Best Caliber for Western Big Game Hunting
Best Caliber for Western Big Game Hunting
What’s you’re preferred caliber for big game hunting? Guy Eastman highlights his recommendation in this short video.
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Hmmm, agreed, I love this awesome 300 and 338 RCM. Awesome balistics and light weight, 20" barrel and the good OLD Ruger Hawkeye.
all of you are using Cannon’s 22-250 on deer 243-25-06 for elk anything from 100gr – 115gr is all that’s needed for elk 55gr for deer any day of the week less meat tore up and not beating your shoulder up
But i have seen you take a few elk with that 270WSM
My elk rifle is a 7mm rem mag but if I was using a 30 cal it would be a 300 rsaum
Well put!
.280 Remington. Prove me wrong
I’m 62 and have hunted in western, and eastern Wa. since I was ten. dad started me with a 22, then 30-30 then got his Huskavarna (mauser sportsterized) 30-06.
deer I use a 150 grain, and elk 180 grain and neither have failed me year after year.
.257 Weatherby Magnum is my choice.
There is more to it then weight range. I handload for plenty of rifles and here is my take in general.
.458 caliber, deadly shockingly effective at close range and much more accurate then you would think but even with a muzzle break is no fun to shoot. Limited range due to huge bullet frontal area.
.358 caliber, split the difference between a 30 and large caliber, 40% more frontal area the a 30 caliber for large wounds and lots more weight to carry the bullet out the far side of larger game, however they lack the high BC bullets of the 30 and 338 calibers so range is somewhat limited.
.338 caliber, a very good compromise if larger game are in the mix however it is still a gross overkill on whitetail class game and most bullets are not made for thin skinned game anyway.
.308 caliber, very versatile since it can be hand loaded with a huge variety of bullets. Everything from light and frangable varmint bullets to heavy mono metal trophy hunters. I have never had much trouble getting a 30 caliber to shoot very tight groups. When you reach magnum speeds a 30 caliber can be less then fun to shoot, especially in an ultralight rifle. My go to "do anything" rifle is a Savage 30-06 with a 3000fps Barnes TTSX handload.
.284 caliber (7mm) I have a true love hate relationship with 7mms, I love the crazy high BC bullets and reasonable recoil but every 7mm I have ever handloaded for has been a real challenge to get the groups dialed in, but when I do I am in love, my favorite is my Browning 7mm-08 shooting 140gr SGKs over Ramshot Big Game (at 2920fps) it is a real joy to shoot and deadly on whitetail class game and my 160gr Deep Curl load gives me big game versatility.
.277 caliber (aka 270) Never met a 270 that I did not like and I load for several, both the 270 Win and 270 WSM are great on thin skinned game but their weakness is they do lack the bullet weights and hence versatility of 30 calibers and 7mms. While they won’t quite match the 7mm for bullet BC they are more aerodynamic then most give them credit for and are real long range performers if you do your part.
.264 Caliber. Hands down the easiest caliber to dial in, I do not know why but 6.5mms just want to be consistent. While the 6.5mms have very high BC bullets they don’t start off with enough energy to be an ideal big game rifle nor is the small frontal area ideal, however with surgical shot placement the long heavy bullets can penetrate enough to be effective but I reserve mine for whitetail class game, namely because I have larger calibers for larger game, but in a pinch I would put a 140gr Partition up against a larger animal with no hesitation.
.243, 6.5 creedmore, 7mm mag & STW, .300 RUM, .338 LM it don’t matter shoot them good they’ll all die
What’s your opinion on the 270 caliber
270 can take eney thing down
280 Remington 140 TSX or 150 Partitions
270 for the Win 😜
7 RM fan myself but if I did not have my 7mm RM Mark V at the ready I certainly would not complain about a 30-06 with 150 to 180 grain bullets depending on the game. I personally use 160 gr for my 7mm for everything smaller than moose on which I go 175 gr. Sierra GMK or Partitions. Never saw a reason to change and way too old to start now. I am a Canadian westerner and out here many guys like the 300 mags (Weatherby or Winchester) as well but I think they are a lot of gun , and what you gain in power you pay for in other ways such as meat loss and flinchitis which really translates into misses or bad shot placement. To each their own however.
