How To Choose The BEST Hunting Caliber 

The best hunting rifle cartridge is one you can walk into any store and buy ammo for.

I bought my first rifle back in the 70's from an old WWII vet turned gunsmith. He said a 30-06 can be loaded light or heavy and take all North American game and it would be the standard by which all others are measured from now until Hell freezes over. It has helped me fill many a tag my 700. I am glad I took his advice.

Been using .308 to deer hunt east/central Texas the past 3 years. I have dropped 5 deer in 1 shot each from 30, 75, 225, 225, & 350 yards. (The hold over gets significant) but you are right, in the woods of east central Texas the .308 can drop anything you see in 1 shot, including one hog 2 years ago. I have fallen in love with the .308 because I have a semi auto, bolt action, and lever action all using the same ammo!

Your comment at the beginning about your dad, uncle, cousin, etc having a certain cartridge is spot on. I copied my dad, uncle and grandad since they pretty much used and reloaded the same cartridges I use today. These being the 7MM Rem Mag, 280 Remington, 30-06, 270 Win. and 243 Win. My logic was why buy something I then have to buy reloading components for. I try to be a pragmatist in the things I do. Of course I do own a 300 WM since I won it at a Mule Deer Foundation banquet. It’s a great cartridge that is certainly an all rounder, but my all around choice for the lower 48 is the 7MM Rem shooting 160 Partitions since I’ve killed everything from pronghorn bucks to bull elk with that combo.

Been using the .270 win since 75. I have been intrigued by 6.8 Western, 6.5 PRC and 7 PRC. However the .270 can still run with the big dogs and checks the most boxes for me so I'll stick with what I have.

Very good breakdown. Nice and simple and you saved a whole bunch of time reading forums and watching ballistic videos.

I also loved my 25-06 for critters and black tails. Another WWII vet had the barreled action in a Interarms Mark 10 and a Douglas barrel. He assembled the rifle with a nice Monte Carlo stock and a Weaver 3x9x40 duplex scope. Mauser type 98 action at around 4000fps gets the job done. That thing was a tack driver.

By far the best I’ve ever seen this explained. Thank you 🙏

He got the big white board out, he's serious. I'm a 243 guy for my area. Great video.

This is one of the best, plain talking, smartest approaches I have ever watched in regards to caliber need for hunting. I am in a blend of hilly and open terrains in Manitoba Canada and I have been driving myself insane on what I need for elk. I don't think I would ever be outside of 500 yards on a shot and tbh I don't feel I am a good enough shooter to pull the trigger outside of maybe MAYBE 400 so after watching this I feel better knowing I can maybe stick with my 270 Tika that I am familiar with for elk vs working up to a 300 win mag where I am legitimately concerned about my ability to manage the recoil but don't want to go to a 7mm Rem Mag because it's not ballisticly all that different than my 270. Thank you for this and your elk video, you have a follower for life good sir, god bless

Completely agree. I have 2 go to rifles to hunt. 35 Remington in the brushy areas . And my 6.5 creedmoor when I’m hunting open fields. I’ve taken whitetail with several different calibers, they all have done the job.

Great video. I believe you hit the nail on the head! I’ve got a 308 and 6.5 PRC. I use the 308 85% of the time and 6.5 PRC is for large game (elk, moose, etc.)

I just bought a 280 Ackley Improved and I believe that it bridges the gap between the long actions and the magnum faced actions, especially as a hand loader. I have a 260 rem, 308 win, 7.62x39 Russian, 303 British, 358 win, 300 win mag and now the 280 AI. I truly believe that the "280 AI is the most do anything gun" I now own. I can hand load down to 100 grain bullets and as high as 175 grain bullets. What do you guys think?

7mm Rem Mag. in Arizona over the last 35 + years. On everything from large Coues whitetail to mule deer to 500 lb elk. using Federal Trophy Barns 160 gn.TSX mono copper. Deer and Elk mostly taken at ranges from 100 yds to 250 yards and many at running animals off hand. this cartridge has put down everything I hit and haven't lost anything so far. Seems to be a great open canyon caliber for the mountains of Arizona. When I first started using this caliber I used a lighter 145 gn bullet...however it was going so fast at any range under 200 yds the bullet would frag bone so bad I would lose quit a bit of meat on deer. The heavier 160gn has worked much better.

