What's your favorite for ALL N.American big game?

I am very fond of the 300 WSM that I have had for the past 6 or 8 years. It happens to be a Kimber Montana and shoots very well.

donsm70

I haven't, and probably won't, hunt ALL NA big game.

But my fav 30 cal is, of course, the '06...

300 WBY

The 06, there's not much you can't do with it, but the 300 wby is a close 2nd for the 30s.

I hunt with a 30-06. I use 180 grain Nosler Partitions with Spitzer points, hand-loaded to perform like a .300 magnum (61 grains RL22 – 2,870 fps) for larger game like elk, bear, caribou, moose, etc. It might seem simpler to just use a .300 magnum but I already have the '06 and the hand-load has a trajectory that is close enough to factory loads Federal Premium 30-06, 150 grain Sierra Game King BTSP that I can switch loads and hunt medium game like deer and pronghorns without adjusting my scope.

KC

.300 Weatherby

.300 Savage.

FC

.308 is my most used, and most fun to shoot.

.300W is a favorite for when the ranges get extended.


That said, I could hunt with just a .308 and be satisfied.

This....my 99F likes the 180 grain Winchester silver tips real well.
The deer, not so much.

For all NA game, my 300win, only because it is lighter to carry than my 300rum.

My favorite 30 cal is 300rum.

Tony

Good post. I'd really like to try a 308 Norma mag one of these days too.... I tried to like the 300 win mag, but for whatever reason didn't care for it too much. I still believe Winchester fu cked up and let Norma develop what should have been the real 300 win mag...

Dang, Tony - I never figured you for a sadist!

Will you be bringing that to TX?

FC

If they had, Winchester would have ALL the fans and accolades that the 308 Norma enjoys..


My fav 30 cal is the 300 Win in a Win 70 Winlite. It's light, balanced, swings smooths and fits me to a T.


Jerry

I love .30 caliber rifles.. I have : a couple .30-30's, .300 Sav., couple 06's, couple .300 wins., .300WSM, .300 H & H & and .300 Wea. Had a couple .300 RUMS.. Have killed game with all but the WSM..
The 06 was an early favorite from the time I was 15 for about 10 years.. It still is a dandy.. It is a custom model 54, that belonged to my grandfather..
Along in the early 70's, I bought a custom 700 in .300 Win.
Since that time, it has become my most used rifle.. For many years, I was my main big game rifle.. Put a lot of meat on the table, and trophies on the wall..It is now on its 3rd barrel.. I have supreme confidence in it.. So it is my favorite of all, but I still like the rest.. I have thought of getting rid of most of my other calibers and just use the old .300, but I like rifles too much for that..

FC,

How's it going buddy????

The 300rum? .....she's a pussycat. Shot it prone many times and nary a mark on my forehead to show for it!!!

I could bring it to Tx., was thinking more along the lines of bringing the montucky 25/06ai like last time.

It put the smack down on that hog I shot in the field.... Remember the one with the bison running around... Lol

Tony

And the 30-06 is just right, in the middle. That gets my vote.

As cartridges go, my favorite .30 is the .308 Winchester.

And I have a fine .308 that has served me well for decades.
My two favorite .30 cal. rifles in captivity though, are an old Winchester .300 Holland, and a Savage 99F in .300 Savage.

Both of these rifles were acquired here on the classifieds...

.30/06

Maybe so, but there is no denying the wild popularity and success of the Winnie. It is just maybe the most commonsense and business like long range killing machine available to the average hunter...

30/06

although my 30'06 is the right answer my favorite would be my 300 H&H.

hows that?

I use the 30-06 and 300 WSM the most of all my rifles. That may change with the recent acquisition of a Kimber 270.

My favorite 30 caliber cartridge overall is the 30 M1 Carbine round, my favorite for hunting is the 300 Win Mag.

Like many others I have rifles chambered for a number of 30 caliber cartridges but these are probably my favorites.

My Model 70 300 RUM. The hammer of Thor no doubt.

I don't hunt all over North America, but spend most my hunting time in Florida, Alabama or Georgia.
.308 Winchester has done everything I have ever asked it to do.

Only .30 cals in my safe are both Sako 300 WSM's so I guess the 300 WSM would be my favorite. Used to shoot them a lot but not so much anymore.



I'd like to shoot a buffalo with a 300 WSM and 180 Partitions.

Guess I'll go with the 30-06. Only other 30cal I own is a 30-30. I don't use either very often. Our small bodied deer don't require that big of a bullet.

