TOP 5 Best Cartridges For Big-Game Hunters - Madman Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
- With respect to overall performance and ammunition availability, here are the five best all-around cartridges for big-game species.
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you want to go on a big-game hunting trip? Well, good luck picking a cartridge for the job because there are over 125 of them to choose from. Anyone would be overwhelmed with the number of choices here.
But do not worry, this is what this episode is all about. I have picked five cartridges that I think are the best candidates for big-game hunting. Keep in mind that many of those 125 cartridges are mostly good options. It might hurt to see that your favorite cartridge did not make the list, but trust me, it hurts me just the same because I had to pick only five.
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I'll stick with the 30-06 and .308, they never let me down and here in ND they will get the job done
6.5 creedmoor makes the cut, but the .270 Winchester is mysteriously absent…hmmm. I thought we were talking about the best big game cartridges, not target cartridges that are mediocre performers anything larger than deer.
There are very very few animals that a 30-06 isn’t more than enough for, and almost all of them are in Africa and their tags cost tens of thousands of dollars.
They will get the job done almost anywhere, with the right bullets. I favor the '06 for bullets 180 grains and above.
@@georgesakellaropoulos8162 30-06 with 180 grain rounds will drop anything in North America
@@joztunes69 Agreed, as long as they're well constructed bullets. Wouldn't try big bears with Core-Lokts.
I have used a .308 Win for over 40 years. Its never let me down. I reload using 150gr to 168gr. I would also consider the 300 Win Mag for longer distances, as I do not shoot over 300 yards with this rifle.
2023/04/21 I traded one of my 308 Win for a Parker Hale 1200 in 300 Win Mag. Excellent shape and very accurate. Now I need decent glass and practice out to 600 yards. Stay safe and happy shooting.
The .308 takes on all comers.
@@JaimeGarcia-pe7bj I know a former marine who can nail canned shaving cream from 1000 yard's with a .308...
@@Isaacmitchellarmwarrior A standard size shaving cream can @1,000 yards?
30/06 does everything the o8 does and faster .so really don't see the point , but to each their own
I have a .308 & a .300 WM.
I chose the .300 on anything bigger than a whitetail. I'll certainly do the job on mulies, but preferr the .300, as mulies
tend to offer longer shots.
The .308 WIN and the .30-06 Springfield are probably the most obvious choices for most North American big game hunters, though I would feel just a bit more comfortable using a .300 WIN magnum if a brown or grizzly bear was in my sights. But I'm surprised he didn't include the .270 WIN in his list since it's ballistically similar to the 6.5 Creedmoor: both are flat-shooting rounds, and I see more .270 WIN loads on most gun store shelves than 6.5 Creedmoor cartridges. Availability is widespread for .308 WIN, .30-06 Springfield, and .270 WIN ammunition at least from my observations, and for some people, ammo availability can be a deciding factor when buying a hunting rifle.
ammo is definitely a good thing to look for. I bought a 6.5 grendel, it's not being as heavily produced during covid. I after shipping I spent roughly $3.00 a round. 60 dollars for 20 rounds is terrible, espicially for something made for an ar 15. if it was a larger round like a 300win mag I'd understand
Agreed. I was dead set on buying a 6.5 PRC but for months I could not find ammo. Ended up buying a Bergara B14 Ridge .308 because I would see that ammo consistently throughout this last shortage.
Although I’m a bit bummed now that 6.5 PRC is more available I believe I made the right decision in not being trendy and love my selection. The deer/elk ain’t gonna judge me any differently 😂
@@ericthomas9206 in their last breaths the deer are gonna tell you that your bullet choice was boring lol.
the .308 is a great round. i personally have a 30.06, its similar enough, and does the job nicely. plus the ammo prices are still decent.
Oh hell yeah, If I'm buying a gun I wanna know I can get. Ammo .The 7mm AI is being touted as the equal to the Magnificent 7mm rem mag but that's BS. In velocity , bullet drop the 7 mag rules the AI and where it really counts ( ammo availability ) the 7mm AI is a dismal failure with its owners needing to handload to have a supply of ammo cuz stores dont stick it and its higher than standard 7mm rem mag ammo. DEAL BREAKER RIGHT THERE.
I would have to disagree about .270 Win and 6.5 Creedmoor being ballistically similar. Using Hornady ELD-X as a high BC comparative (143 vs. 145 grain), .270 is a much flatter shooting cartridge across all ranges, it delivers much more energy within sane ranges, and even still slightly beats the Creed at 1,000 yds. The only area where 6.5 Creedmoor has a slight advantage is wind drift at extended range, but even then the .270 is still within an inch at over 600 yds. Which at that point, most hunters shouldn't be shooting at that distance anyway. Sure, the Creedmoor is technically a more efficient cartridge, but it still can't match .270 for power and flat trajectory.
Also, availability isn't really an issue for .270 if you look for it, particularly if you handload. With bullets like Nosler's Accubond Long Range, and even Hammer Bullets has 21 offerings for .277 caliber alone. I'd also be willing to wager there are more loadings for .270 that offer 1,500+ ft-lbs. at 500+ yds than there are for 6.5 Creedmoor. It all comes down to what your needs are, but especially within the realm of big game hunting, which was the topic of this video.
With that said, I'm not a 6.5 Creedmoor hater, but .270 is just a more capable cartridge. Despite the 6.5 Creed's inherently higher BCs and efficiency, sometimes you just can't beat powder capacity and velocity. Cheers and goodwill.
