Best all around for deer,elk,moose,bear

What does everyone prefer? I was looking at the 7mm. Anyone have a better option?

 

There's going to be a lot of different responses to this...should be interesting.
Here's my take...I've harvested black bear and whitetail with a 30-30. Moose with 45-70. Caribou with a .308. Mule deer with 30-06.
All with 150 grain...except the 45-70...I think that was 200 grain.
7mm should be good for all unless the bear you're going after are grizzly...then I'd use a cannon!
Just remember...it's all in the shot placement.

 

Yeah just from research it seems the 7mm will be the best all around and good long range.

 

9.3x62

 

7mm mag
.300 win mag
.270 win
.45-70

From top to bottom with taking costs and versatility into account.

 

Its hard to beat the versatility and availability of .308 and 30-30 for that matter.

However..if you cant hit the broad side of a barn doesnt matter what cal. you have chambered.

 

Never hunted bear but my 300 win mag has never had an issue dropping everything from whitetail to moose. My dads friend shoots a 7mm ultra mag and its definitely over kill for smaller game its pretty much a cannon.

 

7mm Rem Mag. Flies flatter than a 270, hits harder than the 30-06. Perfect North American round.

Now if you’ve got Bison and Grizzly rags in your pocket, that’s a good excuse to buy a new rifle in 338 Win Mag or 375 H&H.

 

300 win, my wife has shot deer, moose and a bear...

 

It's all bullet and shot placement. Any of the bigger 7mms and up will do fine. I'm partial to the 7SAUM and 280AI myself and would hunt anything including brown bear with them if that's all I had. Choice of bullet would be a 150gr TTSX for everything.

Course, there ain't much fun in the "all around" gun. I like options. I've actually killed more species with my 358STA than my six 7mms combined.

 

I shoot a 160 TSX out of my 7 mag. It’s the hammer of death. Authoritative power. 150 TTSX is probably even better.

 

All depends on how much you're planning on spending on a rifle,how much you want to spend on glass to put on top, And how much you're willing to spend in ammo too make sure you can actually hit something at around 300 yards. I'm sure someone out there knows someone who has killed all 4 on your list with a .270 win.

 

300 win mag
First time bear hunting I took a 30-30(what are the chances in PA of getting a bear) I thought. Long story short on the second drive a 393 pounder walks out at 40yards and I shoot. Emptied the 30-30 as she crawled at me snapping and being pissed. I darted back and reloaded and after another few rounds it was done. Only three of the rounds got past the fat and hit vitals. Went out and got a 45-70 for the next year. Live and learn. I was actually lucky I did not get attacked

 

There’s nothing in North America that a 30-06 or a 7mm magnum can’t handle.

 

I shoot a .264 for elk, never had any issues . I got a Falkor in 300 win mag and might try it this year for long range.

 

7mm rem mag or 300 win mag

 

not much on consensus

yet this is 1 area i will defer

if U r using a guide & U havnt made a purchase

his experience if U trust him will be in the right zip code

he has seen many a good shot............................bad shot

good hunter............................bad hunter

really no such thing as a bad gun.......................inadequate maybe

 

I shoot a 270 win for everything,what's also important is bullet construction. Standard round would be a 130 partition,but if I'm in grizzly country a 130 TTSX I feel is a better bullet.

 

Old thread, but don't overthink this. Any modern centerfire cartridge 26 caliber and up will kill any animal in North America. The bullet choice is far more important than the cartridge. And kill most of them at ranges farther than most of us have the skills to be shooting. Not that I condone the practice but we have folks killing elk at 1/2 mile with 243's. But I like a bit heavier bullet.

A 6.5Creedmoor, 7-08 or 308 will easily take elk, bear or moose at 400-500 yards. If you have the skills to shoot farther than that and want to put up with the recoil then the 7mm and 300 magnums will do it. If you're willing to sacrifice being able to take longer shots rounds like 45-70 and 30-30 still work. Traditional rounds like 270 and 30-06 split the difference, but with todays bullets and optics I think even those rounds are overkill for most people.

 

Just because it’s enough gun to drop an unsuspecting grizzly at 150 yards doesn’t mean it’s the gun you want to be relying on in grizzly country when that gun doubles as a bear-defence gun. Dropping a charging grizzly before it can rip you to pieces takes more lead and more powder.

I hunt with a 284 win (Savage lever action) but if I’m in particularly sketchy grizzly country I also pack my 12 gauge with penetrating slugs and a 12” barrel.