Experience with different cartridges.

[duffy4]

I went antelope hunting recently and wasn't sure which of my rifles i was going to take and use.

I have a Rem. 788 in .243 that I got for my kids to use but it is a fun and accurate little gun I have used before so I took it along. I also brought my old, experienced Model 70 win. in .264 win mag.

It was pretty windy and in the end I reached for the .264 when I headed into my blind near a water hole on opening morning.

I have shot game with a number of other cartridges but most with the .264.

When ever someone asks advice on what kind of "rifle" they should get, every one makes cartridge suggestions (usually the cartridge they own and use).

Got me thinking how much "cartridge experience" people have and what game I have shot with different cartridges.

I have shot game with:

.264 win mag
.300 savage
.243 win
.35 whelen
7X57 mauser
12 ga (sabot slugs)
.58 cal muzzle loader
.54 cal muzzle loader
.50 cal muzzle loader
.222 rem (coyotes)
.22 small game
.22 mag. small game
12 ga birds and small game
20 ga birds and small game
.410 birds and small game

I own a .308 a .284 win. and a 30/30 that I haven't blooded yet.

I have never owned or used a 30/06 , .270, 6.5 X55, .260 or a 7mm08. But these are some that I most often recommend to people wanting a deer cartridge or a general big game cartridge.

[Dick284]

My personal experience on game is with:

30/30 (170gr)
30'06 (165gr)
300Win Mag, (150gr. & 190gr)
284Win (139gr. 140gr)
25'06 (100gr)
300WSM (165gr)
270WSM (130gr)
358Win (200gr & 225gr)


Other members of my family:

270Win (100gr & 130gr)
7mm-08 (130gr)

There is also a lot of parrallels in cartridges these days.

6.5x55 and 260Rem
7x57 and 7mm-08
300WSM and 300 win mag
7mm WSM, 7mmRem Mag, 7mm Wtby and 280AI
300RUM and 30-378WTBY
280 Rem and 284Win

Too list a few.

For the above I'm not saying they are neck and neck on paper, but for real world performance with similar weight bullets there is'nt a hill of beans difference

[duffy4]

"There is also a lot of parrallels in cartridges these days.

6.5x55 and 260Rem
7x57 and 7mm-08
300WSM and 300 win mag
7mm WSM, 7mmRem Mag, 7mm Wtby and 280AI
300RUM and 30-378WTBY
280 Rem and 284Win"

So true Dick

If I heard someone say "the 260 rem kills so much better than the 6.5X55" I'd wonder what he was smoking.

[Young Eldon]

I have used 17 different calibres of rifles (.17 to 375 H&H) to kill about 70 head of game from foxes to moose and a grizzly (not including birds or rodents). Most were taken with 30 calibers and 7mm Mag. I could have done it all with a 22, 7mm Mag. And a 12 gauge but it would not have been near as interesting!

[Cappy]

Personally:

.22lr
.223
.243
6.5x55
.260AI
.270WSM
.308
.325WSM
.338 Lapua

Others I have observed:

.270Win
.30-06

The most seem to fall to the 6.5x55's and the .308's, although the .325WSM is rapidily catching up. The 6.5's are popular with myself and my group because they work so well on deer and larger animals, plus they can be shot by everyone quite well. The .308's get used alot because of familiarity, we cut our teeth on them as younger men and know them inside and out.(that's also why my .325WSM is getting used so much, same drops out to 500 as my .308, with more payload)

[catnthehat]

I've killed deer, moose and/or bears with:
12 gauge slug
577 Snider
45/70
.303 Brit
375 Winchester
8X56MS
30'06
308
30/30
6.5WSM
6.5X55
6.5X54MS
25/35
6mmRem.

Cat

[Cowtown guy]

Let's see....
.250 savage
.243 win
.308 win
.270 win
30/06 sprg
.257 roberts
7mm rem mag
.338 win
22lr
22 mag
17 hmr
22-250
7mm-08

So 13 in total that I have taken some type of animal with not including shotguns.

Maybe not as many as some others but I am still firmly in my 30's. I have a few years to try other stuff yet.

The amazing thing that I have found with my so called "experience" (and I use this term very loosely) is that when I hit the critter where I was supposed to, they all died remarkably dead.... strange I know. None were any more dead than the rest. This includes the coyote I shot with the .338 as compared to the yotes that were shot with the 22-250. All dead.

