Say your job is hunting for a living, limited to any and all North American game. Canada to Mexico and everything in between. But you could only choose 2 calibers for your hunting career. What 2 do you pick and why?
An '06 and a .338 Win Mag. I suppose mostly because that is what I use now. My confidence level with both is very high. I have shot most common game , especially deer and elk with both.
I have seen enough game taken with both to feel confident of their capabilities at different ranges with particular loads. It is hard to get enough time and experience with a load to rely on your own experience rather than anothers expeience or opinion so I value that.. .
They are both very flexible in terms of handling a variety of bullet weights. Both can be downloaded easily. Component availability is excellent.
They can be loaded to have similar trajectories so I don't have to learn new drops.
They are common. boringly so. I could have chosen a .375 Weatherby for the upper cartridge I suppose as they are capable of much the same trajectories as the others (but with lots more recoil). My own .375 H&H is not.
“Hunting for a living”
Guiding?
Multimedia sponsored personality?
If it’s the former it would probably be 280 of some variety and a 375. If it’s the latter ... who’s my biggest sponsor?
I'm assuming by "calibers" you mean "cartridges", yeah? 270 WCF in a light bolt gun and 338WIN MAG or maybe 375H&H in a bolt gun also.
.257 Roberts and .338 Winchester Magnum.
Yep. 270win would also work in that first slot, as they’re nearly same/same.
270 Win for most everything and 338 Win Mag for big bears.
.223 & .30-06
Lots of factory ammo, plenty of power w/o a ton of recoil.
X2! .............. The obvious two choices for flexibility. .
If by living you mean survival, then 30-06 and 22 mag
6.5 Creed and 35 Whelen. The former could take care of big stuff in a pinch and the latter could do smaller stuff in a pinch... but no overlap like between like 270/280 and 06 or 300 and 338.
The venerable 6.5 Creedmoor and the 9.3x62.
Feeling nostalgic; 270 Win and 338 Win Mag
Feeling modern day practical: 6.5 CM and 300 WSM.
Either pairing would be on the same action with very similar scopes.
For a living .....
12ga in a pump gun
Fast twist 223 in a bolt
If by living you mean survival, then 30-06 and 22 mag
No, he didn't mean survival.
For Clarification....
Say your job is hunting for a living, limited to any and all North American game. Canada to Mexico and everything in between. But you could only choose 2 calibers for your hunting career. What 2 do you pick and why?
I've read all posts to P3 and SO many good selections of a PAIR for hunting "Canada--Mexico --everything in between".
I could agree with many of those posting but my choice is based on Prof Hunters and my experiences.
I pick these 2 because I know they're capable and dependable AND I can shoot them confidently.
270 W/280 R, one of: AND
300 WM The ONLY reason I choose 300 WM over 30-06 is it's capability at LONG range to hit HARD and FLAT trajectory.
I hope we never have to limit ourselves to 1 or 2..... there are too many good rounds to choose from.
Jerry
.223 and .30.
Because they'll cover anything and everything. And they're readily available.
.223 & .30-06
Lots of factory ammo, plenty of power w/o a ton of recoil.
My thoughts exactly.
I guess the two I use most now.
.260 Rem.
.300 WM.
This would be a good combo, although I might go 338 for less recoil or 375 H&H or Weatherby for more versatility.
Hard to beat Warren Pages choice of 7 Mashburn SM and 375 Weatherby. The 375s are with international hunting in mind but they work fine anywhere.
Say your job is hunting for a living ... for your hunting career.
Bighunter,
“Job” & “career” ....
Who is paying me?
Clients?
Sitka gear?
Field & Scream?
A trust fund?
Am I hypothetically gunning for the market?
.223 & .30-06
Lots of factory ammo, plenty of power w/o a ton of recoil.
Not anymore. I can't find either. I'd go .222 Remington and .280 Remington
30-06 and 375 H&H Magnum (Belted or Flanged).
.224 and .308. They just work.
270 Win and 35 Whelen. I started shooting both more years ago than I care to remember.
If by living you mean survival, then 30-06 and 22 mag
I'll take my AR-15 and AR-10, .223/5.56 and .308 Win respectively, whether "survival" means getting food, surviving the apocalypse or both. My Ruger Scout in .308 Win might replace the AR-10 in non-apocalyptic scenarios.
270 Win or 280 Rem paired with a 338 Win Mag would be my choice. Seems like a lot of others agree.
This.
.224 and .308. They just work.
22 Creedmoor and a 28 nosler. Assuming I'm still allowed to load my own ammo.
Bb
A 22 LR in an accurate, scoped bolt gun, for all small game, birds ect.or running a trap line. A scoped .338 WM or my .375 AI for all big game hunting.....good for all game up to and through the big bears as a hunter or client back-up. Both are easily 500+ yard rifles, with our present scopes/loads/zeros! memtb
8x57is and 220 Swift...why not?