I have used the 30-06 and the 308 for years and I hand load the 168 grain it works great.
Never heard the .308 called a “three aught eight” or a “Hornaddy”
Exactly! Where is he from?
Exactly, he cannot even pronounce the names of the round correctly and yet, we are to respect his view?
He did it for clicks. To be different, because he also says 3 o 8 at times, which to me indicates he is trying to consciously call it 3 aught 8, but reverts when he's not purposely forcing himself. Also, didn't the round come along in 1952, not 1908?
Guy seems to be misinformed about simple stuff. Guess I won't sub.
I think some of these sites use a professional voice guy to read the scripts......they don't always know the proper pronunciations of gun terms. I heard him call Hornady "whore-naddy". 😂
This is like a compiled school report, my guess is not even a gun person or hunter.
While all of these are fine. Cartridges. I still like the 270 for deer. And elk. Lighter recoil. Than some. Flat trajectory. And good accuracy. As Jack O Conner. Was a big fan of this cartridge. Some called it the gun jack built. But it all depends on the person terrain and what your hunting and range of shot.
7mm Rem Mag instead of the 6.5 Creedmoor because the 6.5 is just not suited for big game. In fact you could narrow these five down to just the 300 Win Mag and the 7mm Rem Mag. Both are so versatile and can load a wide range of bullet weights. You could add the 338 Lapua or 338 Win Mag if you wanted a third for the really BIG game.
Also there's the 7mm WSM
To me, the 416 and the 375 H&H magnum could be reduced down to one of them. For availability, I would pick the 375 H&H magnum and add another cartridge smaller in caliber to the list.
I'm not a huge 6.5 need more fan either. You might have a problem convincing the Swedish and many other European hunters the 6.5 Swede is inadequate for big game hunting, it's the ballistic equivalent to the 6.5 need more stoked with 140 to 160 gr bullets.
@@Drivapete the 300 wm is a great calibre but not suitable in bush area due to bullet failure that is where the 3006 is the best with 220 grein bullet
@@martinlabuschagne3205 I have a 9.3x62 for the thick stuff. 250gr Barnes TTSX or 270gr Speer Hot-Cor.
Love my 308, I’ve been hunting with it now for just over four years and never had a deer run more than 50 yards after the shot. Most are drt, I picked 308 when purchasing since it’s some of the most abundant ammo to come by.
30-06 and 7x57 work for me ! A 220 grain 30-06 bullet will take on any animal in North America !
2nd that... Great choices.
I love my .338 Win Mag for African plains game. Having hunted the Australian Outback, I can testify that the 30-06 definitely outperforms the .308.
outperforms in energy ?
I love the .300 Win Mag. When I was going to buy my first rifle, I wanted to get a 308 or 30-06. However, my Uncle had a .300 Win Mag he didn't like to shoot, so i could get it from him. Many people told me that the recoil of a .300 Win Mag is really bad and that it's not a good choice for my first rifle. Since I had no experience with a .300 Win Mag so far, so I gave it a try at the shooting range.
I don't know what's the problem of those people with the .300 Win Mag, but I really don't mind the recoil. Yes, it has a bit more recoil than the 308 or 30-06, but it's still pretty comfortable to shoot (rfile weight ~9lbs / ~4.1kg).
In my opinion, the .300 Win Mag is the perfect cartridge for hunting. There is no game you can't hunt with it in Europe (and most likely not even in the US).
I fired my friends 300 win mag at the range and found the recoil was not bad. Hit the bullseye at 100 yards so I was impressed!
You had some logic there until you got to the 6.5 creedmoor. You could kill a brown bear with it, but there about a "thousand" cartridges much better suited for that task. Your other comments on the creedmoor show you have really been drinking that "creedmoor koolaid".
Or been paid by Horndaddy
Yes. Since when is the 6.5 Creedmoor ammo widely available ? That sounds like a shill choice.
I stick with .308 Win. because I have 4 rifles in that caliber and plenty of ammo. Also, you can find it on shelves more so then the other calibers. It works for me in the lower 48. I would consider a .300 if I lived in Alaska. However, the Canadian Rangers carry a Tikka in .308, so that says something.
I' m with you. I have 3 an auto, level, SS bolt. Besides being a good choice you can find ammo about everywhere you go. Those odd cals sometimes hard to find.
Leave the 6 1/2 Creed at home when hunting brown bear and moose .
Guide in Alaska killed moose with .17 Hornady, he does it with .22 LR all the time
I'll keep my 270 Winchester. It has never let me down. If I lived in Alaska , I might also have a 300 wsm.. a 30-06 would do but accidentally mixing shells could happen so 300 wsm
I agree. Love that .270 Winchester.
It is impossible to mix up 30-06 with 300 WSM, only the most stupid idiot wouldn't see the 30-06 is longer and skinny to the 300WSM
Nothing wrong with the 270 W, but its not a big game round, that being the point of the video.
@@csjrogerson2377 see that is a matter of opinion. Winchester loads a 150 grain nosler at 2900 ft per second at the muzzle, which equates to over 2,000 foot pounds of energy at 300 yards and over 1600 foot pounds of energy at 500 yards. That is more than enough for large game.
@@csjrogerson2377 Have you ever read any of Jack O'Conner's writings? Have you Googled or watched any videos of big game hunting with a 270Win? Are you 8 years old?
