most popular caliber for mule deer and elk

[Paradude54]

I'm not interested in what the best caliber is necessarily, but what everyone is using out here for mule deer and elk. I'm adding a poll, so feel free to vote. I don't know if it'll let you vote for more than one, but if not then please post to the thread with your advice or if there's something that's not in the poll then please post it and let me know.

Thanks

[MarkCO]

I hunted with a .30-06 for 20 years, but switched to the .338-06 about 5 years ago. I was shocked you had it in the poll. Of the group I hunt with there is 1 7mm Mag, 1 .300 Win Mag, 2 .338-06s and 3 .30-06s.

[USMC88-93]

Completely irrelevant to you poll but everyone I hunt with uses 7mm STW

[GreenScoutII]

I don't think a guy can go wrong with a .30-06. Very versitle caliber, plus it sounds cool to say.

[SA Friday]

I voted other. I've used 7mm Rem Mag and 300 Win mag and 30-06. I take which ever one tickles my fancy at the time, but I think it's pretty hard to beat my 7mm mag.

[theGinsue]

When I was looking for a good hunting rifle 21 years ago, my dad told me that since I was only looking to get one gun at the time, the best "all around" big game cartridge was the .30-06 (very versatile). I've used it on all sorts of big game across the country and haven't been disappointed once. Of course, I've picked up a few different caliber big game rifles over the years but I still use that same old Ruger M77 left-handed bolt in .30-06 as my primary "gun of choice".

[Paradude54]

The 7mm STW hadn't even occurred to me. I'm only vaguely familiar with it and I don't think that I've ever seen a gun chambered in that cartridge, unless it was just sitting in a gun rack at a gun shop somewhere.

The reason for not including the 7mm Rem Mag and .300 Win Mag is because I just don't care for belted cases. I'm not saying that there's anything at all wrong with them, it's just a personal preference.

Thanks for all the input so far. By the way, the .338-06 was included because it's one of the guns that I happen to have. I built it on a Remington 700 action with a Sako extractor, completely blueprinted it and chambered it myself and then made a nice stock out of American walnut, my first stock and it actually turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. All of the metal is highly polished and rust blued with a jeweled bolt. The bad part though is that I've yet to use it on a hunt! Something that I intend to change in the near future, but at the moment I still live in Tennessee most of the year and it's a bit much for a whitetail deer; unless you want to field dress it at the same time.

[Bowtie]

I shoot 300 Weatherby now. I have hunted deer and elk with .243, 30-06, and .338 but .300 Weatherby shoots hard and flat. I shoot factory ammo so I have found this is a good round for me. If I was going to buy a new elk and muley gun I would probably buy a 300 rem Ultra Mag. I hunt late seasons and on public land, so far shots (200 yds +) are the norm.

[SA Friday]

The reason for not including the 7mm Rem Mag and .300 Win Mag is because I just don't care for belted cases. I'm not saying that there's anything at all wrong with them, it's just a personal preference.

Good. Makes my brass easier to find. Stay away from the RL-22 too.

[Dryfli]

I hunted for a long time with the good old 30-06 but this past season picked up a ruger m77 in 7mm mag and I wont be changing back. I really like how flat it shoots I took a 6x6 elk and it dropped him