Big game all-rounder

[WB300]

For "most" of N. America big game.... I do remember a podcast with Lowlight from his Alaska trip where he'd choose 6.5PRC with the right bullet for this exact question.

After pondering that for a while.... I agree.

I went down this exact road about 7 years ago. I figured a 28" 30-06 throated long was the answer. 130 grainers for a laser out to 400 yards, and the heavies to buck the wind at distance to give me close to 300WM performance. It didnt work for me, but I am not the best shooter or reloader.

Hope this helps. Please keep us updated with what you decide. Pics are always welcome.

 

[RTH1800]

I would also like to know who is just a so called sport hunter w/no field ability, vs someone who only hunts for the table, or kills to stay alive.
I've seen/known plenty of so called hunters, using everything under the sun and once they shoot, their guide is working for hr's upon hr's to find & finish the kill.

I agree that this would be interesting to know but a couple thoughts come to mind.

1) It’s not completely relevant to the rifle thread.

2) No one is going to tell you “I’m an incompetent bastard who only signs checks and has my guide finish off animals”

We will need to read between the lines to figure that out. My personal opinion is to determine who hunts small game with a rifle. If you don’t do that chances are you are a check signing buffoon. Not always but often.

The guys who call varmints, hunt squirrels, night hunt hogs on foot are more likely to be woodsmen than the guy who takes up hunting at age 40 like it’s learning to ski or golf. They never seem to get it.

 

[UpSideDown]

These threads always devolve into the same discussion. Someone asks “what’s the best cartridge for hunting NA game” and then the Alaska boys turn that into “what’s the best cartridge for point blank self defense against a Kodiak bear”.

That’s not what he asked.

I stick with my suggestion: 6.5 creedmoor is probably the best. Lots of others will do. There’s no freaking way, if I was buying one rifle, that I would throw away all the ballistics/recoil/weight/availability of rifle & cartridge of a common round and buy some super-magnum ‘just in case’, as has been said 50 times in this thread now.

If you’re legitimately going into beer country up close then carry whatever you think is appropriate in that extremely narrow experience of NA hunting. Otherwise carry a realistic rifle. Most American hunters are not in this camp of up-close grizzly/brown encounters.

30-06 is only cool if you hand load. If you’re buying factory ammo then it’s just a long(er)-action .308 with poorer bullet selection and more recoil.

 

[RTH1800]

These threads always devolve into the same discussion. Someone asks “what’s the best cartridge for hunting NA game” and then the Alaska boys turn that into “what’s the best cartridge for point blank self defense against a Kodiak bear”.

That’s not what he asked.

I stick with my suggestion: 6.5 creedmoor is probably the best. Lots of others will do. There’s no freaking way, if I was buying one rifle, that I would throw away all the ballistics/recoil/weight/availability of rifle & cartridge of a common round and buy some super-magnum ‘just in case’, as has been said 50 times in this thread now.

If you’re legitimately going into beer country up close then carry whatever you think is appropriate in that extremely narrow experience of NA hunting. Otherwise carry a realistic rifle. Most American hunters are not in this camp of up-close grizzly/brown encounters.

30-06 is only cool if you hand load. If you’re buying factory ammo then it’s just a long(er)-action .308 with poorer bullet selection and more recoil.

I agree with about half of this.
The huge stopping rifles are not anything anyone is going to hunt pronghorn with. But your 6.5 is not anything anyone is going to hunt brown bear with.
That is why I think the 300 Win Mag is the stand alone best choice. I would literally hunt all species in NA with it and know many who have done so.
I used a 7mm on all except brown bear. I would use the 7mm on brown bear but the .300 WM would be better in fact.

 

[Michael Trainowski]

I would also like to know who is just a so called sport hunter w/no field ability, vs someone who only hunts for the table, or kills to stay alive.
I've seen/known plenty of so called hunters, using everything under the sun and once they shoot, their guide is working for hr's upon hr's to find & finish the kill.

While I’m not one that only hunts to put food on the table, I would also say I’m not one of those “go get your trophy” sports hunters. I don’t have any mounted heads anywhere, and everything I’ve shot, I’ve eaten. Some happily, some not so much. Got an old boar once that it’s hams, chops, even the ribs were tougher than the leather on my boots, even after it had been in my smoker for 24 hours. I would argue most guys here are like that.

