Anything but a .308

[odonata]

If someone wanted one good versatile hunting rifle as opposed to multiples what chambering or cartridge would you suggest.

...Plains game in Africa... or Elk... Generally any huntable species excluding varmints and dangerous game

If African plains game & elk are on the menu, then in addition to some of the excellent suggestions mentioned so far, I would include the 9.3x62 as a possible chambering to consider.

Since no one had nominated it yet, I felt like it deserved a vote. I'm really fond of my 9.3x74r. As a left-handed shooter, it is one of the cartridges I can acquire so I would probably get a European rifle (e.g. Sako 90 Hunter, Steyr SM12, Anschutz 1782, etc) with fixed sights. But that's just my personal bias / preference.

 

[analog_peninsula]

If you want style rather than practicality, then a .300 H&H is your path forward.

 

[JPbowhunter]

Classic cartridges for me would be either 7x57 or 303B. Love them both.

 

[30-06Ken]

I dont see .243

Haha - your gonna get a lot of guys in this forum who think the .243 isn't fit to shoot barnyard rats and that the bullets just bounce off anything bigger than a coyote.

I know a lot of people shoot caribou, black bear and even elk with a .243 but for me its strictly a Whitetail/Mule deer, Pronghorn antelope and smaller. Mild recoil, acccurate, and with good bullets a very deadly cartridge. On Nyala, Bushbuck, Impala, Baboon, Springbok etc. it would be fantastic.

 

[CBH Australia]

@odonata. Bruce Moulds was telling me about the 9.3x64, that was a favourite of his.

@30-06Ken The .243 has its place but I would have thought you would be on .30-06.

The .30-06 is certainly getting support in this thread and rightly so. Hand loading for .30-06 in a modern action gives a lot of great options.

 

[BryceM]

If I had to make do with a single rifle for PG and North America, the .300 Win always gets my vote. The .300 Wby is pretty good too. I’d want a match barrel, reasonably heavy 24” barrel, threaded for a suppressor, preferably a TB Ultra 5. A Mauser style action would be my preference, but there are a few I’d be happy with. A 3 position safety and quality trigger would be great. Up top, I’d probably have a Nightforce scope, maybe a Swaro. A VX-5 or VX-6 Leupold could work too.

The available range of bullets in .308 is as broad and deep as it gets. With a suppressor, anyone can shoot it well - certainly as well as a regular .308 Win or .30-06.

This is adequate for brown bear, eland, and lion. I might rather have a .338 for the last 3, but the .300 will do fine.

For hippo, buffalo, and elephant, pair it with a .404 Jeff or .416 and you’re all set.

 

[30-06Ken]

@odonata. Bruce Moulds was telling me about the 9.3x64, that was a favourite of his.

@30-06Ken The .243 has its place but I would have thought you would be on .30-06.

The .30-06 is certainly getting support in this thread and rightly so. Hand loading for .30-06 in a modern action gives a lot of great options.

Don't mis understand - LOL. The 30-06 IS the do all cartridge. With Sta Ball 6.5 I can get my Steyr 30-06 up to factory Win Mag loads without pressure signs. I would have no problem using it on anything in North America including coastal Brown Bear. Buffalo, would be a push but with a 200+ grain solid or A Frames I think it could be done. Factory ammo available on every continent in plentiful supply in case the ammo you brought "disappears".

I enjoy shooting a wide variety of cartridges and living in the state of Pennsylvania I have the opportunity to shoot 30-40 deer a year on what some would call a depredation tag. .223, 300 BLK to 35 Whelen. I still think for the average hunter a .243 is a great option for deer size game.

 

[Flbt]

Haha - your gonna get a lot of guys in this forum who think the .243 isn't fit to shoot barnyard rats and that the bullets just bounce off anything bigger than a coyote.

I know a lot of people shoot caribou, black bear and even elk with a .243 but for me its strictly a Whitetail/Mule deer, Pronghorn antelope and smaller. Mild recoil, acccurate, and with good bullets a very deadly cartridge. On Nyala, Bushbuck, Impala, Baboon, Springbok etc. it would be fantastic.

My wife and I have had good luck with the better 6mm the 6mm Remington

 

[odonata]

@odonata. Bruce Moulds was telling me about the 9.3x64, that was a favourite of his.

I had done some limited research on the 9.3x64 out of curiosity but it seemed that it was approaching the upper size limit for a bullet that would feed well in a standard action. There were caveats mentioned that certain rifles needed gunsmith work done in order for it to feed properly and that other rifles had trouble with loads that were full length in size.