Of the more popular 30cal rounds, I just never have been a big fan of the 308Win and the 300WinMag is way more than needed for anything I hunt. I've owned a couple of 300WinMags and still have brass and dies but the more I shoot my smaller caliber rifles, the less likely it is that I'll ever own another one.

Marketing hype, price and availability has a lot to do with sales... Furthermore, I'm sure there are just as many people around that don't care for the 300 win mag as those that do ...

Where do you find the 180gr Silvertips??

Smallish--.30-30

Medium--.308

Large--.300 WinMag.

Where I hunt, the .300 is not needed at all, the .30-30 is sufficient, but the .308 has a versatility advantage.

You could stick the .30-06 in place of the .308 if I didn't like compact rifles.

Hunted with the 300WM the longest, but to me the 308 Win is really about ideal. Of course I pretty much hunt everything with a 7x57

Used to have a bunch of 300 magnums and liked them all, but no more.

30/06 today.

30-06. Used one two days ago to kill a cow elk. No drama or flash, the 30-06 just works.

It is probably a result of bias from my childhood because all the men I grew up with hunted deer with a 30.06, but that is my favorite. The last 3 whitetails I killed with a centerfire rifle were killed with a 30.06. A small buck head shot at about 30 yards, a doe killed at 25 yards and this past Friday a doe killed at 300. The ammo behaved the same on all 3. I have been using Hornady 165 grain Interbonds the past 10 years and really like this bullet. I need to try it on elk someday.

Perry

How bout a look-see at the HAMMER OF THOR...pls ScottyO.

The .30-06 was my first centrfire rifle that I bought. Rem 700 BDL for $135.00 out the door in 1974. I really like it but I have a special attraction for a .308, especially my old Bofors Sako carbine. Here is a picture of it with my son and a bear he got with it last season. BTW, he also killed a bear with my old '06 last week.

I love my 308's, have a few 06's, a300WM, but since getting a 300WSM Extreme Weather it has become my favorite.

I like 3:

308
7.5x55
30/06

Not much difference in these cartridges.
Differences come in my rifles.

308

308 Win

I've had a 30-30, 30-40, 308, 30-06. I really like them all but I came to really like the .308.

300 Weatherby followed by
30-06 as my second choice.

I would like to someday try the 300 Holland and Holland.

300 Ultra,300 winmag, 300 wsm and 30-06 in that order.

308 Win

I dont have a 30 cal. but my dad is most likely going to hand me down his Savage 99 in 300 Sav. I am fond of that rifle. He is 83 now and has not decided which son he is going to give it to. I remind him every now and again how much I like that rifle. He agrees but I dont think he is getting the hint. If he gives it to me , I may very well hunt deer and bear with it in remembrance of him. I hope to shoot a bear with it and a big buck. He paid $110 dollars for it new in Utica NY. in 1956. Here is a pic of him in Wyoming in 1963. He didn't get the buck . My uncle did with his 300 Win. Mag. The 300 WIN. was new then and he HAD to have it.

I used a 300 WSM for about 12 years. I shot 9 or 10 elk and a bunch of deer with it. There wasn't a single one that I couldn't have taken just as well with a 30-06. So, this year I got an '06 that weighs a lb. less. I don't need to pack any more weight than necessary.

I really like the .308, but it would have to be 30-06.

I have to say 30-06, .300 savage, .308. In that order. The 06 has always done me right!

I watched and participated in a lot of caliber crazes over the years.
My favorite is the 30/06 .

Of the 3 I've owned, Marlin 30-30, Rem700 308 & a Rem78 30-06 the one that I've regreted selling is the '06.

being you said ALL N.American big game my favorite is 308 norma the is nothing that it can't handle

Not hard to make a .30-06 also be a .300sav or a .308W if you are inclined.

.308W is my choice as the all-rounder.

300 SAUM! What's not to like about a true short action .30-06 +P?

Can't believe these aren't more popular

I started down the path with .30 caliber rifle cartridges in the summer of 1976 when I purchased my first rifle. I previously used my dad's rifles in 22LR,222,30-30, 270 and 308 for hunting. After studying all of the "Shooter's Bibles", Gun Company materials and being a JOC fan, with my limited savings I was sure that I wanted a Winchester Model 70 XTR in 270 WCF.
I had discussed the topic with my dad as we drove to the gun shop and he recommended the 30-06, and I'll never forget his words "a properly loaded 30-06 is all you'll ever need".
At the shop I found a Remington 700 BDL in in 30-06 that caught my eye and that was the beginning of my "loonyism".

In the intervening years I have played with just about all of the .30 caliber cartridges; currently I have several Sako L579 and AII rifles that are some of my favorite hunting rifles, several 30-06's and one 300 H&H.

