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Hurteau: .30-06 Wins National Whitetail Cartridge Championship

April 09, 2010

Hurteau: .30-06 Wins National Whitetail Cartridge Championship

The polls are closed. There are no hanging chads (WA Mnthunter). And we have a winner. You can still argue the point at deer camp if you want, but on this site the old .270 vs .30-06 debate is over. The longstanding question is answered, once and for all. And the .30-06 is our National Whitetail Cartridge Champion

With a final score of 57 percent to 42 percent,* it wasn’t even all that close. It started out tight, but as the ’06 fans began making their points—better versatility, longer history, more bullet options—the old military vet started pulling away. By the time someone finally got around to the most salient point: “Aught-6. Just because I like to say the word “Aught” (Papa B.),  you knew it was over. How you going to argue with that?

The winners may gloat. Those of you who voted for the .30-06 may from this point forward refer to it simply as The Champ. (“I just picked up a mint pre-64 Model 70 chambered in The Champ.”) As for .270 fans, your favorite whitetail cartridge will now be known on this site as The Runner-Up. (“For western whitetails, I love the flat-shooting capabilities of The Runner-Up.”) And for those of you whose favorite round was knocked out earlier in the competition, we’ll just ask you to ad “Also-Ran” to the end of the cartridge name. (“I know some people say it’s too much gun for whitetails, but I just love my 7mm Rem Mag Also-Ran.”)

All hail The Champ. Next year, deer rifles.

*dukkillr correctly noted that this does not quite add up to 100. That’s because I arbitrarily gave 1 percentage point to my favorite round, the .260 Rem Also-Ran, which I felt was unfairly knocked out much too early due to a bad seed. And that bad seed is Christopher Cogley. 

Comments (58)

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from Happy Myles wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

The best humor so far is in your comment ," the long standing question is answered once and for all ". As long as there is a campfire and sundowners, this will be a topic od discussion

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from huntnow wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

We'll all still defend our "also rans". I for one am glad that it's over. I was a little wrapped up in the debate.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Mike Diehl wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

I had three surprises in this playoff. In the first round I picked the .260Rem over the .270WSM, and figured the .25-06 would beat out the .260 in the next round. But it was pretty clear to me that the good old .270 would make it to the finals.

On the right side, I figured .30-30 would beat out the .308, simply based on the track record. IIRC, .30-30s have logged more whitetail kills in the US than any two other rounds combined. But there's no arguing that the .308 isn't also a great round.

It was always clear to me that the .30-06 would square off against the .270. And the better round won. (Sorry .270 guys, with the right bullet The Champ shoots flatter too.)

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Mike Diehl wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

BTW, I own an also-ran, a Champ, and a WTF. The latter is a .50cal Muzzleloader. Which shows that knowing what's the best round for everything doesn't meant that you don't sometimes want to hunt with something else just for the fun of it.

+5 Good Comment? | | Report
from Gman wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

Hmmm. I smell a rat, a big, stinky rat that never truly came to know and love the 7-08 also-ran.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from WA Mtnhunter wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

No sour grapes fellas! LOL I just shined up the bore on my "Champeen" and taking it to the range to pop some caps on some 165 TSX's! Also zeroing my 7mm Weatherby Not in the Race KA-Wham rifle with new Burris scope. If I feel the need for a .270, I'll just load some reduced charges for it! I also own 4 of the Also Ran's....

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Dave Hurteau wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

Gman,
What you're smelling may be me. That's always a possibility when anyone smells a big, stinky rat. But I've owned a Model 70 Classic Compact in 7mm-08 Also-Ran for years and wouldn't even think of trading it for a comparable rifle chambered for The Champ. I wouldn't trade my .300 Savage Didn't-Run either, and that somehow didn't even make the list.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Walt Smith wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

Maybe it would have been closer if the "two seventy" name was legaly changed to the "twentyseven aught!!".

