Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Pet Caliber? Which do You Favour? And Why?

What is your pet caliber? In which caliber do you own the most rifles for hunting? And of course what is the reasoning behind your choices?

My mentor/hunting partner left me a number of boxes of 284 bullets, batches of brass and dies, and a few 7mm magnum rifles to dispose of, but I'm not a magnum kind of guy so...



My choice is 7mm-08. Here's a grouping of my current 7mm-08s:



A REM 700 with a Triggertech trigger and 24" barrel, a 1989 REM M7 in a Brown FS stock, a Howa Alpine with a Basner stock, a Kimber 84M with Select French walnut, and another REM M7 SS wearing a B&C Medalist.

Then again I also have a few 250-3000s. But that's another matter altogether...

I'm bad. Owned 30-06, 300 WM and 7-08 personally. In the fam and loaded for - those plus 243 and 270.

I currently only own 1 - 7-08. So it's my "pet caliber/cartride" because for me to buy a rifle for me, it would need to do something that it can't or doesn't and need to outclass it in some way well beyond just "sorta better".

When it comes to rifles, I'm no longer a churner nor collector. Just meh, handguns - sorta, need interesting 1911's and single action revolvers that start with the number 4.

Not me. They’re all good in good rifles for my use. Nothing bigger than black bears here, which is an obvious factor. My favorite rifle now is my Fieldcraft 6CM, which has the virtue of putting everything I feed it pretty close together, but it’s be just fine as a .243, 6.5, 7-08, or .308 too.

Caliber=bore diameter I believe.

6mm Remington was my first experience for a deer rifle. Since I have tried 270 Winchester, 30-06 & 6.5 Grendel. & they all do fine. Going on 3 years ago I converted a CZ527 from 6.5 Grendel to 6mm ARC

If I had to choose one caliber for my hunting type 6mm would defiantly be my choice.

Caliber - .30


Chambering - I have a soft spot for the .260 Remington.

Can't pick a favorite. For most hunting 30 cal works for just about anything but can be more than needed for a lot of game so I lean towards .277 but then there's 223, 257, 264 and of course.375. I really need to add a 7mm.

308 just because it’s the best

Caliber??

.24/6mm.

Why? Because I see no need for more HP when hunting deer which is what 99% of my hunting is.

.284

I have three rifles in 7x64 ,and the same number in .308. Both cartridges do a similar job, but the 7x64 has more panache. I'd have to vote for the 7x64. In Varmint cartridges, the .222 Remington is my favourite. It does everything I ask of it.

Caliber = .284. Chambering = 7mm-08

Only one 7x57, a 1908 action in a Bavarian style stock:

I like 30s

30-30 is my favorite. It's always been that way. It goes back hunting and trapping fiction stories I liked to read as a kid. The heroes generally used 30-30's

Been chasing PA and NY bucks for the last 47 years with the same 270

25,26,30. I like them the best.

22 and 30

221fb and .308 Winchester.

Why? Good Question.

For deer, .30 and 6.5 with specific cartridges being .30-06 (or .30-30 or .30-40) and 6.5x55.

Really like the 7. Have 7/08 , 7x57 and the best of them the 7 mm Rem Mag. However, the 25’s are my absolute favorite. The 257 Roberts (my first), the 25-06, 257 Weatherby, 25-284 Win, and my last 25 BR AI have killed a train load of deer and hogs.
I could hunt the rest of my life with them and not miss a thing.
GreggH

All of them do something better than the 30-06, but none of them do everything as well.

Caliber .277, cartridge 270win. First new centerfire rifle I purchased was a tang ruger in 270win back in 1972 or 73,thanks to growing up reading jack O'Connor. Haven't been without one since. These days I shooting a win model 70 super grade in 270win.

.224 is the caliber I own the most rifles in. 4 223 Rems, a 220 Swift, a 220 Wilson Arrow, and a 1-9 twist 22-250. I do hunt our small southern whitetails with them, but they probably aren't the best choice as an all-around hunting caliber.