As of late my "Campfire Rifle" has become my favorite .30 caliber rifle. It was purchased here from forum members, it's a 1993 Stainless Steel Rem. 700 30-06 Mountain Rifle (blind magazine), put into a Ti Stock with a Zeiss Conquest 2.5-8X32 mm scope.

So I have come full circle - 30-06.

StarchedCover

Haven't hunted all North American big game with any single .30 caliber round, but have hunted big game with various rifles in .30-30, .300 Savage, .308 Winchester, .30-06, .300 WSM, .300 Winchester Magnum and .300 Weatherby. The winner is the B-29, a slightly "sub-.30" that has a magic none of those others possess.

It would be the .30-06 for me, killed my first 10-15 deer with it and my first bear, boar, ground hog, porcupine, etc...sentimental value for sure! I have been eyeing up a .300 Weatherby, though- and I killed my best whitetail with a .300 Winchester a few weeks ago...what is a loon to do? The struggle is real.

Yep, I agree.

I have had 308's, 30-06's, 300 WM. Could not warm up to any of them.

So after I sold my last 338-06 to a good friend, I got the 300 H&H itch for a something bigger than my 270's.

I found a Winchester classic donor, have a #2 pac nor, and an Echols Mickey edge. All put together and should be cerakoted shortly.

1tnhunter: For back pack Hunting I usually take my customized lighter weight Remington 700 in 308 Winchester.
I have killed Black Bear, three species of Deer, Elk, Antelope and Mt. Goat with this Rifle.
For day Hunting or when specifically Hunting Elk or when Hunting in Grizzly country one of my 30/06's would be preferred.
Tough to pick just one 30 cal.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

For everything? A .338 Win Mag.

For everything except big bears? An '06. Lately.I've caught myself using it for elk most of the time.

I once thought it would be a .308 Norma but both of mine seem to kick harder than my .338, .375 H&H and 13 ga loaded with slugs.

300 WSM

Good point. I have a 300 ultra load using Trailboss powder that approximates 30-30 ballistics using 170gr Sierras.

I think that out of modesty for not pushing the B-29 too much, JB has not mentioned one of its greatest strengths. The cartridge has heat-seeking capability for the heart/lung area of any animal at any distance.

I'm surprised though that at least one other member has not mentioned it. I mean we should be fair about this unique capability.

Steve

308 for the win. Greatest invention since the ribbed condom!

I have no plans of hot rodding the 300 H&H when I get it. I have played around enough with reduced 270 loads to know that I can easily load down this grand old cartridge if so desired.

I would go with 30-06, but for me it has been one of the hardest cartridges to get consistent accuracy from so I will go .300 Win Mag, which save one, an early Winchester Classic with a terribly rough barrel, have been a tack drivers for me.

I do love the idea of the .30-06, though.

For all of my big game hunting...the .300 Savage!

If I could only have one for all around NA hunting I would pick the 300 win mag just for cost of ammo and power to go after big bears, elk, deer, and antelope at long range with equal aplomb.

If I could have two. I would pick a 300 RUM for big bears and elk, and a 308 for everything else.

Still a 30-06 would be a pretty good choice for just about everything.

BH63

30/06... Tho I use 300 why 308 and a 30-30 in some special situations..

Probably 80 plus present of .30 has been a 30-06, 308 second, and one or two with a 30-30.

Yep but the 06 by a healthy margin.

This

Having hunted with the 300 WBY, 300 Win, 30-06 and 30-30 my favorite so far is the 300 H&H.

My favorite 30 caliber cartridge has to be the 30 WCF. The 300 Blackout is also getting a lot of time around my house.

When you add in the caveat that you intend to pursue ALL NA game, then I have to say the 308 Winchester.

7.62 x 39.

No other round quite reflects Hope and Change like it.

It celebrates multiculturally- so many of our friends use it- even our top allies....that punch above their weight (look it up if you don't catch the reference)

It's Green - smaller case means lower carbon footprint (no more global warm...ummm...climate change)

and ....they make 30 rounders for the big stuff.

You know I am right. Don't be racist.

I've used the .30-30,.30-40 , 300 SAV, 308 WIN, .30-06, 308 NORMA , .300 WIN MAG. Of these I prefer the .30-06 by a wide margin.

I have had .30 Carbine, 7.62 x 39, .30-30, .300 Savage, .308 WCF, .30-06, and .300 Win. Mag.

I shot my first deer with the .30 Carbine in a Marlin Model 62 Levermatic. With a Tasco 4 power scope on it I could shoot 1" 5 shot groups with it consistently.