I dont think it would matter what weight 30cal bullet was used in this video considering 2 out of the three shots spined the animal🤔
Both of those Elk shots looked like spine hits
Me and my friends shoot .308 150 grain for deer. Long story short Hornardy SST is inaccurate garbage. It did horrible in a Sako, Savage and Tikka. My sake groups about .6 of an inch with pretty much anything else. But yes my .308 is a deer killing machine 👍
*Gotta love how everyone is like… "I like my .50 bmg for everything." There is such a thing as overkill and wasting meat. If people are routinely taking same game with a caliber smaller than you use then you might want to rethink your caliber. Are you a hunter or just a shooter? A hunter is gonna creep up and wait for that perfect shot. A shooter will just get a overkill caliber and try shooting as soon as they have visual.*
30.06 Springfield or .308 Win is all you need.
Guy Eastman sounds like my dad! He’s been telling me this –almost verbatum for years! He really likes the 165 gr. Spitzer boat tail.
I use a Savage rifle caliber in 300 Winchester Magnum and I personally use 185-200 grain ELDx
I whole heartily agree with the 30 caliber bullet…however I think the 150 is the way to go. Personally I love the Hornady Super Performance SST ammo. for my .308 it shoots 3,000 ft per sec with a 150 gr and 30-06 3,100 and my 300 Winn 3,400 ft per sec. all 150 gr bullets! I’ve dumped moose, elk and deer no problem.
30-06
I have a Howa 7mm Rem. Mag. would you recommend this rifle for elk and Bear? and if so what would the proper grain be for each? (NEW HUNTER)
i have killed a lot of bull elk over the years,,,,,,,most with a 25-06,,a few with a 308 and 30-06,,,no need for more power,,,a 243 works great on anything smaller,,,,,,,
I’ll stick with my .375h&h
7mm magnum best all around big game hunting in North America.
under 200 yards .308
NOSLER AMMO
This may be the dumbest hunting video on Youtube. "30 caliber" is best?
That is useless information. There are at least four commonly used cartridges in .30
They all have different ballistics. Make a useful video or don’t bother.
I am thinking a .308 for now. and then upgrading to a bigger cartridge like long action 30 calibers when I get more comfortable shooting.
I would choose the 300wsm for everything in North America
I bought the Savage in the 300 wsm and I love this rifle! The first year I purchased it I bagged my first trophy mule deer! It was a 150 yard shot and he fell in his tracks! I used a 165 grain projectile federal premium round. Hornady is also a very good bullet!
I’m actually related to the eastmans family. My grandmother is a second cousin to Guys dad
270 or 300 Win Mag are popular. They’re widely available, have great ballistic coefficients and the ammo is carried almost everywhere.
I live in montana. I use a 30-06 300 win or I have a 375 I use them for elk. Use my 30 30 or 30 06 for mule and whitetail. And use my 45 70 to protect my property
That’s my choice 3006cal from a 55gr ac to a 220gr round -all a round best caliber to use.
I’m quite partial to my 270wsm. It shots 1/2 moa all day long. (Off the bench) And with 140 g accubond hand loads. Moving at 3280fps. Out of my Tikka I have taken 2 elk. One at 340 yards, and 570 yards. Full penetration and neither went more than 50 yards. Plus with the addition of a limb saver pad. Recoil feels like a normal 270, a lil more snappy. And it’s a great light weight rifle. I’ve shot plenty of deer with it, and it’s like the Hammer of Thor. Plus I sight it in 2.5 inches high and it’s a no hold over up to 360 yards.
To each there own though. I haven’t taken any of my other out hunting since I got it. I just love it.
Hornady told me that the GMX 165 grain in think it was was all that is needed for elk and it did a real good job. Noticed they have it in a 180 now. Curious to see more on the new ELD bullet.
When you were talking about the 180s for elk and showed the clip of you dropping one, what cartridge was that? 30-06, 300win mag?