best all around for north america
 

Hey guys, I finally got a tc encore, and plan to get another barrel for it soon. But not sure what caliber to get. I would like to be able to hunt any big game in North America at a drop of a hat and be prepared. so my question which cailber? . im leaning towards .270 , also which caliber for coyotes? .223, thanks

Well, I love the 7mm Remington Magnum. Good for antelope with 120s, deer with 140s, and it has quite a reputation for elk. Just depends if that's all the bigger you're wanting to hunt. Nothing wrong with a 270, 280, or 30-06 either (of which I always wanted a 280), and numerous other cartridges. The good thing about shooting a 28 or 30 cal is the bullet variety favoring elk, without giving up anything for smaller game.

The 223 is a perfect yote cartridge. Since I handload, I'd go with a 22-250 myself. Keeps ammo cost about the same with the ability to make things hot for a flatter shooting gun, and shots can get long from the yote hunting I've done.

Does "any big game in North America" include brown bears to you? If so, you better be looking at a .338 or bigger...

Agreed. I am really develop a liking for my 338wm. So far deer, elk and moose have fallen to a single shot...awesome results for the variety and only 1 bullet used.

For a varmiter I too agree with 22-250, reloader as well:s4:!

223 and 300 win mag.

AS was said above, if big bears are on the list i would opt for a 338.

If you mean everything but big bears then the .270, .280, 30-06 are all excellent choices.

For coyotes the .223 and .22-250 would be my top choices followed closely by the .243.

For everything but varmints and big bears I'd go to the 300WM. You have everything in between and long range. You could shoot varmints and big bears with a 300 WM it's just not a the best. Too much powder and power on one end and arguably not enough power on the other. Though I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a big bear with mine given the right bullet.

Tom

Which barrel do you already have?

I generally recommend the .30-06 if you're going to have ONE caliber. You'll be overgunned for coyotes, slightly undergunned for brown bears (which most of us in the lower 48 will never hunt in the first place).

And, in all sincerity, many of us end up blinded by "big bears" when we're choosing a caliber. Chances are that if you can afford a guided brown bear hunt, you can also afford a dedicated brown bear rifle. Otherwise, encounters with bears are likely going to be blacks (which will fall to a .243), or grizzlies (which are considerably smaller here in elk country than they are in coastal Alaska/Canada - and will fall to a .30-06 or .300)

If you can have TWO calibers, I recommend the .243 on the low end for everything through deer-sized game, and something in the .338 class for elk and up. You'll be a shade overgunned for coyotes.

I would go with a .338. if it were more than one barrel then I'd go for a few others.

What Homers said +1

This is an excellent idea, it's what I would do. The .243 is a great caliber for coyote and deer, and the .338 for elk through brown bears.

How about best all around rifle that perhaps will be shot at long distance? Lets say 600 yards.

Would the .300 WM be the candidate or would folks still stick with the .30-06?

Tom

No man should be forced to pick one gun/caliber to fill hunting needs.

Honey....I need the following:

.22 for squirrels, rabbits
.223 for coyotes, woodchucks
7mm-08 for whitetails
.270 for antelope
.300 for elk
.338 for moose, bear

Etc.

You get the point. LOL

.280 for all animals including large black bears. I think the 25-06 would be very fun for the coyotes. .280 rem is my favorite and have proven it deadly here on southern whitetails and on Canadian whitetails. Recently on a 6 1/2 foot Alaskan black bear. So far the bear was the only critter to take a step after impact, he only took 4 or 5 steps.

7mm Rem mag. or 300 Win mag.

Agreed for the most part! However....

.22/squirrels, rabbits
.223/home protection
.308/whitetail
.270/antelope
7mm Rem/mule deer
.300 Win Mag/elk and bear

I'll take my .300 wm,45/70,yotes with my .220 swift

I would go with a 35 Whelen or the .338

.223 for yotes and 30.06 for everything else.