1. 30-06- For its history and abundant choice of rifles and ammunition available.
2. 8mm-06- 200gr at 2800 fps, makes for a great moose gun
3. 270 Win, flat shooting and time proven
4. 280 rem- good compromise between the 270 win and 30-06
5. 338-06- Nice heavy hitter w/ low recoil.
The 8x57 is my favorite. The 7x57 a close second. As for third place, I'd have a hard time choosing between the 6.5x55, 7x64, and 9.3x62. I really like all of them to be honest.
A couple others I have is the 8x64s and 8x68s but haven't used them yet.
Cut my mule deer tag this weekend. 80 yard shot with Fox Classic all copper bullets. 8x57 with 160gr at 2860 fps. Deboned weight was 124lbs of clean meat, looking forward on having sausage made out of him.
Here's another bullet recovered from the weekend. My brother in-law tagged out on a rutting mule buck. 200 yard shot. 8x57 using my hand loads 180gr Nosler ballistic tip at 2630ish fps out of a 19" barrel. Bullet hit the shoulder, entered the diaphragm and did a sharp turn, went through the...
Any all around cartridge starting from 6.5mm with a good quality bullet would work with ease. Can you do it with smaller cartridges? For sure, but you'll be waiting for perfect broadside behind the shoulder shots. I'd rather have the extra HP/weight to get penetration in quartering shots...
Pictures of the recovered bullets are posted here if anyone is interested in seeing how the NBT's held up.
https://forum.nosler.com/threads/experiences-with-8mms.43212/page-2
Here's a couple Ballistic Tips recovered from a good sized moose bull. Estimated around 1100-1200 live weight.
Shot out of 8x57 with 19" barrel. 180gr starting around 2630 fps.
One bullet found with core intact and the plastic tip. 139.5 gr = 77.5 percent weight retention.
The other found...
I'd replace my scope. I've had issues with several Leupolds from poor tracking when adjusting and CDS vx3's that wouldn't hold zero. Sold most of my leupolds.
8x57 with 180gr Ballistic tips shooting 2630 fps out of a 19" barrel. Recovered two bullets, will post pictures soon. And an insurance shot from a 8mm-06 shooting 200 Nosler accubonds at 2790 fps. That one was a neck shot and passed through.
What type of powder you using? I've owned 3 325's and never could get one to shoot very well. Tried multiple loads and at best i'd get was 1.5-2" groups.
Here's a picture of an upset bear i took a few years back. I was packing a Ruger Hawkeye African in 338 win mag, shooting 250gr Nosler Partitions that day. Never felt under gunned :)
I finally had the time to look for a bear. I was out over the weekend and saw two bears. One stood out but i had no shot opportunity, went back yesterday for an evening stroll hoping to see if I could find that bear and low and behold it was in the same spot I saw it on Saturday feeding on...