For all North American big game, I'd have to go with the .300 Win. Mag. For the smaller stuff I'd use Remington Managed Recoil rounds which more-or-less duplicate the .300 Savage.

7.5 - 55 Swiss?

308

Have 3 of em'

I skipped the caliber games mostly. Just have 22lr, 223, 308, and 375.

BMT

Lately it has been a 300 RUM in a 700 LSS.

But, I'm really trying to go to a non-magnum, and see a lightweight 308 in my near future.

Remington makes two Managed Recoil loads for the RUM -- best of all worlds.

I know that is tongue in cheek, but the ballistics of the 7.62x39 were so useful Americans made the 'Merican version -- 300 blackout.

BMT

Yes it was tongue in cheek- but after reflection I think one could make a fair case for it given parameters like availability, cost, platforms etc...... It is certainly my go to for hogs.

I didn't know what to make of the Blackout at first. I read what seemed a very good argument against it, then a superb retort explaining everything for it. I will share if I can find them again. Turned out to be very interesting.

If someone wants something truly 'different' that should be high on their list.

Merry Christmas BMT- and ALL !

I really like the 300WSM that I have.
My favorite 30 cal is the 300Savage which I currently don't have.

Jim

I found the article dissin' the 300 Blackout. The response to it is included aftrewards in the comments.

300 Blackout. I don't get it (from Alloutdoor.com)

I don't mind the recoil of the RUM, although less is always best. If I get the 308 that I'm looking at, the recoil will probably be in the same ballpark anyway due to the light weight of the rifle.

I have a lightweight Model 7 in 7MM SAUM that is the basic model of what I'm trying to move toward with all of my hunting rigs. It's just that the stupid, heavy, and loud 300 RUM has been incredibly accurate and effective for me.

.308

I say 308. Accurate, modest recoil, ammo available everywhere. It does 95% of what the great 30-06 does with less recoil and better accuracy. I have owned, shot, and hunted with the 300 Savage, 308, 30-06, 300 Win. and 300 Weatherby. I am no expert, but as I get older I find recoil bothersome, and value efficiency. Oh - I live in the east, so don't really need a long range cartridge. However, a 308 would be fine for elk, too. If you had asked me 25 years ago the answer would have been different. I took two different 300 magnums to Colorado for elk then. I need to buy another 308.....

308 Norma Mag, but I think it has more to with the rifle than the cartridge. Looked into rechambering it to a 300 something, but I have left it as is.

Having 4 of them it makes sense that my favorite is the 30-06. I've had a few 300WM but decided if I need more than a 30-05 I'll use one of my 338WMs. If I need more I'll use my 375 H&H. I left my WInchester Mod 70 Classic 24" so I can beef it up a little bit and treat it as a 300 H&H

.300 WSM tied for first place with .308 Win.

The 300 H&H Magnum, shooting game with 220 gr Partitions through an old Lyman receiver sight mounted to a pre-64 Supergrade is one of life's more satisfying pleasures.

Let see, I have 308s and 30-06s in non- belted. I guess I would go with the 308 theses days.

In belted nags I have had 300 WM, 30-338, and 300 Bee, I would have to go with the wildcat.

For me the 30-30 followed by the 300 sav.

Doc

300rum for hunting senderos that can be several hundred yards long. i can dial in 3.5 inches of elevation and not have to worry about hold over out to about 400 yrds.

Personally my most used and preferred .30 caliber is the .30-06. It can take on any game in North America likely any animal on earth if proper care is taken.

If I were going to hunt the larger animals (elk, moose, bear) more often a .300 Magnum would probably have some advantage over the .30-06.....but not much.

Even though I choose the .30-06, the most versatile and useful chambering is probably the .308 because of the number and variety of rifles that chamber this round. It performs at near .30-06 levels and can be had in any action type you could want (lever, pump, semi-auto, single shot, bolt) and can be had in a short action for those who prefer that action type. In a full length bolt action the .30-06 is the way to go, but for any other action the .308 has the edge.

.300 H&H Magnum

Cool choice!!! One of mine favs also..

I purchased a MK V 300 Weatherby in 1968 while a Sophomore in High School. So it has taken the majority of big game animals I harvested. I own and use many 30 cals but now days I mostly carry a custom 30-06 I build for myself 15 years ago.

I have owned a boat load of 30-06's and several 308's. I have settled on the 06 as my 30 caliber of choice just for the fact it works so well in M1 Garands.

1) 30/06 (everything)

then

2) 30-30 lever Marlin (deer only)

Favorite by twist is 308 (1:12) w/130TTSX and thirty ought six (1:10) w/180
Nosler.

