Best Calibers For Hunting Almost Anything With Joseph von Benedikt 

This was very entertaining, as both of you are very knowledgeable and experienced. I could listen to stuff like this for hours. Thanks for putting it together.

30-30 for eastern whitetails!

great video. 475 Turnbull was necked down from the 50-110, if I'm not mistaken. 45-70+p and 450 Marlin do a great job on bison also ...and a bit more practical. :-) my comparatively uninformed selections: eastern whitetail: 308 w/ 150g tsx mule deer/western whitetail: 6.8 western w/ 162g copper impact pronghorn: 25-06 w/ 100g ttsx coues deer: 270win w/ 130 ttsx feral hogs: 30-30 w/ 150g tsx black bear over bait: 45-70 w/ 350g tsx-fn black bear stalk: 30-06 w/ 165g ecx elk: 338rcm w/ 210g ttsx moose: 35 whelen w/ 225g tsx brown/grizzly: 9.3x62 w/ 250g tsx bison: 450 marlin w/ 430g lbt-lfn sheep/mt goat: 280ai w/ 140g e-tip plains game: 300wsm w/ 180g trophy copper thick skin dangerous game: 416 rigby w/ 400g dgs best all around not including dangerous game: 30-06 best all around including dangerous game: 9.3x62

Love the conversations. Most of us can only dream of owning all those rifles, but oh well. Always fun to listen. I'm very partial 70 the .277 and .284 calibers.

Thanks for the video, one of the best of its kind.

I have hunted with so many of these cartridges. My favorite for a “do-it-all” cartridge is now the 6.8 Western. That’s not a dis on any other cartridge. It’s just the Western has been amazing. I’m blown away

Interesting episode John, good to hear you guys talking about your North American game animals, gives us hunters ,in other parts an idea of your thoughts & calibre choices. I enjoyed listening.

Such a fun and interesting game between two of my favorite cartridge nerds out there. Always a joy to get you and JVB together. I listen to his podcast a lot so many of his choices I predicted as well. I too am saddened by Winchester/Browning not marketing and supporting the 6.8 Western like they did with their 350 Legend. That’s why Hornady usually wins since they are not a rifle company and can and will have multiple manufacturers chamber their cartridges. My youngest brother has a 6.8 Western to team up with his 270 Win and loves it now that he found a couple loads it likes.

My two favorite podcasters together. I’d have most of the same picks that one of chose for each type of game. Eastern white tail which I’ve never hunted but probably pick a straight wall cartridge like 350 legend. All around have to go 300wm.

Favorite cartridge 308 cuz it’s what I own and stocked up on and it’s relatively affordable, versatile, and ubiquitous 😊

Enjoyed video. I’m all on board with Joseph’s pick for all around cartridge in the .280AI. I have 2 rifles in that chambering and I also hand load, so I’m able to take advantage of the efficiency, bullet choice including different weights, inherit accuracy, and low recoil. 7mm PRC very impressive with unlimited amount of marketing. Just don’t see a whole lot of difference between that cartridge and 7mag until distance beyond 600 yards where twist comes into play with factory cartridge offerings that were designed by Hornady for the 7PRC. It’s ballistics are impressive. Thanks again for the video!

Interesting info Joseph shared on the federal offering of 6.8 Western. I had heard rumblings that they had been developing a load but for some reason never brought it to market. Brass would be a good reason. Evidently Barnes is in the same boat on the 6.8 Western.

Two of my favourite podcasters together. Very interesting discussion.

GREAT show y’all!

Great video gents!

I am of the opinion that 7 PRC will gradually replace 300 Win Mag as the do-all cartridge. Significantly higher BCs with comparable bullet weights, while only giving up a small amount of velocity and imparting noticeably less recoil. Yes, the Win Mag can go heavier if you need it, but I think 190+ grains is straying out of practical territory, and in that area the 300 PRC has it pretty significantly outclassed.

Fun stuff!

Great content

I’ve watched this several times. I learn something new each time. If an accurate rifle ethically kill game at 997 yards with .300 Win Mag, there is no reason to go with a newer .300 magnum cartridge. Except that you just want one, maybe.

I really enjoyed this video. 30-06 for everything

What interests me in concept is a cartridge equal to the 280AI in ballistic performance… but… in a short action. The 280AI is popular for light weight mountain rifles so a short action 280AI equivalent is even better for that application. It occurs to me that a 6.8 Western necked up to 0.284” would accomplish this and could be made from 300WSM Lapua brass. Cheers!

6,5x55 THE reindeer cartrigde. Plenty of energy and best of all: there is always some wind in the mountains and the 6,5mm is just so good in the wind.