"6.5 Creedmoor... can handle deer, moose and brown bear" One of the last cartridges I would choose to kill a brown bear.
Totally agree, would never pick up a 6 point anything to go after a grizz. For me 06 is the real deal. If I put down a moose (ring the grizz dinner bell) I want some stopping power in hand. Put 125 grain core lokt in the chamber and Vancouver Island deer drop easy.
for me to buy a 6.5 Creedmoor for hunting, it would have to be the only cartridge being produced.
Well if you were an excellent shot and your 300 yards out go ahead and use that 65 on the Brown Bear I’ve had him with 14 shells in the chest 35 caliber and diet my feet but you go ahead
@@tonycollinsworth7393 HAHA , Annyone taking a F ing little pop gun like the 6.5 NEDDMOOR after Griz or Brownies better have made their peace with God cuz your Gonna meet him Right after you end up in his Stomach. Know a guy that went for Griz and his friends laughed when he took a 340 weatherby mag with 210 gr nosler partitions .Came back and told them IF he,d taken the 270 win they recommended he,d be dead. Got into the thick stuff after a monster brown and the big bastard caught their wind and charged at 75 yards. Took all 3 210,s in the chest cavity plus one 375 H&H mag from the guide to stop him at their feet. Yeah go ahead take a 6.5 for big bears, NICE KNOWING YOU. LOL
MOOSE 🤣🤣🤣 also iv shot a white tail with my 300 winmag it did not split in 2 this guy is over exaggerating every caliber in here
I sure do love my tack drivin 270. Works great for any of the game I've hunted. With nosler partition bullets that is
.30-06 has been a good middle ground for me. Affordable and, until recently ammo is easy to obtain. A few Wyoming folks I know refer to the Creedmoor as the 6.5 manbun. 🤣
6.5 manbun...! I am still laughing. I call it the Cweedmo, but I think manbun is funnier
🤣🤣 I’m going to use that!🍻
Good one , I call it the 6.5 Needmoor.
LOL...6.5manbun...gonna steal that and use the shit out of it...308 and 300wm is all I need. Only reason for wm is a good $ deal that fell on my lap and it's nice to have delivery down range sometimes...still laughing at the 6.5 manbun
@@ryantyler2882 my go to for deer is the 308, I think its perfect. I also refer to the manbun as the 6.5 Needmoor.
7mm 08 is the equivalent of the 30/06 with bullets compared of equal sectional density and velocity. A 160 grain 7mm bullet has equal sectional density of a 308 caliber 180 grain bullet of similar construction.
I'm an old guy that's hunted big game for a long time. I have never met anyone that hunts with a .416 or a 375 H&H out side of Africa. The fact you left the 30.06 off the list also shows you don't shit about hunting cartridges.
I hunt in Australia and I use a 375 H&H!
.375 H&H best round for large game. Recoil is more like a shove than a kick. It is the best compromise for power and recoil. My favorite Elk round for the last 55 years.
375 Roger is just a step above the 375 H&H.......you should try it!
Sorry..Ruger 375.
My 5 best are for deer, sheep and caribou sized game , 25/ 06 , 280 rem. 308 win, For elk and large bears, 7mm rem mag and 30/ 06 with premium bullets.
I just spent three days at Dallas Safari Club talking to PHs and outfitter/guides from all over the world. Part of my repertoire is to ask what caliber(s) they are recommending to clients for respective game. Not one of them recommend using 6.5 Creedmoor on anything bigger than deer or antelope. They all consistently recommended a heavy .30-06 (180+ gr) or bigger (most of them) cartridges for all larger game. For distance shots, the .300 PRC appears to be winning favor over the trusted, .300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, and the .338s, calibers they have favored in recent years. Interestingly, many were specifically recommending heavy-bullet .30-06 for
The 6.5 is basically a hype up caliber designed for medium game. If you were a professional in the field, I definitely would not recommend this to caliber to my clients
Today's PUNKS will lie through your teeth to get attention.
I guided Alaskan Yukon moose & Brown bears hunts for 26 years.
People can use whatever they want but any fool to use a deer gun 30-06 on the largest of all types of moose the Yukon moose and 1500-pound dangerous coastal brown bears is a raving brain-dead lunatic!
I used 3 rifle in Alaska - 338-win mag using 225 grain Barns TSX bullets - 9.3x62 Mauser shooting 286 grain Barns TSX bullets - Weatherby Mrk 5 378 Wby mag shooting 300 Grain Barns TSX bullets.
Rifle in the 338 magnums is a minimum for Alaska hunting
@@Lure-Benson exactly what is the difference between the 9.3 * 62 Mauser and a 35 Whelen?,,, 35 Whelen being a necked up 30-06...
@@scottcooksey5284 The 9.3x62 Mauser case is 7 thousand larder in diameter.
The 35 Wheelen bullet weight ends at 250 grains where the 9.3x62 Mauser will use up to 325 grain bullets with the standard load is a 9.3 mm 286 grain bullet.
Morons on TH-cam will show reloading 30-06 into 9.3x62 Mauser which is dangerous depending on the type of rifle.
I wanted to see what happened using 30-06 brass for 9.3x62 Mauser, I got funky look swelled out case after turning 30-06 into 9.3x62 then firing the cartridge with the extra 7 thousand large case.
.308 and .30-06 are everywhere.
Before the current ammo craziness, you could pick up a box of either in any bait shop or walmart.