+7 Good Comment? | | Report
from Happy Myles wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

An aught it's naught. Ouch, that is pretty bad

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from MLH wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

Surprise, surprise, surprise. Naught! But, geez ... if I'd have known the .260 Rem was still in the running you could have counted on my vote.

Can't wait until next year. Something tells me the AR-15 will make the list, but I can already speculate which two guns will make the finals.

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from Jeff4066 wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

So I'm not the only one who likes it?

When I was agonizing and reading about everything I could before I bought my field gun, I just wanted to make sure I had "enough gun" for anything I wanted to do in the future. I wasn't sure I could ever buy another rifle, so i didn't want to come up against something I wasn't adequately armed for. I decided on the .30-06 because I felt there was nothing it couldn't do. A big much for rabbits, I'll admit, but not too small for the other end.

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from Dave Hurteau wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

MLH,
I knew I could count on you.
(Just for the record, I actually have no idea why the percentages didn't add up to 100. Some small glitch built into the software that tallies these things would be my best guess. Good thing it didn't turn out 50 to 49.)

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from buckhunter wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

I know very little about guns, cartridges or ballistics but I enjoy reading the gun blogs and learning along the way.

Keep up the good work Dave. You'll make a gun hunter out of me yet.

I thought it funny how the on-line censors did not allow me to say "I don't no". "Know" intentionally misspelled to get pass the censors.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from thunderdog512 wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

my whole bracket was right except for the champion.=( But oh well the 270 and 30-06 are both great rounds.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Beekeeper wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

When you look at all those registered progeny... the 25 'naught six, the .27 'naught 6, the .28 'naught six, the .338 'naught six and the .35 'naught six. Then you throw in the unregistered progeny from .24 to .375, you have a hell of a thoroughbred!

Long live the Champ!

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from TJ wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

Why wait for next year, we should do elk cartridges right now. My favorite is the .338 win mag.

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from jay wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

Rounding the percentages up/down is probably the reason they didn't add to 100%.

Best deer rifle: Winchester Model 70 (yes - pre-64). This is my absentee ballot for next year.

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from Proverbs wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

Dave, next year (or maybe this fall) you could do this again under the title of National Elk Cartridge Championship. I'll still put my money on The Champ. It would likely face off in the Final Four against the .300 and .338 Win Mags, and probably the 7MM Mag, but it will conquer all.

Make sure to include The Runner Up in this fight. After a quick check of my hunting logs, I see that last October The Runner Up caught up with The Champ in the number of elk I've harvested.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from jamesti wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

like i said in the first round, i feel slighted that my .300 savage was not included. i have 3 also rans, one runner up and a champ though so it's not so bad.

+4 Good Comment? | | Report
from jbird wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

No suprise, but there's a reason for that. I'll still always love my runner up, and I'm w/ jay on the pre-64 mod. 70.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Firehunter wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

What's so great about my Remington mod.700 .270 runner up? I inherited from my Grandpa 30+ years ago. It will always be a champ to me!! Wouldn't trade it for the world.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from 86Ram wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

good to go.....just cause it's older doesn't mean it's ready for the pasture or retirement wall.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Moishe wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

I will wait impatiently for the best Cartridges for Elk, Moose I Grizzly !

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Treestand wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

For me the 30-06 has ben KING, the 270win also I had them all, but now at 66,short and light up in my tree stand's the 7mm-08 mod.7 Rem w/18.5 barrel. great blog.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from matchu2012 wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

I dont think i can wait till next year for the rifle bracket. Could you possibly move it to just before hunting season comes in. My personal favorite is the .308 also ran and i am partial to anything with a "3" in it

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from WA Mtnhunter wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Well, I think I will take my .300 Whelen to the range tomorrow and see if it is still "in tune". Probably take my .35 Naught Six as well, just to keep KA-Wham! company.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from shane wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Let's have an elk, antelope or muley cartridge tournament ASAP.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Ozark Hunter wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

For those who know how to get the most out of the 30-06 will tell'ya, this Ol'Dog has more tricks than most cartridges, including being one of the less finicky cartridges on the market to digest anything you put in it!

