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What Caliber would you pick for deer/elk/moose???

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What Caliber would you pick for deer/elk/moose???

Old 04-22-2008, 08:37 PM
  #11  
Dominant Buck
 
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Default RE: What Caliber would you pick for deer/elk/moose???

ORIGINAL: Old/New

I agree the short actions are just another marketing ploy.
I have to disagree with you. Having equal or slightly better ballistics, a little less recoilcoupled with a shorter action resulting in a lighter weight rifle isn't hype. Those issues do represent something more than a few hunters might be interested in. I have been looking at .300 winmag and .300 WSM. I am not a hand loader and can't see a reason why I wouldn't go for the shorty for elk hunts. Both offer great ballistics and factory ammo is widely available with several loads. The .325 WSM seems like the best of the bunch for elk but for some reason the factory loads aren't put out by all the companies.
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Old 04-22-2008, 08:48 PM
  #12  
Nontypical Buck
 
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Default RE: What Caliber would you pick for deer/elk/moose???

I have both 300wm and Rem 300 saum and if for nothing else the 300wm wins hands down on price of factory ammo. $23 for the 300wm vs almost $50 for the 300 saum. I handload though
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Old 04-22-2008, 10:03 PM
  #13  
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Default RE: What Caliber would you pick for deer/elk/moose???

I'd pull my .30-06 out of the safe for elk or moose, probably using a premium 180 gr load for moose, and 165 gr for elk. If I was after deer, I'd use my .243...
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Old 04-22-2008, 10:56 PM
  #14  
 
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Default RE: What Caliber would you pick for deer/elk/moose???

All my rifle harvests for deer and elk have come from my Rem M700 30-06. It's a tried and true big game round.

I purchased a 300WM recently and looking forward to it's trial run this spring on bear.
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Old 04-22-2008, 11:24 PM
  #15  
Giant Nontypical
 
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Default RE: What Caliber would you pick for deer/elk/moose???

I have used a number and have a soft spot for the .284 cals for an all around gun. IME they give up nothing to the .308s in this regard. You name it 7mm08, 280 rem, 7mm rem mag, 7stw, etc they're all good but for moose and elk I'd be leaning to the case that works well with the 160gr class without giving up performance. So while the 7mm 08 is doable I'd refer to 280 rem+ for the bigger stuff. My personal favorites are the 7mm rem mag and 7mm STW, both are well suited to handle light to heavy for caliber bullets and antelope to moose game.

Nothing wrong with the 300wm just always found it to be spliting hairs looking for a reason to own another instead of my 7mm rem mag. I maintained the stance if I was to go bigger I'd step past the .308s all together and thats what I have done adding another .338wm to my cabinet (only this time its a lefty).
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Old 04-23-2008, 07:24 AM
  #16  
Nontypical Buck
 
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Default RE: What Caliber would you pick for deer/elk/moose???

30-06 or 7mm either will do the trick. Ammo readily availible and proven killers
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Old 04-23-2008, 07:53 AM
  #17  
Nontypical Buck
 
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Default RE: What Caliber would you pick for deer/elk/moose???

I would go for the 30-06 it has plenty of power to kill deer/elk/moose. It has the widest array of ammo selection and recoil won't lead to shoulder surgery.
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Old 04-23-2008, 10:54 AM
  #18  
Fork Horn
 
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Default RE: What Caliber would you pick for deer/elk/moose???

Any of these will do it all: 270win/280rem/30-06/338federal/35whelen/350rem.
Top pick for all is the 35whelen. Pretty much matches the 180gr 06 trajectory, but with 250gr bullets.
Top pick leaning towards deer and distance 270/280.
And the 30-06 is right smack dead center.

Its where and at what distances you will be hunting the 338fed will make a lighter fast handling rifle if most shots will be under 200 yards. If not pick one of the others. Elk seem to be tougher than moose and the 270win dose them in all the time.
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Old 04-23-2008, 03:50 PM
  #19  
 
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Default RE: What Caliber would you pick for deer/elk/moose???

I would choose the 30-06 for its incredible versatillity. For deer elk and moose i would use the same bullet. Nosler accubonds in 200gr.
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Old 04-23-2008, 10:22 PM
  #20  
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Default RE: What Caliber would you pick for deer/elk/moose???

Fora Deer/Elk/Moose single caliber I would most likely pick either the 30-06 or the 7mm mag. The 06 for the world wide availability of ammo along with the proven performance of killing every living thing under the sun. As for the 7mm one of my friends who is a sniper claims that it is a great high power caliber. I do not know how easy it would be to find ammo if you left it at home or lost it while travelling.
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