If you could pick only one cartridge for all NA game except the big bears...

[Chino Tom]

270 Win. Good speed even with 150gr bullets and very accurate.

 

[Carbine Kid]

Here in Oz a .308 will handle everything, legally, including Big Deer however my go to was a 30-06 Ai until the 300 wsm came along. Now I use a Browning Abolt Titanium for all game hunting. Huge range of projectiles and light to carry all day so I would use this for all NA game.
Steve.

 

[Alaska2006]

300 WM
Can and has taken all game in NA. Great bullet selection and ammo availability. gun)

 

[J E Custom]

...what would it be?

And why?

I still believe that the 300 RUM will do everything you ask of it. It can be loaded down to 30/06 velocities or loaded up to very powerful elk loads. also I would not hesitate to hunt bear with it using the right bullet.

My second choice would be the 280 AI for many of the same reasons.

Just me

J E CUSTOM

 

[dmj]

My choice would be the 300 win mag. A lot of good choices out there and you can't go wrong with any of them if you have confidence in the rifle. But for me it would be the 300wm, bullet selection and availability of other reloading supplies. Haven't purchased a box of factory ammo for years but seems like a good supply of that too.

 

[wilkup]

I would choose the 300 mag (WM/WSM/WB). Can load super light for varmint hunts or really load it heavy to tackle even the great bears. There's plenty of bullets to choose from. It's what I would consider a "Jack of all trades".

 

[PNW EOD]

A ton of votes for the 300 WM! Not really that suprising, but I'll toss another vote for the 7mm RM. High B.C. bullets available, great ballistics, plenty of knockdown power, and slightly less recoil. I'm not a fan of belted magnums, but because of factory ammo availability and reloading components, I'll give credit where credit is due. 7mm RM gets the job done on anything from a coyote at 1300 yards to a bull elk at 100.

 

[excaliber]

so far we have..........

300 Win Mag 21
280 AI 10
30-06 10
7mm Rem Mag 7
270 Win 3

The following have two votes each
300 WSM
300 RUM
308
45-70
6.5-284
6.5 CM
7MM STW

The following have one vote each
280 Rem
30 Nosler
300 Weatherby
7mm SAUM
7x64
264 Win Mag
6.5x55 Swede
358 Win
30-378
338 RUM

 

[tbrice23]

I voted already for 300wm....
But I cannot believe 7mm Rem Mag didn't get more votes.

 

[cowboy]

I voted already for 300wm....
But I cannot believe 7mm Rem Mag didn't get more votes.

Nothing wrong with 7RM - I shot one for 20+ years, but a 280 AI will give the same performance with a lot less powder.

 

[Bronc1]

I would pick a 300 win and use it on big bears. The following of people that think you need a bigger tool than a 300 win and a 210 grain bullet are crazy.

 

[300 Driver]

300 wm

 

[bpcrshooter]

I too am surprised the 7mmrm hasn't received more votes, I have 2 and love them also a 300win mag that I love but not sure how it would do on buffalo. That was my reasoning for the 45-70.

 

[DocDoc]

Buffalo have been killed for centuries with pointed sticks and a couple hundred years with black powder. I don't think it takes a magnum to do the job.