I say this because it was instilled in me during my Army days. I never was a sniper, but always shot 34-36 out of 36 during M-16 A1 qualifications.

30-30 marlin! 165 grain leverevolution! all you need. learn how to stalk, and learn how to place shots well.

I would have to choose the .375 Holland and Holland Magnum. It shoots relatively flat, hits hard, and is legal for use on all big game anywhere.

The Marlin has been my drug of choice for over 40 years. Not the ultimate by any means, but I can't begin to come up with a round count, and it's the one I'm most familiar with.

That said, if I had to pick one rifle / caliber to go up against anything on this continent (or anywhere else), I'd opt for a Marlin in .45-70. Standard factory loads are pretty well neutered, but still adequate for deer, hogs, and the like. If I'm going after dangerous game, there's always the Garret 540gr Hammerheads. I figure if they're adequate for cape buffalo, they'll stop anything I want to stop. Range is limited, but as I said, I'm a levergun guy, and not really interested in shots beyond 300 yards in any case.

If I could keep only one rifle, it would be my 300Wby. My second choice would probably be my 7mmMag.

i'd like to see you sneak up and shoot a kodiak bear with a 165 grain bullet outta a 30-30.

I'll start planning your eulogy now.....

Why not, people shoot bear, moose and elk with a bow at 250 ~ 400 FPS, what's wrong with a 165 grn out of a .30 cal rifle.

These caliber debates are too funny.
Not that long ago folks killed with spears or sticks and string at close range. Guess the aminals got tougher and meaner over the years.
My caliber will kill better than your caliber, my bullet is better than yours, my truck is faster and will haul more than yours, my daddy can beat up your daddy.

I bet you had a slow tricycle when you were a kid.

a broadhead kills by blood loss thru razor sharp edges, not shock and internal trauma like a bullet.


while were at it, go try and kill a cape buffalo with your 30-30 too, see how long you'll last doing that.




a long time ago a fellow named robert ruark wrote a book........it's called "use enough gun".



maybe you should pick it up and browse thru it awhile

BTW you better check the state you plan on hunting in most deer the minimum is .244 but Elk and bigger game aren't the same.

"while were at it, go try and kill a cape buffalo with your 30-30 too, see how long you'll last doing that."

Well, the measly little .30-30 sure seemed to do a number on the American Bison herds. I doubt that too many who have responded will be going after the cape buffalo anytime soon or often. If they did, they'd be hard pressed to find a better gun to take than a Marlin 1895, stuffed with hammerheads or exiters.

The OP didn't mention killing cape buffalo nor did I.

Read it, its just like any other book on the subject.

He was a newspaper journalist / author that wrote a fictional series for field and stream loosely based on hunting with his grandfathers as a kid.

The book you mention was based on two African safaris, mostly born of poetic license and fiction to sell books.
He was no expert, great hunter or outdoors man.
He was a notorious drunk and died at the age of 50 from severe alcoholism. He just so happened to have the ability to capture and profit from a less informed audience with his writing style.

If you view the mostly fictional memoir's of drunk as some kind of expert on guns and hunting, I guess I see where you're coming from,

The 30-30 was introduced in 1895, by then most of the American Bison had been hunted to near extinction. I doubt the 30-30 Win. killed many buffalo. The most sought after buffalo gun was the Sharps 50-90.

For you boys that are THAT serious 50 BMG is the only choice.

I'm thinking .300 win mag, those Kodiak bears get huge and mean!! IF it was'nt for big bears one could get by with smaller round!!

I respect you and commend you for your service to this country and your acheivments with the M-16 are expert no doubt. I was just saying that was a general statement about being able to hit your target at many ranges without employing much of the science and math, that many of us choose to do, in an attempt to be a more accurate and ethical hunter. Again not calling you out just expessing my stance on the subject.

Happy Hunting!

30-378wby.... wouldn't ever want to take a pellet gun into a cannon fight.

30-06 or 308

.30-06 Can take down anything and can find the ammunition anywhere.

If he's across the canyon, I am going to shoot at him several times with a 308 before he eats me.

If grizzlies and big bears are included I would have to go with the 338 Win. mag. Without the big bears I would take a good old 270 or 30-06 for everything else.

30-30 165 grn round is perfectly capable of taking any north american animal. if you do your job with shot placement, it will do kill. it is not a 300 yard plus round, but if you have to be 300 plus yards away to kill the animal, they you are not a hunter. at that point, you are a shooter, and i dont want to be a shooter. i want to be up close and personal.

30-06 nuff said

Amen, but I will take a 30-06...

-ww

People shoot them with arrows and I will take my chances with the 30-30 over a arrow any day!