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!

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