Top 5 big game hunting cartridges survey

[Warbeast]

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?

I only chose one: 375

That would do the trick from small to big.

 

[Cooposo]

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

Title of thread is:

Top 5 big game hunting cartridges survey​

OP’s introductory post:

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?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

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

Thread title is big game cartridges. Poll title is hunting cartridges. Your assessment "clear as mud" is accurate.

 

[Raven]

.458 Lott for the largest animals.
.375 H&H for animals is slightly less.
.300 WM if you need to shoot further than the first two calibers can.

I remember Craig Boddington saying that the calibers are suitable for everything .30-06 and .375 H&H. And if there was only one choice, he would have taken it .375 H&H.

 

[Andreas -458]

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.

Haha

 

[MS 9x56]

.458 Lott for the largest animals.
.375 H&H for animals is slightly less.
.300 WM if you need to shoot further than the first two calibers can.

I remember Craig Boddington saying that the calibers are suitable for everything .30-06 and .375 H&H. And if there was only one choice, he would have taken it .375 H&H.

Craig never met a magnum he didn’t like.

 

[Rare Breed]

The only thing I would say given I am a Market Researcher by profession is you are not providing a true picture at all given you have provided only your choices to be considered. Not criticism just you will be getting a very warped result upon which very invalid insights would be gained. Again given my profession just could not help myself

 

[Sarg]

I was working on my Moose cape & looked up & saw a Martin on my Moose antlers, snatch up the 300Win & blow him off the antlers, when I walked over he still came straight for me, this after a 200gr in the chest.

But skin also wasn’t “Commercial viable” !

 

[jruby]

Not going to make it to Africa so here in the states my needs are a little different.
22 lr
12 guage shot gun
7mm Mauser
300 H&H
358 Norma / 375H&H
These would cover all my needs but whats the fun in that. My three safes prove flavor is the spice of life.

 

[Olivier]

Thanks to the Community for your answers and also all your remarks about the limit of that survey!

 

[spike.t]

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

Reading the header then this....am slightly confused.....

 

[375Ruger416]

To my surprise, I only picked three. 30/06, 375 H&H, 416 Rem mag/rigby. I also would go with a couple not on your list, a 6/6.5 CM for varmints/deer/pronghorn and very light recoil.

I think my 5 would be 22 lr, 6 CM, 6.5 PRC, 300 PRC, 375 H&H or 416. I haven’t fired a 416 or 458 yet to determine if I can shoot well with the additional recoil. If I can, I’d probably replace the 375 (gasp) with a 416 which is almost as versatile and has more frontal diameter, momentum, energy, and penetration with similar trajectory and seems to be an ideal buffalo gun. I do consider the 416 to be quite complementary to the 375 as is a 458.

Interestingly (to me at least), I don’t own a 30/06 and do have a 300 PRC having owned and sold both a 308 and 30/06. However, with the benefit of hindsight and experience I would argue the ideal TWO cartridge hunting battery is a 30/06 and 375 H&H. I have enjoyed buying, trying and selling a number of cartridges and really do like the modern trend of heavy for caliber, fast twist, and modest velocity of 2500-3000 fps.

Despite regularly shooting out to long distance, 99% of hunting is and should be done inside 350-400 yds and often within point blank range. For use in this scenario, the 30/06 and 375H&H are tremendous options.