I want to do a poll with opinions. No bashing someone's opinion unless they say 6.5 as an option. Which of these four calibers would you choose and why? Looking at what you feel is the best all-around. .270, 30-06, 7mm or 300 win mag. Say nothing about accubonds, mystery ranch metcalf or leupold. I know there has been similar threads comparing one against the other.
Which one.
- Thread starter Huntkook
- Start date
AvidIndoorsman
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2015
- Messages
- 18,411
+ 150 grn for whitetail and 200 grn and up for moose.
If you literally were only going to own 1 high powered rifle. Hard to beat.
VikingsGuy
Well-known member
.270 the quintessential western cartridge. Flatter shooting with less recoil than 30-06. Plenty for pronghorn, deer and elk. No need to go magnum.
AvidIndoorsman
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2015
- Messages
- 18,411
Yes but there are a couple of hunts where it doesn’t meet legal requirements, eg bison.
Recoil between the two is hardly noticeable. New bullets and powder for the old girl .06 make it shoot plenty flat. I have both. Load and shoot them both. Toss up at best. mtmuley
JohnCushman
Well-known member
30-06
AggieHunter
Well-known member
For my next rifle I am looking at a 300 win mag or 28 nosler.
VikingsGuy
Well-known member
If I get a once in a lifetime bison tag (which will never happen) I will buy a 45-70 lever action and go old school.
seeth07
Well-known member
30-06 has no competition when it comes to the "if you could only own one caliber rifle" debate 
AvidIndoorsman
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2015
- Messages
- 18,411
belshawelk
Well-known member
If you are taking ammo availability, cost, options then it’s the 30-06. It’s not the best all around, just what you have listed. I don’t prescribe the the one gun. Too many good choices and now better choices for specific animals. It’s like what the best truck? For what, driving, pulling, hauling, pavement, off pavement. Otherwise let’s all drive an F350
midwesthunter
Well-known member
tried and true 30-06
Gerald Martin
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2009
- Messages
- 8,294
.260 Creed.....
MTLabrador
Well-known member
I was tempted by a case hardened Henry .45-70 with the octagon barrel the other day and I had the same thought. If I draw in Wyoming it might be the one.
Ha. mtmuley
I made a gun store visit last Saturday and they had one in an 1895 somebody had just traded on an A/R
that’d also make my list to chase a bison. Almost made my list for the safe anyways lol
Dougfirtree
Well-known member
I've only ever owned one .270, but I actually felt like there was something sharper about its recoil than my .30-06. Maybe it was just the rifle...
morgaj1
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2020
- Messages
- 474
Mtmuley is right. I grew up with an inherited 270 from my dad shooting 130gr Core Lokt's because that's what dad did. I've killed more animals with that gun than I can count. However, I now own many guns, larger and smaller. My 30-06 shoots 150-180gr exceptionally well. I can load it with 150gr GameKings and be happy killing whitetails all day long. I can load 180gr Accubonds or Interbonds and kill elk, bear, moose, etc. Matter of fact, my favorite all around load is 165gr AccuBond and would be confident shooting anything with it.
