One “Do it All Cartridge” - All of NA

[Cigar]

06... Can do it all and has done it all for 100 plus years...

 

[greenejc]

A subject that has been "beaten to death..... with many side-stepping the thread intent. Some choosing custom or full "wildcat" chamberings, some picking rifle/cartridge combo's with impractical weight for everyday, various terrain use by "normal" humans, factory ammunition must be available, potentially needed as a stopping cartridge. So, here's the criteria for the challenge.

Rifle/Cartridge must meet this criteria: only one rifle allowed
#1 - used for all North American Big Game (including dangerous game - assuming no back-up)
#2 - rifle weight - under 11.0 pounds (scoped, fully loaded, slung)
#3 - If a bipod is used - total rifle weight cannot exceed 11.0 pounds (scoped, fully loaded, slung, and bipod)
additional points for combo's coming in at less than 9.0 pounds
#4 - factory cartridge - (improved chambering allowed) must be able to fire a factory cartridge
#5 - various terrain - thick timber/brush to hunting elk, sheep or goats in the mountains, to wide open western plains
#6 - cartridge....bullet weight, bullet (cup-core, partition, mono) design (based upon a potential mixed bag hunt in "big" bear country - no back-up) and brief explanation for your choice

I hope I haven't missed anything!
This should give you something to think about while sequestered at home! So.....what's your "poison"? memtb

I know you will hear this from others, but 30-06 would be my choice all day long, with the 300 winmag as an alternative. Either cartridge will use projectiles from 125gr at the low end up to 220gr at the high end, either rifle can be set up with scope and bipod and be under 10 lbs. The 30-06 is more manageable in recoil, and with a 24" to 26" tube, delivers enough velocity and impact to do most any job called for. The -06 also has the range for nearly anything I might need to do. It will stay supersonic at sea level out to about 1100 yards, and is capable of less than moa accuracy in medium or heavy sporter barrels. The Ackley Improved version is even better, if you hand load, since it will shoot standard 30-06 ammunition accurately and then can be loaded up to nearly 300 Winmag velocities using the fire formed cases created. Also, ammunition for the 30-06 is readily available anywhere in the U.S., Canada, or any number of other countries, the number of bullet, bullet weights offered and powder types suitable for loading the -06 is quite large, and brass is readily available, either once-fired or new. Finally, the 30-06 is extremely versitle. It can be loaded with 147 grain fmjs for varmints(fur bearing), or 200 or 220 grain Speer or Sierra bullets for bear. It will take prairie dogs with 110 grain bullets. Currently, I load either Sierra or Speer 200 grain bullets to a velocity of about 2600fps to around 2650fps depending on barrel length in my -06's, and get 1" groups or smaller(5 shot)at 100 yards. The 180 grain bullets I use average 2680 to 2750fps with the same powder(s) and give a slightly tighter 5 shot group in all rifles. Both loads will penetrate a 6 inch post at 500 yards. By the way, all of this is also true of the 300 Winmag. The advantage of the -06 is in recoil and barrel life. I have two -06's which have seen over 5,000 rounds and don't show appreciable wear at the breech or muzzle, nor any loss in accuracy. I have limited caliber to .284 and above due to the dangerous game requirement, and did not add the .308 Winchester to the mix due to its lower performance with heavy, dense bullets(I like and shoot/reload the .308 extensively, but it is limited to about 180 grain bullets). Anything bigger in caliber than .308 is not very useful for fur bearers, and anything smaller than .284 is taking your life in your hands against a charging bear or moose. I also think that the .284 calibers are limited at the upper end by bullet weight/density. I would want the mass and penetration of a heavy(not heavy for caliber, but heavy) bullet. The best combination of bullet weight, controllability, range and penetration along with versatility is the -06, with the 300 Winmag a very close second.