I'll give you the top 5. They are as follows 308 win. 30/06. 7mm Remington mag. 300 win mag and 338 win mag.
If you want to add a 6th it would be the 270 win.
Yes, I would start at .308 and go up from there. Bullet choice is a big factor, too. The 6.5 Creedmore is shooting target bullets, designed to keep it shooting flat out to long distances. Everything I've heard about Nosler partition bullets is good, but I have used and stand by Remington Core-Lokt. I have killed dozens of whitetails, and have found numerous bullets afterward that look just like in the advertisements, splayed out to twice the original diameter. Granted, almost any bullet properly placed will do the job.
I have a pair of Savage rifles from 1994 that are ported (both have a series of holes drilled in the last couple inches of the barrel). One is .30-06 and the other is .338 Win Mag. Those holes tame those rifles down like you would not believe. They do seem louder than others, but I hear that's what muzzle brakes do.
7mm Mag is pointless without a long barrel.
@@clintjohnson7023 unless you have a 26” barrel, there’s nothing you can do with a 270 that you can’t do with a 308.
Good choices. However the first three recommendations will kick the snot out of the average shooter’s shoulder. Personally I’d split the difference between the 300WM and 308 and go with a 30/06. If I was adding a 5th cartridge I choose the 25-06
I have a bull barrel Ruger Mark II (50 years old) in 25-06 and love it!
Ah come on, man up, get a .50 BMG, they have a shock absorber so felt recoil isn't to bad just don't let anyone stand in the muzzle blast.
@@russellkeeling4387 they are trying to kill the bear, not rip it in half lol. if you use a 50 bag, I guess you might as well go all the way and get a hollow point. the sucker is gonna pop like a balloon
You bet. Have a 25/06. Lights out on deer but NOT FOR ELK. I GOT A 7MAG FOR THAT CHORE.
@@twolak1972 is a 25.06 cl9se to a .243?
7mm Remington Magnum over the 6.5 Creedmoor hands down. Greater bullet weight range, very high BCs with higher-grain bullets resulting in better retained energy. Good for elk out to about 700 yards. My Sendero has shot right at .67-0.5 MOA with 140-180 grain bullets respectively. Some of the higher end 7mms could work here too. Downside - barrel life.
7mm mag is second to .338 mag,,,thats IT,,,,,,,,,,,,,,killed numerous Grizz and Moose with 7 mag,,,,,i use .338 mag when hunting Brownies
@@markgray6982 Ah just let the big cuddle bears be. They just want to drink, eat and rub their big fat tummies while lounging like all men do 😂. I couldn’t shoot one unless it was about to attack. I hunt for food not sport.
6.5 is not sufficient for moose or brown bear in my opinion. 7mm mag would be a far better mention.
I'll keep my 30-06 and 3030 they serve me well
My choice for a 5 round Big Game spread : 308, 7mmRM or 30-06, 300WM, 338WM, 375H&H.
Failing that, I used to have access to a Mk 6 turret which housed 2 x 4.5" guns. They fired a 48LB 'bullet' at 2400 fps. Dont ask me how many ftLbs of energy at the muzzle and the recoil would knock over a bus.
Could knock over a moose at 12 miles if you got within 50 yds of it. Or a house.
Too much overlap. If you have a 416 or a 375 then you don't need the other. If you have a 308 or a 6.5 Creed then you don't need the other. After more than 50 years of hunting in 13 different states and taking 68 species of game, I would go with the following:
5.56/223
308 Win
7mm Rem Mag
375 H&H
12 Ga slug gun
A good spread of weapons, but the question was big game, so I'm not sure 556/223 or 12ga slug really qualify - unless you're feeling really brave and get close up and personal.
@@csjrogerson2377 You're showing that you don't have much hunting experience. 223/5.56 is an effective round for smaller deer and pronghorn and millions of deer and black bear have fallen to a 12 ga and slugs. I have personally used both and your comment tells me you have not.
Notice this is my list and it is based on more than 50 years of hunting experience that includes 13 states, 3 Canadian provinces and 5 African safaris that has brought more than 200 big game animals to bag. You're free to use whatever you want.
@@retirednavy8720 Well you're certainly an experienced hunter and if the question was "which 5 weapons would you have for all circumstances", I would agree entirely. However one doesnt need to be a Jack O Connor or Bill Baldwin to answer the question, but you do need to understand the question which was about cartridges for large game. Are you sure roe and pronghorn are large game? I agree that black bear are large but you could also use a bow or a heavy calibre revolver but again, the exam question is about rifle cartridges. People in Alaska use 223/556 for everything and in the right circumstances it works, but would you pick it in a 5 cartridge spread for big game?
@@csjrogerson2377 Moron, I am not talking about Roe deer. I am talking about deer like the Southern Whitetails which will weigh about 120 lbs which is the same weight a good pronghorn will go. Deer, pronghorn, black bear etc... are considered big game in every state in the USA. The 5 that I picked (and I don't give a damn what you picked) are what I would use and with those 5 I can hunt every game animal on the face of the earth. I really do not care if you agree or disagree.
I base my selection on extensive personal experience and no internet fool like you is going to change my mind. What part of that is hard for you to grasp?