I have shot magnums most my life. Here over last few years i have Dailed it way back. I shoot a custom 280AI. I find that it gets the job done every-time. 6.5prc does have some appealing ballistic traits. I may try one of those.

Good to see you back on! You are a great teacher!

I got on the 6.5 Creedmore bandwagon for a few years but recently sold it. Nothing wrong with 6.5 but I’m just sticking with .308 for simplicity and affordability. I hunt whitetail and coyote in northern MI and the longest shot I’d conceivably take is 350 yards. I’m also switching from bolt action to semiautomatic for most of by hunting just for fun. Whitetail I’ve been using my DD5V3 with 165gr SST. For coyote, I use my 18” BCM AR15 with 77gr OTM.

I like 7mm in general. Hopefully the 7prc gains some traction. If ammo and rifles become more available in the coming years I’ll definitely build a new gun. For now there’s no reason to ditch my 7mag. It does everything i need it to do. But it would be nice to be able to stabilize the heavy projectiles better.

This is the best break down of the ranges and calibers and ranges that I have ever seen! This was great info!

This was like a breath of fresh air!! I'm in Michigan so it's 308 for the win, and barrel life!!!

I hunt elk and deer (coues mostly) in AZ. Lots of miles in rugged terrain and 5-600 yard shots so I chose a tikka 300wsm. Light and carries well. Ammo is a bugger to find now however . I also have a 308 tikka tactical that works really well. Seems like all I see on the shelves now is 308 and 6.5 Creed.

My hunting rifles are chambered in 6.5 creedmoor and .30-06 I wanted a rifle in 7mm 08 but I could not find one in stock and I couldn't find any ammo in stock at all the supporting goods and gun shops I went to so I just bought a 30-06 and after buying the 30-06 I found out about this 6.5 creedmoor and after doing some research or should I say watching RU-vid videos I bought one and I love it. I think I'm covered for anything that I'm actually going to hunt in the states.

Bullet choice is much more important than cartridge I can take a 300 wm way over for white tail generally speaking, and still make it work great if I load a really heavy soft point Conversely, I can load a match bullet and do matches 1000+ meters I can also load a light soft point or tipped game king, or eld-x and do great on elk. Most people do not have the skills to bother shooting any cartridge past 400 yards at game with any actual ability to say it’s an ethical kill with reasonable probability short action is all most people need

I started with a Marlin 30-30 in 1976 harvest 🦌 from NY to Texas just chose proper terrain features.

I like hunting with the under rated or strange calibers. I have taken mule deer and smaller with my 257 Roberts. 358 win, 250-3000 savage and 264 win mag. Brass can be hard to find, hunting with a quirky cartridge is rewarding. Just a thought

Yeah ammo type makes a huge difference, I had a 30-30 handed down to me but could not find ammo during the ammo crunch two years ago. However 308 was readily available and that has been my go to, as soon as I could get my hands on 30-30 I bought a few boxes and don't want to shoot it much as it was so hard to find. And I did experience forums and forums comparing 30-06 to 308 so i was surprised to see you put them in separate brackets... looks like there were so many rabbit holes comparing those two. Well because my tika 308 is light to carry in the field, relatively inexpensive gun as I got the gun scope and lanyard for under $500, and bullets were always available, and it can shoot ball military 7.62 rounds... its just been my favorite to shoot. The Marlin 30-30 is more fun to cycle and I really love it but ammo was non existant for a time. And I've never even heard of some of the rounds on your board. So popularity of rounds I think plays a huge factor... for me the enjoyment of 30-30 to shoot is there but ammo availability of 308 makes it my favorite round.

I'm a western hunter hunting bear, mule deer, and elk in ID. I have had a 7 mm mag forever and am wanting to get into longer range hunting 500+. The 7mm mag has great ballistics for this, but I can't get it to shoot consistently below MOA. Its more like 1.5 - 1.75 MOA. That won't work for long range. I admittedly am recoil sensitive and it affects my accuracy. So I am selling it and debating between the 6.5 PRC and 6.5 creedmoor. Love the ballistics of the PRC, but its harder to find a rifle chambered in it and it has more recoil.