 

[Equalizer]

338 WM
Ruger M77
Leupold vx3 2.5-8 x 40
Montana sling
225 Gr bullet
~9.25 lbs

I'd rather have to pick over a mauled rabbit carcass than have a big brown maul mine. I got the impression that the bullet would stay the same not be a variety pack of crayons

 

[Calamity]

The .338 Win Mag was designed for elk, brown bears and grizzlys, and it has also proved to have inherently high BCs and sectional densities that make it accurate and effective as a moderate to long range caliber. The .340 Weatherby and .338 Lapua add velocity and range, but ammo is not as universally available and more expensive.

 

[lawgolfer]

Just buy a Sauer, Mauser (they're really the same rifle) or a Ruger in 6.5PRC. Shoot either Hornady XLD's or the new Barnes (when you can find them); put the money you save into a Berkshire Hathaway stock (BRK/B); enjoy a great gun and cartridge watch the stock double in the next year.

 

[wkdwdg66]

338 WM
Ruger M77
Leupold vx3 2.5-8 x 40
Montana sling
225 Gr bullet
~9.25 lbs

I'd rather have to pick over a mauled rabbit carcass than have a big brown maul mine. I got the impression that the bullet would stay the same not be a variety pack of crayons

I have that same set up, but with a Ruger sling. Great rifle I take elk hunting each year in Idaho bear and wolf country. I only take it over my -06 because of extended range.

 

[Bob2650]

IF a 200 grain AB starting out at well over 2500FPS from a 30-06 won't do it then you really should consider a couple of guides backing you up with their heavy rifles.

 

[memtb]

It's a bit optimistic to think because your wife does it every one can, I had a girlfriend who was put into the hospital from the recoil on her 338 win, she was mean with it till that day but she did a mag dump on a bull that was just taking it and after we got him down she could barely walk to the truck, the recoil so severely racked her that it tweaked her back, she couldn't hardly hunt after that. You do need to be cautious with how a gun fits and recoil. My daughter has followed Grizz down trails twice now.

Sorry to hear about your daughter's injury....I hope that she has fully recovered! Rifle fit, and body position play a key roll in how recoil is absorbed! My wife has taken several head of game from a prone position....which some consider worse than from a bench! That said, her shots were taken with time to properly position, not fired in haste on a large aggressive predator at feet not yards. Potentially, the results may be different! memtb

 

[hunter67wa]

I have a 338/06 that is a great rifle 9lbs with scope leupy 2.5x8 with 210 TTSX very deadly. I would be ok with this set up

 

[Huntz]

That cartridge has been around for 117 years.The 30/06 will kill anything in North America reliably.Any stainless 24" barreled action of your choice in a McMillan edge stock of your choice and a good quality scope of your choice will do it.Ammo can be anything from 125 grain to 220 grain depending what you are hunting.It really is that simple.Huntz

 

[Lee Goodwin]

338 WM, Nosler mountain rifle, with the Proof carbon wrap barrel. Old Leupold 2x7. No sling. No bipod. Probably 8 pounds unloaded. 9 pounds loaded,

 

[bigngreen]

Sorry to hear about your daughter's injury....I hope that she has fully recovered! Rifle fit, and body position play a key roll in how recoil is absorbed! My wife has taken several head of game from a prone position....which some consider worse than from a bench! That said, her shots were taken with time to properly position, not fired in haste on a large aggressive predator at feet not yards. Potentially, the results may be different! memtb

Friend was injured, daughter was ready to shoot her way out!!

 

[hunter67wa]

Oh ya. If I couldn't find ammo for 338/06 cause i load my own oops. Then it would be a 30-06

 

[Bob2650]

Late 1940's and early 1950's My father was working on a Army base at the end of the Alaskan Highway at Fairbanks. As a highly decorated combat Vet he volunteered to escort dump trucks to the garbage dump for bear protection. He bought a 375H&H and shot many bad bears with it. He switched to 30-06 because he found it had plenty of power and follow up shots for multiple bears came a lot quicker. Obviously not a hunting situation but he and others like him killed enough bears to make them scarce in the area. BIG bears! Brown and white!