 

[david walter]

I think one and done is the cartridge most suited for 95% of the hunting you’ll do. For me that’s the 6.5 Creedmoor. If I need something bigger, I’ll borrow it for Alaska.

This thread reminds me of the Yiddish proverb “bring a small problem into a room full of generals, and the resulting plan will be the sum of all fears.“

A very small percentage of hunters who live in the 48 will ever go to Alaska to hunt, let alone hunt bears, and never without a guide, who will either provide a rifle in a “suitable” caliber, or be nearby to provide covering fire. As guides are required for non residents and the OP does not live in Alaska.

The “what about big bears?” question is therefore irrelevant.

I’ve owned everything on the list except the PRCs. Which I find somewhat redundant with the RM and WM, except better twisted barrels from the factory.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

While I’m not one that only hunts to put food on the table, I would also say I’m not one of those “go get your trophy” sports hunters. I don’t have any mounted heads anywhere, and everything I’ve shot, I’ve eaten. Some happily, some not so much. Got an old boar once that it’s hams, chops, even the ribs were tougher than the leather on my boots, even after it had been in my smoker for 24 hours. I would argue most guys here are like that.

When adrenaline hits the meat, the best way to negate it is to soak the meat in Coke-cola for a min of 8-12 hrs depending the animal, and how long it ran before dropping over. If you turn one off like a switch while they don't know you're there, I've never needed to soak one, but when one is running for what ever reason prior to popping it, I always soak the meat. Takes the wild taste, & toughness out of it that some people complain about,... Smoking a hog (full of adrenaline) at times makes it worst.

 

[Michael Trainowski]

When adrenaline hits the meat, the best way to negate it is to soak the meat in Coke-cola for a min of 8-12 hrs depending the animal, and how long it ran before dropping over. If you turn one off like a switch while they don't know you're there, I've never needed to soak one, but when one is running for what ever reason prior to popping it, I always soak the meat. Takes the wild taste, & toughness out of it that some people complain about,... Smoking a hog (full of adrenaline) at times makes it worst.

Oh no, it’s not that. This boar was just an old, fat pig. He had to weigh every bit of 350lbs and I’m guessing he was at least 700 years old. My dad and I got a couple of his smaller girlfriends at the same time, they turned out great. Meat fell off the bone.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Oh no, it’s not that. This boar was just an old, fat pig. He had to weigh every bit of 350lbs and I’m guessing he was at least 700 years old. My dad and I got a couple of his smaller girlfriends at the same time, they turned out great. Meat fell off the bone.

I stop eating wild hogs at about 200 lbs, but the larger ones make fine bait for other hogs & critters.

 

[kthomas]

The practical answer is probably something along the lines of a 6.5 PRC.

If you want a big bore for the sake of it, a .375 H&H.

 

[RTH1800]

I think one and done is the cartridge most suited for 95% of the hunting you’ll do.

The “what about big bears?” question is therefore irrelevant.

With a little wiggle room for the definition of the word “most” in the OP’s question and Yiddish proverbs aside and with all due respect, your answer is irrelevant.

You reframe the question to suit your personal bias and then answer YOUR QUESTION. You are free do so so but your answer becomes irrelevant to the OP’s question.

Further, though guides are required north of the lower 48, many do not carry rifles, even in grizzly country. Most in Alaska do, most in Canada do not. I know this from 40 years of hunting there, not from some magazine article I read. Nor do I personally know any hunter who wants a guide to shoot his animals.

If you simply read the question and answer it, including some of your experiences with “most” North American big game it MIGHT be relevant depending upon your experience with game from tiny Pronghorn and Javalina to Moose, Grizzly and Alaskan Brown Bear.

 

[david walter]

I’d argue “most of the North American big game” in itself eliminates big bears and moose, because most hunting, I’d bet, doesn’t include those.

“Most of the North American big game” would be?

Deer, antelope, elk, black bears, cougars, pigs?, sheep?

I guess the answer depends on what “most” means and how he includes species in or defines “North American Big Game”.

 

[RTH1800]

Of course, keep arguing, betting and guessing.

Great way to live up to your sig line of being an “insightful commentator”.



