O/T favorite hunting caliber

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Robinsons Rebel
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Re: O/T favorite hunting caliber

Post by Robinsons Rebel »

longbow joe wrote:
Sat Jun 12, 2021 12:51 pm
Yea flint ...l wish we had pigs...l think l like pig better than deer meat 🍖. Or just tired of the same ol thing all the time.
Careful what you wish for. Once you get them , you can't get rid of them. I do enjoy hunting them too but they are so destructive to everything around.
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Re: O/T favorite hunting caliber

Post by flightattendant100 »

wheelsquad wrote:
Sat Jun 12, 2021 3:36 pm
Looking forward to trying my 6mm ARC on deer for the first time this next November. Gonna be my "tight spot" 100yd and under gun. I built the gun super light.

In the wide open fields, my Rem Model 7 chambered in 300 RSAUM is my go to rifle. Was also my very first rifle.
Tyler, I have been intrigued by the 6mm ARC since I read the first article about them.
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Re: O/T favorite hunting caliber

Post by flightattendant100 »

Well…. I shot a 25/06 for years. It worked well on everything that I hunted with it( mostly deer). I switched to a 280 Remington and played with that for a quite a few years, and now am shooting a 7mm-08 Tikka that is pretty close to same ballistics as 280 but in a lighter package. I have hunted deer w a pistol some since I was 19 and killed a small buck with a S&W model 28 in 357 mag. A bunch of Contenders later I think a S&W 657 w a Leupold scope has been my fave. I am a big fan of 41 mag. Much fun!
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Re: O/T favorite hunting caliber

Post by flightattendant100 »

longbow joe wrote:
Sat Jun 12, 2021 12:51 pm
Yea flint ...l wish we had pigs...l think l like pig better than deer meat 🍖. Or just tired of the same ol thing all the time.
Joe, I thought the exact same thing until we got pigs. Then there is no getting rid of them and they compete directly with the deer for food. Deer hate them . If you are ever deer hunting where there are pigs and the deer look up and take off, get ready because pigs are coming in. They tear up feeders, fence, and root pastures up terribly.
But they are good table fare. A Dow that is in the 125-150 lb range is just like pork chops for the grocery. The bigger boars….. not so much.
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Re: O/T favorite hunting caliber

Post by flightattendant100 »

Also, when we were going to Colorado every year elk hunting, a 338 Win Mag, is a great caliber. Have shot several and they all shoot well. Yes there is some recoil but not what everyone thinks. Great cartridge!
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Re: O/T favorite hunting caliber

Post by robertyb »

I have owned a lot of deer rifles over the years but only 1 of them gets picked up at least 90% of the time if I am going to use a rifle now and that is my Winchester M-70 Featherlite in .308 because it flat does the job without over doing it. My nephew used to always borrow a rifle from me and he always wanted my Win M-70 in .270 to use until one day he asked for my Remington 7600 in .243 and I did not get that rifle back for a few years. I think he liked it. :)
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wheelsquad
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Re: O/T favorite hunting caliber

Post by wheelsquad »

flightattendant100 wrote:
Sun Jun 13, 2021 6:17 am
wheelsquad wrote:
Sat Jun 12, 2021 3:36 pm
Looking forward to trying my 6mm ARC on deer for the first time this next November. Gonna be my "tight spot" 100yd and under gun. I built the gun super light.

In the wide open fields, my Rem Model 7 chambered in 300 RSAUM is my go to rifle. Was also my very first rifle.
Tyler, I have been intrigued by the 6mm ARC since I read the first article about them.
The 6ARC is definitely not going to make anything else obsolete, but it certainly has it's place and I think it's going to be a great deer round for me. I was starting to think about building my first AR in early 2020, and then Hornady announced that new round at the same time and I much prefer a 6mm bullet over a 5.56, so the timing was perfect for me.