I have 6 rifles chambered in various 7mms. 1 7mm-08, 1 7mm Mauser, 2 280 Rems, and 2 7mm Rem Mags. As a do it all caliber, I guess 7mm gets the nod at my house.
,
For the size whitetails we have around here in North MS, it's tough to beat a good 6mm round. I've got 3 243 Wins and I'm also one of the pretty small percentage of folks out there that owns 2 240Wbys. Those are fun to take to deer camp. Never seems to be anyone else show up with one of those.

6.5

I suppose the .308 diameter rounds. a close second would be .223-.224 rounds.

At the moment, I have rifles in .30 Carbine,.300 HAM'R, .308 Win, .30-06, .308 Norma Magnum and .300 Weatherby Magnum. I have own rifles in .30-30 and .300 Savage also.

Exactly. The .308 or 30 caliber. Those 30 caliber cartridges being 308 winchester, 30-06, 300WSM, 300 RSAUM, 300win mag, 308 Norma magnum and 300wby. Just a few of my favorites.

I have a hard time picking between .284 and .308. I’m sure if I grew up shooting something else, I would have the same kind of confidence.

I have been a 28 caliber fan ever since I had my 28 Nosler built. It kills everything from big to small, elk to 700 with SERIOUS authority. Shooting 600 feels like its 200 with that rifle/cartridge. Wide range of available bullets makes it easy to match to the game desired. Load the 180 hybrids hot and heavy for LR work elk, or load down to 120 TTSX/140 Accubonds for smaller stuff if desired. I use the 180 Hybrid for everything and it has been an amazing combo.

I have countless rifles from .22 WMR to .375 Wby.

I only have multiple rifles chambered for three cartridges. Those are:

.223

.308

6.5-300 Wby

So, I suppose those are my pets.

My favorite is 30 caliber in a 308 Winchester

Does everything I need to do with modest recoil.

I have a soft spot for 25 caliber in a 250 Savage. For sentimental reasons

For years my favorite was the 270 Win. I slayed a lot deer with it, and still consider the cartridge to be the ultimate choice for whitetail. These days my favorites are a pair of 6.5's, the Grendel and the Creedmoor., along with the 243. No matter how hard I try to "like" other cartridges better, for some reason or another, I keep coming back to the 243.

.308". Probably because I have so many cans full of bullets, and so much brass for several .308" cartridges.

Maybe .308" is the best overall diameter. Or maybe bullet diameter doesn't matter.

The problem with all the big game cartridges, no matter what the reason for preference, leaves you with a gun that you may shoot a hand full of times throughout the year.

Favorite would have to be .224. I have 22 LR, 22 Hornet, 222, 223, 224 Weatherby Magnum, 22-250, 220 Swift rifles and as many as 5-6 guns in each chambering.

You can shoot varmints all day for hours and never run out things to shoot at. There is hunting and shooting, each has it’s place, but spending a week hunting big game or a weekend shooting varmints, there is no comparison for how much shooting you can do when you aren’t hunting.


22. caliber bullets…

My favorite "cartridges":
.22mag, 7mm-08, .338-06.

I've been using the 7mm-08 since the mid '80's and I have always thought it was just perfect for whitetails.

Love the .338-06 ,but just can't take the recoil anymore. Instant headaches since my car accident. ( or maybe it's just from getting older! ) 😄

I like .308 a lot, just because there's an enormous range of bullets and cartridges available in it. I generally put more 30 cal bullets downrange in a year than any other; mostly through 303 Savage and 300 Blackout, but in a couple chamberings, too.

My favoured caliber is 7mm as well but only own one now in 7x57. Traded the 7mag this week for a Browning/Sako in 222.

I have two bullet types for the 7x57. 120gr NBT and 160 NP. That's it! One for deer and one for moose.

I have more 30cal, but like the 7s better.

I like .35 Whelen, brass can be formed from .30-06 simply by running it thru the Whelen die. Wide selection of bullets and weights, cast and jacketed bullets and pistol bullets for economical plinking and practice, mine shoots everything well. Effective on a wide range of big game.

My favorites are definitely 22 cals and 6mm cals.

I have a soft spot for both the 22-250 and 243 although now I use the 22 and 6mm creedmoors more

Without irritating the picking flyshit out of pepper "caliber v chambering" crowd, I knew what you meant: 300 Weatherby

.223 Rem is the most chambered rifle in my collection I have five rifles. I have duplicates of other cartridges, but I own more .30 Cal rifles than anything else. I have 12 rifles that shoot .308 diameter bullets.

