Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Ok everyone, one caliber, one bullet, ALL of NA hunting....name it.

300 wby mag with a 180 gr TSX. plus all the other possible .308 bullets only better and faster or loaded down for newbies.

SAS,checkout his website,he tells what gun you should bring.

As to the best elk round.....I'm now rebuilding my .338-06.....I received a new barrel (much lighter than the one I had)from a custom barrel maker. (Atkinson) I'm planning on using the 210 Swift scirocco II bullet. It's now topped with a Leupold LR 4-12 scope.....and should be adequate to at least 400 yards.

I've only shot two elk in my life but now want something that will allow for the occasional poor shot presentation where I might have to take a less than ideal shot. The .338-06 will give me a bit more steam in such cases......and in the unlikely event I'm forced to deal with a bear such as the ones noted on this thread.....WOW....great bears!

I've always liked the "looks" of the 338-06 and often thought of re-barreling one of my '06's to it and even adding an AI shoulder to it. If I were a serious Elk hunter I would own one however it is a wee bit much for my day to day deer hunting. Or rather it doesn't make much sense to build one when I have a perfectly fine '06 when all I hunt is deer with a light smattering of black bear thrown in.
I suppose though addressing the OP's question I would say for commercial availability I would go with a 300 Win Mag and either 180 or 200 grain slugs. Second choice would be a 338 Win Mag and 225's. I think the 338 is probably quite a bit better on Elk but IME 338's are tougher to find both rifle and ammo. I remember trying to order a 338WM back in the early 90's to go to Wyoming Elk hunting and everything I wanted was on back order and I could pick any 300 I wanted off the shelf on sale.
Truth be known for all NA hunting with exception of the truly big bruins I would do just fine with my '06 and 165 or 180 gr handloads.

In the day of Magnums, it's easy to lose sight of how powerful the 30-06 really is. Reference Mr. Shoemakers results.

The 30-06 may not be the "best" at any one thing, but it's a nearly ideal balance of shoot-ability, bullet weight, bullet diameter, and power in a package that doesn't need to be overly heavy or large. Loaded with a 180 Partition (which too is not best at any one thing - ie, penetration, frontal area, and shrapnel effect - but perhaps the best compromise of those three), and you've got a lifetime hunting rig.

We live in an age of specialization, but at heart I'm a generalist and as such it really doesn't get any better than the 30-06/180 NP for me. I don't need or want a golf bag full of rifles when one will do...

30-06, 180 TSX or TTSX

Brad, that pretty well sums up my feelings too. Perhaps, strangely, I would characterize the 375s (the H&H and Ruger too) that wat too but perhaps for critters "one click up from normal '06 targets."

Probably any rifle/cartridge combo from 7x57 too 460 Weatherby can work as long as the shooter uses appropriate ammo and places the shot to where it does the critical damage.

I am curious by the 270 Winchester doesn't get the nomination? What can be done with a 30/06 can be done with a 270 IMHO. YMMV...

I agree... it's the other "over 100 year old cartridge" that is finely balanced. The 7x57 too.

Very good feedback.

Mojo- love #1's, but might want a magazine rifle in bear country....never know if 2 rushed you

Phil- great bears. Love photos. SO what you said was, the first bear above was shot OVER 20 yards Seriously, in your experience, how quick did the 30 cal put them down, vs say a 338 or larger bore?

Dob - you prob read this, Finn Aaggard, wrote as a few others much about the 'OKH' ala 338-06. An interesting bullet tests showed the '06/200PT combo faired about as well as the 338/06 in penetration, granted the 338 has a larger swath....but indeed, the 06 has been strutting it's stuff for a LONG time.

For MY hunting now, 99% is easily and preferably done w/a lighter recoiling small bore. Thanks Alan for showing some 6.5 love, all that 30 talk might rub off and I never was a fan, though admire/respect their record.

On the 9.3 comment, I know my 338 put the hurt on some deer I shot, really hits hard, almost like the infamous 'JBs Hammer of Thor!' - Oh wait, was that the B29 or 9.3 B-S?

Had a 338-06 and left nothing for want spitting 200BTs over 2900 and 225 PTs at 2670, all mild recoil and yes redundant 5 round mag capacity. Oh, did I mention 1/2 MOA EVERYTIME....

I seriously wonder where folks might be if the 338-06 were readily mfg in many rifles, w/plenty ammo like a cheap 'Big Mushroom' 225 Corelokt or similar.

No doubt the modest speed of the 06, 338-06 and 9.3 w/medium/heavy bullets negates the 'need' for a premium.

Oh, Phil btw- where do you aim to break a charging bear down/stop him?

At this point in my journey it would be my 338wm shooting 250 Swift AFrames.

Kills pretty good, doesn't seem to bloodshot meat, accurate, and good out to 500 yards.

In truth though 280 Remington through 375h&h would do as would a 3006 shooting 180 grain Swift AFrames.

30-06 180gr sp

So if a .30-06 with 180's gets the nod, what barrel length? 22", 23" or 24"? Why?

338 Win mag with the 225 TSX would work for me. Perhaps the 210 TSX in the same chambering would be a suitable substitute, or any other premium type bullet from 210-250 grain. The 338 Win is definitely my choice for "the do it all" caliber, for a "my type" of hunting.

22" gets the bulk of what the 30-06 has to offer and one of the reason's for it over a magnum is a lighter, smaller rifle.

M70 Fwt contour at 22" is a nigh perfect match for the round IMO.

Bingo!


Doc

I'm a little sensitive to recoil, so I'd make due with a 308Win (mines a LH Ruger Hawkeye in McMillan stock with Leupold 6x42)

As to the one bullet choice....guess I'd defer to a 165gr nosler part.

Leo

NA Hunting.........30/06 with a 180gn Partition if you are a hunter.
That means stalking, tracking and shooting skills, with a balance of knowin when and when not to.

Oh damn dude, that makes too much sense.... ....I still say 9.3x62mm would replace all of those and still have a certain amount of cool factor going for it...

Oh come on, you know the 24" is better