Let’s start a bit of controversy, among my friends, as well as others that wish to weigh in. Just what, is the best rifle type, and caliber for the most common type of hunting that you do, where you live.
Here is my honest answer: There just isn’t one. Small game I like the Ruger Ten Twenty Two, 10/22. Varmints that are a bit to large for the 22 long rifle? I have long been a fan of the Remington model 700 medium weight barrel rifle chambered in 22/250. For Deer sized game, and Pronghorns? Several combination will do the job, and again, territory has a lot to do with this… Model 700 in 280 Remington; But if I could have two? A model 70 in 257 Roberts, and a Marlin 336 in the venerable 30/30. Then we get to big deer, and Elk, and Bears that top 400 pounds. The 300 Winchester Magnum wins hand down for caliber and I could care less if the rifle is Ruger, Winchester, or Remington. I have a caveat here though. In thick stuff, like dense Elder, or Black Timber? The Marlin guide gun in 450 Marlin…
This was for North America, let the fireworks begin! 🙂
Tags: calibers, Deer Hunting, Elk Hunting, Hunting, rifles, varmint hunting
Conservative Libertarian Outpost 
July 2, 2008 at 08:46
My ideas are for small game-.22lr and .22 magnum (solid pointed bullets). Varmits are fodder for .22 Khornet at up to medium range,.22/250 or .220 swift for long range.
The 7mm08 or .280 is THE perfect deer size cartridges bar none! They will also work on larger game but that’s where the 35 whelen shines. The 35 whelen hits like the hammer of thor on anything in north america.
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July 2, 2008 at 12:23
Wisconsin here, deer hunting, I think every farmer I know has a 30/30 and a 30-06. The 30-06 is great for sitting on the edge of the woods overlooking a corn field. Unfortunatly I have to hunt in the woods so I just picked up a Savage 308 last year. Barrel is nice to manover in the woods, ammo is cheap, stainless and black look nice.
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July 2, 2008 at 23:15
Great points Game Ear. I would suggest that in a quick fire situation that 30/30 Marlin or Winchester would do a better job. Just upgrade the darned sights!
I have a friend that hunts deer up in the Wisconsin swamp country, and he swears by the 32 Winchester Special for both those big deer and black bear as well.
Stay in touch, and if you have a yahoo address, join Hunters Central! 🙂
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July 2, 2008 at 23:18
Okay, as Brother bear is well aware… I am a really big fan of the 35 Whelan, actually of all the Whelan calibers.
I put them right up with the Rigby family of calibers.
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