Well, it seems like this post has turned into a pissing match instead of actually helping the guy out. Like usual.[:'(]

Not to step on anyone's toes, but some of you really need to do a little research before you jump into a pissing match.

I agree almost 100% with DAVOH.

Find a gun/rifle that fits your body and then go from there. It doesn't matter how much power you have or lack, if the gun/rifle doesn't fit you are going to flinch or not be able to shoulder it properly, which is going to effect you down range.

Then theres the whole magnum craze. Read up, what do you think people were killing animals with before the mag's even came out?

Do the research, the .270win and 30-06'are the two most popular hunting rounds through out history. Why is this? Because the simply get the job done. I have owned a .270win my whole life and would use it to hunt all, but two animals in North America and these would be a Grizzly and a big Moose.It might get the job done on them too, but personally I want a little more lead when it comes to these two.

The statement that a .270win is a poor choice for bear (assuming that it was meant for black bear) is as false as false can get. Read the ballistic charts of a .270win with a 140gr. and 150grbullet.

Now being more versatile. If you measure this by the different weights of bullets that you can buy from a store (factory loaded), I really don't think one caliber would out number the next. In today's market, pretty much each bullet company makes each kind of popular bullet for each calibler. So, most of the caliber choices have at least three to five bullet choices straight from the factory.

I would say that one of the poorest when it comes to finding bullet choices is the .308win. Which is ashamed b/c its one of the best hunting rounds there is, but from sales, it isn't as popular.

Most of the different calibers and esp. the magnum rounds were not developed b/c they were "needed" for hunting. They were developed b/c they were "needed" for sales. Guns are like cars, you have to come out with newer models that are "faster and better", to make money.

The 25-06's is also another great rifle that would be more than enough for the vast majorty of hunters here in the US, but wasn't really pushed by the manufactors so isn't that popular.


Point blank, there is really no "big game" rifles on the market that wouldn't work for 99% of the hunters in the US. It really comes down to the buyer's choice and ego.

So, to help this guy out a little (based on my opinion). You wouldn't go wrong with any of the calibers that you listed. Although (JUST ME), I would stay away from the .243. It works, but FOR ME, I want a little more lead.

If I were in your shoes, my list would have been:

.270 win or wsm
25-06'
30-06'
.308win

Then if you want to have a magnum:

.270 WBY mag
.300 win mag or wsm
7mm mag

There's not a caliber on that list that you could go wrong with. Some are overkill, sure.