The following link, the 30-06 is at home here!

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/nra-1000-yds-long-range-shooting/...

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Ozark Hunter wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Grasshopper, "don't underestimate the power of the AUGHT-6!" Won a many State and Regionals with the Aught-6 (M1 Garand)

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from Ozark Hunter wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Wheres my Bow!

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from copperhead wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

aught 6 where i come from is more of household name than wally world.cant beat it even if you dont like it.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Bryan01 wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

all this is well and good, but for those of us who live in states where it is illegal to use everyone of the entries in the tournament, it all sounds a little bit like medieval monks arguing about the number of angels that can fit on the head of pin . . . I'm still going with the venerable 12 gauge slug

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Bones812 wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Very interesting,I new the champ would stay the champ. been around awhile. Just like Rocky.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Pacific Hunter wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

well, even though there was a decent following for most all of the also ran's and the runner up, I will from now on refer to my still least favorite cartridge as the champ as I explain why I think there is far better cartridges in the hunting world today. Great post and conversation, can't wait for the next bracket, I am starting my fact compilation now

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from jamesti wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

let's do the best elk cartridge! i think i know which will win and i think i have one.

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from Dave Hurteau wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Well, I'll tell you what, guys: I'm not apt to do elk cartridges, as this is the Whitetail 365 blog (unless, of course, you clamor so loudly for it that I have no choice, or if you can convince me that elk cartridges have enough to do with whitetail hunting to justify it.) But, we may be able to move up the Deer Guns competition. Maybe a little April Madness is in order.
I'll keep you posted.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Sanjuancb wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Does this mean that those who voted for the '06 get a couple of free boxes of say, 180 gr. fail-safes? :)

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Sanjuancb wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Also, I guess it is never to soon to start rallying support for my favorite elk cartridge---

You guys need to start shooting .405 Winchester!!!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from BrigMarine wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

The champion is what I thought It was

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from ishawooa wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

This turned out about like any of us would have predicted. I wonder what results a similiar poll for like sized animals would be if conducted only in Europe or perhaps Canada by the natives there.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from WA Mtnhunter wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

Dave H,

Maybe you can talk Phil into managing the elk rifle tournament on the Gun Nut blog?

WMH

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from texasjohn wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

As the owner of a .308 also-ran, I suppose my Rem 788 is long ago consigned to the "also-ran" bin. Oh well, such is life. After the elk tournament, I guess we can have a favorite small-game cartridge competition?

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Ruckweiler wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

Hooray for the Old Man!

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from david.clark45 wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

yo can always count on 30-06 the military has for about 100 years

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Gritz wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

I will get through one of these posts and feel very comforted that my rifle is still considered respected. Then I read a post like the one above where someone mentions an entire state where rifles are not allowed. That makes me feel sad. But if I had to use a shot gun or a muzzle loader I would go with the muzzleloader. And if I had to use a 12guage I would use it to the best of my ability and smile. Whatever the rules are, the game is the same, there are just different ways to get it done. People have taken whitetails with .22 shorts with great success (often after midnight). Though I am not a fan of poaching my point is that there are many ways to get it done as long as you know your tools.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from VAHunter540 wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

Maybe I aught not to brag, but I aught the whole time that the true Champ would shine through. Aught to be a great contest next year as well! Long live the 30-06!

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from Ozark Hunter wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

Doesn't matter how you slice it or dice it, the versatility and performance of the 30-06 is in fact the "GOLD STANDARD" for all cartridges to be measured against. Yes, you can come up with the argument that this cartridge does better than the 30-06 or the 30-06 does better than that. The fact remains that the 30-06 is a cartridge to be measured against. I find when someone measures a cartridge against another one; they talk about drop and foot pound energy. But the fact of the matter, there is two more parts of the equation that is left out. The two parts is "Initial Impact" and "Hydrostatic Shock". This is where the fight begins and this is where experienced hunters will agree on. For example, take the 7mm Rem Mag vs 30-06. What is going to cause more damage on initial impact, a .284 diameter or a .308 diameter object? Stand on the side of the road and have a car pass you then a semi, the blast of air from the 18 wheeler will almost knock you over. It’s know as displacement of matter and individuals will argue the other based solely on bullet drop and foot pound energy and will also agree that Dihydrogen Monoxide should be banned from our water supply and stop dumping this raw substance into our streams and oceans and must be treated like hazmat!

