I concur, or .454 get’er done Casull.




Ntxtrapper, you mentioned TPWD regulations on hunting. If I’m ever limited to one caliber, laws will be last thing on my mind.

Don't forget the Ruger 77/357. Also, if you fancy a semi auto pistol, you can pony up and get a coonan. 357 has always been my favorite cartridge. I have multiple revolvers, leverguns, a break open rifle, a bolt action rifle, and a semi-auto all in 357. The only thing you can't do with it is shotgun. Well, not effectively. You can load snake shot. But that's not effective past a few yards.

12-gauge shotgun. Serves well for both personal protection and for taking wild game.

Yes, it is.

These answers are insane but I guess thats because its an insane question. Rifle, pistol and shotgun are normally used for such different purposes its really an impractical question. Somebody start one about just one "rifle" cartridge and it becomes a little more manageable.

Well, I did title it "absurd", so I don't disagree with you.

The one, the only, 30-06

The benchmark that all other calibers are measured by.

6.5 CM of course

The answer is largely dependent on what a person plans on doing for his hunting career.

A person who only hunts smaller game or hogs can be well served with a .357 or .22 mag, but if you hunt elk or Mule deer you might as well carry a baseball bat. African game is largely out.

I would imagine 180 gr hard cast approaching 1800fps out of a rifle would work with Elk too. Not the most effective, but in a pinch, why not? I would want to be close though. Like bow range close.

I like the responses so far. Another fun topic.

I go 223. Would be the most versatile for my needs.

Volquartsen made the 22 Mag threaded barrel as a special request from me. I have never seen another one.

I was actually looking at those 77/22M with the Zytel stock today GB whoa boy have those gone through the roof. Definitely inspiration and something I want but don’t know if I want it for $1500+ lol.

if you kept your shots real close and held for the neck, I'm certain it would work. But not a lot of margin for error, really quite a bit less than using a bow. And you can only get that close during certain times of the year with any certainty

Admittedly, I've never hunted elk, but that load will pass through a big pig diagonally, so penetration is there.

If I didn't already have one, I'd buy one for that all day.

An elk is tougher than an pig and go a long, long way very quickly.

If that was all a person had and the tumblers line up right, you could make it work, but it’s on the south side of less than ideal.

African game?

https://seismicammo.com/product/2-5-oz-12-gauge-slug-single-box/

Easy…12 gauge. Can be used effectively for everything (bird and big game hunting, protection and recreational shooting).

The upcoming Petersens AMMO SIP (special interest publication) actually asked this ? to a bunch of us industry professions and trainers. We were asked "if you could only have one caliber and one load for the rest of your life?". They stipulated that we could have as many guns and as much ammo as we wanted.

My pick was 300 HAM'R with 125gr Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos ammo.

Watch for it on newsstands soon

If the idea is that we can have as much ammo as wanted, as in cost is not a factor, then I'd change mine to 6.5 grendel.

The 300 ham'r does seem like an excellent choice for my needs other than longer distance target shooting.

One caliber only- that's an easy answer. 300 Win Mag, hands down everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.

hahah, go big or go home! love it

Yup, but with the right components that big one can be loaded for many uses. Haven't looked at it in years but 30-30 level to full throttle loads are pretty easy.

I'd have to pick something 30 cal because of the wide variety of bullets...125's all the way to 200+ grainers.

For that reason...I'd prolly pick a 300wsm...not to big, not too small...it's "just right"