Best Cartridge for Each Big Game Animal: My picks

These are the best hunting rifle cartridges for hunting each of the popular big game animals. I generally prefer cartridges with more power than most hunters, and I value flat shooting and resistance to wind.

[Kurtdog]

....and the number one choice if you had to pick one caliber is.... still the 30-06.

[michaelnelson]

I can’t believe you left the 270 off of elk. I have never lost an elk with a 270. But I have also made sure I could make the shot. I like shooting under 350 yards and I know shooting closer improves my odds of making an ethical kill. I have had multiple one shot kills. I like to shoot 140 grain or 150 grain bullets for elk and I think using their heavier bullets is essential. I echo Jack O’Conner and would say that the 270 is an adequate cartridge for elk. I have successfully use the 7mm REM mag and would concur with your using this caliber as a premiere choice for hunting elk. I give this cartridge a lot of love and give it my top elk pick. I do think you under estimate the 270.

I really enjoy your content and would love to meet you some day. Keep up the good work.

[danielmaine]

One day you will say you want a round powerful enough, fast enough, light enough recoil with outstanding reliability as will want someone to build that round....and you will call it 30-06.

[Stud_muffin]

I'm left handed. Always wanted to buy a LH bolt action rifle. When I finally did, it was a .30-06. Best all around caliber out there.

[MTMILITIAMAN.]

"You can never go wrong with the 7mm Mag." I concur. My favorite all around big game cartridge. Better ballistics than the 06 without noticeably more recoil. If I needed more than the 7mm Rem Mag, no .30 cal would make the cut. I would go straight to .338 or even .375. And that would only be for stuff that bites back. I've hunted deer, elk, black bear, and antelope in Montana my entire life with .308 Win and 7mm Rem Mag. My grandpa, dad, and his brothers all used .30-06. My brother tried to one up my 7mm Rem Mag with a .300 Win, but eventually had to admit none of the animals seemed to notice the difference as much as his shoulder did. I think the sweet spot for a one rifle North American battery is probably in the .280 AI/7mm Rem Mag/.30-06 range. Most adults can handle these recoil levels from a sporter weight rifle, and when properly loaded they all carry the ass downrange to anchor any non-dangerous game species out to a quarter mile or more, which is about as far as most can shoot without specialized gear and dedication to developing that skill set.

[dvskane]

.308 for elk, all the way out to 500, all day everyday. 30-06 as well. I refuse to jump on these new cals. They don’t do anything new. Everyone thinks 6.5 creed moor or prc is the shit, a 7mm-08 does the same with better availability. Shame people don’t recognize the 7mm-08.

[gasolinedreams]

I’m glad to hear you speak favorably about the 7 mag. It’s such an incredible round!!

[tomschumacher]

7 Rem!!! I love the 7mm Remington Magnum, it is my “hunt North American rifle” and have had wonderful memories made with it hunting in Alaska. Taken caribou with 6.5 CM quite a few times, my wife has as well and it does just fine 👌🏼

[roddawe]

For every thing you mentioned in this video, I'm going to have to choose the most versatile and capable caliber there is and with today's modern rifles and ammunition it just keeps getting better. And that's the 30-06!

[michaelobrien]

I appreciate the thoughtful summary. I can only afford 2 rifles and hunt from coyotes to elk. Also because of injury have difficulty with recoil, so I have gone with 243 and 308

[robertcarey]

My Best Cartridge for Every Big Game Animal is ....30/06. With the proper bullet the 30/06 will work great for every scenario you mentioned. Also thank you so much for telling people about your experience with the 6.5 PRC. I agree it is not ideal for big game.

[UngulateGuardian]

I’m glad to see you are keeping the .30-06 in your selections. It may be old and in some people’s minds out dated, but it still does the job just fine within it’s reasonable use and range.

I have a .30-06 in a Savage 110 Ultralight (which I hate the stock, but the new one is on the way and I’ve figured out how to smooth out the bolt) and a Remington 742 Woodsmaster that is my grandpa’s, which he bought new in the 60s. They both have polar opposite uses; 110 UL for backpacking hunts and the 742 for tight quarter hunting, but the old tried and true .30-06 sure puts a smile on my face and meat in the freezer every year.

Keep up the great work on these videos! I surely enjoy every one of them!

[jeffreykcarlin]

I was a bit of a gun junkie for years and have most of the calibers from .17 to .338 chambered in one or more rifles. It’s always fun figuring out the one optimal cartridge for the game you’re hunting. These days I’m older and have broken it down like this…
Coyote- .17/.204/.223
Hunting club- 26-06/7-08
Paid hunt- 7mm rem with 160 Accubonds and my .300wm with 180 Accubonds. With these 2 I’ve made 1 shot kills on game from antelope to elk, from 50 to 450 yards. If I’m paying todays rates for a hunt and your dream animal only gives you a few seconds and at a less than perfect angle, these 2 will reliably hit vitals through bone and thick muscle. Especially if you’re hunting mulies or elk in the mountains. Another thing many people forget about is ammo availability. The 6.5 whiz bangs, Weatherby’s and PRC’s are wonderful and I have more of these than I need. But I’ve been on more than one hunt where a hunter forgot his ammo, got it separated and lost in flight or shot up way more than he figured zeroing in at camp because the scope was off. Finding ammo is hard enough these days without needing specialized ammo. I haven’t been out west this year, but always in the past you can usually go in any hardware or grocery store in Montana and come up with 270, 30-06, 7mm rem and 300wm.

[AlexCausey]

I really think you know what your taking about when picking a specific round for each game category. I would choose 30-06 for everything because I do not want to purchase all those rifles, the different reloading dies, specific powders, projectiles and cleaning equipment to use the perfect weapon for every animal I might hunt. Sheezus.!

[WallyMerc]

I'll be honest man, I've hunted with lots of calibers and it's hard to beat how effective a .308 win is even out to 300, 350, 400 yards with the right bullet. Elk at the proper distance even. After than I'm going 7 mag, .300 win or 300 prc for large elk and moose if needed.

[Cjinglaterra]

Back in the days when I couldn’t imagine myself shelling out for a second big game rifle I picked the .30-06. Because it’ll do anything from pronghorn to brown bear. Not necessarily ideal for either, but she’ll do the job, and - at least in normal times - ammo’s plentiful.

[donswearingen]

I have a Savage 111 Chieftain in 30-06. It has never let me down. I don't need any more.

[trevorkolmatycki]

I'm a 300WSM guy myself... but I think in the Moose and Elk and bear categories I would add 338 Winchester Magnum to your list as a super viable option.

[ethanhalstead]

I’m so happy to here you picking the 7 mag. I’ve absolutely loved mine and really believe in using it for absolutely all the big game I hunt. It’s just my absolute favorite caliber!

[GLOCKCOPG]

If I could only have one rifle, the 30-06 wins hands down. You can do 99.9% of what needs to be done with a 30-06 or 7mm Rem Mag. The massive bullet selection will cover you from mice to moose. If you could have only one rifle, either of these two gets the nod. You just can’t go wrong with these two.