Most versatile caliber for North America?

[nvarcher]

I would say it's a .300 Win. Mag. as you can shoot as low as a 110 grain bullet, and up to a 220 grain bullet with plenty of knockdown power for even an Alaskan Brown.

[Montana]

Only down fall to the .300 Win Mag is cost of ammunition. I am a WSM fan big time, everything I own. The 270 wsm is one heck of a caliber, just a bit light for some of the larger game. So I would have to say the most versatile caliber is the 7wsm, a step down from the cannon. But just like everything else in the hunting world, from shoes, jackets, sleeping bags to guns. It's only time before you realize that one is not enough. You just about have to have a couple items for different scenarios. So pick what you want to hunt the most and go with that first. Then over the years you will want to pick up something on the other end of the spectrum.

[Bitterroot Bulls]

When you say North America, including AK, I would say any .338 magnum.

[Full Draw]

My vote goes to the 300 mag. You can somewhat bypass the cost by re-loading your own. Close 2nd is the 7mm. mag. great all around gun.

[sjsmallfield]

I am all for the 300 win mag but I wouldn't hesitate to say the 30-06 it is pretty tough to beat for an all around round. The rounds are pretty cheap also and have taken everything in North America.

[Colorado Cowboy]

I hunted with a 30-06 for lots a years and took a lot of game with it, but I am a big fan of the WBY .300 Mag. The ballistics in my handloads are wonderful, I use it on anything I hunt larger than deer. Everything else (deer, antelope, hogs, sheep), I use my 25-06. But I am sure my .300 will do a great job with lighter bullets for the smaller stuff, but why waste all that powder, my .25 gets them just as dead!

[AvidHunterAbe]

Since I believe you can never have too much gun....Id run a 300 Remington Ultra Mag. Will knock down anything, can eaisily be built to shoo 1k yards and you can buy a Sendero, float it, nice trigger and it will shoot a loooooong ways!

[Pronghorn73]

Colorado Cowboy, Hey whats a good hand load for the .300 Wby. mag for elk? I just picked one up this year and so far I love it! I too have used a 30-06 for many years and it has served me well.

[Bitterroot Bulls]

I always ran a 200 gr. Accubond over RL25 in my 300 Wby. I don't remember the exact load, but it was right at max. It was an excellent combo, and I killed my biggest bull with it.

I am also interested in what loads Colorado Cowboy runs.

[Colorado Cowboy]

Colorada Cowboy, Hey whats a good hand load for the .300 Wby. mag for elk? I just picked one up this year and so far I love it! I too have used a 30-06 for many years and it has served me well.

I use 180 gr. Nosler Partition, Reloader 25 powder and magnum primers. My rifle ( a custom commercial mauser, B & C comp stock, Shilen SS match bbl) likes 86.5 grs. Sierra Game King 180 BT also shoot well, but the partitions group slightly better. Both do sub minuite groups out to 500 yds. Rifle is topped with a Leupold VXIII 4 x 14 40mm with a custom ballistic turret from Leupold matched to my load.
I plan on working up a 150 gr. load in case I ever get a sheep tag.