Yeah but I like it hit Buffalo hard 460 Weatherby 500 Nitro 577 Nitro hit them with a 750 grain bullet they look at you like what happened
My Fav Hunting calibers are 243 3030 30 06 and 308 three calibers on this list I never heard of but most Hunting rounds are hard to find but if you have a Rifle or Ar15 uses 233 or 556 or 308 ur find plenty of Ammo 🇺🇸🔫💥
.375 H&H is a great choice. .300 Win Mag is good too. Others are bordering on bad advice. What about the .338 Win Mag, 7 mm Rem Mag or the 9.3x62? You know, actual big game cartridges.
Remington 7 MM Magnum will shoot circles around some of the calibers you mentioned.
Glad you posted this, you’re dead on.
I have several rifle's in those caliber's, and they are all great. I've recently picked up a Winchester 50-110, my hand load's are getting between 5,500 and 6,440 ftlbs of energy. It's 67% more powerful than a 45-70 which I love. The most energy I've gotten from the 45-70 was around 3,500 ftlbs. I'm talking them both to Texas for African game and a couple of other rifle's depending on what game we go after. I do wear shoulder shield's for the 50-110 because it will rock your shoulder some. I just love lever action rifle's!
Interesting. My grandfather handed me down an 1886 in 50-110 a few years ago. It hasn't been shot since the 60's, according to my dad.
@@user-gp7ti1of7l I love Garrett ammo, I first learned about them several year's ago on the Gunblast channel. The one TH-cam channel Gunscom the one lady Kristen took an African water Buffalo with a Henry 45-70 and federal hammer down ammo. They didn't show the kill and I was wondering how far he went before he went down. I always want a clean humane kill. Thanks for reminding me about Garrett ammo
@@nt3523 that's cool, you need to shoot at least one time. Wear some shoulder shield's and get ready to call 911. ( Lol ).
30-06 IS by many shooters choice for most available ammo 150gr to 220gr bullets. Accuracy and killing punch. I'd prefer this to wm300 hands down. & I've been shooting 06 over 55 years. Affordable & available anywhere on north American continent.
The 30-06 is one of the most versitille loads out there. You can go light for whitetail or heavy for elk.
Interesting Video, I tend to agree with you, I was talking to my Brother in-law the other day and we were talking Rifle Calibers, I mentioned to him, that if I could have only one cartridge period, I would choose the 30-06 Springfield, for various reasons, but my favorite .30 cal. is the 30-378 Weatherby Magnum, for up to 2,000 lb game, It is currently the highest velocity .30 caliber factory ammunition available, It has set world records for accuracy including the first ten 10x in1,000 yards benchrest shooting, It is the most powerful in terms of energy -.30 caliber production cartridge and the flattest shooting .30 caliber available, maximum point blank range of over 400 yd and it retains enough energy for deer-sized game at distances over 1,000 yds and has enough retained energy for Elk and Moose-sized game at a distance of over 700 yds, Thanks for the video, subbed. 🇺🇸
You would be better off with the 338 - 378 Wby mag and Yukon Moose respond really bad to all 30 caliber bullets.
You start seeing a great differences in large animals dying faster shoot by a large bullet than 30 calibers
You can also use the 338 Norma - 338 XC and better know 338 Lapua .
In 338-win mag I use often a Winchester Model 70.
Shooting Yukon moose using any 30cal rifle in the 700-yard rage is stupidity.
It's not the speed it comes down to foot pounds of energy to kill these large animals .
I have 26 years guiding hunts in Alaska .
I am not questioning anyone's desire to own a magnum rifle and if you want one you should go ahead and get one. I do though question the need for one by anyone living in the lower 48 states.
The plain, old, humdrum, slow, ordinary 308 win. Is my favorite on the list because it just plain works.
I shot .30-06 all my adult life starting with the Garand in the Army. Never seen a need for anything else.
If nineteenth/twentieth century ivory hunter Karamojo Bell had a .30-06, he'd use 220 grain solids on elephants. He specialized in brain shots using various European military cartridges loaded with round nose full jacketed service ammo.
You can drive 240 grain Woodleigh solids at close to 2300 fps. The better sectional density will make it penetrate deeper and straighter. That being said, with a sectional density of .330, the 220 grain pill works, too.
@@georgesakellaropoulos8162 if you don't mind what's your full recipe for your 240 grain woodleigh at 2300 FPS?
@@scottcooksey5284 Work this up carefully and watch for signs of pressure. I use 54 grains of IMR 4350, Remington brass, and a CCI large rifle primer. This is ONLY what I use and not a suggestion that you do.
.30-06 will kill anything
I can't believe you said the 6.5 Creedmoor for Brown Bear. After living in Alaska for over 50 years and many hunts that statement has me laughing my ass off. I will stick to my 375 H&H.
It all depends on where and what your hunting for. Here in California, lots of open fields. Anything bigger than a mule deer then you plan accordingly but the .270 Win does the trick.
I always wanted to hunt my own meat to feel this sensation, wild food, but very complicated for me, because i live in Brazil.
Good information. Thank you
My personal top 3 for hunting are the following. Remington 700 CDL in 300 win mag for Elk, Moose & Brown Bear., Winchester modle 70 featherweight in 270 win for Elk, mule dear, White Tail, Wild Hogs & Antelope. Christensen Ridgeline in 243 win for varmints, Coyotes, White Tails & Antelope. These three are very fast, flat shooting and hit with more than enough energy to drop any game in North America.
Have a model 70 in .270. Been shooting for around 15 years now. I shoot 150 grain bullets and hasn't ever let me down. Nice flat shooting gun.
