Your 3 favorite hunting cartridges of all time

[nztimb]

I have not answered so far because in the main the answer will depend on where you do your hunting, but having said that, the question posed was our favourite cartridges and not whether we hunted with them although for many those parameters will overlap.
If I was to list 3 that I like a great deal it would be the 22-250 the 7x57 and the 404 Jeffery having had all three and an abiding liking for them as being able to cover about all a hunters needs.
The 3 that cover that spectrum for me at the moment (baring the need for DG) are the 20 VarTarg, the 6.5 Grendel Max or the 6.5x57 and the 400 Lee Speed.

 

[Dr Ray]

22/250 with 55 grain Bullets
270 W with 130 grain Bullets
338 Winchester magnum with 225 grain Bullets

 

[Dwight Beagle]

6.5x55
.300 H&H
.404 Jeffery

The OP didn’t say you have to own them. Of the three I only have a 6.5x55.

 

[cmk]

We seem to think alike @DwightBeagle, with only a minor difference.

6.5x55 (my first rifle - still have it)
.30-06 (going on my second one)
.404 Jeffery (most recent rifle - had it for a few months only)

There is a bit of overlap between the 6.5 and the 30, so it might be wise to have something smaller than the 6.5 - perhaps a 223 or so.

All of them are left hand Sako AV's

 

[Dwight Beagle]

I am glad I’m not left handed.

 

[Hearties]

243 Win
30-06 Spr
375 H&H

And if I had another chance to be a bit more interesting:
6.5x55
7x64
9.3x62

 

[cmk]

And if including cartridges i don't own...

Probably

Small/medium game:
- 7x57 (also the 7x57R)
or
- 257 Roberts


Medium/big game:
- 333 Jeffery
or
- 318 Westley Richards
or
- 338-06

Even bigger game:
- 8x68S
or
- 450-400
or
- 416 Rigby

 

[505Bruce]

Can’t believe I’m the only one:
358 Norma Mag, Norma Jean

416 Rigby, Elenor Rigby
505 Bruce, wildcat from 500 Jeffery case, at 2440 fps
In a 30-06 length receiver/magazine

 

[Ayaan Jakhura]

This is a tough question i think it would be about six calibers.

.22lr-birds and small game
.308 Winchester-plains game
.375 H&H-dangerous game
.416 rigby-dangerous game
.458 Lott-stopping gun
.470 nitro- stopping gun

 

[IvW]

7x57
9.3x74R/12ga combo
375 H&H

If DG comes in then I will substitute the 7x57 for my 500 Jeff

 

[bilmcc]

.257 Roberts
.270 Winchester
.358 Winchester
But only because I am limited to three. Really depends on what I am hunting. If I am black bear hunting, I usually take a 45-70 to back up my .358. If I have the. 270 in hand, I have the 6.5 creedmoor or 7mm Rem Mag as near as possible for backup. Stuff happens. Soon, I will probably simplify to just the No. 1 7mm RM, if I am not carrying a longbow.

 

[Longwalker]

A fun discussion and difficult decision so I’m going to answer with a couple of qualifiers: rim fires and shotguns are essential but not part of my list!
And the answer depends on whether hunting at home in Canada or Africa...
Canada:
.308 win.
.222 Rem
.35 Whelen,
the three I have used the most and shot the most game with.
For Africa I’d pick:
7x64
9.3x62
450-400 3”
I have only used the 7x64 much, the others are favourites because of their potential and reputation

 

[Eric Anderson]

12 gauge
30 by god 6
.375 Ruger.

When I go hunting, it is always with one of these 3, unless local laws or seasons say otherwise.

 

[TOBY458]

7x57
30/06
375 H&H

 

[HWL]

For everything that walks & flys on this planet....

 

[gunworks]

.204 Ruger
7mm-08
.375 H&H

 

[fsrmg1]

If I had to do it all with just 3 of my favourites, they would be:
22 K-Hornet
7x64
9.3x64

My alternate 3 would be:
22 LR
6.5x54
9.3x66 Sako

 

[Pierre DUFFORT]

7x64
8x68 S
9.3x62

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

My choice:
275Rigby
9,3 x 62
404Jeffery

 

[Red Leg]

Hmmmm - favorites. Different question than three essential.

.270 - finest “deer” caliber ever created.
.275/7x57 - second finest “deer” cartridge ever made with a bit more versatility on the heavy end for bear and bigger antelope.
.375 H&H - simply the finest all purpose round ever created. As I have noted elsewhere, mine has taken everything from Suni to buffalo - from 10 meters to nearly 300.