RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

Go for the .30-06!!! It WILL KILL any North-American big game animal. And there are a wide range of bullet choices, 125 grn to 220 grns I believe. Thats if you handload, but if you dont, there is still plenty of factory ammo for the '06. Muzzle blast, it is VERY bad for your hearing, even one bang is capable of doing permanent damage, even though it may not be noticable, over the years you'll feel it.

RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

I'd vote for the .338 Mag!

Edited by - eagle338 on 01/24/2003 21:38:55

RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

7mm Mag or .270, in that order.

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RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

I would consider 300 weatherby mag.There are a wide variety of bullet weights and It is at home hunting anything from antelope to moose and large bear

RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

As an old codger I have had 375,338,300 and 30-06. I mostly bow hunt now but have the 30-06 and the rest are gone. Have the Vari-x III on it and if you know how to hunt and don't plan for 400 yard shots this gun will kill it all. I haven't owned the 7mm but sounds like it is a good caliber as well. Point is if you just want one rifle to do it all then the 06 will do it. If I can kill 6x6 bull elk with a little stick then most guns should do the trick as well.

RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

Anything between the 30-06 and the 458 should do good.

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RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

I'd take the old '06 hands down. More commercially loaded ammo than any other caliber. Handloaders dream. More bullet selection than Carter has liver pills. 50 bucks and a competent gunsmith, the '06 can become the Ackley Improved. Turning the ol '06 into a .300 H&H., yet you can still fire standard 30-06 ammo!! I have a custom rfle in 30-06 Ackley improved, would not trade it for my wife......well something like that. Even Col. Craig Boddington (Guns & Ammo Writer) states this as his one gun favorite. Besides, I have always preferred the sectional density of the .30 over the .284 bullet. Lots of room for argument here. What do you other guys think?

RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

You make perfekly good sense to me Bowana, 30-06 all the way.

RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

Ok, what is the 30-06 ackley? I've never heard of that one before.

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