versatility

which chambering, in your opinion, is the most versatile cartridge and why?

by versatility, i mean that it will do the most things well. it won't be the BEST thing to use at either end of the spectrum (ranging from, say, gophers at one end and large moose at the other), but it WILL work, and work well, assuming that the shooter does his/her part. also part of this versatility is that the "middle range" be as wide as possible.

some factors might be:

• availibility/cost of rifles and ammo in this chambering
• killing power at various distances
• variety of reloading components that will work well
• ease of use (accuracy, recoil, etc.)
• caliber - not too big, not too small
• inherent accuracy

choices can be made with shooting or hunting in mind, but the intended use should be stated. for instance, i believe that if you will shoot more than hunt, then the .308 is the most versatile chambering. if you hunt more than shoot, my vote would go for the .30-06.

note - due to tj's suggestion, i modified the parameters to exclude dangerous game. he makes a good point that when you go after something that can kill you, you need a HUGE measure of insurance!

if you shoot more than hunt, i think the 7-08 is the way to go, 308 takes runner up, 7 rem mag is third.

if you hunt more than shoot, then i think it would be very tough to beat a 338 ultra mag. 338 win mag takes second, and 375 h&h is 3rd.

of course, if we rule brown bears and bigger out of the hunting picture, then the top choice is 7 rem mag, 7 stw runner up and 7 ultra takes third.

tj - you bring up a very good point, which i beleive should modify the parameters of this little venture. i should have left out any dangerous game since they DO require a huge measure of insurance. the biggest non-dangerous game that i can think of is moose, unless there is some non-dangerous african game such as giraffe or something (people hunt giraffe?).

i think a very good case could be made for the 7MMs, but my own preference will always lean toward the .30 cals.

Ok guys, just to stir things up a bit...What about Muskox. They arent dangerous, and people hunt them. The can go up to a ton.  I dont think I would go with anything short of a .338 Win Mag or a 8mm Rem Mag on muskox. For everything else that isnt dangerous, the................................. .50 caliber in a muzzleloader!!!

O wait, you said cartridge. Well, just set up your loads like they did in the Civil War. They called the paper thingys that were loaded cartridges i think.  I know for a fact that a .50 cal inline muzzleloader is real easy to reload. Pour powder down barrel, put in bullet or sabot, and then ram it down the barrel. Put on the percussion cap and your good to go! For metallic cartridges (you never said what kind of cartridge!), then i would go for the .30-06.

NH_Hunter

TasunkaWitko,

Seeing that you set down the parameters "(ranging from, say, gophers at one end and large moose at the other)" then from ground squirrels and up to elk then I would have to say the .25-06. From varmints to elk the best thing going. Lawdog

I would have said 308 in a standard caliber, even if you had left the buffalo in.I downed enough in the territory with a 308 to know it will do the job.The magnums don't stop people who botch the first shot  shaking as the animal charges.Choose the correct projectile at the right range and down it goes.But my prefernce would be to a 300 win .I think the win meets all the criteria you set out in regards to availability,reloading etc.It definetly is accurate and delivers the goods at most ranges.

If you let me have open choice I would go with the weatherby in 30-378 as it does it just a bit better.Pity about the costs of the rifle and ammo though.Have a good one macca.

My vote goes to the .30-06.......can/does everything the .308 does & more. Great for heavier bullets. Can use the "light magnum" ammo that almost puts you into a .300 Win Mag. Yup, leave me with two .30-06's [the extra one for back-up] and I can do all my North American hunting with it. Others may disagree.........

Regards, Marcus.

Hey Korey.... as for the .264 WinMag, the 7mm RUM & the whacha-do-hickey Warbird... aren't those just "party cartridges"? Very, very fancy!

Naw, gimme the "mediocre".... like the .30-06 [just like Grandpa's gun!]

Let's not get all emotional about the .30-06, guys!

Regards, Marcus.

P.S. - Egads! Is Shooters.com toast????

you guys and your 30-06's... gettin' me all worked up, and this is s'posed to be relaxing for me.

just say no to the 30-06!!

"whacha-do-hickey Warbird"  a  "  party cartridges"  ????  Alright you lilly-livered sap-sucker!!!  You can't even get the name of my favorite cartridge correct.  And "party cartridge"????  Ahhhhhh.  The horror.  Them there's fight'n words.     

Would it be wrong for me to suggest the 7.82 Warbird as the most versitile cartridge mentioned so far?????????????????  Ok.  I thought so.

Warbird's Rule !!!