.284

6.5. because.

300 Savage and 6.5 Swede

Keep the bullets, sell off the 7 mag rifles, get a proper 7x57...which is my favorite.

Same here. 7mm-08 and .308 are probably my top two picks in those calibers.

I guess I've got more Swedes than anything. But this is kind of like asking a mechanic which tool he favors..they all have a purpose and he needs them all.

I own more 22 caliber rifles than anything else. I like shooting them and reloading for them. I guess I could probably use them for everything I do. Only problem is that I like shooting different rifles and cartridges

"There ain't nothing you can't fix with $700 and a .30-06."

308, because I don't have to think about it.


Okie John

I’m a 7 mag guy, got five I think. They work well is why I like them, but after watching grandkids slay deer and pigs with 243’s, could do just as well with a Creedmoor. I have 6

Been a 300mag lover for nearly 40yrs and still my overall favorite, but the past few years I've become a 7mm Mashburn fan and it's becoming harder to pick a 300 over it.

Hard to say. 6.5

7mm

You .284 guys are communists.




P

I like em' all! Why? Well, loonyism is a thing ya; know.

90% of my hunting is whitetails within 300 yards. I haven’t found anything I like better than the 257 roberts for that. Don’t really have any connection to the cartridge and it’s the only 25 caliber I’ve ever owned. Just works and works well for me. I currently have 6 rifles chambered in 257 roberts and every one of them will shoot any factory ammo I’ve tried in them or any of my handloads plenty good enough to do everything I’ll ever ask of them.

It depends on how I’m feeling and which stand I plan on hunt. 240 Wby, 7 mag, 30/06 or 35 Whelen.

My big game experience pales in comparison to most here but I've taken big game with
6mm (243win)
6.5mm (PRC)
7mm (280rem)
.308cal (30WCF, 308WIN, 30-06)
For deer I've lost taste for the 243win due to inadequate blood trails. The PRC was a loner for an audad hunt and worked perfectly. Killed several deer with the 280 but ammo has become hard to find and secretly wish the role stamp said "270". 308 has become my go-to for local deer, it really is the easy button. My 30-06 is my "out west" rifle and will be headed to Colorado at the end of this week for mule deer. guess I've become a 30 cal guy but who knows what will happen down the road? I have a 270WBY, 7mmRemMag, 9.3X62 and a 375Ruger that haven't seen blood. Need to fix that!

As far a versatility for big game, the 06 is still king. Our general season is both deer and elk, so an 06 with 180's is a pretty good choice IMO.

I have 7mm-08's, 6.5 PRC, 338WM, but the 06 usually wins out unless I feel the need to pull out the 50 cal BP rifle.

In our youth, pre 40, we shot thousands and thousands of ground squirrels with 30-06, 270, 25-06, and maybe 15 percent w/ 22-250.

Yeah, we are not so tough anymore. I no longer enjoy four hundred high power rounds per day from prone.

I did my first deer hunt at age 11 back in 1949. Did very few hunt until age 16 but then with friends who had wheels got in a few more hunts. Rifle at that time was an old 1894 Winchester carbine in 30-30. Sometime in the middle of that period I got a 1917 Enfield 30-06 and cobbled up a sporting rifle in my spare time. I guess I use that old rifle and others all in 30-06 until 1973 when I broke down and bought a Remington 660 in .308 Win. Frankly, I was no fan of the .308 but I was an extremely heavy chain smoker at that time and hunting up around 9,000 feet MSL breathing was a problem. I finally quit in 1975 for good, smoking that is. I used that .308 until I transferred from Nevada to Arizona in 1979. I'd once owned a neat 6.5x54 MS carbine that someone stole from my truck in Elko Nevada and had looked for some time for a clean replacement. Never found one I likes so when I saw the Ruger RSI in .308 I new I'd have to get one. Finally found one dirt cheap as the man selling it said he could not get any decent hunting loads in the rifle. I liked the feel and looked at the light switch on the wall, closed my eyes and snapped the rifle to my shoulder. The sights were dead on the switch. Tried it a few more time with the same result and decided I'd gamble on making that gun shoot. It took a while but I found success. I got the 165 gr. Speer Hot Core to do 2550 FPS and group at 1.5 inches consistently. It's one deer killin' load in that rifle.
I played off and on with other cartridge, the .243, .270, 7x57, .300 Win. Mag. and still have a few rifles in other chamberings I haven't worked with. I fell into the .35 Whelen and it's been my go to rifle for elk. All the elk I've taken except two were with the .35. One with the .300 Win. and one with the 30-06.
Currently I've been working with the 7x57 a lot and have a couple of good loads and one very fine load with the .280 Rem. Whether either one ends up on a hunt depends on whether I can find a guide who handles handicapped hunters and is reasonably affordable.
I guess, based on all the above, if push came to shove, the 30-06 would be #1 with the .308 a close second place. Those are the two I've used the most over many long years.
PJ