Gotta run, wife's monitor at work just went "Tango Uniform"!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Christopher Cogley wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

Hurteau, where's the love, my brother?!? When you said that I might get thrown under the bus, you forgot to mention that you'd be driving it!!! And that you'd wait until I was on vacation before you put it in gear, so I'd have no chance to defend my fragile ego. Man. That $25 bucks isn't sounding so appealing anymore!

And where were all the loyal 06 fans? You guys were supposed to be watching my back! Oh well, at least my dog still likes me...

In all seriousness, though, it's been a long time since I've enjoyed following a blog debate as much as this. Kudos to Hurteau for coming up with such a fresh spin on a timeless debate, and thank you to everyone who voted and voiced an opinion. I'm sorry I didn't get to join in the conversation more as it came down to the wire, but it was still fun reading the aftermath! Until next time...

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Dave Hurteau wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

Cogley,
I didn't tell you I'd be driving the bus. Shoot. I meant to tell you that.
Seriously, thanks for helping out with this. I hope you'll be back for the rifles version. After all, I'll need someone to throw under the bus for that one, too.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Christopher Cogley wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

I wouldn't miss it! Next time I'll wear my camo instead of my blaze, though. Test your aim a little bit.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from WA Mtnhunter wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

Looks like a little roadkill on the information super highway (web)!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Sarge01 wrote 20 weeks 2 days ago

Next Year the Rem 700 will beat the Win 70 by 64% TO 36% in the final.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from KJ wrote 20 weeks 2 days ago

If you repeat this survey (next March?) I suggest you bracket the sub-quarter calibers together, the .25s-7mms together, the .30s together and the +30s together. That way the final four won't come down to being 2 .30s against 2 .277s again. It may not change the results, but it could provide some interesting fodder for discussion.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from WA Mtnhunter wrote 20 weeks 2 days ago

Yes, and neither the Remington 700 nor the Winchester M-70 is the BEST deer rifle out there, just the most popular.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Ozark Hunter wrote 20 weeks 1 day ago

Correction Sir

The BEST deer rifle out there, is the one you get your deer with!

Every time I take my M1A out, all I see is does and spikes nothing legal! Nest season the charm!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Ozark Hunter wrote 20 weeks 1 day ago

Where's my BOW!

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from Walt Smith wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

Maybe it would have been closer if the "two seventy" name was legaly changed to the "twentyseven aught!!".

+7 Good Comment? | | Report
from Mike Diehl wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

BTW, I own an also-ran, a Champ, and a WTF. The latter is a .50cal Muzzleloader. Which shows that knowing what's the best round for everything doesn't meant that you don't sometimes want to hunt with something else just for the fun of it.

+5 Good Comment? | | Report
from jamesti wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

like i said in the first round, i feel slighted that my .300 savage was not included. i have 3 also rans, one runner up and a champ though so it's not so bad.

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from MLH wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

Surprise, surprise, surprise. Naught! But, geez ... if I'd have known the .260 Rem was still in the running you could have counted on my vote.

Can't wait until next year. Something tells me the AR-15 will make the list, but I can already speculate which two guns will make the finals.

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from Jeff4066 wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

So I'm not the only one who likes it?

When I was agonizing and reading about everything I could before I bought my field gun, I just wanted to make sure I had "enough gun" for anything I wanted to do in the future. I wasn't sure I could ever buy another rifle, so i didn't want to come up against something I wasn't adequately armed for. I decided on the .30-06 because I felt there was nothing it couldn't do. A big much for rabbits, I'll admit, but not too small for the other end.