Excellent review very infomative, keep up the good work!
I am really happy that I have not invested into one round. The 6.8 western is just better than everything else. One gun to rule them all.
Ron spomer used a 6.8 western to take deer at 777 yards
I love the .308, you really can't go wrong with it. However consider the 7mm-08, which in my novice opinion after some study, is ballistacly superior. It has worked great for me on both mule deer and Elk in the past and doesn't hurt your shoulder.
Killed a ton of anything. 7mm-08 has never let me down
Those 308 and 7 mm-08 are east coast deer guns.
You come to the Pacific NW to hunt Roosevelt Elk or Black tail deer those East coast deer guns a hunting is going to be way under gunned to hunt the massive canyons and mountains we have here.
@@Lure-Benson I live and hunt in Utah and my 7mm-08 has never let me down even at the longer ranges we see here in the west.
The 6.5 Swede is very low recoil and is still doing it on everything from small deer to moose since 1890. All those 6.5s today are inspired from the Swede. I have two and are my favorite white tail round and they can reach out and touch you to as they say. My ruger 308 has mild recoil also ,y 30.06 I have taken more game with it than anything else. These new 6.5s are good rounds, that’s true! But gun makers do ave to find new ways to make money, so they copy the best, and in the end they do the same thing pretty well, after all how dead is dead.
Love my 30-06. Been using it for 40 years. No reason to change.
The velocity difference between the .308 and the. 30-'06 increases dramatically with heavier bullets designed for larger game.
I'm not clear from your post what you are suggesting. When I checked out Federal's ballistics for .308 vs 30-.06, both firing the exact same 180 grain bullets, the difference in velocity was less than 3%.
@@jamesprekeges2018 I handload, so modern factory ammo is probably different now. I bet if you pull the powder charges, they will probably be close to the same, possibly for ease of manufacture. Have you actually chronoaphed the loads in question?
@@georgesakellaropoulos8162 Well, handloading of course allows almost unlimited options. If I handloaded, I would try out 200 grain bullets for my .308, because I am a firm believer in slow-but-heavy and in actually hunting (getting close instead of shooting from hundreds of yards away). I have not chronographed the factory loads. But I even if one assumes that factory loads are not consistent (my results at the range would indicate that there is great consistency), one must likewise assume that the relative average should be highly similar.
Every time I hear someone say the 308 is just 100 FPS slower than the 30 06 I want to tell them how full of 💩 they are ! No cartridge list is complete without the 30 06 !
Don’t forget, the 30-06 has the capability to take anything down in North America. From 150 grain to 220 grain bullets, it will take down a brown bear, moose and the likes with proper shot placement.
Second, is the .458 Winchester which was left off the list. I think for African game, it’s more versatile for the biggest of animals and a better option than some of the other listed cartridges on this list.
I’m surprised that was omitted. The title said “big game”. Whitetails are medium game.
@@edwardhoward4708 Yup. And mule deer I’ve taken with a 62gr. 5.56. Usually I prefer my .243 for any and al deer.
@@edwardhoward4708deer are ‘big game’ in countries outside the states, particularly overseas *germany*. What I expect from this video is ‘best cartridge for everything from deer to polar bear.’ (They aren’t legal to hunt in the states, are in Canada.)
You guys and your 6.5 Creedmore Fad cartridge. I love to burst your bubble. The 270 Winchester can, does and will out do the 6.5 hands down. BALLISTIC FACT!!!!!!!. If you want me to show you I'd be happy to. And before you start pumping out the BC differences. Sorry Dude but that just don't hunt. Everyone has their opinions just like everything else. But with over 50+ years experience in this and dozens of other Ballistics experts have shown the 6.5 Creedmore just don't cut it, we know what we're talking about. And few Cartridges have shown to out do the old war Horse 30-06 For everything from Bears to Varmints.
If I can't kill something with my 30 06 I'm just gonna leave it alone.
Best cartridge is the one you are most comfortable shooting, of course placement is key despite caliber.
All perfectly good rounds but for me personally I’ll take my Savage model 110 chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum, it will do the job on anything on the North American continent and I’m fairly certain that it’s capable of taking game all over the world
Only if you have a very long barrel.
@@charlescole7532 a 28” barrel is plenty of length for a 7mm Remington Mag
Love my 7mm 110 savage. Beautiful flat shooting rifle. You have good taste
I shot plenty of Grizz with 7 mm mag,, but when Hunting Kodiak or Peninsula its .338 mag,,, you need a bigger bullet on Brownies. Jim Corbett hunting man-eaters in India started with a .275,,,then went to a .405 side by side. Tiger is the most dangerous game to Hunt,,listen to Jim's Hunts on u-tube,,,Awesome stories , and you wont find a Braver Man
Yup. 7MAG is one great cartridge
Nicely done. This discussion was about "Big Game" cartridges. I agree with your choices except for the 6.5 Creedmoor which I believe is not in the Big Game class of cartridges although 308 Winchester is. Thus, my conclusion is that 308 would be the smallest and between it and 300 Winchester Magnum, well, that would be a lively debate!
Hey, Mad! The best rifle for hunting big game is the rifle that you have, can shoot well, is powerful enough and love ❤! Accuracy is everything! Don't take a 30 Carbine Grizzly hunting! The 375 H&H along with the 375 Weatherby are easy and powerful enough for just about everything! Karamazov Bell used a 7x57mm and killed many elephants with single shots!
