Your 3 favorite hunting cartridges of all time

[Mark H. Young]

I like a lot of calibers and have hunted with quite few but my 3 favorites are pretty plain vanillla.

30-06
375 H&H or WBY
458 Win Mag

 

[dharding]

My prefered 3-gun collection...

25-06 Rem
30-06 Spring
375 Ruger (I prefer the shorter action to H&H)

 

[Red Leg]

If I were limited to just three it would be .22lr, 30-06, and .375. On the other hand, my three favorites are the .270, .338, and .375.

 

[HDdon]

22-250 Rem
300 Win mag
416 Rem mag

 

[RayAtkinson]

That changes almost daily..

Today I would pick the flwg:
22 L.R.
30-06
375 H&H

3 only would stress me out because what about my 9.3x62, 416 Rem, 404 Jefferys, 222 Rem. and don't forget my 25-35 and 30-30

It can't be done..

 

[michaelhh375]

Hi Ed,

As always, I have to recommend : HH 375, HH 375 and finally HH375.

Kind regards
Michael

 

[Pancho]

I have to vote based upon the rifles I use/shoot the most; 22lr, 300 WM, & 375 H&H. But my favorite is my 264 WM, fondly named "betty", after my mother, who always kept me fed.

 

[Diamondhitch]

.22 rimfire - my Ruger 77/22 target model weighs the same and has the feel of a big rifle and is much cheaper practice.
.257 Wby mag. - Flattest shooting cartridge you can get (short of buying a $5000 Lazeroni) and quite accurate (Roy Weatherbys favorite cartridge)
.338 Lapua - Flat shooting, hard hitting and most importantly very accurate. (designed as a 1000yd sniper rifle)
Of course this leaves me without a dangerous game rifle (I have not needed one yet) but that would be a .375 H&H, it is certainly a Git-er-done gun without being too punnishing.

 

[WST416]

I don't know how to pick just three, but.....

6.5x284
300wby in a ruger#1
416 Rigby

 

[Talisker]

.22LR: I have killed more animals (not big ones) with this cartridge than probably all else combined. I have also killed more gamebirds in my youth than with a shotgun because the .22LR had far more range than a shotgun and that old Hi-Standard autoloader was a tackdriver, far better than my current Ruger 10/22. Too poor then to afford many shotgun shells anyway. Actually, I chose a shotgun for rabbits (in thick brush) and rifle for birds most of the time. More birds were killed with a .22 cal Benjamin air rifle than .22LR, but it's a pellet, not a cartridge, so it doesn't apply here. I killed a skunk yesterday with .22LR. It's a workhorse close range varmint and small game round. My current CZ 452 in .22LR with Burris 4.5-14x32mm AO scope is a tackdriver. Recently killed a prairie dog at 260 yards (laser ranged) with the CZ 452 and 40-grain Federal Game-Shok 810. No use wasting expensive centerfire ammo on close range shots. The quietness of .22LR scares PD's less so you get a lot more shots, and in a day of shooting PD's, my .223 Rem and .204 Ruger varmint rifles have only beat my CZ 452 by about 10-20% at greatly increased ammo and rifle cost. It's the world's most popular cartridge, and for good reasons. It's not a good stopper, but it is a real killer. Originally invented to kill people, actually. Favored round of professional assassins.

.223 Remington: The world's most popular centerfire cartridge, and for good reasons. Like the .22LR, in the hands of an expert it can perform tasks far beyond what it is commonly thought capable of, and quite reliably so. Ground squirrels to medium big game, it can handle it all. Very accurate out to medium ranges. Available in loads suitable for fast twist or slow twist barrels, and dirt cheap ammo for volume practice can be readily found. Can carry twice as much .223 Rem as .308 Win for the same weight load, and that is of vital importance for varmint hunters and soldiers carrying a squad automatic weapon. Bullets like the 60-grain Nosler Partition, 62-grain Barnes TTSX, Speer 70-grain Semi Spitzer, and 75-grain Swift Scirocco II have made it a "bang-flop" cartridge for deer hunters or any medium big game hunter. The 55-grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw bullet is currently being used by the U.S. Marines in Afghanistan in place of the 55-grain FMJ. A CZ 527 in .223 Rem that weighs about 6 pounds, or similar for a Sako 85, gives you a rifle that weighs the same as a CZ 452 rimfire but kills anything up to medium big game like the hammer of Thor if YOU do YOUR job and put the RIGHT bullet in the RIGHT place. This round is a David among Goliath cartridges. It ain't just for varmints and wounding enemy soldiers anymore.

