Favorite Caliber (s)

[TheGDog]

Hrmm.... realistically all I'll ever likely see in my life is CPX2.
Not knowing any better and wanting to be able to feel confident in attempting Black Bear, I opted for .308 1st.

With the idea of possibly Black Bears in mind, when it came time to fetch a buncha lead-free I got a bunch 168gr 165gr. It womps things but good. Too good. And I'm not particularly a fan of the recoil, what with prior injuries on that side. 150gr aren't bad though.

That having been said? I think if I were to start over again today? It'd be .243 Win and done. Should do any and everything I'd need it to do. Possibly 6.5 CM since some of the places I go might present with longer range shots (not that I currently have the practice level reqd to take them per se)

So yeah... .17 HMR and .243 Win would be all I'd need.

 

[NeverSummer]

I currently run a 6.5 Creed and a 300 win mag. If I could only keep one, it would be the 300, but they make a very nice pair.

 

[Roksliding]

Ah .... 2- 6.5 creedmores Because of bc n stuff

 

[CZp-01]

6.5CM for my long range and .223 for plinking

 

[Hoodie]

.264 for caliber.

6.5 Creedmoor for cartridge.

If I added a 2nd it would be .223 for cheap practice.

 

[JPeters218]

25-06 and 30-06. I've shot a lot of elk with 270/ 30-06 and have seen no need to step up to magnum calibers.

 

[LaGriz]

In the same camp as robtattoo,

My .358 Win and the ,280 Remington when longer shots might be common.
Developing a romance for my .338-06. Rifle/scope combo plays a role.

LaGriz

 

[longbarrel]

For the light rifle, I would pick something in .264, .277, or .284 with enough powder capacity to give a reasonably sized (sectional density) projectile about 2800-2900 fps. For the heavier rifle, definitely a .338 based on my lifetime with them. If recoil shy, get a Federal or .338-06 or RCM.

 

[HUNTER100]

Fun topic. Calibers for me would be .264 and .308. If u narrow down further to cartridges.....I'd go 6.5PRC and 300 win

 

[Cxs03g]

25-06 and 30-06. I've shot a lot of elk with 270/ 30-06 and have seen no need to step up to magnum calibers.

I’m curious what your typical/average distance was. I’m trying to decide between a 270 or a 300wsm.

 

[JPeters218]

I’m curious what your typical/average distance was. I’m trying to decide between a 270 or a 300wsm.

All under 100 yards. So very different than most people’s situations. I’ve killed 10 personally, and seen another probably 40 killed. Never seen one go more than 50 yards.
To be fair tho, I’ve seen 2 shot win a 300wm and it was impressive. Baseball sized entrance both times and dropped them in their tracks

 

[Nealm66]

257 bee and 300 prc. If I had to only have one, 300wm

 

[Sevens]

7mm Rem Mag and 375 H&H.

If you take buffalo and pachyderms out of the picture, 270 and 300 win mag would be just fine.

 

[Freedom]

I have been very happy with my 300 WSM. with a case full of reloader 26 and the 225 ELDM and the 212 ELDX bullets I have seen some impressive long range accuracy and energy. If I feel like shooting something mild I use 47 grains of H 4895 and a speer 165 btsp. this give 2650 fps and great accuracy. for me this is hard to beat, but it's even harder to just have one great rifle.

 

[Rokbar]

I haven't read the whole thread, but one caliber would be a .300wm period!

 

[Gen273]

.300 WSM
.30-06
.308 Win
.300 WM
.338 RCM (very under appreciated IMO)
.280 Rem
.243 Win

Those are my favorites. But, if I had to (heaven forbid ) chose just one, give me the old boring 30-06! But why chose just one..lol! My next adventure is going to be with a .358 Win.

 

[Nykki]

375 H&H and 30.06, would like to find a 224 Valkyrie for coyote and wolves

 

[onetohunt]

280 ai, 25-06, and my 6.5 prc is gonna get in there after i get some rounds through it!!

 

[Flycaster1977]

You have shot a lot, tested many, come to firm conclusions and are thinning out your gun herd to two only because your better half said so.
When it is all said and done what two rifles would you build? What two calibers would you choose? Is there one that you feel does both well?

CXP2 class game are generally light framed animals with relatively thin skin and light muscles and bones. These are primarily deer, antelope, sheep, goats and black bear. They typically range from about 51 pounds to perhaps 300 pounds.

CXP3 class game are large framed, heavy animals with tough skin, heavy muscle tissue and large bones. Would guess that these animals range from 301 to over 1000 pounds, and would be represented by such game as alg, elk, moose, zebra, kudu, eland, and brown bear.

Id have to go with 30-06 and one of the magnums. Probably 300 win mag or 30 nosler

 

[TREE ‘EM]

270 Win and my 8 twist 6.8X64