But if that is what it means the OP’s post is completely meaningless. (Instead of just almost meaningless) Anything from .223 and up is fine.

I ‘d bet

I’d argue…

I guess …

@DangerDave , can you please clarify what “most North American Big Game” includes?

Thank you.

 

[xsn10s]

All the people for 45-70, I’m just curious do you guys run that caliber in a bolt action, or in a lever action? I’ve shot a 45-70 years ago, but it was as in a lever action.

Marlin Century Limited III. Lever.

 

[Michael Trainowski]

I stop eating wild hogs at about 200 lbs, but the larger ones make fine bait for other hogs & critters.

Yep I know that now, clearly didn’t at the time. I’ll chalk it up to when I was younger and dumber.

 

[DangerDave]

@DangerDave , can you please clarify what “most North American Big Game” includes?

North American Super Slam: 29 Big Game Animals You Need

Only 173 hunters have accomplished this incredible feat. Will you be the next?

realtree.com

 

[91Eunozs]

I tend to stick with stuff know I can buy locally anywhere in NA, and that I can buy cheaper plinking and training ammo for as well.

.308 will work exceptionally well for 90% of NA game, and 30-06 or 300WM will get that same game at longer distance, plus ethically bring that remaining 10% into play as well…Brown Bears, Bull Moose, etc.

I also have a 300WSM built up as a short action hammer…pretty damn close to 300WM for ballistic performance, and frankly hits just as hard at the distances I’m comfortable taking hunting shots; typically well under 400 yards.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

But if that is what it means the OP’s post is completely meaningless. (Instead of just almost meaningless) Anything from .223 and up is fine.

We all know shot placement rules, especially if you know the critters anatomy.
Long ago after my first ETS, I spent time away from people on the line between Idaho & Montana. Armed only with a Rem 600 in .223 & 45 long colt. Seen a moose in the water & got within about 85 yds of him, which was about 5 yds in a rock pile from the water. In the 4x weaver, his eye looked like a basket ball. That little 55gr quartering thru his eye into his brain, turned him off like you flipped a switch, as he just dropped like a rock.

I was so proud of myself until I realized where his ass was & how cold that water was. The next 5 hrs was pure misery. That old saying is so true, once you pull the trigger the fun is over & the work begins. Yes I had a large V shaped fire going prior too, but damn that water was cold,...

Memorable Experience,... The memory of an event you were part of or started, where you were not smart enough to game it 100% to ground prior too.

Would I normally hunt Elk & moose with a .223 nope. Will it take them, yes if everything is perfect, but stalking skills can negate many things. The lost of field ability & knowing your quarry can be seen more & more as time goes on, and that does not exclude just the "hunters" who just want to get away from X___________________.

 

[Michael Trainowski]

I tend to stick with stuff know I can buy locally anywhere in NA, and that I can buy cheaper plinking and training ammo for as well.

.308 will work exceptionally well for 90% of NA game, and 30-06 or 300WM will get that same game at longer distance, plus ethically bring that remaining 10% into play as well…Brown Bears, Bull Moose, etc.

I also have a 300WSM built up as a short action hammer…pretty damn close to 300WM for ballistic performance, and frankly hits just as hard at the distances I’m comfortable taking hunting shots; typically well under 400 yards.

That’s not a bad call. My dad always said he chose 30-06 for his hunting rifle because worse comes to worse, you can go into any gun store, Walmart, general store in the middle of no where and find 30-06 ammo. Granted now days, most places carry the newer ammo and I’ve never had any trouble finding stuff for my 7mm Mag or my 6.5CM. But it is 2024, not the mid to late 2000’s (the last time he hunted).

 

[Fig]

IMHO don’t travel hundreds or thousands of miles with a “hunting” gun you can’t buy ammo for at a gas station. 30-06 and .300WM aren’t balistically “the best”, but the are the most common and most readily available. 6.5 CM is getting there now but still not as common.

I haven’t bought a box of rifle ammo in as long as I can remember, but I want the option when I’m far from home. There is no big game where I live, so I’m always a long way from home.

 

[RTH1800]

North American Super Slam: 29 Big Game Animals You Need

Only 173 hunters have accomplished this incredible feat. Will you be the next?

realtree.com

What is YOUR definition of “most NA big game” ? It’s your thread.

