I like the 30-06 for both Elk and Mule Deer. My rifle shoots 165 grain remington corelokt ammo very nicely so I stick with that for both.
Dave

I used to shoot a 7 mag for many years, but gave it to my grandson and have a TC Encore 30-06 and I have been real happy with it. My wife also shoots an '06 and we also use 165 gr. Nosler for elk, deer and bear. Hard to beat it unless you're after Alaskan Griz.

Pap

Honestly, I am a Traditional Bowhunter, so my caliber would be a 30" Arrow with a 200grn Broadhead at the end, My Recurve launches it a 160 FPS.....

However, for Gun Hunting I am a 45/70 Guy..... The reason is it can be, on the low end a 300grn 1100 FPS Deer Rifle, or it can be a 415 Hardcast Lead 2200fps Grizzly killing machine. Also, in a Survival Sit, straight wall cases are easier to reload, just ask the Buffalo Hunters from years past. I know the Trajectory is like a Rainbow, but I'm good to 150-200 with mine and Ghost Ring Sights.

Personal Protection, it's .45 all the way , and my AR.

I have a Browning replica 1886 Winchester in 45-70; added a peep and it's good to go. One of my favorites.

Pap

In north Alabama, the deer are small and the shots are short. I use a Ruger 96/44. I have to admit, the caliber that I seem to have the most luck with is the Ford F150.

I also have a Marlin 444c with peep sites that works well. It seem that I see more deer by "jumping them" than I do waiting for them. The Marlin .444 just seems overkill for this area.

As I pack for Saturday's start of WI whitetail season my choice is the .308. Used 3 to dial in my Tikka, plan on using one more for the big old buck that has eluded me for 5 yrs:) Thanks to Capt. Chris for getting a #18 to me in time for clearing my shooting lanes. Old Win. 94/30-30 packed for back up duty.

I have to agree with Roy Weatherby---The .257 Weatherby Magnum is the ultimate North American game caliber.

I'd have to agree that it would take everything but a Griz. Even then if shot in the throat, a Griz would go down.

Pap

The .257 Weatherby Magnum - it is an awesome cartridge. I have always wanted one.

But lately, I've been into old School Western Canadian cartridges -the .303 British and the 44-40.

Cheers,

Alan Grombacher
RKS#5531
RKCC-CMI-010

I am bush pilot in the basin of the Orinoco River and the Amazon state of Venezuela. I usually fly a Cessna 185.
From a young age I accompanied my father to Jaguar hunting (was legal at the time), He show me how to use a rifle combination, especially drillings (shotgun/ rifle of three barrel) at that time (years 60s and 70s) I used a Colt Sauer 12-12/30-06. Now I use a sweet Ferlach 16-16/ 9.3 x74R, is a bit heavier than the Colt Sauer but has removable telescopic sight. The advantage of using combination rifles is that in case of emergency you can hunt anything from doves to water buffalo. Today my friends prefer to use 12 Ga. shotguns or 22 L.R. rifles. I still prefer the 9.3 x74R, because it is very versatile. Today I have an "express" Browning over / under at 9.3 x74R that I enjoy a lot.