Top 5 big game hunting cartridges survey

[Olivier]

If you could choose 5 and only 5 universal cartridges for hunting big game around the world, which ones would you choose from this list of ten?

 

[BryceM]

Since the majority of animals hunted in the world are roughly deer-sized (including sheep, goats, etc.) there should be at least something in the 6-6.5mm range. Maybe 1 in 200 hunters would ever have the opportunity to need something in the .416 range.

So, from your list, I’ll go with .270 Win, 308 WM, 30-06, 300 WM, and .375 H&H.

 

[MS 9x56]

How did you not list the ubiquitous 22 lr? Seriously? Too light on the low end too heavey on the upper end.

 

[Russ16]

If I'm choosing two this is a good list.

For 5 I need some more smaller caliber flat shooting options for light game, and probably a choice of a double rifle suitable cartridge at the top end.

 

[Red Leg]

Too much overlap for five. Of these I would opt for the .270, .300 Win Mag, and .375. Can't think of anything I couldn't handle other than small game.

 

[BeeMaa]

Need to add a fast .25 like 25-06 or 257WBY.

300WM, 375H&H and 458LOTT would have everything else covered.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

30-06

End of discussion.

 

[Don458]

I only choose 3. - 06, 375 H&H , 458

 

[pilar]

Too much overlap for five. Of these I would opt for the .270, .300 Win Mag, and .375. Can't think of anything I couldn't handle other than small game.

Yes 100% lots of overlap
Hard to say .270 , 30-06/300wm , 375 can’t get it done globally,

 

[mark-hunter]

The basic three cartridges for me would be 22lr, 375 H&H, and 12GA (12 GA, 2-3/4)
If I had the luxury of 2 additional, then I would take: 416 Rigby, and 7x64.
Without a shotgun and 22, you are really handicapped to hunt the world.

 

[Olivier]

Dear all,

I know there is a lot of overlap in my selection, because the purpose of this survey is to select the most versatile cartridges for big game hunting in the world, not a battery of rifles... For example, I selected the .308W, the 30-06, and the 300WM from the list which are very near in performance. The goal of this survey is not to select cartridges that complement each others. I think this clarification was necessary, and I apologize if it wasn't clear in the initial question.

 

[grand veneur]

I tried to answer, but could not. Some authors in various magazine have also the same problem.There are many articles about the top 5 big game cartridges, but each one quoted very different cartridges.

I have tried for over 50 years to put together an ideal rifle and cartridge battery, but I was never successful. The game species and the terrain are so diverse worldwide that you ultimately have to choose a cartridge based on your personal experience and also your own preferences. I still have 9 bolt-action rifles and 2 double rifles, as well as a double gun in my gun-safe, but that does not correspond to everything I have owned before and sold because I meant that it did not meet my needs.

 

[grand veneur]

From the list above, I only own at time one rifle caliber 7mm Rem Mag, but I have shot game with the cartridges 270 Win, 30-06, 9,3x74R, and 375 H&H Magnum. I cannot report anything negative as long as I used all this cartridges for what they were intended for, but this also applies to other cartridges with which I have shot the same game species. For these reasons, it is almost impossible to decide on the Top 5 big game cartridges.

 

[grand veneur]

For simple reasons, I prefer to stick to just 3 cartridges for hunting worldwide, although that is not so easy either. My current 3 rifles battery, which I plan to use in the next few years, are my rifles caliber 300 H&H Magnum, 9,3x64 and 500 Schüler.

With the 500 Schüler, you can take down some very heavy game without problems, also to a certain extent with the cartridge 9,3x64 the same game and in all cases all big game. The cartridge 300 H&H Magnum allows you to shoot light to medium big game, even at longer distances. However, I am still considering whether I should better use the cartridge 340 Weatherby Magnum instead, than based on my personal experience it is much powerful for shooting heavier big game at longer range. Another problem to decide on a Top cartridge.

 

[MS 9x56]

30-06

End of discussion.

Try shooting squirrels with that.

Dear all,

I know there is a lot of overlap in my selection, because the purpose of this survey is to select the most versatile cartridges for big game hunting in the world, not a battery of rifles... For example, I selected the .308W, the 30-06, and the 300WM from the list which are very near in performance. The goal of this survey is not to select cartridges that complement each others. I think this clarification was necessary, and I apologize if it wasn't clear in the initial question.

That is clear as mud.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Try shooting squirrels with that [i.e. 30-06].

Up here squirrels are not considered "big game." Where are you from? Oh, I see ... New York ... that explains it. . I understand carp are also considered trophy gamefish down there.

 

[Uncontrolled_round_feed]

Missing the 243 for @Bob Nelson 35Whelen

 

[grand veneur]

Try shooting squirrels with that.

That is clear as mud.

Squirrel is not a big game, but you can shoot very smaller game species with larger cartridges. It is all a matter of technique. So the theory, according to the experts.

In practice, Russian trappers in Siberia shot the Sable( Martes Zibellina ) with the cartridge 7,62x54R and try to kill them with grazing shots to the head. The shooting distances are very short, but I don't know if that always works well. I once tried it in the East of Russia with the cartridge 9,3x64 and tore the head of the marten off.That was the only sable fur I was given in my life, as it was no longer commercially usable.

 

[Newboomer]

Missing the 243 for @Bob Nelson 35Whelen

Need just 2. 30-06 for everything up to eland. 375H&H for dg: cape buffalo, elephant, rhino, hippo and brown bear.

 

[MS 9x56]

Up here squirrels are not considered "big game." Where are you from? Oh, I see ... New York ... that explains it. . I understand carp are also considered trophy gamefish down there.

I believe the heading was 5 best cartridges for hunting. No mention of big game.