8x57is and 220 Swift...why not?
It is always entertaining when anti gun liberal Chinese troll, with zero firearms knowledge, posts on the fire. What a dumb clown
8x57is and 220 Swift...why not?
It is always entertaining when anti gun liberal Chinese troll, with zero firearms knowledge, posts on the fire. What a dumb clown
Then tell me this, what in North America, CAN'T I hunt with that pair? Besides, I'm not Chinese, I'm a seventh generation farm kid and a Czech/Irish Catholic. If you're going to be derogatory, at least use the proper stereotype.
If by living you mean survival, then 30-06 and 22 mag
I'll take my AR-15 and AR-10, .223/5.56 and .308 Win respectively, whether "survival" means getting food, surviving the apocalypse or both. My Ruger Scout in .308 Win might replace the AR-10 in non-apocalyptic scenarios.
Not bad thoughts
I would stick with the AR 15 but probably prefer a bolt on 308
My AR 10s are too heavy
Hank
8x57is and 220 Swift...why not?
It is always entertaining when anti gun liberal Chinese troll, with zero firearms knowledge, posts on the fire. What a dumb clown
Then tell me this, what in North America, CAN'T I hunt with that pair? Besides, I'm not Chinese, I'm a seventh generation farm kid and a Czech/Irish Catholic. If you're going to be derogatory, at least use the proper stereotype.
My grandmother, a Czech Jew, fled NAZIs like you and settled in the mid west. She married a German Catholic who fled facist Germany too as teen and fled to America. You're spewing the same facist rhetoric you anti gun uneducated liberal clown .If she and her husband were still alive she would spit in you commie face
270 Winchester and 375H&H
[quote=Dancing Bear]An '06 and a .338 Win Mag.
Works for me.
Similar enough in trajectory, and can somewhat even cover for each other
with s bit of overlap.
Honestly.
The 30-06 would be fine alone.
I'm a big proponent, even though it's never been my favorite or mainstay.
243 and 45-70. Use the 45/70 to fire 410 shot as well!
g
Say your job is hunting for a living, limited to any and all North American game. Canada to Mexico and everything in between. But you could only choose 2 calibers for your hunting career. What 2 do you pick and why?
Don't need two. .308Win will do it all.
.223 & .30-06
Lots of factory ammo, plenty of power w/o a ton of recoil.
For the win!
Since the OP says hunting for a living, one has to assume they would be filmed in a variety of hunting scenarios and locations. For me, it’s a good 12 gauge and a .338 Win Mag. Can always kill smaller stuff with a big rifle, even load it down. But you can’t hunt waterfowl on camera with a rifle. Or turkeys, in some places.
Since the OP says hunting for a living, one has to assume they would be filmed in a variety of hunting scenarios and locations. For me, it’s a good 12 gauge and a .338 Win Mag. Can always kill smaller stuff with a big rifle, even load it down. But you can’t hunt waterfowl on camera with a rifle. Or turkeys, in some places.
OP still hasn’t clarified, but you are right – he did not specify big game. He did specify caliber, so I’ll change my answer to 0.729” and 0.308” ...
In all seriousness, it makes a difference whether one is guiding or simply hunting for video/magazine. If I’m guiding on the peninsula and I’m backing somebody on big bears, I want a 375 or larger; If I’m hunting for media, I could easily abide by just about anything in this thread.
.22 Rimfire for squirrel and rabbits.
30-06 for Moose and all smaller hoofed animals and alligator.
7x57 for the light/medium
35 Whelen for the medium/heavy
280 Rem for 300 + yards and 45/70 out to 300 yds - can shoot light 45 cal bullets at slow speeds for little stuff and heavy lead for any thing with bad intentions.
metric I’ll go with 6.5CM and 9.3x62
If Standard. 270 Win and 338 win mag
But 223 and 06 do seem to cover everything
7-08 and 338-06, assuming a reloader..
DF
.22 LR and .308 Win.
Two good rifles in each. CZ 452 and 457 in .22LR, Ruger KM77 MKII and Nosler 48 in .308. Properly scoped with fixed 4x-6x scopes.
I’d just get one .30-06 and call it a day.
If money/ ammo availability were no issue
6mm creedmoor
300 win mag
Both twisted fast
I currently own neither of those
AR 15 in .223, and a .308 bolt gun.
30-06 and 375 H&H or 375 Ruger
Survival situation. 12g and a 30-06
The way I think the Op meant it. 223 and 30-06.
Probably my best pick also...
but then I'd cheat....
because I shoot a 223, 22.250 and a 243 A LOT....
and I pretty much handload EVERYTHING...