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. For me, it's the .300 Wby, .340 Wby, 30/378 Wby, .28 Nosler; all firing my chosen and developed handloads.
Although I own a variety of "big game" rifles in various chamberings, this covers all the bases I'm likely to touch when it comes to hunting. Besides, I don't have any plans for a $25,000 African big game hunt any time in the near future.
I did my AR 10 in 375 - 325 WSM for an AR 10 to match the 375 H&H mag only now I have that power in the AR 10.
The AR 10 is made in all of the WSM cartridges, and they can be ordered in 300 WSM from KaK industries or all of the WSM cartridges in the AR 10 from Accuracy Systems in Barrens Colorado
To build the AR 10 for any WSM you will need the Kak Industries magnum AR 10 bolt then rifle plus 2 " or 3" gas tube from White Oak Armament.
The rest of the parts are simple to round up.
Chamber reamers are at Pacifici tool & Gauge.
On TH-cam is an AR 10 in 458 WSM .
Now find ammo for them ! I can get 30-06 all day long !
@@brianfloyd5925
Actually, I've been "finding" the perfect ammo for all of my rifles and handguns in the powder, bullets, cases, and primers I've been adding to my reloading bench for the past thirty plus years. That includes a couple rifles chambered in 30-06. Incidentally, ammo is usually available for them. Go online, you'll see. I've always preferred to roll my own instead of buying off the rack. Glad you can "find" all the 30-06 you can shoot.
@@bustabass9025 amen brother, I've been stockpiling components for years now. I can load for my 300 win, 30-06, 257wby, 6.5cm, 250 Savage for the next generation. I look at ammo prices and people looking for triple price ammo and just thank God I took an old fellers advice and learned to hand load and horde components 🤔
I’ve used most everything from 357-338 win mag. Honestly i use a .223, 6.5cm and .270 more than anything. If it’s going to be a long shot I have a 7mag.
Outstanding video
Simply Outstanding
Very nice >>>>> Thank you
I recently got a 6.5 Creedmoor not very long ago. I haven’t got a chance to sight it in or plink with it yet, but I’m confident it will be a lot of fun.
Well said my friend!
Thanks Guys
Great video take Care
Browning Xbolt is a very light and accurate 300 win mag package......doesn't damage whitetail too much if you place the shot right
Don't know about others, but I've never considered white tails as "big game".
I think the three short .30 mags. are some real good options the .300 rcm the .300 saum and the .300 wsm. All will deliver a 165-180gr. bullet 2800-3000 fps. all in a short action rifle. I own the .300 rcm and it is a very handy rifle (.300 rcm in guide gun configuration) but I will say 7mm-08 in a takedown blr would be very hard to beat.
Madman made the right picks on this one.
I love my Sako 30-06 with calibrated Leopold custom scope. It will kill any animal in North America. Probably one of the most versatile calibers.
This video earned Madmen a "Do Not Reco" with YT.
I will happily admit I am a fudd when it comes to hunting calibers. My deer/elk/bear/moose generally fall to 243 win, 308 win, 30-06.
I have only once fallen for "new calber-itis," the 6.8 Western. I have three rifles in it, including a custom barreled Tikka T3x Ember. Love it. Shoots flat, hits a ton, and costs me $.98/round to handload.
Ben hunting with a 30-06 for 4 years and my 7mm magnum for 31 years and all my big game animals have all ben under 300 yrds. I am set up for taking game out to 1,000 yrds but not ethical hunting.
And all hv dropped with one shot kills instantly wear they stood.😁👍🙏
I was getting 4012 ftlbs of energy out of my 300 win mag with a 22inch barrel also 3006 is beating 308 by about 340 ftlbs of energy but both are awesome
Interesting and informative 🇯🇲
I like the .280 Rem. You can change bullets types and grains to to pretty much work on anything on North America.
I use a .308 for whitetail deer hunting in N.C. I have had people say that is overkill but those people have never killed a deer 😅
For big game hunting around the globe I'd go with 458 Lott, 375 H&H, 300 PRC, 28 Nos, 240 Weatherby Mag. These should cover any of the big game critters big to small.
I would change the 375 H & H to the 375 Weatherby but otherwise agree.
Ive only ever knocked a bull moose down in 1 shot with my pabas 308 once i like the 30-06 better ill pick it everytime all the time
My dad used to tell a story of a time he and a buddy went up into Canada fishing. They hired an Indian guide. He tossed a rusty Remington Nylon 66 into the boat. WHen they asked him what it was for, he said, "In case we see a moose."
"What do you mean?"
"We see a moose in the water, we'll go up alongside and shoot him in the head."
"That works with a .22? What if the moose doesn't die?"
"We go back up to him, shoot him in the head again."
What defines big game? Big game in my book is elk, or elk size. For me, my custom 338 RUM, topped with Barnes TSX and TTSX. One and done...
I've been hunting griz for over 150yrs now with my daisy .177 break barell .
Haven't had a problem
The first cartridges you suggested are African calibers.The 416 Rigby,375 H&H,and the 300 win mag for plains animals.Then there is the 308 which is in my opinion a 350 yard deer gun.Then the 6.5 Creedmoor which is a good round.
But the 270 is available in a far wider range of rifles and availability of ammo from trusted brands like Federal,Hornady and Winchester Supreme.