I handload and have been shooting 257 Roberts at New Hampshire whitetail since the 1970s. I bought a 7mm08 in the 1980s and have shot South Dakota whitetails and pronghorn. My 257 Roberts still works on Black Hills whitetails and prairie dogs. For elk I've chosen 28 Nosler for long shots but I can use my 7mm08 for Black Hills elk with a heavy bullet. I like the Nosler partition and Hornady bonded and am starting to load up Barnes bullets to see if my rifles like them. I just bought but haven't fired a Browning 308 BAR DBM with 5 round magazine to use in the woods. I'll store the ten round magazines in case I need them instead of my AR-15.

I also live and hunt in northeast Texas and I have a handful of .308s. Some public land I hunt on has distances from 70 yards to 250 yards. Any of my .308s would do that although, yes, it is not a flat shooting round. And it drops below 1k ft-lbs just below 500 yards. This year, I was truly impressed with the data in the 7 mm PRC and so now, I have one. And I have been getting ammo at around $3/rd. Granted, the 7 PRC really shines past 500 yards. And no, I am probably not going to get a whitetail at that distance. But it is my first and only long action magnum and likely to be my only one. Because I can also enter a draw from TPWD to hunt mule deer at the Cap Rock Canyon SP (for those who are not from here, it is south and east of Amarillo near the town of Turkey, Texas.) The hunt description says to expect freezing conditions (high plains desert) and to be able to take shots of at least 200 yards and farther (high plains desert.) There are not really any trees to hide behind or in and so far, no one that I know has harvested a mule deer by shaking salt on his tail. The 175 gr ELD-X leaves the muzzle at 3k fps. And retains a lot of energy. So, I like having a rifle that will adequately bring down game at unknown ranges and that I could also take to long range targets by changing to match ammo and changing zero. Some have said why bother with a 7 PRC. I could ask the same thing. Why bother with a 7 Rem Mag? Or .300 WSM? Why not go full fudd and restrict everyone to .308 and 165 grain and do not allow anyone to shoot past 300 yards? Oops, that second amendment.

Just bought wheatherby vanguard 7mm08 . Figured good round for anything in Tioga pa . Have a 100 acres. Need to know a good scope to put on it . Preferably an illustrated retinal. But don't wanna spend over 500 . Been looking. So many out there . Have some eye issues. Have trouble seeing cross hairs if to fine .that's why I want illustrated reticle

300 WM...I stepped down from 300 weatherby mag but really enjoyed it. Now that I’m dabbling in the WM I’m going to put a 20in CF 1:9 on it and run heavys. I’ll make the switch to the PRC eventually.

Or just buy an 06 and actually learn how to hunt

7mm08. Probably is the best all around that people don’t know about. I’m not a huge fan of 65 anything but I know many who are. And 308 is awesome and people think of it wrong. I like to think of the 308 is a souped up 3030 with cheap ammo, I was a shooter before I was a hunter and now I’m in a hunt club in the East Coast. We mostly hunt deer. I’m astounded that I’m the only one that will practice before beer season starts so overall I prefer the traditional calibers however, if I ever reload, I’ll end up getting a 280 ai.

22-250 is a personal favorite. It’s just a fun flat shooting gun I can get away with using the same projectiles as a 5.56 on. Doesn’t break the bank.

After watching a multitude of videos, I did a bunch of ballistics calculations on available factory loads. I came out thinking that at typical hunting rages aka 400 yards max, powder capacity really tells you how much impact energy you’re going to get. All of the short action cartridges do about the same at 400 yards, although .243 Win is a bit of a laggard. I assume this holds generally for larger cartridges.

This is the exact explanation I've been looking for! Thanks!

25-06, 6.8 western

Best accurate video made about how to choose ammo. Make my mind clear.

Yes sir I have them all and love the 35 Whelan single shot. Have a 270 nosler rifle in 270. Add a 257 weatherby. With a 480 Ruger revolver. 475 I guess for me that cover it all. Nice channel

I have 3 go to rifles. 243,270, and 308. I hunt everything in alberta canada 🇨🇦

Thank you! Now whenever one of my buddies asks about what caliber to get i can just send them this video instead of telling them dang near the same thing.

East of the Mississippi River 308 loaded with 165g Partition or 165g Accubond will take them all I dont know if there is Bison or Grizz east of Mississippi River but if there is I would not use 308 on them . 308 is super popular for elk hunting in Kentucky. 308 takes moose all day long in Maine . East of the Mississippi River 200 yards is an extremely long shot on game. If I was hunting out west 300WSM would be my choice for sure . I freaking love me some 300WSM . I've never really been a fan of 6.5CM. I do love 6CM and 6ARC .