If you want something in a standard AR15 platform with a little more punch than a 5.56, or want a bolt gun that has incredibly mild recoil yet still has a lot of reach, it's definitely worth considering. But gimme a call, Paul, if you want to discuss it some more.
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Re: O/T favorite hunting caliber

Post by DuckHunt »

I've hunted with a .30-06 for about 25 years and it's still my open woods rifle. But my favorite has to be the 450 Bushmaster. I've got a Bushmaster upper on Stag Arms lower with Nikon optics that is the most accurate gun in my house at 100 yards. This year I'll be carrying around a stainless CVA Scout chambered in 450 Bushmaster as well. That 250gr FTX bullet leaves a big hole and gets the job done. I started shooting the bullet in my CVA muzzleloader about 5 years before deciding I'd like to try it in the rifle. To date I've bagged a couple dozen deer, two bear and a yote with this bullet/caliber and nothing travels very far after being hit.

Like you LBJ, I'm trying to seal the deal with a pistol. I've got a Ruger New Model Blackhawk in .357 Magnum that is just itching to take some game. I've carried it along with my Micro in the early gun doe season and realized that was a lost cause. Because anything that came into good pistol range was also in bow range and if its in bow range I always grab the bow first. :roll:

My wife's favorite 100 yard shot with my 450 Bushmaster from a bench.
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My favorite 100 yard shot with the same gun.
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Re: O/T favorite hunting caliber

Post by xcaliber »

I thought about that CVA in 450 as well but went.44 magnum instead, I know you’re going to love that one! A single shot is one of the safest guns for stand hunting in my opinion too.
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Re: O/T favorite hunting caliber

Post by DuckHunt »

My first buck kill was with a Marlin 1894 lever action in .44 Mag back in 1981. I also owned a Ruger .44 carbine for a few years and loved it as well. It's a potent caliber within its range and a mild one to shoot. Once the Army moved me to Maryland, the open woods forced me to move to a .30-06. I think everyone in my family owns at least one .30-06.
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AJ01
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Re: O/T favorite hunting caliber

Post by AJ01 »

In truth, the .30-.30 Winchester has probably killed MORE Deer than all the rest of the calibers combined. However, it is NOT my first choice!! :eusa-snooty:

In the deep woods of Maine, or Wisconsin, Minnesota and other states for that matter. A short, lightweight, fast handing firearm is a MUST. Here in East Texas deer fall victim to this caliber over and over again. Shots range from 10 yards to mayber 50. I'm sure it's the same way where a lot of you guys live.

Lets move out of the "thickets" as they say, and hit just the central region of the USA.

Places such as Kansas, Nebraska the Dakota's all require a little differnt fiream to meet the "distance challange". I mean even in parts of central, south and west Texas it requires one at times to "reach out and touch something" at a considerable distance. Senderos in south Texas can run for miles. The plains of central and north Texas one can see for miles and the tallest tree MIGHT be the size of your Christmas tree.
(We actaully have a town out near Odessa in west texas named "NO TREES"!!!! :lol: ) Excuse me. I digress!! :eusa-doh:
A .30-.30 won't help you much out here. I'm not saying it's useless, just not the best for the situation.

Let's move to the mountains. Ah yes, there is Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Idaho, Utah you name it!! Lots and lots of miles and miles of BLM land to hunt. Yes...that's Bureau of Land Management, not the other!! :lol: Once more I digress!! :roll: I apologize profusely!!! :eusa-liar:

Cross canyon shots. Across rolling plains. No shot is too close and no shot is too far. Welcome out West!! :wave:
And lets NOT forget Alaska!! :thumbup: Been there a few times. It's a rather humbling experience to say the least.
These states all have LARGE hoofed and toothed animals and some of which will eat you as a snack!! :wtf: :lol:
I know, before I get hate mail, the North and Canada has bears too. And I know more people are mauled by Black Bears than Grizzlies every year, but more people end up as bear scat from the Grizzly family!! :shock: :eusa-think:

Will one firearm work in all these situations? It seem to do so for our Forefathers!! Most couldn't afford 5 or 6 rifles. They carried one rifle. And they made dang sure they could use it well. :thumbup:
I heard a story a long time ago about a Kansas farmer that saved his money for years to go to Africa. When the time came, he carried the only rifle he had. A beat up, scarred old Model 70 Winchester in .270. The PH looked at him and told him the rifles was too small to hunt with. The old farmer said just to him, "just show me which one you want me to shot. I'll do the rest".
Well, when the trip had ended the old farmer and his .270 had killed 28 different head of African PLains game. NONE requires a second or "follow up" shot to dispatch the animal.
Right before leaving Africa, the PH ask the old man about his rifle and how he could shoot so well. The old farmer told him this, "I carry my rifle everyday with me on the tractor as I'm plowing or working the fields. I shoot running rabbits from the seat of my tractor while I'm working. I haven't missed a rabbit in 10 years"!!!
The PH came away with a different point of view.
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Pick the caliber and rifle that suits you. Use it for everything. Know you're limitations, and know your rifle's limitations.
The Marines have an old saying, "This is MY rifle. There are many like it, but this one is MINE. Let that be true for you too!!

