what do you think the best all-around caliber is

[Guest gino]

what do you guys think the best caliber is for white tail in az?

[Arizona Griz]

I prefer a .270 and that's what I have been using for 30 years. But lately I have been thinking about a Remington 7MM Ultra Mag.

Arizona Griz.

Edited January 1, 1970 by Arizona Griz

[More D]

My vote goes to the the 30-06! It can be loaded any where from 110gr all the way up to 220gr. My favorite load is the 125gr or 150gr in Nosler balistic tip or Hornady SST for whitetail. When I went to buy my rifle there was the 30-06 and 7mm mag both in Winchester. My uncle all ways recomended the 30-06. I really liked the 7mm mag, but at $18-$22 box of shooters is just to much. I have never regeted getting the 30-06. At Wal-Mart a box of shooters is only $10.97, can't beat that. Less money to practice means more practice and I have never felt "under gunned". Even though it has not happened yet it is only a matter of time that my cousin and his 7mm mag w/ 4 shots and my 5 shots from my 30-06 will make all the differance in the world.

I must also admit that that 300 WSM is very tempting, but for same reason of cost of ammo and besides, I really don't need one any way.

[coueshunter]

I like the .257 wby mag. I wont say its the best caliber but I like the speed and punch with a ballistic tip................Allen..........

[Red Rabbit]

270 Weatherby, but I don't have one.

 

Doug/Red Rabbit

[TAM]

I shoot a 270 Weatherby Mag with 130 grain Hornady Interlocks at just over 3500 feet per second at the muzzle! It also shoots groups that can be coverced with a quarter at 100 yards. In my opinion it's the ultimate coues deer rifle. Sure you can shoot larger game animals with it but when your game is coues deer I personally don't know of a better choice. The recoil is not too bad and it's as flat shootin as they come. I know some guys shoot the 300 ultra, 30-378, and the Warbird, but in my opinion each of those calibers is just too much gun for the average hunter to handle, not to mention the weight of the rifle. Most people can't take the recoil and add muzzle breaks but then you have to take ear protection in the field when your hunting and I don't like having to do that. There is no need for a break on a 270 wby mag and the noise is simmilar to a 7mm. It also helps if you reload your own ammo, it will cut the price of shooting in half or more.

[bullwidgeon]

.300 Weatherby magnum pushing 168 grain Matchkings at 3450 FPS. That being said I think it is more about the shooter and a rifles capabilities than the caliber and the load. I know guys that hunt them with everything from .243 Winchesters to .30-.378's and Warbirds. You have to find what shoots best out of your particular gun and get as comfortable as you can with it. My gun will not shoot 180 grain Reminton core-lokts at all. I have never had less than a 4 inch group with them at 100 yards but the gun will shoot the 168gr Matchkings into a group you can cover up with a quarter at 100 yards all day long and alot of the bullets go into the same hole or at least touch each other. I just got a few boxes of some new loads that are 150 grain Swift Sciroccos at 3500+ fps. If these shoot good out of my rifle I plan on hunting with them this year.

I got the gun because a few of my buddies have them and I know 3 different guys that extensively handload for the .300 wby that will load me stuff up if I take them hunting birds or help them glass and stuff on their hunts. One day I plan on sitting down with them and learning all the reloading tricks and maybe fooling around with my own loads, until then what they load for me and the $26 a box Wal-Mart Remington Core Lokt stuff I buy to get brass shoots fine.

 

Bret M.

[Prohunt]

If the question were just for big game I would have said my new Lazzeroni .308 Warbird, but it's a little big for varmits. If I could own one rifle in the state of AZ. to hunt with it would probably be in the 7mm Mag caliber(still a little big for varmits but I have killed lots of coyotes with it.)My Custom Ruger 7mm Mag doesn't hardly kick but those 165 grain Sierra Boattails send the Coyotes flipping!

Travis

[Wyorawhide]

All around rifle in my opinion would be the 7mm Rem Mag. It has superior bullistics to the .270 and .300 Win Mag. The comparison was made with respect to the caliber and weight of the bullets. (130=.270, 150=7mm and 180=.300) Check the ballistics yourself. I used factory stated ballistic coefficient and factory muzzle vel.

http://www.eskimo.com/~jbm/ballistics/calc...lculations.html

If money were no object, I would get a Weatherby Mark V Acumark chambered in 30-378 WBY Mag.

Weighing in a 8.75 lbs it is not too much to pack around. With the included muzzle brake the recoil is comparable to a .270. Hearing protection will be required on the range. (should be worn anytime you are on the range.) If you make a good shot, you should only need one shot in the field. I personally wouldn't have any ear plugs in for the one or two shots. There is no such thing a too much knock down. You owe it to whatever you shoot to make a fast clean kill. As with any rifle ever shot, shot placement is much mor critical than anything else. This rifle out peforms them all. Check out the ballistics http://www.weatherby.com/rifles/ball_30-378.shtml

[Jason]

I prefer the 300 Win. With 180 grain bullet, you won't have to worry about wind as much and the HE Federal Trophy Bonded Bearclaw bullets move just as fast as a 300 Weatherby. Jason

[Guest Firstcoues80]

i also like the 30-06 shooting 125 gran ballistic tips BUT!. the 7mm ultra mag can not be beat based on ballastics and knock down power, it is the perfect gun fr arizona because of the different sizes u can shoot. dad has one and we love it!

casey

[Prohunt]

Whyorawhide,

Have you checked out the ballistics on the Lazzeroni .308 Warbird?It was the first production hunting rifle to break the 4000 fps barrier.It can shoot a 130 grain Barnes X-bullet at well over 4000 fps with about 90 percent weight retention.You can check out the ballistics at www.lazzeroni.com

Travis

[Wyorawhide]

I am impressed with the ballistics of the warbird. The price scares the heck out of me. They make them here in Tucson.

[Prohunt]

Wyorawhide,

I agree the price is a bit "out there" for the regular hunter.The great thing is Lazz comissioned Sako to build them.I bought my Sako for $799 at Bear Mountain in Mesa.The Sako's go from about $800 to $1300.It is still a little pricey but it is an awesome rifle.The only complaint I have is the bullets are still expensive.

Travis

[Wyorawhide]

Prount,

Have you ever given the consideration to reloading your own ammo? Drops the price way down and the accuracy goes way up.

Dean