Modelo 1935 Mauser in 308 Norma Mag, Hornady 180 spitzer,over 75.5gr H1000, 24in Douglas Premium barrel with a muzzlebrake. Built by a friends father for his 16th birthday in 1965. Still shoots nice moa groups at 100yrds. 1926 Win 94 30-30, 150 Hornady RNs, over IMR 4064.

.30-06 !!!

The 30-06 Springfield is my current favorite because of a custom rifle I got a couple of years ago.

Of course the 06 Springfield is the most famous cartridge in world history being on the winning side in both of the only World Wars!

When I started out in the 50's handloading, target shooting and hunting the 30-06 was everywhere. They gave us 06 ammo free at the club.

Note it's 22" octagon barrel.

As much as I like my Remington CS 300 WM, I'd still have to say my Husky 06 will get the reach as it recoils a lot less.

I like the 30/06 for moose and the only deer that I ever shot that dropped in it's tracks fell to the 7.62 X 39 but if I had to pick one 30 caliber for everything it would be the 308 Winchester.

I bought a 700 in 30/06 when I was in high school in 71. It has never let me down. I've shot 180 bullets in both factory & hand loads. Killed everything in the lower 48 & a South African plains game safari. Someday a grizzly hunt in AK.

300 Savage.

Hard to beat the 30/06 though

I have 300wm and 30-06 and I like them both but if I have to choose one then definitely 30-06 !

06

I have only owned a 30-30 and 300 Weatherby. I like the Weatherby.

I would have to go with the .30-06 but I have 7.82 Patriot by Lazzeroni that can make a .30 caliber pill sing!

300 WM is hard to beat. Same ammo availability as an 06, for those unfortunate soles that don't hand load, with more flixibiliy up or down.

Operative words, "ALL NA Big Game" to include brown, polar bears and moose, the 300 Weatherby would be my choice..

308 winchester

30/06 and 30/30 for me

300 WSM

30-30 and 300 savage. I have never owned a 30-06, I know my limitations and I limited myself to the .270.

Doc

303 Savage is a great cartridge, too bad more shooters don't realize how much they are handicapping themselves with a 300 magnum:<)

.30 US Army

I have only owned 30-06 (2), 30/30 (2), 300WM and .308 (4).... like them all, but of the bunch I like '06 the best.

Killed my first deer with a Husquvarna .30-06, have owned a winchester model 54 30-06, Springfield custom in .308 norma, a rem760 in .30-06 , a 1916 spanish mauser in .308 win. and now own a tikka in .300 win mag.
I wish I had the .308 norma back but the tikka is 2.5 lbs lighter and almost fits as well. So I would say .300win mag.

06

30-06

300 h&h or 30-30. A wee bit different but both are very effective.

my first rifle that I paid for back 75 or 76 was a Remington model 700 Adl in 30/06 that I bought at Allieds in Murray UT, wished I'd kept it

300 WBY

Heck, I like them all.

My favorite 30 is the 30-338 Winchester. Have used a couple of other 30's But no one is getting my 30-338.

308 Win

I own a 30-30 and a 300 Win Mag. IMHO the best 30's probably fall somewhere between these two…308 or 30-06. If I needed something bigger than a 30-06, it would probably be a 338 Win Mag or 9.3x62.

World record 5 shot group at 100 yds was recently set with what is really a 7.62x39 improved.......

I like so many others here on the fire, have many 30 cal cartridge chambered rifles. The 30-06 is used more then any of the rest. I do use several magnums including the 30-378 Wby. The 06 just comes out of the safe more often.

As my two boys got older I built them both 30-338 rifles and one still uses his. The other moved on to the 300 Rum.

best of all 300 savage

1. .30-06
2. .300WSM
3. .300 Win Mag

I own, and really like all 3. If I could keep only one, it would be the 'ought six.

308. I have a 30 06 too but prefer the 08. Easier to shoot. For more power I prefer a bigger bore.

300 win mag. Give me some 168gr TTSX and I can kill about anything.

For most of my hunting a 180 gr. Hornady interlok at 2500 fps is perfect. 30-06 or 308 can do this easily. For longer ranges a 300 Win mag pushing 180 gr. Partitions at 3000 fps works just fine. They are all tools but if I am just shooting groups I like the 308 best, less powder burnt.

30-06 maybee another 300 winchester some day

300 Weatherby.

THE 30 cal........aught six

300 win mag.

This is easy. My favorite is the .30-40 Krag. However, the 308 gets the nod for most uses.

.308. the modern, efficient 30-06.

I really don't have a desire for hunting Moose, bears or even elk so this pretty hypothetical for me but probably a 30-06.