Then I couldn't leave the 6.5 x 55s and the 7 x 57s Alone either...
Wow, Dan.
We usually are closer together on things than this.
Say your job is hunting for a living, limited to any and all North American game. Canada to Mexico and everything in between. But you could only choose 2 calibers for your hunting career. What 2 do you pick and why?
Mind you, I'm not arguing with you at all.
Canada-----Mexico...everything in between. I, me, myself, we 3
feel like I need at least 1 CF rifle.
I'd go 30-06 for the win.
So, I can see your point except for the 22 LR.
Simple discussion is all.
Jerry
Uh, I didn’t say long rifle. Did say .22 RF. Ain’t necessarily the same thing. 😁
300 Win mag and 300 Win mag
Uh, I didn’t say long rifle. Did say .22 RF. Ain’t necessarily the same thing. 😁
Enlighten me then....
Ole Sage ! 
Jerry
8x57is and 220 Swift...why not?
It is always entertaining when anti gun liberal Chinese troll, with zero firearms knowledge, posts on the fire. What a dumb clown
Then tell me this, what in North America, CAN'T I hunt with that pair? Besides, I'm not Chinese, I'm a seventh generation farm kid and a Czech/Irish Catholic. If you're going to be derogatory, at least use the proper stereotype.
Who cares? Just go away
SHTF, [like what may be coming!!!!!] 22LR, 12 Gauge
Hunting for a living/for fun 223/5.56, 375 H&H.
Well Jerry, there be .22 BB/CB caps, CB shorts, SV/target shorts, HV shorts, longs, long rifles, and don’t forget rat shot. The WRF and WMR. Covers a lot of ground that does. Some of it in a suppressed gun you wouldn’t hear 30 yds away. I shot most of the pigs harvested in my day with CB shorts. Multiple kills in one spot says all that needs saying about quiet.
The 12 bore will work when Godzilla shows up.
"...all North American game. Canada to Mexico and everything in between."
Calibers: .17 & .35
Cartridges: 17 Hornet & 358 Winchester
Well Jerry, there be .22 BB/CB caps, CB shorts, SV/target shorts, HV shorts, longs, long rifles, and don’t forget rat shot. The WRF and WMR. Covers a lot of ground that does. Some of it in a suppressed gun you wouldn’t hear 30 yds away. I shot most of the pigs harvested in my day with CB shorts. Multiple kills in one spot says all that needs saying about quiet.
The 12 bore will work when Godzilla shows up.
Okie Dokie
Different Drums! Friend
Jerry
Another vote for 270 Win and 375 H&H...
.223 and 300 Win Mag. The guys who say .223 and 30-06 might be more right though..... I just like .300 Win Mag for reaching out or big stuff. Both cartridges are easy to get, easy to load for and I don't see anything big or small they won't handily take care of. Always fun to think about.
358 Norma Magnum & 425 Express,,,, in that range anyway!
223 and 30-06. I don’t even own a 223, but we’re I limited to 2 they would be my choices!
For no special reason other than I own and have confidence in both, I'd pick a 7mm-08 and 9.3x62.
Since you asked the questions as to what caliber - then it would be 22 caliber and 30 caliber for me.
If you were asking about chamberings then 22 LR and 30/06 - for me that covers everything from squirrels to big bears.
If we want to limit it centerfire chamberings then it would be 223 and 30-06.
drover
Either one of these pairs, it wouldnt matter.
308 win. / 338RCM
30-06. / 375 Ruger
Id be even stoked to have a 270 win for the smaller bore rifle.
An '06 and a .338 Win Mag. I suppose mostly because that is what I use now. My confidence level with both is very high. I have shot most common game , especially deer and elk with both.
Good choice. The same exact two I prefer, and trust.
25-06 & .300WM,, Been using them all over the U.S. for the last 50 years..
2 for pd's, 2 for antelope, 2 for WHITETAILS, 2 for mule deer , 2 for elk and on and on get the picture?
This would be my choice as well. (I don't currently own either, but I have in the past and might in the future.)
Tom
.308 for every animal except the great bears. 35 Whelen for those heavy boned beasts.
Sherwood
8x57is and 220 Swift...why not?
It is always entertaining when anti gun liberal Chinese troll, with zero firearms knowledge, posts on the fire. What a dumb clown
Then tell me this, what in North America, CAN'T I hunt with that pair? Besides, I'm not Chinese, I'm a seventh generation farm kid and a Czech/Irish Catholic. If you're going to be derogatory, at least use the proper stereotype.
Irish catholic, but votes for the ticket that guarantees more abortions.
Cowboy Tim is Ridin’ with Biden! Good job douchebag.
I’ll agree on the Whelen. Doubt I’ll ever be without one.
Where you been Trystan?