While I realize that there is legitamacy(sp?) with this thread, I think someone new could also look at all of the cartridges here and say "Huh, how the heck do I pick one now?" Too many times people overthink things and I don't think this thread will help that. It is kinda cool to see what everyone has played with over the years.

[catnthehat]

My list only included big game anomals shot with cartridge guns, I've killed lots more with bow and shotguns, muzzle loading rifles and BP cartridge shotguns.
I eally bthinbk we tend to get toowrapped up in WHAT we are shootinginstread of HOW we are shooting it, as you stated Cowtown.
Too much crap floatng around these days about the technicalities of shooting and not enough about just plain ol' shooting!
Cat

[Cowtown guy]

Agreed Cat. I also like Chuck's tagline. Energy doesn't kill. Holes kill...or something like that.

[elkhunter11]

22 rimfire
.223
.22-250
.220 swift
243win
6mmrem
257wby
7mm-08
280AI
7mmrem
7mmstw
7mmimperial
30-30
308win
300wby
300ultramag
8mmremag
375 H&H
.50 blackpowder
410
28gauge
20gauge
12gauge

[harv3589]

What I have used,

243
270
270 WSM
7mm Rem Mag
30-06
12 gauge slugs

[shortaction]

These have worked for me:

7mm-08 rem
284 win
280 rem
300 sav
300 WSM
300 Win Mag
35 Rem
358 Win

Hopefully add a couple more this fall!

[Jerry D]

I've shot deer with a

12 gauge (SG)
.270
.30-06

This year (hopefully) soon to be a .25-06

[PoppaW]

So what ever happened to 'be aware of the guy with only one gun... he probably knows how to use it' But man is he dull around the campfire
My list
22
6.5x55
270 Win
7mm Rem
7mm Wby
300 Win
338 RUM
35 Whelen
375 H&H
416 Rigby

And this season will be the 460 Wby. Maybe the 404.

I have used the 270 and the 416 the most. I found the 270 a little light on moose for my liking. The 416 was enough The 338 RUM is very nice but mine was sold due to the three strike rule. It was a Remington, Had feeding issues and shot Nosler Partitions the best. The first two are serious and the last is a dig as I shoot mainly Barnes.

[Rackmastr]

I have shot game with the following:

22LR
.222
.223
.22-250
.250 Savage
.243
.25-06
.260 Rem
.7-08
7-08 AI
.284 Win
7 Rem Mag
30-06
.300 Win Mag
.338 Win Mag

Think thats it...I've carried a few others but havent shot game with them.....

[Halfton]

I have used the following calibers to shoot game with:
.22
.243 Win
7x57
7mm Rem. Mag.
308 Win
30.06
338 Win. Mag.
375 H & H

My favorite and ones I use most often is the .308 Win., Just because the rifle is so short and light (Ruger Ultra Lite) it just makes carrying it easier all day...But lately I have been using the 338 Win.Mag (Sako 75) more and more and love it and the effect it has on game.

[huntsfurfish]

I have used:

22LR
22Hornet
222 Rem
223
22/250
243Win
6mm Rem
250/3000
257Roberts
25/06
264 WM (borrowed)
270 Win (personal fav.)
270WBY (borrowed)
7X57
7mm RM
280
308Win
30/06
300WM
8mm Mauser
8mm Rem. Mag(another fav)
338WM
375 H&H
54 Black powder.
Numerous shotguns in 20, 16 and 12 ga.
Never did get my 416 Rigby or 50BMG though.(yet)
Have enjoyed them all and would still like a 45/70 trapdoor yet too.
Have taken game with recurve and compound bows as well.
Meed more time!

[u_cant_rope_the_wind]

I have shot game wth
30-30 wt deer & Black bear, herford steer,or two
308 moose, wt deer, black bear,, elk, moose,mule deer
303 british , elk , moose, wt deer,
22-250, coyotes , badger,racoon, lynx, fox,, gophers
338, moose, wt deer,
264 win mag , Black bear, wt deer, mule deer,
257 roberts, coyotes, wt deer, black bear, moose,elk, mule deer, antelope,axis deer, a horse,doll sheep, cariboo,beaver ,wolf, gophers,
300 wby mag, wt deer, mule deer, elk, moose, black bear,
300rum, wt deer black bear , grizzly,elk, moose,mule deer,
300saum wt deer,elk, mule deer,badger, coyotes, angus cow
45-110 coyote,
50 cal muzle loader ,wt deer, mule deer,
7mm08 wt deer, moose, elk, beaver
243 wt deer coyotes, wt & mule deer, fox,
22LR, jack wabbits, gophers, coyotes,grouse, my 1st moose, beaver
10 gauge, geese ducks
12 gauge,grouse, pheasant, ducks & geese,
20 gauge, grouse ducks, hungarian partridge, ruffy grouse, doves
410, grouse ,pigions
all killed wth the same result, the animals died and it didnt matter which they was shot wth all dropped in their tracks, like a brick out house,and realy didnt know what hit them

[Matt L.]