Well that was fun for fantasizing! My hunting is extremely limited these days because of age and health, but My choice for real EASTERN Whitetail WOODS hunting where the the longest shot in a clearing might be 200 yards would be 35 Remington using the Hornady 200 grain LeverEvolution in my Marlin 336RC. For midwestern and western US Whitetails, Mule deer and Pronghorn I’m going with Jack’s standard 270 Winchester. 150 grain Nosler Partition on the deer, probably 130 on the Pronghorn. I wouldn’t be shooting at anything over 400 yards. If I can’t get to within ethical distance I’ll hang it up. Over the years I’ve accumulated a lot of different rifles, some listed here, some not. Most recent acquisition a few years ago Husqvarna M-640 in 9.3x62. Yet to shoot anything with it. For elk I’m just going to toss a coin among 338-06, 35 Whelen and 300 H&H. I could throw in the 9.3x62 because it does handle a wide variety of bullet weights. Terrain would be a major factor in my choice. I’m not a bear hunter but If was I think for Black in the eastern woods the 35 Remington will do just fine just like it and the 30-30 has been doing for years. Never hunted Bison, probably never will. Same for most of the other species discussed herein. For viewers who don’t know who Jack was, I figure they’re too young and no hope for them😂. Jack’s choice for one rifle to hunt the world over was the 375 H&H. His choice for a second rifle in a two rifle battery was the 270 Winchester. Since I don’t own a 375 I’m going to choose the 9.3x62 based solely on it’s apparent reputation around the world as my fantasy one for everything anywhere. 270 W for #2. In reality if I was forced to sell all except one that I have I’m going to fall back to good ole 308 Winchester for all in North America. Regardless of what some talking heads and Gen X or Z say, IT’S Available EVERYWHERE AND IT’S NEVER GOING AWAY. I wish I could say the same for 358 Winchester. I’ll just stay out of big bear territory. The class assignment for Gen X and Z viewers is to figure out who Jack was. Happy hunting boys and me girls!😊

Your choices were similar in performance. My favorite deer sized cartridge is the .257 Weatherby although I have used many based off the .308 based cases like the .243, 6.5CM, .260, 7mm-08. For elk and bigger, I like a big .30 or .338. For deer sized woods game. I really do like carrying a Model 1894 Marlin in .44 Magnum. It carries so well.

Whitetails I’m madly in love with 7mm-08.

I using the 170g terminal ascent ammo this year too.

My second comment. Your recently new viewers should watch your interviews with Dr. Kevin “Doctari” Robertson, DVM on hunting African dangerous game and his take on cartridges for all the African game species from small to large. He and the gentleman I got my 9.3x62 from opened my eyes to the capabilities of the 7x57 Mauser especially with 175 grain bullets at moderate velocities. Look at the data from the newest Nosler manual for the 175 grain Long Range Accubond and Partition. Run the numbers with those bullets signed dead on at 250 yards through a good ballistic calculator like the Shooters Calculator that another famous UTube guru uses. You will be amazed at what a 120 year old cartridge can do.

The old guy from Alaska who was on Ron spomer who uses a 458 win mag for moose and grizz

Whats your thoughts for antelope, mule deer, Rky Mtn Big Horn and Elk, ( not necessarily Moose ) using the 6.5 PRC and All copper TSX or TTSX on all of them ? I have shot 2 cow Moose and one "once in a lifetime" Bull Moose all with 30-06. Also shot a Mtn Goat in 2010, "once in a lifetime" as well, using a friend's 300 Win Mag about 375 yards.

What would you recommend for a WT or Mule deer in west Texas, some canyon and some open field and some cotton fields? Would it still be a 270 or 280AI?

What are your thoughts on the 7X64 in relation to the 280 Ackley?

Interesting discussion. Thanks for that. However, neither one of you mentioned the 358 Winchester. Why not? Yes, maximum range is going to be limited. It's not a long-range cartridge, but it speaks with major authority within its design parameters.

I would like to know where he is finding factory 280 AI ammo. I had a 280 AI rifle, later wanted to get another one, but I don't remember when I have last seen any 280 AI factory ammo available. Definitely not on any store shelves.

Are you near the Tyler area??? No idea you were in ETX

Use 243 on deer and my 7x57 and 8x57 on bear elk

I agree with the cartridges for all species, but I don't like any of the eldx or eldm bullets. Just too frangible at close/mid range.

WHAT ABOUT 7MM-08 WTH 150 GRAIN ABLR OR 145 GRAIN LRX

9,3x62 for moose

1st!!

I’m from Tyler. Where is Joseph from?

Forgot Caribou

You kind of gave yourself an unfair advantage.

I already have a 6.8 western its called a 270wsm no reason to even come out with that cartridge waste of time

Y’all shoot way more animals than a single man could eat. Who eats them?