Your 3 favorite hunting cartridges of all time

[ftrovato]

Why reduce the powder load on the 22-250, I use my 375H&H and 416 Rigby ( as well as all my other cartridges) on cats and rabbits

To your point, I took 3 of the Tiny 10 with the 416 and 400 grain solids last fall.....dead is dead if you don't mind the recoil.

 

[Rule 303]

To your point, I took 3 of the Tiny 10 with the 416 and 400 grain solids last fall.....dead is dead if you don't mind the recoil.

To me, it is practice, and staying proficient with the larger cartridges.

 

[hoytcanon]

I'd probably change the picks up, just a little, based on recent acquisitions... now;

6.5 Rem Mag
.375 WSM
.458 Win Mag

 

[elkocountygun]

.223 Win? Winchester wishes!

yes sir... possibly meant .223 rem 7 Remington or 5.56 NATO

 

[Faidros]

22lr
.30-06
.416 Rigby

(And a 12 gauge OU gun)

 

[Olivier]

• 357 Mag for a self-defence handgun
• 12 gauge for small game hunting
• 308 Win for most big game hunting scenarios (<300 lbs from 0 to 500m), tactical & sporting shooting
• 375 H&H for heavier game (>300 lbs,<200m).

Only one? 308Win wins...

 

[daxter11]

6mm CM
6.5mm CM
.300WSM
my take.

 

[ftrovato]

22lr
.30-06
.416 Rigby

(And a 12 gauge OU gun)

a smart and practical man!

 

[TheHermit]

.280 Rem
.300 H&H
.375 H&H

 

[Cucuy]

Rifle
6.5x55
7mm RM
338 WM

Handgun
327 FM
44 Spl
44 RM

Muzzleloader
45 (jk, don’t shoot smaller than 54)
54
58

 

[Choupique]

.22 LR
16ga
338 win mag

If i could only own 3, I'd have to have a 12ga and a .375 though just for the sake of practicality.

 

[Jagerrand]

22lr
6.5CM
375 H&H

 

[elkocountygun]

The question is: what's you're favourite hunting cartridges, not calibres. So, if I had to choose only 3 to cover every eventuality I opine:
22LR,
12g shotgun, and
9.3x62.

Why the 9.3x62 and not the 375HH?
1) It can do everything the 375HH can out to 250yds,
2) It's just as accurate (and has great straight line penetration) as the 375HH at ranges for DG,
3) Ammo is way cheaper,
4) The 9.3x62 has far less felt recoil than the 375HH - so just about anyone can use one without dislocating their shoulder.

interesting. 9.3x62 i have some reading to do re., this cartridge. thx

 

[Kudurifle]

6.5 creedmore
300 win mag
458 lott

 

[Flewis]

I ain’t dead yet so haven’t decided.

 

[Riflecrank]

If just three:

.375 Weatherby Magnum of CIP homologation circa 2001.
.458 Winchester Magnum of SAAMI homologation circa 1956.
.510/460 Weatherby Magnum of RIP homologation yet known by so many other names.

If just one, it would have to be the .458 Winchester Magnum.
It does everything better than the SAAMI .458 Lott except for birdshot loads used on rats and snakes.

The .375 Weatherby Magnum allows use of .375 H&H Factory ammo in a pinch,
2530 fps 300-grainers are reduced to just over 2400 fps
with no loss of accuracy, reduced recoil, and dead on at 100 yards,
when the full-steam loads at 2740 fps are 3 inches high at 100 yards.

The .510/460 WbyMag is the practical way to play with the Bore Envy Crowd, just for kicks,
and do some things beyond their reach.

 

[Raven]

If there are only three, then the choice is as follows:

12ga (for bird hunting and self-defense)
.375 H&H Mag (for hunting everything)
.470 NE (for Africa)

But, of course, there are not all the calibers that are needed. For example, if it was about 5, then I would add .22 LR and .300 WM.

And if we were talking about one caliber, I would stop at .375 H&H Mag.

 

[Riflecrank]

Very sensible Raven.
I would honestly need an even half-dozen.
Then I would add the .22 LR, 12 ga, and .30-06.

 

[Happy Myles]

Honestly, three will not work for me.

22 Long Rifle - because everyone has to have one. It is magic when you are a kid
22-250 - for me the great varmint rifle
300 Win Mag - Delivers a heavy 30 cal bullet accurately with authority
416 Rigby - stops dangerous game without terrible recoil
12 gauge shotgun - have to shoot quail with something

 

[harris88]

.300 Win. Mag. - Flat shooter with great terminal performance on animals up to the size of moose and brown bear. Excellent ammo and rifle availability globally. Easy to shoot recoil-wise and easy to carry thanks to generally normal weight or even light rifles. This is what I use the most nowadays in Nordic hunting, but also for African PG.

.338 Lapua Mag. - Devastating power and long range potential with some of the best brass available for any caliber. With the right bullet the terminal effects are pretty explosive on Nordic game. A well thought out design overall. Recoil is similar to 375 H&H so not too bad in a rifle that can be carried all day. This could easily be my number one favourite.

.458 Lott - Superb penetration ability, lots of frontal area and plenty of raw bone-crushing power. Easy to reload to various power levels. Can safely use .458 Win. Mag. ammo too if necessary. Probably one of the best choices for a true African dangerous game rifle if you can handle the power.