North American Big Game Choice?

[New Hampshire]

I picked the '06, but I have recently been eyeballing the .280 Remington.  I read a recent article in Shooting times where a 100 pound woman used it to hunt on 7 continents including a hunt for 2000 lb class moose.  When asked why she used the .280 for everything she replied "because everything drops dead when I pull the trigger."  :-D
Brian M.

[Robert]

Of those listed, I would say the 338 will handle ANYTHING, the 30-06 is the most VERSATILE, but my 35 Whelen Improved will out perform the 30-06 in EVERY aspect.  Even the standard 35 Whelen (not improved) out performs the 30-06 for trajecory, penetration/knockdown and retained down-range energy.  The 338 Winchester is better yet, but pays the price in additional re-coil.
  I am not very impressed with the 300's.  I DO NOT consider them to be much of an impovement over a 30-06 with-in 200 yds.  They tend to 'zip' through game without knocking them down.  I have had Elk run a lot further with a 300 Ultra-mag than with a 30-06.  However, for very open terrain the 300's would be a better choice.
  In my opinion....I would rather have a magnum with a bigger bullet, NOT a FASTER ONE.
  I find what Remington did with the Ultra-Mag very interesting (just a note)  The 300  and the 375 UM's are the same length case.  But the 338 Ultra-Mag is a shorter case, similar to comparing  300 Winchester, and a 338 Winchester.  Now if Remington would just come out with a 350 Ultra-Mag with the shorter cartridge, I would be a happy camper.  There is just something about the 35's, I think I am in love.

[Redhawk1]

I think my Shiloh Sharps in 45-70 with black powder cartridges would take all North American big game. I also think the 30-06 is the all around round. But I am a pistol hunter at heart. And I would have to go with my 500MAG from deer to Moose.  But if I had to choose just one, it would be the 45-70.

[Ranger413]

I think my .308 with a heavy, well designed bullet would be able to tackle pretty much everything I'd hunt in NA.  Except for the big bears.  Heck, a guy around these parts poached a 750 pound 6X6 bull elk with a 30-30.  It was dead on its feet with the first double lung shot.

However, I'm planning on adding a serious all around cartridge to my Encore set-up.  A 338-06 barrel.  I've read a lot about this round and some suggest that this one has been highly overlooked and is just begging for more factory loads.  Supposedly it only gives up a couple hundred fps to the 338 Win Mag and its easier on the old shoulder.  This round, I believe, could quite possibly be a round for all NA big game.

Ranger413

[Tc300mag1]

i went with 338 since never know what your run into

[ihuntbucks]

I picked the Win .338 mag  to cover all game cuz you never know what you might run into,exp. kodiak bear,ect.As a wish man once said "Better to have it and not need it,than to need it and not have it."nuff said..Rick

[Camp Cook]

I chose other because I believe the 375H&H mag will cover anything that is in North America. I have shot a lot of Mule, Whitetail, and Blacktail deer as well as Moose and several large Black bear with a Sako Hunter V 375H&H mag and my buddy has used the same rifle now to take 2 Buffalo in Northern B.C. as well as when I am in Grizzly country this rifle makes me feel that I am carrying enough gun. Using 300gr Nosler Partitions @ 2500fps does very little meat damage because it only produces a hole in and out and very little if any bruising.
Cam

[Gregory]

Chris

I have a two gun big game battery that I put together over ten years ago.
A 25/06 and a 300 Win Mag.  Ten years ago I was dreaming of elk or moose someday but other dreams have replaced those.  I don't get much use out of the 300 Win Mag.  but it's there just in case.

[vhunter]

375 H&H All The Gun I need!!

[DannoBoone]

I chose other because with the offerings now available for the .50 ML's, a
good inline can take anything on this continent. They can be loaded with
180gr saboted bullets to around 500gr conicals. With the new spire points
and Savage's M10ML smokeless powerhouse, 200 yard shots could soon
become commonplace, with 300 yd shots not being out of reason.  ML's
are also a good challenge for good shot placement, when ya know that
second shot is gonna take awhile.  Don't shoot a kodiak in the
patooty!!!