Top Five All Around Sporting Cartridges

Noting the comments, he stirred up some controversy, which is not surprising. We all have our preferences. However, he did a pretty good job covering the gamut. Closely aligned cartridges for each of those could be argued to be mere modifications of what already exists (e.g. .308 with the .30-06). However, it is hard to argue from the sweep of history that those cartridges somehow fail to touch about every shooter at one point or another.
 
No doubt about it the 30-06 is a great cartridge and you can hunt about any thing that walks this continent but, I would rather myself have one of the 7mm rifles as the 7x57, 7mm Rem Mag or even the 7mm Weatherby as the bullet selection and B.C is usually much more varied and you can have a field day. I would have liked to have seen the 270 among that list over the 30-30.
 
I have owned four of these cartridges and currently use two. However, I agree with including the .270 and maybe dropping the .375 as the .270 outsells the H&H.
 
Down here in the SW not a lot of need for the 375H&H altho I do know a couple people who own them.

The 30-30 is the prime rifle for hunting in our thick brush, but the 270 is right behind it along with the .308. The 30-06 is still very much around but for our smaller deer here, it is not needed. I do know folks that shoot the 7RemMag but it is a waste of cartridge around here. But out in the Western part of the state where you can get shoots on deer out to 700 yards across wheat fields it excels there.
 
I read that article... I gives credit to the .30-06 and while it's a good cartridge the author goes into all this versatility with all these different bullet weights. I'll go ahead and say it.

Pure poppy cock.

I did a pretty long piece on the '06 last year and fired all kinds of bullets from the 125 to the 220... Only the 150-180s shot worth a hoot.

The 125s were worthless accuracy wise and the 220s were totally inferior to a controlled expansion 180...
 
Bound to be controversy any time someone tries to say "this is the one you need for everything".
I have no issues personally with any of the cartridges named, and do like all of them but do have an issue with saying the 30-30 is an "all around" cartridge. (I'm hiding after this posts, btw) I like 30-30s and own one. Great, historic, cool cartridge and gun. But...saying that it does it all I personally have issues with.
My other issue is the 375. Again, cool, historic incredible cartridge. But do it all. Yes, you could but would you really want to? Anyone recoil shy is going to not have much fun with that as a one rifle arsenal. Maybe I took the article wrong but it seemed to be saying that any one of those would do for a one gun arsenal?
Maybe I should quit while I'm ahead but the reason I don't own a 30-06 currently is I have some 7mm's and with the 7 mag as one of those I can do pretty much anything the 06 will do. (sacrilege, I know) Guess that means I agree with the 7 choice and have no issues with the 06, or even the 300. The other two just struck me as too little and probably too much.
Good article though.
 
Yup. I enjoyed the article.

I think "all around cartridge" probably means different things, depending on where and what one is hunting.

An all-around cartridge might well be different for someone from the southeast hunting whitetail & hogs, than it is for someone in the Yukon, hunting moose and grizzly bear...

I'm happy with my own rifle choices, and I enjoyed the article as well.

Regards, Guy
 
With the 7mm rem mag and the 375 one can do the whole world.
 
I believe that. Or any of a wide variety of other cartridges...

I've given serious thought to cutting down my "big game" rifles to my existing Model 70's; the .300 WSM and the .375 H&H.

But there's this Remington in .25-06 that yells at me when I think about that! :shock:

Guy
 
Guy,

I posted on your thread earlier and was told that the article was referring to North America and so I simply deleted my post as I am in no mode to argue. So I will simply say that in some places around the world it would be illegal and irresponsible to hunt some game with any of the calibers listed except the 375. So, in that case it would be the only one that would allow a hunter to use only one gun.

Fotis's 7 and 375 would work, as would your 300 and 375 and it will come as no surprise that I would chose the 300 and 375 H & H. You mentioned a third, the 25-06 and that would be a dandy third, I probably would choose the 6.5 x 55 as a third.
 
FOTIS":2hes050m said:
With the 7mm rem mag and the 375 one can do the whole world.
Click to expand...

