What caliber would you choose?

[hornedfrog]

My vote is for .25-06. Many rifles in the safe to choose from, but I usually go to .300 win mag or .25-06. I have shot yotes out to 550 yards and many hogs (most hogs were at around 300 yards) with 2 different .25-06. Never had a hog travel more than a couple of yards after a broad side chest shot with thw .25-06. And I AM NOT a crack shot. I recently bought a Tikka T3 for a little more than $500 brand new in .25-06. After 5 shots it was shooting clover leaves at 100 yards off of sand bags. Dont, get me wrong it love many of the other calibers listed above. .308 is a fine caliber (have a few of them), .257 weatherby is great (ammo is not cheap or easy to find), .257 roberts is basically a slower .25-06 and ammo is harder to find, and the .243 would be great as well and the ammo is easy to find and very affordable. (to be honest I am currently looking for a .243 remington model 7). Just my $0.02.

[SCOUT1]

I bow hunt exclusively!

[Raleigh]

With the new managed recoil loads Remmington has out I would choose the 30/06 if I could only have one gun. The light weight rounds would be easy to shoot for kids then you could load up with 180 gr bullets and knock down anything in North America.

30/06 is not sexy but is one heck of a veristal weapon.

[chester12]

I am not sure about the elk part, but I love the 25-06 for kids. I have seen several large rams taken with a single shot from a 25-06 that dropped straight on the spot to never get up again.

[SOLID EAGLE]

.270

[MarlinMears]

I hate to agree with Mag but I have seen the 7mm-08 bring down some big African animals, while being shot by a 100lb girl! I want one now. It did have a muzzlebrake on it and was built it to her frame. Watched her drop a blue wildbeest in it's tracks with 140grain bullet.
I love my 270 and 30-06 too.

[WyoHunter]

Considering your requirements I would choose, in order, the .260 Remington, .25-06, 7mm-08. All have sufficient power and recoil is not bad.

[brenth]

i think a .260 or 7mm-08 or 25-06 would be perfect in situations around here as far as elk i wouldnt use at long ranges but close range would be ok

[txdukklr]

another vote for 25-06 everything i've shot with one died right there and didn't kick a bit.

second choice is 30-06

[grizzlyman]

7mm-08 if you are limited to one rifle.

If you can buy two, 30-06 and 243. In my family, those calibers have accounted for a lot of deer.

[bowfishin fool]

i have a 7mm a .270 a 30-06 and a .243
i would get rid of all but the .270. remington 700 bolt with built in mag
it has done good on everything i have shot. hits a baseball 200yds (off a bench)
and have knocked deer dead up to 300
i can take it anywhere, i have banged it to crap and it is still dead on.
but when i first got the gun it kicked like a mule. so i had it glass beaded and refloated the barrel, and now i can put a box through without even feeling it.
the .270 is also a readily available round that is found everywhere, and isnt pricey.
have seen many elk deer hogs yotes axis... taken with this gun.
even shot a rabbit just to see if i could do it and hit dead on at 175 yds.
imho a 270 really would do all the thing s you want and can move on with the kids. also the rem 700 has been the most accurate and dependable hunting model for over 30 years

[HandiKap Bowhunter]

270 with 130 grain dont kick all that bad. My wife shoots mine and it is synthetic stock. My dads Remington with the wood stock is a beast and doesnt kick all that hard with the 150 grain bullets.

[dcrow]

Limbsavers makes good products to help reduce recoil

Limbsaver makes excellent recoil pads. I have one on my muzzleloader and with 150 grs of powder it is still comfortable to shoot.

[jjake]

I had my 11 yr old daughter shoot my 308 and 7mm-08 at the range prior to hunting this past year. She was more comfortable with the 308 and shot better than most of the guys on the range. Granted the 308 was a Savage 12BVSS and is heavy. The string on the right were 147gr FMJ surplus.

This year she will be shooting a Sako Forrester 243 using 95gr Fusion.

[kornsqueezer]

30/06 Is the only Deer type rifle I have ever used.