12 gauge shotgun shell: The poor man's assault weapon. Can kill birds to buffalo reliably. It will feed you and defend you at close range better than anything you can easily acquire. At close range, with a slug, it can drop almost anything in its tracks. At close range, with buckshot, it can drop man-sized animals instantly. With 00 buckshot, you release 15 lead balls immediately. No need for a full-auto submachine gun. It allows people who are poor shots to shoot birds on the wing. Those of us who are better shots might prefer an air rifle for that, but few want to put in the practice or buy a suitably powerful and accurate air rifle. Nobody has an excuse for going hungry if they have a 12 gauge shotgun and suitable shells laying around.

 

[trigger creep]

.22LR: I have killed more animals (not big ones) with this cartridge than probably all else combined. I have also killed more gamebirds in my youth than with a shotgun because the .22LR had far more range than a shotgun and that old Hi-Standard autoloader was a tackdriver, far better than my current Ruger 10/22. Too poor then to afford many shotgun shells anyway. Actually, I chose a shotgun for rabbits (in thick brush) and rifle for birds most of the time. More birds were killed with a .22 cal Benjamin air rifle than .22LR, but it's a pellet, not a cartridge, so it doesn't apply here. I killed a skunk yesterday with .22LR. It's a workhorse close range varmint and small game round. My current CZ 452 in .22LR with Burris 4.5-14x32mm AO scope is a tackdriver. Recently killed a prairie dog at 260 yards (laser ranged) with the CZ 452 and 40-grain Federal Game-Shok 810. No use wasting expensive centerfire ammo on close range shots. The quietness of .22LR scares PD's less so you get a lot more shots, and in a day of shooting PD's, my .223 Rem and .204 Ruger varmint rifles have only beat my CZ 452 by about 10-20% at greatly increased ammo and rifle cost. It's the world's most popular cartridge, and for good reasons. It's not a good stopper, but it is a real killer. Originally invented to kill people, actually. Favored round of professional assassins.

I have never been impressed with the .22 LR's killing power on squirrels, groundhogs, and other similar sized game. I have killed 17 or 18 (can't remember exactly) groundhogs with the .22 L.R, using several different bullets and have had poor results. Only a few groundhogs I actually killed before they reached their hole.

Love the .22 LR for shooting, not so much for hunting.

 

[Diamondhitch]

I have never been impressed with the .22 LR's killing power on squirrels, groundhogs, and other similar sized game. I have killed 17 or 18 (can't remember exactly) groundhogs with the .22 L.R, using several different bullets and have had poor results. Only a few groundhogs I actually killed before they reached their hole.

Love the .22 LR for shooting, not so much for hunting.

Christian, small game vitals are tucked way up front much like african game. Any hit behind the front leg is a poor one. I have killed hundreds (possibly thousands) of animals from rabbits to coyotes with great success. On game fox sized and larger a hollow point usually flattems them, those who do run only go a short ways. Small game with either solid or hollow point is plenty.

 

[enysse]

Nice to see some 22 LR fans, I think the guy that shoot one of those guns well. Will be deadly with most firearms....because they practice. And practicing is a very good thing. The conscience movements..become automatic!

 

[trigger creep]

Christian, small game vitals are tucked way up front much like african game. Any hit behind the front leg is a poor one. I have killed hundreds (possibly thousands) of animals from rabbits to coyotes with great success. On game fox sized and larger a hollow point usually flattems them, those who do run only go a short ways. Small game with either solid or hollow point is plenty.

I have tried both Federal and Remington hollow-points on groundhogs and I notice no difference in killing power. The only way I kill groundhogs quickly with a .22 LR is to hit them in the head. The only problem with that is, most of the time I am shooting G-hogs at 50 yards, and it is too hard to hit a G-hog in the head at that range. My .22 LR is also very light and is hard to shoot offhand with, which could be causing some of the problems.