The list you posted is not at all complete. Don’t see it as relevant anyway. Very few hunters today care to shoot a polar bear due to never being able to import them and the areas hunted legally today have never produced the larger ones.

 

[david walter]

I don’t see anything on the 29 species list that a 30-06 won’t handle.

@RTH1800, please wax on…..

 

[RTH1800]

No thanks. Your broad experience overwhelms me. Continue on with your insightful comments.

 

[DangerDave]

What is YOUR definition of “most NA big game” ? It’s your thread.

The list you posted is not at all complete. Don’t see it as relevant anyway. Very few hunters today care to shoot a polar bear due to never being able to import them and the areas hunted legally today have never produced the larger ones.

Whitetail, elk, moose, caribou, brown/black bear, muskox, bison, mountain goat, and pronghorn.

 

[Michael Trainowski]

Whitetail, elk, moose, caribou, brown/black bear, muskox, bison, mountain goat, and pronghorn.

You forgot hogzilla. He exists. Well at least my old man firmly believed that lol.

 

[Maggot]

6.5 creedmoor running 147gr ELD-M is my first pick.
7PRC with 180gr ELD-M is my preference if I'm hunting a lot of long/windy shots.

The tipped match bullets are phenomenal killers and great at saving meat. They penetrate and hand grenade inside the lungs and stay there.

I run both of these with 7PRC as my primary. I would have no qualms about using any of the options you stated except .338wm. I would stay away from high recoiling rounds like that and all of the .30 cal options, personally.

I did a lot of investigation and settled on the7mm PRC. Best BC out there (excepting 375 Cheytac and the like), manageable recoil, reasonable ammo price, if $2.00 per trigger pull is reasonable

• 7mm PRC Profile
• 7mm PRC Ballistics
• Comparison of 6.5 PRC vs 7mm PRC vs 300 PRC
• 7mm PRC Ammo
• Best 7mm PRC Ammo For Hunting
• 7mm PRC Rifles
• Final Thoughts On The 7mm PRC

 

[tacoman69]

I did a lot of investigation and settled on the7mm PRC. Best BC out there (excepting 375 Cheytac and the like), manageable recoil, reasonable ammo price, if $2.00 per trigger pull is reasonable

• 7mm PRC Profile
• 7mm PRC Ballistics
• Comparison of 6.5 PRC vs 7mm PRC vs 300 PRC
• 7mm PRC Ammo
• Best 7mm PRC Ammo For Hunting
• 7mm PRC Rifles
• Final Thoughts On The 7mm PRC

Why. Too much gun to spot impacts and too much recoil to practice consistently. Expensive ammo too. Nobody shoots bigger guns better either, you want that trigger time bc where you put the bullet matter first and foremost

 

[Maggot]

Why. Too much gun to spot impacts and too much recoil to practice consistently. Expensive ammo too. Nobody shoots bigger guns better either, you want that trigger time bc where you put the bullet matter first and foremost

No arguement in general but with the Fat Bastard brake I can see impacts...at least as far as I can see them, LOL, It controls the muzzle rise really well. Does throw a lot of concussion back at you.

 

[Forrest84]

if i was fully pragmatic i would say 30-06. but im seriously digging my 300wsm. not to hard to get factory ammo for(the ammo i just tested was the 200gr eldx precision hunter with single digit SD's and it printed a 2' group at 300 yards last weekend in really bad mirage and no effort. handloading is super easy and it has substantially less recoil than a 7prc or 300WM. It can perform very well in SA configuration and you can really step it up in a LA.

 

[Forrest84]

Why. Too much gun to spot impacts and too much recoil to practice consistently. Expensive ammo too. Nobody shoots bigger guns better either, you want that trigger time bc where you put the bullet matter first and foremost

the past few weeks I've been testing my 300wsm and my buddies new 7prc i got built for him both running factory Hornady ammo(Precision hunter and ELDM) and my 300 is crushing the 7prc. its recoil is noticeably sharper than the 300 which i was very surprised about. Yes the 7PRC has measurably higher BC but it when its loosing to my 300 in every other catagory it dont matter as you putt yourself.

