---
title: "The Best Big-Game Calibers"
description: "."
date: "2007-09-18"
modified: "2021-02-01"
authors:
  - name: "Jim Carmichel"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/jim-carmichel/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/node-1006029682/"
categories:
  - "Guns"
---

# The Best Big-Game Calibers

![](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/22/T3PLYRWLG2AT2C5INOVPIIMKTI.jpg>)
*Default Photo*

## Pronghorn

[![](<https://www2.worldpub.net/images/outdoor/images/caliber01_264.jpg>)](<https://enlarge.jsp?imageID=40206002>)

 **Minimum Caliber**
.243 Win., 6mm Rem.

 **Recommended**
.250 Savage, .257 Roberts, .25/06 Rem., .257 Wby. Mag., .260 Rem., .264 Win. Mag., .270 Win., .280 Rem., .30/06

 **Jim's Favorite**
.257 Wby. Mag.

---

## Whitetail

[![](<https://www2.worldpub.net/images/outdoor/images/caliber02_264.jpg>)](<https://enlarge.jsp?imageID=40206003>)

 **Minimum Caliber**
.243 Win., 6mm Rem.

 **Recommended**
.250 Savage, .257 Roberts, .25/06, .260 Rem., .270 Win., 7mm/08 Rem., .280 Rem., .30/30, .308 Win., .30/06, .35 Rem.

 **Jim's Favorite**
.260 Rem.

---

## Mule Deer

[![](<https://www2.worldpub.net/images/outdoor/images/caliber03_264.jpg>)](<https://enlarge.jsp?imageID=40206004>)

 **Minimum Caliber**
.250 Savage, .257 Roberts

 **Recommended**
.25/06, .260 Rem., .270 Win., 7mm/08 Rem., .280 Rem., .308 Win., .30/06

 **Jim's Favorite**
.280 Rem.

---

## Caribou

[![](<https://www2.worldpub.net/images/outdoor/images/caliber04_264.jpg>)](<https://enlarge.jsp?imageID=40206005>)

 **Minimum Caliber**
.25/06, .260 Rem., 7mm/08 Rem.

 **Recommended**
.270 Win., .280 Rem., .308 Win., .30/06, any of the 7mm or .300 magnums

 **Jim's Favorite**
7x57 and .280 Rem.

---

## Mountain Goat

[![](<https://www2.worldpub.net/images/outdoor/images/caliber05_264.jpg>)](<https://enlarge.jsp?imageID=40206006>)

 **Minimum Caliber**
.257 Wby. Mag.

 **Recommended**
.270 Win., .280 Rem., .30/06, any of the .270, 7mm or .300 magnums

 **Jim's Favorite**
.270 Win. and .280 Rem.

---

## Sheep

[![](<https://www2.worldpub.net/images/outdoor/images/caliber06_264.jpg>)](<https://enlarge.jsp?imageID=40206007>)

 **Minimum Caliber**
.25/06, .257 Wby. Mag.

 **Recommended**
.270 Win., .280 Rem., .30/06, any of the .270, 7mm or .300 magnums

 **Jim's Favorite**
.280 Rem.

---

## Elk

[![](<https://www2.worldpub.net/images/outdoor/images/caliber07_264.jpg>)](<https://enlarge.jsp?imageID=40206008>)

 **Minimum Caliber**
.25/06, .260 Rem., 7mm/08 Rem., .308 Win.

 **Recommended**
.270 Win., .280 Rem., .30/06, any of the 7mm, .300, or .338 magnums, .325 Win., .338 Win. Mag.

 **Jim's Favorite**
.338 Win. Mag.

---

## Moose

[![](<https://www2.worldpub.net/images/outdoor/images/caliber08_264.jpg>)](<https://enlarge.jsp?imageID=40206009>)

 **Minimum Caliber**
.270 Win., .280 Rem., .308 Win.

 **Recommended**
.30/06, any of the 7mm, .300 or .338 magnums, .325 Win.

 **Jim's Favorite**
.338 Win. Mag.

---

## Black Bear

[![](<https://www2.worldpub.net/images/outdoor/images/caliber09_264.jpg>)](<https://enlarge.jsp?imageID=40206010>)

 **Minimum Caliber**
.30/30 Win.

 **Recommended**
.270 Win., .280 Rem., .308 Win., .30/06, .338 Fed., .35 Rem., .444 Marlin, .45/70

 **Jim's Favorite**
.308 Win.

---

## Grizzly Bear

[![](<https://www2.worldpub.net/images/outdoor/images/caliber10_264.jpg>)](<https://enlarge.jsp?imageID=40206011>)

 **Minimum Caliber**
.30/06 (with 180-gr. or heavier premium bullets)

 **Recommended**
.300 and .338 magnums, .340 Wby. Mag., .375 H&H Mag.

 **Jim's Favorite**
.338 Win. Mag. (with .250-gr. bullets)