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from Dave Hurteau wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

MLH,
I knew I could count on you.
(Just for the record, I actually have no idea why the percentages didn't add up to 100. Some small glitch built into the software that tallies these things would be my best guess. Good thing it didn't turn out 50 to 49.)

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from TJ wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

Why wait for next year, we should do elk cartridges right now. My favorite is the .338 win mag.

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from jay wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

Rounding the percentages up/down is probably the reason they didn't add to 100%.

Best deer rifle: Winchester Model 70 (yes - pre-64). This is my absentee ballot for next year.

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from jamesti wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

let's do the best elk cartridge! i think i know which will win and i think i have one.

+3 Good Comment? | | Report
from Happy Myles wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

The best humor so far is in your comment ," the long standing question is answered once and for all ". As long as there is a campfire and sundowners, this will be a topic od discussion

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from huntnow wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

We'll all still defend our "also rans". I for one am glad that it's over. I was a little wrapped up in the debate.

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from Mike Diehl wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

I had three surprises in this playoff. In the first round I picked the .260Rem over the .270WSM, and figured the .25-06 would beat out the .260 in the next round. But it was pretty clear to me that the good old .270 would make it to the finals.

On the right side, I figured .30-30 would beat out the .308, simply based on the track record. IIRC, .30-30s have logged more whitetail kills in the US than any two other rounds combined. But there's no arguing that the .308 isn't also a great round.

It was always clear to me that the .30-06 would square off against the .270. And the better round won. (Sorry .270 guys, with the right bullet The Champ shoots flatter too.)

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Gman wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

Hmmm. I smell a rat, a big, stinky rat that never truly came to know and love the 7-08 also-ran.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Dave Hurteau wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

Gman,
What you're smelling may be me. That's always a possibility when anyone smells a big, stinky rat. But I've owned a Model 70 Classic Compact in 7mm-08 Also-Ran for years and wouldn't even think of trading it for a comparable rifle chambered for The Champ. I wouldn't trade my .300 Savage Didn't-Run either, and that somehow didn't even make the list.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Happy Myles wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

An aught it's naught. Ouch, that is pretty bad

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from buckhunter wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

I know very little about guns, cartridges or ballistics but I enjoy reading the gun blogs and learning along the way.

Keep up the good work Dave. You'll make a gun hunter out of me yet.

I thought it funny how the on-line censors did not allow me to say "I don't no". "Know" intentionally misspelled to get pass the censors.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from thunderdog512 wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

my whole bracket was right except for the champion.=( But oh well the 270 and 30-06 are both great rounds.

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from Beekeeper wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

When you look at all those registered progeny... the 25 'naught six, the .27 'naught 6, the .28 'naught six, the .338 'naught six and the .35 'naught six. Then you throw in the unregistered progeny from .24 to .375, you have a hell of a thoroughbred!

Long live the Champ!

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Proverbs wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

Dave, next year (or maybe this fall) you could do this again under the title of National Elk Cartridge Championship. I'll still put my money on The Champ. It would likely face off in the Final Four against the .300 and .338 Win Mags, and probably the 7MM Mag, but it will conquer all.

Make sure to include The Runner Up in this fight. After a quick check of my hunting logs, I see that last October The Runner Up caught up with The Champ in the number of elk I've harvested.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from jbird wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

No suprise, but there's a reason for that. I'll still always love my runner up, and I'm w/ jay on the pre-64 mod. 70.

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from Firehunter wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

What's so great about my Remington mod.700 .270 runner up? I inherited from my Grandpa 30+ years ago. It will always be a champ to me!! Wouldn't trade it for the world.

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from 86Ram wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

good to go.....just cause it's older doesn't mean it's ready for the pasture or retirement wall.