 

[jbuck88]

So. We agree the best gun is actually two. I agree with that. I run a 6.5cm and 300wsm. Both can back up the other in a pinch, but both trend towards big and small. I'd consider a 6cm and 300wsm, which may be a better combo, but I feel more comfortable with a 6.5cm on elk if needed.

 

[91Eunozs]

So. We agree the best gun is actually two. I agree with that. I run a 6.5cm and 300wsm. Both can back up the other in a pinch, but both trend towards big and small. I'd consider a 6cm and 300wsm, which may be a better combo, but I feel more comfortable with a 6.5cm on elk if needed.

Similar here…mostly shoot .308, but for planned hunts other than hogs I take the 300WSM. $4-$5 every time I pull that trigger though, LoL.

If I know I’m gonna potentially shoot > 500 yards or so (and yes, I know 300 WSM will get me there easily), I grab my 280AI (essentially a 7mm cartridge) that started life as the receiver on my 30-06. It’s a heavy bastard though so I usually don’t take it on hunts where I’ll be hiking in.

 

[Capod28]

My first big game was taken with a 45-70 in Alaska. But a 30-06 has been my all goto for over twenty five years. Last year I bumped up to a 7mm RM to include range out to 700 yards for elk. But a recent shoulder injury has me buying a Howa Superlite in 7-08 for my new all around rifle. I think that should take elk out to 500 yards and 700 yards possible for deer. If I can shoot it well.

Been considering a 7mm-08 myself. Just wondering if it's enough for a quartering elk out to 400 yds.

 

[tacoman69]

Been considering a 7mm-08 myself. Just wondering if it's enough for a quartering elk out to 400 yds.

of course it is, just pick a good bullet

 

[Michael Trainowski]

My first big game was taken with a 45-70 in Alaska. But a 30-06 has been my all goto for over twenty five years. Last year I bumped up to a 7mm RM to include range out to 700 yards for elk. But a recent shoulder injury has me buying a Howa Superlite in 7-08 for my new all around rifle. I think that should take elk out to 500 yards and 700 yards possible for deer. If I can shoot it well.

Take a look at the 8.6 Blackout. I built one (in an AR10 platform) this summer and it’s quickly become my favorite rifle. Mine’s a 12”, so it’s SBR’ed, but the felt recoil is about that of my 10.5” .300BLK. But you can send out 300 or 342 grain .338 projectiles out to 500 yards subsonically and they drop pretty much anything you can think of. Kevin Brittingham was dropping antelope, wildebeest, zebra, etc. in Africa with his suppressed from 300-500 yards out.

 

[xsn10s]

Been considering a 7mm-08 myself. Just wondering if it's enough for a quartering elk out to 400 yds.

I haven't taken an elk with one but pharmseller has out past 500 yards. I think he's on here and is active on RO. My customers have taken elk out to 400 yards with both the 308 win and 7-08. As far as a quatering shot I believe that would be more dependent on bullet construction. Since I'm choosing a more lightly constructed 162gr ELDM to give me more range I'll be more careful to pick a behind the crease shot.

 

[xsn10s]

Take a look at the 8.6 Blackout. I built one (in an AR10 platform) this summer and it’s quickly become my favorite rifle. Mine’s a 12”, so it’s SBR’ed, but the felt recoil is about that of my 10.5” .300BLK. But you can send out 300 or 342 grain .338 projectiles out to 500 yards subsonically and they drop pretty much anything you can think of. Kevin Brittingham was dropping antelope, wildebeest, zebra, etc. in Africa with his suppressed from 300-500 yards out.

I've seen them but it wouldn't be my choice for a general-purpose hunter. Especially in sub sonic form it wouldn't be my choice for shots hunting out to 500 yards.

 

[FNG1001]

Winchester Model 70 in 30-06 with a 175 Barnes LRX. Taken plenty with it.

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

of course it is, just pick a good bullet

No it's really not. It's marginal on elk. My buddy kills a out 2 elk per year and switched from 7rem to 6.5cm last year. Took a 525 shot on a 340 class bull. Perfect shot placement. Took 4 more shots before he was down for good. He's a phenomenal hunter and a competitive shooter. Unless you are very selective about taking shots, you should be using more ass. Something like a 7prc, 300wsm,ect.

 

[Michael Trainowski]

I've seen them but it wouldn't be my choice for a general-purpose hunter. Especially in sub sonic form it wouldn't be my choice for shots hunting out to 500 yards.

