and put the 270 as third (on your list). That said, my number one choice isn’t even on your list.
What is you #1 choice?
25/06 rem.
338/06
3006 what more would you what, plus a great bullet for bear, or moose.
Assuming that the shooter will be taking shots within his/her capabilities, there is literally a PLETHORA of cartridges that will do the job, and do it well! I tend to be a proponent of the “mid-range” calibers, and try to steer folks away from the “magnumitis” (as talked about by Grouse in a previous post) but that’s just me. The calibers you listed are all exceptional! My vote personally goes to the .270 Win, but then you have the 7mm-08, 264 Win Mag (I know I know, this one gets an asterisk), 260, 280/280AI, and you can’t forget paw-paw’s -06. Find the beverage you like the best and drink the crap out of it!
Edit: Can’t forget the OG, the 6.5×55 Swede!
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bob clowncolor wrote:</div>
“IF” there was one truly best choice out there, we’d all be using the same one!Many LOVE to the 270 and why not, it is a great round. But I’d prefer the 6.5, then 308, and put the 270 as third (on your list). That said, my number one choice isn’t even on your list.
What is you #1 choice?
Don’t laugh, but for me, it’s the 30.06 in 180 grain. I’m not going to shoot a deer or elk past 400 yards, EVER (300 yrds is ideal for me and my shooting habits)! That’s just me personally. I’ve hit targets out to 750 yrds with my 6.5…But, if I had just enough money to buy one gun, with one scope, and planned to hunt those three animals, it would be 30.06.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>fishthumper wrote:</div>
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bob clowncolor wrote:</div>
“IF” there was one truly best choice out there, we’d all be using the same one!Many LOVE to the 270 and why not, it is a great round. But I’d prefer the 6.5, then 308, and put the 270 as third (on your list). That said, my number one choice isn’t even on your list.
What is you #1 choice?
Don’t laugh, but for me, it’s the 30.06 in 180 grain. I’m not going to shoot a deer or elk past 400 yards, EVER (300 yrds is ideal for me and my shooting habits)! That’s just me personally. I’ve hit targets out to 750 yrds with my 6.5…But, if I had just enough money to buy one gun, with one scope, and planned to hunt those three animals, it would be 30.06.
That was my guess
Personally, this is how I think you should really approach the question.
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Here is my arguement for .30-06. Ficticious story. All names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Imagine this. You drive 3 hours out to the cabin for your annual deer hunt. Youve been looking forward to this all year. You are especially excited about trying out your new 6.5 Creedmore on its first hunt. Suddenly you realize that you have forgotten your ammo. So you drive 30 mins to the only store that is still open. Duey’s Service Station. You walk in and see a few crusty locals huddled around a coffee pot. Duey asks can I help you with sumthin? You reply, have you got any 6.5 Creedmore? Duey replys, Son have I got what? About then the door opens and another guy in a similar predicament walks in. He asks, You got any 30.06? Duey says, Yup!
Here is mu srguement for .30-06. Ficticious story. All names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Imagine this. You drive 3 hours out to the cabin for your annual deer hunt. Youve been looking forward to this all year. You are especially excited about trying out your new 6.5 Creedmore on its first hunt. Suddenly you realize that you have forgotten your ammo. So you drive 30 mins to the only store thatnis still open. Dueys Service Station. You walk in and see a few crusty locals huddled around a coffee pot. Duey asks can I help you with sumthin? You reply, have you got any 6.5 Creedmore? Duey replys, Son have I got what? About then the door opens and another guy in a similar predicament walks in. He asks, You got any 30.06? Duey says, Yep!
The 30.06 does have that going for it.
Just because you’ve tossed elk in the mix I’ll say the venerable old ’06.
As much rattle as there is about that 6.5 I’d never level a sight on an elk with it. A 270 would be preferable over the 6.5 in terms of proven killing power for an elk.
The parable about the gas station is pretty to the point.
Good ole Dewy. Crappy coffee and 06 shells…
Who forgets ammo when they go hunting? That’s bananas to me
Just because you’ve tossed elk in the mix I’ll
The parable about the gas station is pretty to the point.
I wrote a parable!
Now to answer the original question. 6.5 Creedmore. 6.8 even better.
My one gun fits all for me is Sparky, my 270wsm. No doubt in my mine.
It’s been done , multiple guns,pick up the wrong ammo, heck I drove 80 miles once and left my quiver home. This one reason, those arrows stay on the bow . ????