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from Bryan01 wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

all this is well and good, but for those of us who live in states where it is illegal to use everyone of the entries in the tournament, it all sounds a little bit like medieval monks arguing about the number of angels that can fit on the head of pin . . . I'm still going with the venerable 12 gauge slug

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from ishawooa wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

This turned out about like any of us would have predicted. I wonder what results a similiar poll for like sized animals would be if conducted only in Europe or perhaps Canada by the natives there.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Ruckweiler wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

Hooray for the Old Man!

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from KJ wrote 20 weeks 2 days ago

If you repeat this survey (next March?) I suggest you bracket the sub-quarter calibers together, the .25s-7mms together, the .30s together and the +30s together. That way the final four won't come down to being 2 .30s against 2 .277s again. It may not change the results, but it could provide some interesting fodder for discussion.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from WA Mtnhunter wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

No sour grapes fellas! LOL I just shined up the bore on my "Champeen" and taking it to the range to pop some caps on some 165 TSX's! Also zeroing my 7mm Weatherby Not in the Race KA-Wham rifle with new Burris scope. If I feel the need for a .270, I'll just load some reduced charges for it! I also own 4 of the Also Ran's....

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from Moishe wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

I will wait impatiently for the best Cartridges for Elk, Moose I Grizzly !

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Treestand wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

For me the 30-06 has ben KING, the 270win also I had them all, but now at 66,short and light up in my tree stand's the 7mm-08 mod.7 Rem w/18.5 barrel. great blog.

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from matchu2012 wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

I dont think i can wait till next year for the rifle bracket. Could you possibly move it to just before hunting season comes in. My personal favorite is the .308 also ran and i am partial to anything with a "3" in it

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from shane wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Let's have an elk, antelope or muley cartridge tournament ASAP.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from copperhead wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

aught 6 where i come from is more of household name than wally world.cant beat it even if you dont like it.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Bones812 wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Very interesting,I new the champ would stay the champ. been around awhile. Just like Rocky.

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from Pacific Hunter wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

well, even though there was a decent following for most all of the also ran's and the runner up, I will from now on refer to my still least favorite cartridge as the champ as I explain why I think there is far better cartridges in the hunting world today. Great post and conversation, can't wait for the next bracket, I am starting my fact compilation now

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Dave Hurteau wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Well, I'll tell you what, guys: I'm not apt to do elk cartridges, as this is the Whitetail 365 blog (unless, of course, you clamor so loudly for it that I have no choice, or if you can convince me that elk cartridges have enough to do with whitetail hunting to justify it.) But, we may be able to move up the Deer Guns competition. Maybe a little April Madness is in order.
I'll keep you posted.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Sanjuancb wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Does this mean that those who voted for the '06 get a couple of free boxes of say, 180 gr. fail-safes? :)

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from Sanjuancb wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Also, I guess it is never to soon to start rallying support for my favorite elk cartridge---

You guys need to start shooting .405 Winchester!!!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from BrigMarine wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

The champion is what I thought It was

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from WA Mtnhunter wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

Dave H,

Maybe you can talk Phil into managing the elk rifle tournament on the Gun Nut blog?

WMH

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from texasjohn wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

As the owner of a .308 also-ran, I suppose my Rem 788 is long ago consigned to the "also-ran" bin. Oh well, such is life. After the elk tournament, I guess we can have a favorite small-game cartridge competition?

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from Gritz wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

I will get through one of these posts and feel very comforted that my rifle is still considered respected. Then I read a post like the one above where someone mentions an entire state where rifles are not allowed. That makes me feel sad. But if I had to use a shot gun or a muzzle loader I would go with the muzzleloader. And if I had to use a 12guage I would use it to the best of my ability and smile. Whatever the rules are, the game is the same, there are just different ways to get it done. People have taken whitetails with .22 shorts with great success (often after midnight). Though I am not a fan of poaching my point is that there are many ways to get it done as long as you know your tools.