You can always switch to supers. The ballistics of the 8.6 supersonic rounds are ridiculous.

 

[xsn10s]

You can always switch to supers. The ballistics of the 8.6 supersonic rounds are ridiculous.

I'd just opt for at least a 338 WM if I were going to switch to supers. I understand your fascination with the 8.6. But for an all-rounder it wouldn't be my choice. If I wanted to stick with a larger bore I'd go 300 WM or 338 WM or bigger.

 

[tacoman69]

No it's really not. It's marginal on elk. My buddy kills a out 2 elk per year and switched from 7rem to 6.5cm last year. Took a 525 shot on a 340 class bull. Perfect shot placement. Took 4 more shots before he was down for good. He's a phenomenal hunter and a competitive shooter. Unless you are very selective about taking shots, you should be using more ass. Something like a 7prc, 300wsm,ect.

you said nothing about the bullet. the bullet is what is important. not a .02 bullet diameter difference. come on

 

[diggler1833]

Energy still matters in regards to terminal performance. It isn't as critical as shot placement and bullet construction, but it still exists. Having killed at least 50 pigs with each the .223, 6.5G, 6.8, and .308 - the more energy, the sooner the animal expires in more cases than not with good shot placement.

For those that subscribe to the hydrostatic and hydraulic shock theories, energy dump is a primary contributor. That has generally only increased as bullet frontal area, velocity, and weight are also increased. Sometimes a little more diameter and weight is a good thing...but it doesn't trump bullet construction.

I can't recall off the top of my head (I'm sure it has happened, but not more than once or twice) where I've shot a hog in JUST the vitals with a good .223 round and had them drop (without a CNS shot placement). With the .308, that happens about 20% of the time.

 

[tacoman69]

Energy still matters in regards to terminal performance.

No it doesn't bc it doesn't tell you anything about what the terminal performance is going to be. You can shoot a mono bullet, a match bullet and a varmint bullet all same weight with same impact velocity out of same gun and get 3 completely wound channels based on the bullet choice. The "energy" is the same though, yet performance completely different. It's a meaningless number in itself. Bullet choice>

 

[EXSOCAL]

As far as cartridges go, the 06 is just a generally outdated cartridge design. That doesn’t mean it’s bad and can’t kill shit, but with other stuff out there with just as plentiful factory ammo available, I don’t see why anyone still uses it, other than, “it’s what my grandpa used…” It’s inefficient, requires a long action and if your going to go with a long action, my mind says you should make use of it.

When comparing apples to apples in factory ammo offerings, you only get around 100-130 fps more out of the 06 over the 308 Win. I’ll take a 308 any day over the 06 for general target and hunting work, but if I were looking for a one size fits all cartridge for NA critters, my choice would be a big 30 all day. 300 Win is great for factory ammo but once again, not the best cartridge design. The short neck sucks, the belt is a relic of the old times and most of us abandon it and load 300WM based on the traditional Head / Shoulder datum setup for our chambers.

300 PRC is as readily available in all my local shops, big and small, when compared to 06, maybe even more so in some. I’ve had some very good shooting 300 WM’a but I’ve found the 300 PRC’s shoot factory ammo better in general and are easier to tune in for reloading. Just my experience, and despite what people may say, cartridge design does contribute to potential accuracy.

Regarding that old worry about “if I fly somewhere and lose my ammo or my ammo is destroyed, I need to find it in a gun store, etc., etc., etc….” Well, that lines right up with the rest of those useless worries we have. I fly regularly with my rifle for hunts, matches and work, most airlines allow you to pack ammo in the factory boxes in your gun case. If your rifle doesn’t show up at baggage claim, then your ammo doesn’t either so time to switch to plan B and use your partners rifle or go buy a new one to use for the trip. If you wanted to be extra prepared, pack some ammo in your gun case, and pay a few buck to pack another couple boxes in another small pelican case so they are separate. Add one more layer of protection and ship a few boxes of ammo out to the lodge, hotel or range you are shooting at. If that’s your only option, send the ammo well in advance so you know it arrived safely. Also, just in the last couple of years I’ve been to some pretty small towns on hunts with populations hovering around 1k or less in always hit the local gun shop and they always have the popular players in stock.