Obviously there are people who love the 9.3x64 and it works well in their particular setup. But some of the warnings gave me pause when I had 9.3x62 models readily available as an easier acquisition. Anytime a bullet goes over 3.34" / 84.84mm, I start to wonder if I'll encounter any unexpected surprises modifying a donor rifle to accommodate its size since my left-handed choices are limited. Overall length is one reason I haven't seriously considered the 8x68mm S either.

 

[Rafiki]

.243 win

 

[CBH Australia]

.243 win

Where is Bob,

 

[Jack Stevens]

.350 Remington Magnum.

So Old School you’ll get a lot of “I never heard of its,” but it’ll put down any critter the OP listed and will do it in a handy, light, quick-pointing 20” Model 7-size carbine.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

If someone wanted one good versatile hunting rifle as opposed to multiples what chambering or cartridge would you suggest.

Where I’m saying hunting rifle I’m thinking hunting deer and pigs in Australia, Plains game in Africa, Deer in the UK or Elk or whitetail in the US or something in Europe. Generally any huntable species excluding varmints and dangerous game or rifles configured to those purposes.

The context is that the .308 common so if you wanted a nice scoped rifle in some other cartridge that is better or has a bit more prestige, history or classic status what would you choose?

@CBH Australia
Chris that's a very easy answer.
A nice 25-06 for 99% of game in Australia and most pg
Or
The 280 REM or the AI version. Very versatile round that when loaded properly ain't far behind the 7mm REM mag.
Y'all don't need a fire breathing magnun.
Bob

 

[Hedge774]

If I were to have a .308 Winchester, which I do, I would choose a 9.3x62. I would feel feel very well outfitted for game up to Cape Buffalo if I were to do my part. I've seen a .308 Win put a whammy on a 550 lb kudu. I'm ok with that. If not, the 9.3x62. (FYI, Buff are the largest game I plan to hunt....for now?)

 

[jruby]

I would hunt elk with a 270 winchester no questions asked but it is the lightest I would go. A 30-06 has more umph but it is on the high side for deer. My choice. Would be a 280 remington or a 7x57. Right in the middle and won't have more recoil than needed. Dont know anything about Africa except what I have read here.

 

[Tintin]

The context is that the .308 common so if you wanted a nice scoped rifle in some other cartridge that is better or has a bit more prestige, history or classic status what would you choose?

Hey Chris - for history and classic status, what about a .318 Wesltey Richards.

Swans in Brisbane will do a barrel for you, Bertram cases and projectiles from Bertram or Woodleigh.

 

[Art Lambart II]

A do-it-all round for everything except varmints and DG. What you need is a quality mid-bore cartridge that you can use on Duiker through Eland and everything in between. What you need, my friend, is a 35 Whelen or a 9.3x62. Spend more time hunting and less time tracking; use a mid-bore, and you'll never regret it.

 

[tarbe]

I dont see .243

.243 use starts at Eland.

 

[Wyit76]

I'll be honest I am in the same camp as you. I understand the usability of the 308 but it is a long ways from the top of the list in my favorite cartridges.

As much as I love my odd cartridges, super fast rounds, or super modern high BC bullets, the one cartridge I keep coming back to is the 30-06. It does everything a 308 will do except better, and it will do nearly everything a 300wm will do but cheaper, with less recoil, and more capacity. There is a reason every new cartridge is compared to a 30-06 in some aspect.

Pound for pound a 7mm will run with nearly all the 30 caliber cartridges. 7mm rem mag, 280 AI, and 7mm PRC are all excellent examples and one of the 3 will appeal to to any taste. All 3 options will extends the maximum range over a 308 or 30-06.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

If someone wanted one good versatile hunting rifle as opposed to multiples what chambering or cartridge would you suggest.

Where I’m saying hunting rifle I’m thinking hunting deer and pigs in Australia, Plains game in Africa, Deer in the UK or Elk or whitetail in the US or something in Europe. Generally any huntable species excluding varmints and dangerous game or rifles configured to those purposes.

The context is that the .308 common so if you wanted a nice scoped rifle in some other cartridge that is better or has a bit more prestige, history or classic status what would you choose?

I think I'd go with the .300 Win Mag. Come to think of it, I did! I've taken everything from an impala ewe to big waterbuck bull, black bear and bull.moose as well as a.lot of in-between stuff with mine. I still.own a .30-06 and a 7mm Rem Mag., but the one I usually pull out is the .300 wm, especially if a range of animal sizes is on.the agenda.