best western states all-around cartridge

windriverhunter · 05-18-2004, 09:47 PM

What do you think is the best all around cartrige for hunting anything from antelope to bull elk in Wyoming? The 300 win mag, the 7mm rem mag, the 30-06, or the 270 win?

WyoGreff · 05-18-2004, 09:57 PM

YES

rkbo · 05-18-2004, 10:01 PM

It makes a difference if you reload. I've found my .300 win mag to be the most all around gun. I have a 130gr load up to a 220gr load. I can do the same with the 30-06 but with less velocity but I can't do it with my 7 rem mag.

James B · 05-18-2004, 10:04 PM

I chose the 280. Its never failed me and performs well better than its ballistics on paper might indicate. One shot is all its ever needed to make on a critter. I would like to try the 270 WSM but it may be a while. To many other Irons in the fire.

handloader1 · 05-18-2004, 10:59 PM

.300 Win. Mag. Good luck.

JagMagMan · 05-19-2004, 07:17 AM

There are literally dozens of "bests," take your pick! Mine is the 7MM RM.

Rangerlab · 05-19-2004, 07:50 AM

My vote would be for the 300 Win.

cherokee_outfitters · 05-19-2004, 08:23 AM

What ever your personal choice would be of the four. All of them are all around calibers with the right load.

Superpig · 05-19-2004, 08:47 AM

Of the cartridges you listed I would choose the 300 Winchester Magnum. It's a wonderfully accurate round and it has a plethora of factory ammo availble for it. I would say the 300 could possibly the best all around cartridge for all North American game animals. I say this because even if you choose to hunt the large bears the Barnes X will do a number on them. Flat trajectory plenty of energy and manageable recoil for most shooters. Also, if you reload you can load down to 30-06 velocity for practice and plinking and load heavy loads for elk, moose, & bear. This is only my opinion of course.

Nomercy · 05-19-2004, 08:54 AM

The .300WM and the .30-06 are going to give field performance so similar, you'll likely NEVER notice the difference in the two (other than recoil). The .270win is limited a little bit since it's stuck with lighter bullets than the .30 bores, it's a great round, but it is what it is, it's a downsized .30-06, and can handle game accordingly. The 7mm's are basically in the same boat, but they'll kick like hell to get the same results of the more mild .30-06, and they'll still be throwing light bullets when it comes to big game.

I'm going to throw .45-70 into the mix, great all around cartridge, a little heavy for light varmints, but I don't take that to be the basis of this thread anyway.