Hunting caliber for Arizona

scorn · February 27, 2002, 05:40 PM

I want to buy a general purpose hunting rifle for Arizona. Game there includes coyote, javalina, antelope, couse deer, mule deer, other deer?, pig, and cow elk. (I am not going to try to find a caliber that works on all those and bull elk. If I get a coveted bull elk tag, I will buy a rifle just for that).

I was hoping that a .308 would work well for most of those game from antelope and deer, up to cow elk.

The largest animal I really expect to hunt with .308 is the mule deer. Will the .308 work well on antelope and deer, and drop the larger mule deer well?

I will specialize more later and buy other rifles but for now I want one that will cover most of those. I also have a .223 for the smallest game, like javelina and coyote etc.

C.R.Sam · February 27, 2002, 06:58 PM

.308 will take em all.

You must do your part tho, same with any caliber.

Sam

Art Eatman · February 27, 2002, 08:21 PM

Be a good thing to either take up reloading, or make friends with somebody who does. Factory ammo is sorta rough on javelina, allowing only a head shot.

165- or 180-grain on deer; 180- or 200-grain on elk. 110-grain for Ol' Wiley.

Art

Paul B. · March 2, 2002, 02:54 PM

Scorn. A 195 pound Mule deer, range 427 paces, rifle, Remington 660, caliber, .308 Win., bullet 150 gr. sierra. One shot, one deer.
If you compare the .308 with the 30-06, with equal barrel lengths, the .308 averages only about 100 FPS less than the 30-06. I dare anyone to say that a well placed shot wither either won't do in, even a big bull elk when using the proper bul;lets and reasonable ranges.
Paul B.

February 27, 2002, 05:40 PM	#1
scorn Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2000 Posts: 139	Hunting caliber for Arizona I want to buy a general purpose hunting rifle for Arizona. Game there includes coyote, javalina, antelope, couse deer, mule deer, other deer?, pig, and cow elk. (I am not going to try to find a caliber that works on all those and bull elk. If I get a coveted bull elk tag, I will buy a rifle just for that). I was hoping that a .308 would work well for most of those game from antelope and deer, up to cow elk. The largest animal I really expect to hunt with .308 is the mule deer. Will the .308 work well on antelope and deer, and drop the larger mule deer well? I will specialize more later and buy other rifles but for now I want one that will cover most of those. I also have a .223 for the smallest game, like javelina and coyote etc.

March 2, 2002, 02:54 PM	#4
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,935	Scorn. A 195 pound Mule deer, range 427 paces, rifle, Remington 660, caliber, .308 Win., bullet 150 gr. sierra. One shot, one deer. If you compare the .308 with the 30-06, with equal barrel lengths, the .308 averages only about 100 FPS less than the 30-06. I dare anyone to say that a well placed shot wither either won't do in, even a big bull elk when using the proper bul;lets and reasonable ranges. Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

February 27, 2002, 06:58 PM	#2
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	.308 will take em all. You must do your part tho, same with any caliber. Sam

February 27, 2002, 08:21 PM	#3
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Be a good thing to either take up reloading, or make friends with somebody who does. Factory ammo is sorta rough on javelina, allowing only a head shot. 165- or 180-grain on deer; 180- or 200-grain on elk. 110-grain for Ol' Wiley. Art