22LR is the standard for pets.

Knew a guy who used to clip kitties right on people's porches.

308 Win, hunt anything (except maybe the big bears) anywhere in the world with ammo generally available worldwide. Not forgetting you can fire 7.62x51 mm NATO ammo in a 308 if things go sideways in the world.

Disgusting

8mm .323" is my pet caliber. 8x57 is my all rounder and have a plethora of bullets ranging from 123gr to 250gr. Main hunting weights I use is the 180gr at 2750+/- fps and 200gr at 2600+/- depending on the rifle. Plink with 123gr, 150gr SP, 170gr. Its my "30-06" in other words.

If???

358 Winchester. I need to load for my 25-06 and 7-08.

257 Weatherby. It shuts 'em right down.

i shot a few deer over the years. i shot them with a 22-250AI to the 45-70. the 30-30 and 7x57 should be my favorites, i mean, those cartridges have killed many of my deer. the 270 and the 7-08 are great. 25-06, 6.5 Creedmoor, 308, 30-06, 30-40 Krag, 32 Win Spl, 8x57, 444 Marlin.....they all shot deer, but my 2nd favorite cartridge is 9.3x57 and 275gr WFN GC and the #1 favorite is the 35/30-30 and 200gr RCBS FN GC.

Good thread.

My favorite is 277: 270 WCF, nine rifles.

Have successfully used bullets from 85-155gr on prairie dogs to elk. Have played with bullets all the way up to 180gr.

I really like these too:
224- 222 and 22-250
338- 338-06
416- 416 Rem Mag
458- 45-70 and 450 Bushmaster

Have only burned the barrels out on two rifles. A 22-250 and 270 WCF.

Didn't say I approved.

450 Bushmaster.

Only two of the same caliber…..a .375 H&H and a .375 AI which .375 H&H’s can be fired in ( .375 H&H’s are fired in the AI to fire form cases).

They are good for all NA big game, and are legal for all of the African Big Five in most African countries! The AI produces enough velocity with a bull of good BC to make it a pretty decent long range (easily to 1000 yards for a very competent rifleman) capable cartridge! memtb

I’ve burned up more 22-250 and 243 ammo and barrels than any others.

the cabin "moose tenderizer" shelf contains some of my favorites

375 H&H. Have a few belted magnum magazine rifles and a flanged mag double.

Why, just like them.

22lr for economy and useful on small critters.

308win because it does well out of short tubes with decent performance

270win because during the pandemic it was the most available in factory form locally, as were components and it was very economical pre-2019 and still rates up there. Logistics I suspose.

45-70 as it was one of the first cartridges I reloaded. It can be loaded with cast bullets you make yourself so you aren't dependant on modern bullet technology.

I have three, all in JM Marlin lever guns.

30-30 Winchester
444 Marlin
45-70 Govt

I baby those handloads and rifles like they're an heir to the throne.

223 Rem. for economical practice and training in my Ruger African.

280 Rem. for Pronghorn & Deer.

35 Whelen for Elk & Moose.

9.3x62/66 for Africa.

404 Jeffery for stopping rifle in Africa.

Just returned from my 12th African safari in the Bangweulu Swamp in Zambia, and took all animals with my 9.3x66:
46” Buffalo
Black Lechwe
Tsessebe
Side Striped Jackel

This is quite a range of animal weights, and the 9.3 took every one with one shot only: 286 gr. NP.
Very versatile caliber in a light weight medium bore rifle.