There’s some rambling up there but hopefully that helps.

 

[st1650]

7SAW for a SA standard bolt face inside of 300 yards with 145 LRX or 162 ELDs
7SAUM for a XM mag bolt face inside of 500 yards with 175-180s
7PRC for a LA inside of 700 yards with either the 160LRX or 180 ELDs
Honorable mentions: 280AI in a LA, 7 Rem mag if you want easy to find factory ammo in a LA, 7mm-08 for factory ammo in a SA
7mm is the angel of death. All of my buddies who used to hunt with 338 went back to 7mm. Easier to shoot, decent recoil, excellent ballistic.
Buddy of mine tagged a moose at 600 yards with a 7mm-08 with 162 AMAX couple of years ago.
300WSM, 3006 and 308 also works fine.

 

[Quackaddict]

Of the cartridges you list the 7prc or 7mag would be about ideal for an all around, plenty of weight and energy for elk, good enough for a stray moose, and good ballistics for long range should you choose to do so. I’d personally pick a 7prc because of the barrel twist in factory rifles favoring heavy bullets, the 7prc is also easier to handload than the 7mag.

I think you could do “everything” with anything 6.5prc/270 and up, but I don’t know why you’d risk a possible lifetime opportunity on a moose because you didn’t bring enough gun.

 

[EXSOCAL]

No it doesn't bc it doesn't tell you anything about what the terminal performance is going to be. You can shoot a mono bullet, a match bullet and a varmint bullet all same weight with same impact velocity out of same gun and get 3 completely wound channels based on the bullet choice. The "energy" is the same though, yet performance completely different. It's a meaningless number in itself. Bullet choice>

You can have three differently constructed bullets like you said , let’s say a varmint bullet, a FMJ and a bonded hunting bullet, all the same weight going the same speed. Let’s also say for simplicities sake they impact at the same velocity which therefor makes impact energy the same, right? Not completely, an FMJ, as we all know, will typically zip right through an animal, poking a pencil hole with very minimal terminal effect and very little of the impact energy shed into the target. On the flip side, the varmint bullet will potentially explode within the first few inches on contact with tissue, depositing all of its energy in the critter. The bonded bullet is the happy medium, it offers (hopefully) controlled expansion and bullet retention to deposit a significant amount of energy into the animal, ideal terminals effect, and potentially another hole with a pass through.

In a nutshell, impact energy only matters when factored into bullet construction and as mentioned above. It’s a part of terminal ballistics, along with impact velocity to facilitate the deformation of the bullet. The new trend to shoot these stupid small cartridges and bullets at big critters, citing “impact velocity is all that matters” is a joke. Energy, bullet weight, bullet diameter, sectional density and tissue density where the shot lands are also crucial factors in how things are killed efficiently.

 

[Baron23]

I only hunt eastern whitetails so I'm quite happy with .308 for that.

If I was going to hunt bigger game/longer ranges I'd probably do with 7 PRC....or maybe 300 PRC.

But....if I really wanted DRT, then this should do it...just a bit hard on the meat, is all! haha

 

[tacoman69]

In a nutshell, impact energy only matters when factored into bullet construction and as mentioned above. It’s a part of terminal ballistics, along with impact velocity to facilitate the deformation of the bullet. The new trend to shoot these stupid small cartridges and bullets at big critters, citing “impact velocity is all that matters” is a joke. Energy, bullet weight, bullet diameter, sectional density and tissue density where the shot lands are also crucial factors in how things are killed efficiently.

energy still doesn't really matter bc it still doesn't really tell you anything about the terminal performance. a wound channel coming from a mono shot out of a magnum that pencils through bc it stays together and retains weight will be more underwhelming compared to a 115 dtac 108 eldm or 77 tmk above 1800 fps that goes through a foot they sheds it cup and core and continues like a coke can through the animal. They copper mono had substantially more "energy" than the 224/243 bullets, but wound channels completely different bc of bullet construction. as guys realize that energy doesn't matter+ plus modern bullet construction you see why 224, and 243 bullets for hunting are becoming very popular as the lesser recoiling increases hit rates and kills animals faster. you can keep your head in the sand but there's hundreds of pages of evidence out on the internet forum pages of big game kills with these bullets