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from Ozark Hunter wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

Doesn't matter how you slice it or dice it, the versatility and performance of the 30-06 is in fact the "GOLD STANDARD" for all cartridges to be measured against. Yes, you can come up with the argument that this cartridge does better than the 30-06 or the 30-06 does better than that. The fact remains that the 30-06 is a cartridge to be measured against. I find when someone measures a cartridge against another one; they talk about drop and foot pound energy. But the fact of the matter, there is two more parts of the equation that is left out. The two parts is "Initial Impact" and "Hydrostatic Shock". This is where the fight begins and this is where experienced hunters will agree on. For example, take the 7mm Rem Mag vs 30-06. What is going to cause more damage on initial impact, a .284 diameter or a .308 diameter object? Stand on the side of the road and have a car pass you then a semi, the blast of air from the 18 wheeler will almost knock you over. It’s know as displacement of matter and individuals will argue the other based solely on bullet drop and foot pound energy and will also agree that Dihydrogen Monoxide should be banned from our water supply and stop dumping this raw substance into our streams and oceans and must be treated like hazmat!

Gotta run, wife's monitor at work just went "Tango Uniform"!

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from Christopher Cogley wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

Hurteau, where's the love, my brother?!? When you said that I might get thrown under the bus, you forgot to mention that you'd be driving it!!! And that you'd wait until I was on vacation before you put it in gear, so I'd have no chance to defend my fragile ego. Man. That $25 bucks isn't sounding so appealing anymore!

And where were all the loyal 06 fans? You guys were supposed to be watching my back! Oh well, at least my dog still likes me...

In all seriousness, though, it's been a long time since I've enjoyed following a blog debate as much as this. Kudos to Hurteau for coming up with such a fresh spin on a timeless debate, and thank you to everyone who voted and voiced an opinion. I'm sorry I didn't get to join in the conversation more as it came down to the wire, but it was still fun reading the aftermath! Until next time...

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from Dave Hurteau wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

Cogley,
I didn't tell you I'd be driving the bus. Shoot. I meant to tell you that.
Seriously, thanks for helping out with this. I hope you'll be back for the rifles version. After all, I'll need someone to throw under the bus for that one, too.

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from Christopher Cogley wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

I wouldn't miss it! Next time I'll wear my camo instead of my blaze, though. Test your aim a little bit.

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from WA Mtnhunter wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

Looks like a little roadkill on the information super highway (web)!

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from Sarge01 wrote 20 weeks 2 days ago

Next Year the Rem 700 will beat the Win 70 by 64% TO 36% in the final.

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from WA Mtnhunter wrote 20 weeks 2 days ago

Yes, and neither the Remington 700 nor the Winchester M-70 is the BEST deer rifle out there, just the most popular.

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from Ozark Hunter wrote 20 weeks 1 day ago

Correction Sir

The BEST deer rifle out there, is the one you get your deer with!

Every time I take my M1A out, all I see is does and spikes nothing legal! Nest season the charm!

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from Ozark Hunter wrote 20 weeks 1 day ago

Where's my BOW!

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from WA Mtnhunter wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Well, I think I will take my .300 Whelen to the range tomorrow and see if it is still "in tune". Probably take my .35 Naught Six as well, just to keep KA-Wham! company.

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from Ozark Hunter wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

For those who know how to get the most out of the 30-06 will tell'ya, this Ol'Dog has more tricks than most cartridges, including being one of the less finicky cartridges on the market to digest anything you put in it!

The following link, the 30-06 is at home here!

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/nra-1000-yds-long-range-shooting/...

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from Ozark Hunter wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Grasshopper, "don't underestimate the power of the AUGHT-6!" Won a many State and Regionals with the Aught-6 (M1 Garand)

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from Ozark Hunter wrote 20 weeks 5 days ago

Wheres my Bow!

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from david.clark45 wrote 20 weeks 4 days ago

yo can always count on 30-06 the military has for about 100 years

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from VAHunter540 wrote 20 weeks 3 days ago

Maybe I aught not to brag, but I aught the whole time that the true Champ would shine through. Aught to be a great contest next year as well! Long live the 30-06!

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