I'm a .30 caliber guy. Bullets for reloading are easy to find. Trajectories make hitting stuff generally not too difficult. Recoil is manageable. And the biggest selling point to me is that you only have to shoot stuff once.

Three. Seven. Five.

Three H&Hs, 2 Weatherbys and a RUM.

Most of my "serious" hunting is in Africa and the 375 is just too handy over there. Here, I'll use whatever is convenient/sighted in/loaded up for the local deer or coyotes. And the 375 works for that too!

I'm 63 and when I get old and decrepit I plan to downsize to 338. Got a few of those too!

222 and 30-06

I have more 6.5s than any other caliber, but prefer the 358s. I like cast bullets and the 358 bullets in the RCBS 200 grain FN plain base, powder coated, are good bullets to cast and make accurate loads. In a 358 Win or 35 Whelen are very effective.

.260 Rem for whitetail (and hogs) if doing the bolt gun, suppressed. Otherwise, .308 AR for hogs. Otherwise, the .300winnie for the money shot on big game paid hunts. Otherwise, the .375 H&H for the money shot on bigger game paid hunts.

I’d probably go to the .338 WM if that time ever comes…..but, I’d have to restock my wife’s rifle, as it would be too short! 😉 memtb

.308

My favourite cartridge has been steadily stepping down calibers through the years.
In the 80s it was the 8x68S. An 8mm 180gr bullet at 3,200 fps was difficult to beat.
Before-the-last one was the 6XC.
And now my heart is divided between the 5,6x50R and the 22-250, both with slow twist barrels.
The reasons?
They are a pleasure to shoot, I shoot them more accurately, I see the bullet impact through the scope, and with the right bullets, 75gr or 80gr ELDMs and 77gr TMK and 88gr ELDM respectively, carry plenty of killing power given my hunting style.

6.5mm for me. Why? Because it just works. Mid sized 6.5mm rounds seems to have the best kill to recoil ratio and the longer range capabilities of many 6.5mm bullets doesn’t hurt.

That said, I am currently procuring parts and pieces for an ultimate mountain rifle, and am planning for it to be a .280 AI, so 7mm, I guess.

I agree with T Inman about the 6.5s. I’ve killed a lot of deer with a 6.5x55 and 140s. That cartridge and loading are the epitome of efficiency. Makes it easy to get bored with it - no drama. I really screwed up when I let my Kimber Mauser 6.5 go.

If I could only have one it would be a .308, but I REALLY like the following too:

7mm08
300 HAM'R
.30-06
.358 Win (the most underrated caliber ever)

.358 = Because it's Magical

I like the 6.5 Creedmoor because its universally available and both my rifles are 1/2 to 3/4 MOA with my favorite loads (Fieldcraft and Tikka, 130 AR Hybrid Berger and 139 Lapua Scenar).

Wife loves her 6 ARC repeater (wilson combat barrel and components) as do I (Sgt of Arms build). She has a Howa mini 6 ARC that’s light and very accurate. I’ll probably get a 6ARC Howa Mini for me, as well.

My 300 HAMR is the house gun. I figure a 125 TNT at 2450 would be as decisive on people as on pigs or deer.

It is really tough to beat a solid 284 whatever. So many great bullets out there and man it really covers great ground while still keeping recoil in a friendly area.

308 is my pet cartridge. I also have a lot of 7mm bullets that I would like to shoot. I will find a 7mm08 some day and life will be bliss. lol

Before moving to AK, I hunted primarily with .284 caliber rifles. I had a .280 Rem, which I still have, as well as. 7-08 Rem, and 7mm WSM. Sold the 7-08 and 7WSM off, but have since replaced the 7-08 with another one. If I leave AK anytime soon, probably sticking with the .284 and .264 calibers and giving my son the .30-.33 calibers.

At one time it was the 7mm's, the 7x57 was my favorite. These days I'm really pro 6.5. Have a 6.5x06, 6.5x55 and a 260 Rem. Only draw back whicth doesn't bother me a lot is they are pretty shallow on bullets and sometimes hard to find. Shoot 120gr Hornadys in the 260 and in the other two 140gr Hornadys. Seldom even shoot my 25-06 any more or my 243. Getting to old to pack out an elk these days so 30-06 is collecting duse. ut as for elk, I've killed as many with my 6.5x06 as the 30-06! 6.5's do it without a bunch of recoil.