My rifle? Well, since the last time I fired a shot at a game animal was in 1999. I haven't kept up much on long guns or calibers. I spent most of my youth in South Texas and in the Western states. Hunted Wyoming and Montana almost every year for close to 2 decades. I shot a heavy wood stocked rifle for years, then realized I carried it more than I shot it, so in 1985 when Remington introduced thier new Mountain Rifle that weighed half as much as the coal barge I was toting around, I bought one.
Added Leupold scope rings and bases and of course a Leupold scope. And went back to hunting. :thumbup:
Oh...what caliber?
.270 Winchester, of course!! :lol: :thumbup:

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Last edited by AJ01 on Sun Jun 13, 2021 5:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: O/T favorite hunting caliber

Post by CT.HNTR »

So for hunting Whitetails in New England in thick forest and mountain laurel I prefer a 20 gauge slug gun. My current favorite is my Thompson Center Encore Pro-Hunter with the 28 inch stainless barrel. It's light, easy to carry and extremely accurate shooting Remington Accu-Tips. For small game in New England and for prairie dogs in Wyoming I use a CZ 457 Varmint in 17 HMR. I can consistently shoot dime sized five shot groups with this gun at 100 yards using the Hornady 20 Grain XTP ammo. I also have a 12 and 20 gauge Browning Citori over and under for small game, turkey, upland birds and waterfowl. I feel the most versatile 30 caliber is the Weatherby 300 magnum. I have a Weatherby Accumark with a fiberglass Bell and Carson stock and it's unbelievable how good this gun shoots using 180 grain Nosler Accubonds. For very large game I have a Weatherby Accumark in 340 Weatherby magnum. In the 340 I shoot either 250 grain Nosler Accubonds or 275 grain Swift A Frames. Both Weatherby's have muzzle brakes reducing recoil to very manageable levels although really good ear protection is a must.

With these six guns I feel I can successfully hunt 97% of all the game animals on the planet.

They are all my favorites!
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Re: O/T favorite hunting caliber

Post by IronNoggin »

Favorite?
Tough Call!

I'm kind of like a golf pro in that regard, with gun safes instead of a golf club bag :lol:

25-06 is deadly on speed goats and caribou.

270 Winchester shines on medium range deer and sheep / caribou (It's the one in my avatar).

1960 German 270 Weatherby Magnum (stamped Patent pending!) is a lazer beam at any distance, and has taken a lot of sheep, deer and elk.

Mid-70's 300 German Weatherby Magnum simply shines on the big stuff - elk, moose , grizz etc.

And although I've taken more game with my Excalibur than the rifles the past decade or so, those above are my standard Go-To's.
The others stacked around them are more for fun... :angel:

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Re: O/T favorite hunting caliber

Post by vixenmaster »

Geez i had a Rem. 600 Mohawk from early high school years, .243. I had to thin the herd while traveling, killed many a deer with it. Sold it last year to a friend here in Mo. Had some other rifles through the years that were decent also. My favorite is one my Pa killed Kodiak Bear with while station in Alaska in the Navy. He said this rifle will kill any game in the World, n it will although some may have doubts. I have his 1916 Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 model 96. Use the correct bullet n collect your game animal n that is a fact
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Al in Mi
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Re: O/T favorite hunting caliber

Post by Al in Mi »

flightattendant100 wrote:
Sun Jun 13, 2021 6:31 am
Also, when we were going to Colorado every year elk hunting, a 338 Win Mag, is a great caliber. Have shot several and they all shoot well. Yes there is some recoil but not what everyone thinks. Great cartridge!
Life starts with a 338!!

I have a 90's vintage 700 from the custom shop, thing is extremely accurate with every handload and most factory fodder I've tried. it will be the last rifle I sell.
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