It’s been done , multiple guns,pick up the wrong ammo, heck I drove 80 miles once and left my quiver home. This one reason, those arrows stay on the bow .
laugh if you want,I will take the 220 swift any day.
you can pop a bunny in the head without blowing up the rest of it and you can take an elephant down with a head shot.
the round coming out of the barrel at over 230,000 rpms is enough to drill through an elephants hide and skull penetrating the brain,a distance of over twenty inches.
Yes,I know elephants are not part of the equation but if I were to only have one gun and be able to take anything down I wanted from A to Z,to survive the ole swift prevails.
forget ammo?? nope,I reload my own,gun,case,ammo,if I did own them are stored together.
Please excuse my ignorance, but what does “230,000 rpms” mean? I am not familiar with that measurement?
Please excuse my ignorance, but what does “230,000 rpms” mean? I am not familiar with that measurement?
230,000 rpms is revolutions per minute,if you think a dentists drill screams that is nothing compared to that.
I will get flamed for it being a lightweight round at 55 grains,but the speed it leaves the barrel out to three hundred yards is laser straight unless there is a strong quartering wind.
if you are ever around one and get a chance to shoot it,try shooting it into the wind,you will hear many many shock waves as it travels down range.
they use to be called barrel burners as they could be loaded to over 4500 fps.
todays barrel materials and powders are superior to back then and the problem is not as is it was in those days.
in actuality it wasnt the barrel that got burned out,it was the entry into the barrel that suffered from corrosive powders and accuracy suffered due to it.
mine is a ruger M77 stainless varmint barrel with a laminated stock,weighs nine pounds out of the box without scope.
I have ran over a thousand rounds through it using hogdons blc2 powder at 3890 fps and havent had to change the scope at all to compensate for wear and I am dialed in at 300 yards.
Personally, this is how I think you should really approach the question.
That IS how I approached the question. I looked at my gun safes one night and Mrs. Grouse came into the gun room and said, “Is there any gun you don’t own?”
I said, “Of course. I don’t own a mime rifle.”
Well, I no more than said it and it started eating at me. What if I was out there on the damn Zambezi Delta with my 500 Nitro Express and THE shot presents itself? A trophy mime at 343 yards. What a disaster!
So I bought the damn mime rifle. You never know…
Grouse
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>tegg wrote:</div>
Personally, this is how I think you should really approach the question.That IS how I approached the question. I looked at my gun safes one night and Mrs. Grouse came into the gun room and said, “Is there any gun you don’t own?”
I said, “Of course. I don’t own a mime rifle.”
Well, I no more than said it and it started eating at me. What if I was out there on the damn Zambezi Delta with my 500 Nitro Express and THE shot presents itself? A trophy mime at 343 yards. What a disaster!
So I bought the damn mime rifle. You never know…
Grouse
Ah…rpm….. I was thinking strictly a ballistics term….
Thanks for clarifying. I hope to get to experience shooting one someday.
Timmy,if you are ever in my area you are welcome to shoot mine.
rpms is not something that is given consideration in ballistics these days among shooters but it does influence how stable the bullet remains down range once it leaves the barrel,the faster it spins the more stable it will remain and this is true with any caliber.
if it were not true,twist in the rifling would have no bearing.
look at it another way,we have destroyers and battleships that can launch a one ton projectile with high accuracy over twenty miles,twist and rpms are a major factor along with declination,powder charge, and projectile weight.
and of course,one hell of a dose of kentucy windage doesnt hurt either.
That sounds like a really cool rifle! I have what would be the mini version if that one…. a .17 remington. Its a necked down 223 that spits a tiny pill at 4250 fps. Its a very fun little gun to shoot.
My vote is the very reliable 30-06 if you do your own reloading it is a very versatile round.110 grain Vmax IMR 3031 you can push it to 3400 fps or load up 180 gr using IMR 4831 and still hit 2600fps.
I have used the 110 gr for whitetail hunting and it does unbelievable damage so much so I went to 130gr and slowed it down. Nice thing about the 110gr is there is no lead on a running deer for most shots in our area
I would use a 280Rem or 270Win, particularly if handloading. But, I can deliver shots on call fairly readily and understand anatomy pretty well too..
If not, a plain-Jane, no-frills, old-hat…30/06 Springfield. It has taken more game you want to shoot than any other cartridge made. The next cartridge isn’t even close.
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