I'm primarily a .30 caliber guy.

I killed my first elk with a borrowed .30-40 Krag.

My first centerfire rifle was a .30-06 that I later had re-chambered to .30 Gibbs and I killed 30 of my elk with that rifle.

My favorite hunting rifle now is my .300 Weatherby. Most of the animals that I've shot with it were one shot kills. I've used it on elk here in Montana, Exotics in Texas, a Dagestan Tur in Azurbaijan, a hunt in New Zealand, 3 African hunts, and my latest hunt, a moose in Alberta.

I have a couple of bold action .308 Win rifles that I enjoy "ringing the steel" almost every week at our local range. I shoot both it and a .223, but there is less wind drift with the .308 bullets and hits on the 430 yard gong are much louder with the .308 bullets than hits from the .223 bullets.

Ever since I shot my first pronghorn antelope back in 1971 and had a shoulder mount of it, I've literally filled my house with more than 80 mounts. Other than pronghorn antelope, I've limited my North American mounts to 2 of the best animals of each species, and I have mounted most of the animals that I shot on international hunts.

The largest number of my mounts, 29, I shot with .30 caliber bullets, with 18 of them shot with my .300 Wby. Thats followed by 20 mounts that I shot with .284 bullets from my 7 mm Rem mag rifles, 14 mounts shot with .257 caliber bullets from my .257 Ackley, and 14 mounts shot with .375 bullets from my .375 RUM.

Overall, I think that my .257 Ackley has put more animals (not meat) in my freezers that all of the rest of my rifles combined.

I can't say I have a pet caliber.
There are many cartridges I have owned and used in my many years of shooting and hunting. Some more than others.

Even "pet" cartridges" are not something I'd think of in a way of giving one loyalty over others.

I'll admit there are some I dislike for the reason of being complicated to make (like fire-formed wildcats) But even that is not written in stone. Working with older guns that fire ammo which is now unavailable forced me to make shells at times and I didn't mind doing that, but many of the "improved' shells are not worth the effort to me.
I've made quite a few "A.I." cartridge's in my 50+ years of being a gunsmith and never once seen a real-world advantage to any of them. 1 example is a 280 AI I just helped a friend with 2 years ago. Having owned and killed several head of game with a 7MM Weatherby and a 7MM Remington Mag and not one time ever seeing any real difference between their performance and that of a 270 Winchester the very ideal; of having to fire a case to fill the chamber to increase the velocity to a point it's almost but not quite as high as a 7MM Rem Mag and then pointing out that the 7MM mag never did ANYTHING better then the 270 Winchester on many head of game (they are not bad at all, just no better) I fail to see any reason for using up the extra powder, bullets primers and time re-shaping the brass.

Another type of cartridge I don't care for are those that eat out throat's super fast. I love shooting a lot, and I dislike cartridges that require me to set back or re-barrel rifles very soon, and having use a 7MM STW and a 30-378 Weatherby, once again I can't see the results in the field being noticeably better then kills I have made with 7X57s 280s and 30-06s. In fact the faster the MV is on any given rifle the more critical bullet choice is and given some more "standard" bullets the super magnums were not AS GOOD at killing well as the standard calibers. With the correct bullet they work great, but nothing can be done to keep the throats from getting eroded quickly with these kind of magnums.

True "Calibers" being the bore and groove size:

The caliber I have more of than any others is .222. That being the 22 LR. 15 of them.

For center fire cartridges; the calibers I have more of any others are .308 and .452. In centerfire cartridges I own more with the 308 bore size and any other. As of right now that is 10 rifles from 30-30 to 300 H&H.

In handguns it's the 45. Most are the ACP and 1 revolver I use Auto-Rim shells, as well as one 454 Casull. That number is 9 handguns total.

But I can't say I see a "magic" in the 308 bore size or in the 45 caliber bore size. I just have come to like the guns that I own chambered in them and sold off the ones that were not more "dear" to me over the last 35 years or so.