Rifles

[catman]

Ok guys, let's see how heated an aguement we can get going here.

What is the best all around rifle for North American hunting and why?

Personally, I have and use a 7.65 mm Argintine Mauser. Great knock down power and flat shooting. Ammo is pretty spending but worth it. Never put it on a chrono, but would guess it does pretty good.

Trav

[DMZ-LT]

30-06 ought to take care of most critters

[ArtySgt]

Model M-39 Finnish in 7.62 X 54r will put down anything in the U.S. but your two choice's will also do nicely. I passed on a 7.65 Argintine Mauser, bore was really rough and the ammo is expensive.

[colmurph]

I've got an old Sharps in .50-70 that will put down anything in North America including a Grizzly or a Bison. I'd not want to hit a Grizzley with a 7.95 Argentine Mauser......might just make him mad.

[Desdichado]

Best how? Most accurate? Most stopping power? Easiest to carry? Cost? Open country use, or dense woods?

Too many variables.

[catman]

I guess, to me having started this thread, best would mean best all around. All variables combined.

Trav

[DMZ-LT]

Once again 30-06

[usmcsgt65]

ought 6 - first, Remmington 700 - second

[AK_Stick]

338, yea the 06 will do a good job, but its a little lacking for buff and bears, esp a pissed bear. I think the 338 is just right for big game, abeit a bit much for deer

[82Rigger]

...there are a couple of North American game animals for which something with a bit more ooomph than an '06 might be desirable.

But...the question was best ALL AROUND. Do those few animals fall into that category?

A pissed grizzly needs a shoulder hit to destroy his locomotion.
If you don't hit him there then it don't matter WHAT you're shooting, he'll be coming on.

[AK_Stick]

You ever been to AK rigger? Shoulders might slow him down, but they won't stop him. Put a round into the boiler room if your good get the shoulders AND the boilers, and then go for a spine, or brain hit

[sn-e3]

.300 Winchester Magnum I would'nt be afraid to hunt any critter on this continent except maybe a pissed off psyco vet. I have 30-30's a .308. 30-06 7.62 and a .300 win BAR and I would put the browning up against anything out there.

[Keith_Hixson]

More grizzlies and brown bears were killed with the 30-30 according to an article I read several years ago. Prior to 1950 the 30-30 lever action was everywhere and used the most, even out west and in B.C. Canada and Alaska. The writer estimated that the 30-30 had by far and away killed more moose, grizzley, and brown bear than any other cartridge.

Now having said that, I wouldn't go hunting for either moose or brown bear with a 30-30. Little small for me.

LT John, I like my 30-06 Springfield that I've had since I was 20.

My wife's cousin swore by the .270 Win. Until he went to Canada for Moose. Almost got killed when the little bullet didn't quite penetrate the skull. He uses a 300 Win Mag for moose now.

In the lower 48 most animals will succumb to the 30-06, I have a good friend who swears by the 308 Win says its the best. A little more accurate than the 30-06. All a matter of taste! But the 30-06 has killed an awful lot of moose, grizzley, and brown bear also.

LT I think you are absolutely right on.

Keith

[AK_Stick]

oh no doubt, the 06, and 30-30 have killed tons of animals, but its also gotten lots of hunters killed/mauled when it failed.

The 223 has killed more bears in AK than you can shake a stick at, that said do you want to take one after bear? the 300 wm is about the smallest I'd take after bear, perhaps somthing along the lines of a 45/70 is more the perfect round? long range accuracy, bit hole on bears, and not so fast it destroys large amounts of meat on deer and such

[PHO127]

Will do it all in North America. But also the 30-06. Short of hunting Moose and Griz or Brown bear My hunting buddy is a Browning lever action in .308.

[Tamaroa]

An Old repro Buffalo gun I have, percussion cap black powder made by Navy Arms 58 calibre. Will knock down a bear. Trouble is you better hit it the first time, not much time to reload as he comes after you :-)

Bill

[Keith_Hixson]

I don't think I would hunt with a 30-06 is the Alaskan Brown and its white cousin the polar bear. Anything else a 30-06 will do just fine. The .308 would do just fine with anything except the those two big bears.

I have a friend who says the best all around cartridge is the 338 Winchester Mag. Never shot or use one. But he knows what he's talking about.


Keith

[AK_Stick]

best for anywhere in the world, 375 H&H, for NA, I think the 338 is a shoe in

[brass balls]

.308.....belly shot.....or lower

[firemedic]

Sorry guys, but I have to go with the ol' Daisy Red Rider!

[DMZ-LT]

Gonna have to pry my cold dead fingers off my Red Rider. Thanks for the smile Firemedic , needed that today.

[PHO127]

In my Gun Safe, Don't mess with my Red Rider!!

[PHO127]

Just my opinion, but anyone who would purposely gut shoot an animal is a low life SOB!

[Doc.2/47]

I agree.

[colmurph]

I agree PHO, always go for a head shot. Are you hunting for meat or are you hunting to watch a wounded animal suffer?

[39mto39g]

A Marlin 444 for deer and smaller, 375 H&H for anything bigger than a deer, I say again -anything.
But the 30-06 is the most versital, with bullits anywhere from 55 grain to 220 grain fitted to the case it is the most versital.


Ron

[locksly]

The Argentine Mauser is in 7.65 not 7.95 what ever The 7.65 is a good deer rifle and is a 31 caliber like the 303 British THEY ARE BOTH CLOSE TO THE 308 WINCHESTER OR 7.62 NATO AND WOULD KNOCK A BEARS LIGHTS OUT. The 7.62x54 Russian is also a 30 caliber so it will do the same thing as the 7.65 Argentine or 7.62 NATO all these rifles are capable of killing anything in North or South America. If you reload you can load most lead cast 30 caliber bullets into any of these rifles and they will work just fine as long as you dont resize the bullets in a lubbersizer.The 7.92 Mauser or 8 MM Mauser will also kill as effectively as these other medium bore rounds. Most of the rifles and cartridges we have in this country are fine for over here as all they do about the same thing.Only when you get into the 40 caliber cartridges are we getting into the type of round needed in Africa and AAAAsia for the big five . It is fun to shoot the 338 MAGNUM,the 375 Magnum and the 35 Whelen but they are not necessary for our hunting heck Jack O'Connor used a 270 Winchester for most of his hunting.

[Robert J Ryan]

to me without a doubt the M14. Might have packed a wallop but was good rifel.