 

[trigger creep]

.223 Remington: The world's most popular centerfire cartridge, and for good reasons. Like the .22LR, in the hands of an expert it can perform tasks far beyond what it is commonly thought capable of, and quite reliably so. Ground squirrels to medium big game, it can handle it all. Very accurate out to medium ranges. Available in loads suitable for fast twist or slow twist barrels, and dirt cheap ammo for volume practice can be readily found. Can carry twice as much .223 Rem as .308 Win for the same weight load, and that is of vital importance for varmint hunters and soldiers carrying a squad automatic weapon. Bullets like the 60-grain Nosler Partition, 62-grain Barnes TTSX, Speer 70-grain Semi Spitzer, and 75-grain Swift Scirocco II have made it a "bang-flop" cartridge for deer hunters or any medium big game hunter. The 55-grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw bullet is currently being used by the U.S. Marines in Afghanistan in place of the 55-grain FMJ. A CZ 527 in .223 Rem that weighs about 6 pounds, or similar for a Sako 85, gives you a rifle that weighs the same as a CZ 452 rimfire but kills anything up to medium big game like the hammer of Thor if YOU do YOUR job and put the RIGHT bullet in the RIGHT place. This round is a David among Goliath cartridges. It ain't just for varmints and wounding enemy soldiers anymore..

The Marines don't use TBBC'S. It is illegal to use anything but FMJ's in war.

 

[sestoppelman]

While I have never heard of our troops using Bear Claws or any other sporting bullet in their ammo either, it would not surprise me horribly to find out they did from time to time. Ever hear of "dum dums"? Perhaps Talisker could enlighten us further on this claim.

 

[trigger creep]

While I have never heard of our troops using Bear Claws or any other sporting bullet in their ammo either, it would not surprise me horribly to find out they did from time to time. Ever hear of "dum dums"? Perhaps Talisker could enlighten us further on this claim.

That is what I'm waiting for.

 

[Diamondhitch]

I could be way off base here but I too beleive the Geneva convention prohibits the use of expanding/frangible bullets for warfare.

 

[Talisker]

FBI tests proved the TBBC bullet was the best .224 bullet for penetrating glass barriers. Marines in Afghanistan were needing better bullets for shooting through auto glass and doors/windows. The 55 grain TBBC shoots the same zero as 55 grain FMJ, making target practice cheaper with FMJ ammo, and no need to change zero in the field. The reason TBBC costs about $1 per bullet now and is hard to find is because Marine ammo production demands is taking up all the production capacity. It has been given a military designation, can't remember what they call it. It is NOT against the Geneva convention because it does NOT cause excess suffering......it kills more quickly and reliably than FMJ. This has been ruled OK under the Geneva Convention, and I expect the Army to start using it after Marine needs are met and it has proven itself. The Marines tend to be quicker to adopt new smallbore weapons, as the Army buys in far larger quantity and want a proven design before they commit. It was the Marines that developed the A2 version of the AR-15 and turned it into a very good weapon. It was Europeans that developed the M855/SS109 round that saved the .223 for military use. It is semi-frangible and makes excellent medium big game ammo IF you have the right rifle with the right twist and use it for deep penetration shots at medium to close range. The CZ 527 with 24" barrel and 9" twist is the correct type of rifle, and surprisingly the M4 carbine with 7" twist is one of the worst you could imagine. Mainly, M855/SS109 is good machine gun ammo for hitting vehicles and such. TBBC will prove far superior in short barrel carbines and fast twist rifles.

Personally, I prefer .224 Swift Scirocco II 75-grain, .224 Nosler Partition 60-grain, and .224 Hornady HPBT Match 75-grain. The Hornady Match and Swift Scirocco II shoot to the same zero and you can practice with the Hornady Match for 1/3 the cost of Scirocco II, but the .224 Scirocco II 75-grain is the finest long range .224 hunting bullet that exists at this time. In a slow twist rifle, .224 Nosler Partition is unbeatable, but a fellow at Swift said they are considering releasing a lighter .224 Scirocco II bullet for slow twist rifles to compete against the Partition.

The M855/SS109 is armor piercing ammo and thus is for bone crushing shots with a vital area farther behind, such as heart/lung/liver where the bullet will have yawed and snapped in half at the cannelure as designed, causing multiple wound channels. It is inherent 2.5 MOA ammo made for patterning correctly in the FN Minimi SAW and other machine guns where high accuracy works against you in combat. My CZ 527 .223 Rem Varmint shoots 5" groups at 200 yards, the recommended max distance for proper yaw and snap effect in a large animal, man sized or bigger. My 9" twist Colt AR-15 20" HBAR shoots about the same as the CZ 527. M855/SS109 is also a very hot max load being mainly designed for machine guns and not civilian .223 Rem rifles. You need a strong gun to safely shoot it, such as a CZ 527 or AR-15 with a 5.56mm NATO stamp on the barrel. I use the M855 for testing handloads, for if they kick harder than it does, you know you have passed the safe max pressure limits.

 

[sestoppelman]

Well theres the answer. Thanks Talisker! Also just did a quick google and sure enough, there is several articles about this and confirming what Talisker says.