I disagree. What's the biggest bullet you can load in the .270 WSM, 150 grains? Maybe 160? I'd rather shoot a bull elk or moose with a 180 or 200 grain bullet from an -06 than a 150 or 160 grainer from a .270 WSM. KE be damned! I want a bigger hole and assured penetration!

I guess you can tell I am an -06 fan. A lot of riflemen dislike the .30-06 since it's so, so, well...EVERYBODY has an -06! There's no panache to having a rifle that shoots such a plebian cartridge. Or, why have a good, general-purpose cartridge when you can have cartridges specifically tailored to the game in question?

I really can't find fault with the last part, but I do put a lot of faith in the old adage, "Beware the man with one rifle; he probably knows how to shoot it!" You can hunt just about any game in North America, with confidence, with a .30-06 Springfield. From 110-125 grain bullets for varmints, 150-165 grainers for deer, pronghorns, sheep and caribou, 180 grain bullets for black bear, mountain goat and elk, and 200 or 220 grain slugs for big bull elk, moose or big bears. Maybe not perfect for all, but effective for all within it's limitations. And, as Semi stated, you can purchase factory ammunition (if needed or solely relied on) anywhere, from South Africa, to Alaska, to Luxembourg. It is an easy cartridge to handload for, and there are probably more components available for handloading -06's than any other cartridge in history.

Now, I wouldn't mind owning a .270 WSM. I bet they are a lot of fun to shoot and load for, and would be just about perfect for deer, sheep and like-sized game. But I would prefer (and this is my preference only) a .30 caliber for elk or moose, and certainly for big bears. In fact, gimme a .338 or .375 for big bears! With an -06 and a .375, there isn't an animal in the world you could not kill.

Brian