For a good little deer gun that has enough power to take moose at 350 to 400 yards if necessary,its all most hunters need.
I like the 300 win mag,but if I was hunting deer and not much else would use a 270 loaded with 130 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip.I will only shoot the 300 with a fiberglass stock in a Winchester Extreme.Its the only 300 that I can comfortably shoot,and be extremely accurate,1 inch groups at 100 and less.
Old boy was shooting a 127 extended range LRx.For that spotter gaged 660 yard shot on a bull elk on the side of the mountain
I agree with factory ammo .308 is not much weaker than the 30-06. But if you handload, you can get close to FACTORY .300 mag performance with the right powder and 190 grain bullet. Obviously the .300 can be handloaded much higher
Love my 308, but hope to have a 375 H&H next season.
Just a suggestion. Look into the 375 Ruger instead of the H&H. Better balistically and ammo cheaper and more readily available. I bought a Mossberg Patriot, cerakoted stainless steel for under $400 new, and, with the Hornady 270 gr dangerous game soft points at 2,850 fps, I get regular 3/4" groups, 3 shot, at 100 yds.
I don’t ever add comments but fellas, do not hunt a BROWN BEAR with a 6.5 Creed…
If I could afford Africa and could have only one rifle, I would choose the .416 Rigby. 1) flat enough trajectory for plains game, 2) perfectly adequate and legal for elephant, Cape buffalo, Etc., 3) more likely to find spare ammo available in Africa, been around for a century.
For North America, I'll stick with .30-06. Shooting it all my adult life, intimately familiar with it, choice of bullets suitable for deer up to Kodiak bear, and of course, most importantly, I got one.
My 5 with options- 243/6mm creed for smaller game, women or kids that can’t handle recoil, 7-08/308/6.5prc the short action step up, 270 win/6.8 western/280 ai… the everything cartridge, 300 win mag/wsm/7prc elk/moose bear if you want something more, 338 win mag/375 H&H if your a sadist and want a thumper or are hunting brown bears. I’ve heard the go to for specifically brown bears is the 300 rem ultra with bullets over 200-212 gr.
I got a buddy who’s in the sniper section for the army national guard, he’s long used 6.5 creed and introduced me to the round. I’d argue that his ruger precision had less recoil than my TC encore .243
Yes, the necked down .308 (your .243) holds more powder than the modified .30 T/C that became the .264/6.5 Creed. And it has higher velocity. Almost all 6.5’s seem to have less recoil because they are usually only loaded to hit 2700fps with long accurate boat tail bullets.
Let’s start with the 416 rem....
Well you really don’t need this round!!
But if you have it you don't need anything else.
Have not seen any 308 amo in Colorado for over 2 years.
Along with 30-06, and the others you mentioned.
I cannot fault your selections, they will do the job. I would replace the NATO round……and the old .270 would replace the designer Creedmore. Go for a best 10 or 15 list for big game ammo….then most of us be happy. Thanks
.257 wby. - Been living and hunting the west for over a decade and it's always been more than sufficient from coyotes to moose. Reasonable recoil, flat trajectory and handloads make it economical enough.
Love my .270 win and 6.5 CM, in fact I sold my .308 and .300 win mag because just didn’t feel the need keep them since all I hunt with a firearm is whitetail and black bear.
Did he say 3 ought 8 ?? So much for madman knowing his shit.
it doesn't matter if he said 3 ought 8 or 308 we all know it's the same cartridge. I've heard old timers say ought 8 or ought 6 we all know what they are...no one really cares.....
@@kellystewart10
Are you sure because Im pretty sure he meant six and a half creed.
I use a 338-06 Ackley Improved 210 grain bullet 2900 fps…real thumper
For what, elephants? I've shot multiple moose, numerous elk, tons of many different kinds of deer, antelope, sheep, goats, bears, 85% of all North American Game, all with a little peashooter that's a 7mm 08 with a 140 grain accubond or partition. Does it make you feel cool or something, or is it just stupidity and ignorance? Just curious...
@@jerrymcleod9119 yeah, it makes me feel cool, because I am both stupid and ignorant, not everyone can be Jerry McLeod…maybe when I grow up.
One of the best, if not the best .30-'06 based wildcats. Possible exception is the. 35 Whelen just because it's very efficient as far as powder burned to energy output is concerned, and yes, I realize it's not a wildcat anymore.
@@georgesakellaropoulos8162, I agree. When you get up into that elk-&-larger territory, .338 & .35 are very good performers, & the '06 case is about the handiest to handle them. I know a Colorado elk hunter who got a .338 A-Square(commercial label of .338-06), & was so impressed, he sold his .30-06 to his brother.
It’s clear that the most liked big-game calibers in America are the .308 Winchester and the .30-06 Springfield, but it’s a very good selection of ammunition. Anyway:
1. The correct title for the video is “TOP 5 Best Cartridges for Big-Game AMERICAN Hunters”!
By the same criteria europeans will normally prefer their own traditional metric ammo as the 9.3x74R, the 8x68S, the 7x64 Brenneke, the 7x57 Mauser.
2. What big-game? What style of hunting? It came up a bit of a salad.
Greetings from Brazil.
what are your thoughts on a gewher 98 with 7.92x57 with 198gr for moose
30.06 with 180 grain gmx bullets. Bolt action.
I have a few rifles for deer. 270, 308, 257, 3030 & 35. I use them all, just depends where I'm hunting.