We need to discuss the 270 win as is has good point blank range mild recoil is abundant and cheap

Glad to see you back from your excursions, thanks for the info.

From the team room to the TV, he's back

Take what will be sufficient and ethical for the hunt. Smaller game, use smaller caliber. Larger game, larger caliber. Distance to game also a factorto a point, but not as much as game sized animals. That is why hunters have different calibers to choose from when going hunting. Though most hunting can be done with a 308 due to the bullet selection, availibility, and low cost. Though if you want to take a shot at 500 yards on an elk it would be best to jump up to a 300wm for that.

IYKYK 6.5 WTF. In bolt action I have 3006 7mm08 243. The 3006 and 243 were won from raffles. They all do fine in Appalachia

This helped me out alot. I’m a bow hunter then wanted to get into shooting. The argument over best broad head has always bugged me. And the caliber debate even more. Living in New Mexico Oryx and elk are the large game that I would go after. I’m not I. The thought of buying a 30-06 or a 300 win mag might be my ideal caliber for everything in the range that you explained. Thank you

Q Fix in 308. Silencer, sling, scope and magazine just over 8 pounds in weight. Take it into the backcountry all day.

Very well done. Deer at 75-100. I use a 243. My wife likes her 6.5 because it’s her first rifle. Not based on range or over use.

Im 15 looking for a rifle that can take both deer and elk from 10-500yrds, I'm thinking 270 win or 7mm-08, I will say 308 is very similar to 7mm-08, but the 7mm bullet is moving faster/flatter at mostly any range. So give me some suggestions please!👍

The only bolt gun I’ve ever owned is a 30-06. I’ve hunted with it for 30 years and recently took a class with it. I want either a .308 or a 300 win mag. I would like to practice and train more precision shooting and .308 will be more affordable and I only hunt whitetail deer in the south east so it meets my need. The 300 win mag is probably overkill for what I would use it for primarily, but what if I get an invite out west I should have a rifle for that. Reality is I will end up with the .308, when I have that mastered then I’ll consider something different.

I'd like to see in depth on the 300wm

Thanks for the video after reading all the comments, I went to take a look what the average shot distance was for deer and elk both under 500 yards.

1st real rifle Owned was 25-06. Won’t sell it and bought a second. But my whitetail cartridge today is 7mm-08. Out west it’s 7mm Rem Mag. Still intrigued by the 300wsm w a 20” barrel. Want vs Need. Great video. Makes good sense. Thank you. I enjoyed it!!!

Missed your vids man hope all is well in the world for ya

Should not be advocating for hunting or shooting game over 350 meters

Debating on first actual hunting cartridge. Have a 6.5 CM bench gun AR 10 platform. But in choosing an “all purpose “ hunting round, I’d like to consider general availability if things SHTF so to speak. I know .308 and 30-06 are both prevalent. Any help would be appreciated

Sounds like we’ve had this conversation before. ETA: I think we argued about .308 vs Creedmoor at one time 😂

Also the 300 rum

Great info I prefer a 308 but I have 270 and 30 06 and 7 mag I like how you broke down the ranges that they are good for and now I know 308 is fine for me I don't feel comfortable trying to kill something any farther than that

2:21 “Lapoa”? 😂

Nice Review ! NOT THE ARROW " IT'S THE INDIAN pressing the trigger " Shot placement !!!

308 does everything I need here in Michigan and ammo isn't ridiculous. I'd love a 300 win mag or a 338 Lapua but that ammo $$$$$

I have a touchy question. I'm going to sea, and Orcas are attacking boats in the area. What should I bring to defend the ship if a pod attacks and their is no alternative, save death? A shotgun with slugs, or will a 357.mag do if one is chewing on my rudder? Will a warning shot scare them off, or maybe a non-lethal hit to the dorsal fin? I'd rather be sentenced in court than sent to neptune's locker. On smaller vessels, you'd be surprised what a big shark is capable of for that matter. Aim for the head? Will the water cushion the bullet? Get real, I'm talking open ocean where a rescue ship is not around. What do you do? Thanks for any help.