You shot your first moose with a .22LR and it dropped in it's tracks???

[Gray Wolf]

My rifle list is rather short, but they have done well for me ... kilt lots of game over the years (gophers to Griz).

22 LR
22 Mag
223 Rem.
7mm Rem. Mag.
30-30 Win.
303 Brit.
308 Win.
30-06 Spring.
45-70 Gov.
50 Cal. BP/ML

In a way they are all my favorites, but if I was standing at the Pearly Gates and was told; "Only two" ... I'd pick my 30-06 and 45-70.

As for my shotguns, that's another story for another day.

GW

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Gray Wolf

As for my shotguns, that's another story for another day.

GW

Shotguns??!!
I killed flyin' stuff with
muzzle loaders:
10, 12, 14, 16, 20 , 24, 32
cartridge black powder:
12, 16, 20, 24, 28, .410 ( I know I know, it's CALIBRE, not gauge!)
smokeless cartridge:
12, 16, 20, 28, 410
I now only shoot the 20 and 28 in smokeless, but shoot a 12 and 16 in BPCS, and 12 and 14 in the ML.
They are just too much fun to give up, but the 28 serves 90% of my needs - the 20 I keep for geese for the most part.....
Cat

[u_cant_rope_the_wind]

Originally Posted by Matt L.

You shot your first moose with a .22LR and it dropped in it's tracks???

yup 2 make a long story short i was 14 and my dads freinds borrowed all the big game rifles and left me at home,P%$$ me off so i decided to ruffy grouse hunting ,i went 1 yards behind the house and a nice little bull stood up 20 yrds in front of me and i put one rt Btween his eys he dropped as hard as if he was shot wth a magnum rifle, and i was they only one that year that got his moose ,amongst 11 hunters

[Dick284]

U Cant

Maybe you wanna delete your post?

[decker]

Only three have taken game with the .303 british? I thought there would be more of us out there.

[decker]

.17
.22
.243
30-30
.303 Bri.
30-06
Hoping to add to the list
7mm Rem.
.308 Win

[marlin1]

well I will jump on
.303
.22
12 gauge
410 gauge
.270
jeez my list seems short
oh and 7mm rem mag pending

[solocam3]

I started at 14 yrs old with my dad's hand me down 303 British by shooting a 5 pt muley that scored 167. Not bad for a 14 yr old. That gun lasted me 20 yrs so my score is

22 single shot.
22 Cooey Semi
223 Vanguard (gophers, coyotes)
223 Savage VLVSS (gophers, coyotes)
303 British Lots of deer, odd coyote)
270 ???? (couple deer)
30-06 Winchester Ranger (lots of deer, 2 moose)

[220swifty]

So far, and i emphasise SO FAR, i have killed with the following

17 Rem
22 hornet
223 rem
22-250
220 Swift
243 win
260 rem
280 rem
300 WSM
338 Win mag

That is a list of coyote and bigger kills.

My response to the guy who is looking for his first rifle is always "whatever is comfortable for you" I have, in the past, let newbies shoot my rifles to find the recoil threshold, and then made cartridge suggestions from there.

[rottie]

I have taken varmints,small game and big game with a variety of cartridges

22lr
22 Hornet
.222
.223
22 250
220 Swift
6mm
.243
25 06
270
7 x 57
280
7 Rem Mag
30 30
308
30 06
300 Win Mag
303

All have worked well if I do mt part

[ceedub]

Neat thread.....here's my list

.204 Ruger (coyotes)
.222 Remington
.240 Weatherby Mag (deer)
25-06 (deer)
.257 Weatherby Mag (deer)
.270 Weatherby Mag (10+ bull Moose, deer, antelope, several bears)
7mm Rem Mag (deer, bears)
30-06 (deer)
.300 Weatherby Mag (deer)
.338 Win Mag (deer, Moose, Bull Elk, bear)

As you can see, I'm a Weatherby guy, love the cartridges but love the way that the Mark V's point even more. By far, I've taken more animals with a .270 Weatherby Mag with 130g bullets than any other combo.