There are many great cartridges that qualify, but I must have to agree with Fotis's choice.

Lou
 
If there was only 1 calibre it would be 375 H&H if I could add another calibre it would be 280AI with a 1-9 twist PacNor :wink:.
You can load it down or up with the 1-9 barrel.

Blessings,
Dan
 
Africa Huntress":3le02b81 said:
Guy,

I posted on your thread earlier and was told that the article was referring to North America and so I simply deleted my post as I am in no mode to argue. So I will simply say that in some places around the world it would be illegal and irresponsible to hunt some game with any of the calibers listed except the 375. So, in that case it would be the only one that would allow a hunter to use only one gun.

Fotis's 7 and 375 would work, as would your 300 and 375 and it will come as no surprise that I would chose the 300 and 375 H & H. You mentioned a third, the 25-06 and that would be a dandy third, I probably would choose the 6.5 x 55 as a third.
Click to expand...
Aleena,

I sure wish you posted more.
Your insight and experience is valuable. For just North America I'd opt for the .338 Win Mag myself if relegated to but one. Not having hunted in Africa I'm loathe to suggest an appropriate caliber suitable for that locality.
As a second firearm I selected the 6.5x284 Norma given that I hunt in the west and the shots can be long. I limit myself however to 600 yards under perfect conditions. As the conditions change for the worse the closer I must be.
As a distant third I'm inclined to go with a .223 as ammo is easy to find, usually, and there is a lot to choose from. Now if I was thinking of worldwide hunting I'm not sure what I'd select but probably a .416 of some sort, my beloved .338 Win Mag, and the same .223/5.56.
What would you say to those choices for worldwide hunting?

Vince
 
I'd be pretty happy hunting the rest of my time with the 338 Win or 35 Newton on the big side and my 270 or 264 on the small side. I seem to hunt with the 338 a lot these days but the Newton is shooting very well.
 
Interesting article but kind of slanted by "early" history. If you look at statistics for the last 30 years or so the 30-30, would not even be in the running. Wayne Carlton has done several survey's related to elk cartridges and found that the 06, 7 mm mag and the 300 win Mag are the most popular. Even though they are ballistically the same the 270 and 06 would rank near the top for modern day deer hunters. I have never had the opportunity to own a 375 but I am sure they are very efficient, but never were anywhere near the most popular, except for a small group of hunters, who are able to hunt Africa and the big bears. Just my .02 to inflame the fires of debate.
 
I agree with Elkman that the article is slated by early history but I enjoyed reading the article and thank Guy Miner for the op

Scotty and I know someone who lives in big bear country and uses the 7mmWSM and the 45/70 on everything but sheep and goat hunts.

In Europe the 30-06 is widely used, as are calibers like the 6.5 x 55, 7 x 57, 308, 9.3 x 62 and several others, somewhat depending on the country.

I still see a lot of 30-06's in Africa, but also a lot of 9.3 x 62 and 64 as well as 300 and 375 H &H and of course several different calibers above the 375

What is the most popular caliber above the 375 in the States and Canada. I would guess the 45/70 ?
 
At one time the old .30 .30 was a pretty hot number, in it's day that is. When I was just starting out a 30 30 was the one cartridge everybody knew about and it came in neat lever actions. So yeah, I had one, a couple actually, and killed my share of deer with them. But I haven't owned one in a long, long time.
Had a few '06's also and would still recommend it. Especially with the mid weight bullets.
As the kids got gone and the wife quit hunting I have pared down my arsenal. All the RH bolt guns are gone. And I've chosen my personal battery with care.
Tikka T3 in .308
Model 700 BDL in 7mm Mag.
Browning Abolt in .300 Win
Plus 2 semi custom flintlocks
All these in Left Hand configuration.
There is also an old Ruger Auto carbine in .44 mag. hanging out in the safe.
I'm pretty well covered.
Don't have no need for the really big guns but I can wish....
I do want 2 more, at least, another 22-250 and a 270WSM but might just settle for the .270 as it is a classic.
 
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