Look up Bella Twin 10 May 1953 record book grizzly in Alberta. Using a Cooley Ace 1 single shot rifle using Whiz BANG 22long rimfire ammo. Shot placement is always key.

Ive used alot of different rounds and like having a choice. I use 270 win, 308, 6.5cm, 7mag, 300wsm, 338fed,338win mag they all work awesome on elk and deer.

I’m a fan of .308 and have a 300WSM so my understanding is that the 300wsm is almost ballistically the same as the 300 win mag. Would like to to sell the 300WSM and into the 338 lapua or Norma

I live out west and apply for deer and elk every year. 300wm for me

Really refreshing take on calibers, good thinking👍

Wow , what a great video !! Explained everything in a few minutes ! Thanks brotha !

30-06 for everything!! from coyote to elk !!!!! 110grain to 210grain

Best discretion of rifle use ever. Awesome stuff.

Thanks for the video! Looking to get into the hobby and this is a great start for me. Cheers from Canada

I was looking at this channel last night wondering when the next video would drop. SO stoked to see this video tonight! @lastamericanoutlaw Thany you for that.

What would you recommend for deer - moose rifle and cartridge? New shooter

Not a bad way to start. Now do the same thing with bullets (ya know, the part that does the killing) Pick a caliber from each category and assign a bullet for each?

I bought my first hunting rifle during Covid and all I could find on the shelves for ammo was 300WM so that’s what I ended up getting.

Finally a fantastic video!

Best hunting caliber is likely the 7mm. The bullets have a great frontal diameter for ethical kills and have good BC’s at weights where recoil is tolerable shooting them at speeds near 3000 fps. One could argue that the .277 bullet diameter is superior due to its combination of weight, bc and frontal diameter however most barrels in .277 are a 1/10 twist that is inadequate to take advantage of high BC .277 bullets. 7-08 to 7mm PRC is the Goldilocks zone.

270 is hard to beat,ammo everywhere, shoots super flat,low recoil, lots of energy

Well said

257 Weatherby mag best white tail cartridge ever made

Awesome video THE LAO! Great information!

I realy find it interesting on what Ranges your able to shoot in the US. In Germany we are useing the 308 on Shots between 100-200m Max.

300 prc and 338 Lapua use the same long action mag? I am an ignorant on these topics.

I have a 30-06 and a 6.5 creed. I got the 6.5 in a small (16.5” barrel) rifle for the smaller tighter tree stands I hunt out of. I want to get a 280 AI or a 7PRC just to have something in 7mm but I don’t NEED it haha

Best video and simple explanation, thanks

300 black out in SE Georgia 50-75 yards

308 and 300 wm. What sniper school did you graduate from ?

Thanks I know nothing this saved me alot of time.

I want to talk the 7mm-08 vs 6.5 creed and the 325 wsm vs the 300 wsm.

Don't know if you remember me ( did fight and pissed with you and Costa at James's.) Of late I've been pushing 308 through a Mk 14.

Figure out the species of game you're going after, then pick a caliber that will cover those species (it doesn't matter much folks). Get as good a scope as you can afford, get a cheaper rifle if you have to. Most cheap rifles are capable of 1 moa, not all cheap scopes are though. Practice as much as you can afford to practice.

Dam good explanation. Real stuff.

Awsome video! Thank you! What you think about 300wsm? For mountain hunting Subpar from its group?

Perfect explainantion.Very good.❤

I uses my 6.5 creedmoor for hunting

I have an 30-06. It would be nice to see your thoughts on how it has progressed as a cartridge. It started as a 150 ball ammo going 2700 now with some nice loads it will push a 180 a touch north of 2850 with a 24" barrel. I also have a 300 prc, 50 cal muzzle loader, 7mm-08 for my wife, looking to get a 6.8 western to round out all but the lapua bolt face.

I'm not qualified to say one cartridge is better or worse than another one. What I can tell you is my general-purpose [hunt/do] everything rifle is a typical home built 20-inch AR10 in 308. I shoot a 150 grain SST during [deer/bear] season and 155 grain BTHP the rest of the year. On a side note, here in coastal North Carolina, the deer are small enough and the shots are close enough that my 556 NATO AR15 is all I need. The only reason I don't hunt with my AR15 is that the good deer spots are also decent spots for black bear. I don't mind admitting that I'm to chicken sh!t to go into bear habitat with 62 grain bullets.