Most Versatile Hunting Rifle Cartridges

First created in 2007, the .450 Bushmaster is one of the newer calibers on this list and has an overall versatility rate of 1.5 out of 5. The cartridge was initially designed for use in semi-automatic rifles and to be capable of taking larger game. However, it is important to note that bullet trajectory begins to drop off rapidly after 200 yards, a factor shooters must account for at longer ranges.

We considered three bullet weights between 245 and 395 grains. With lower-mass, faster-traveling bullets, in 245-250 grain, a .450 Bushmaster can deliver more than enough energy to take large game at 100 yards and beyond. With larger, 395-grain subsonic ammunition, a .450 Bushmaster rifle is also suitable to take smaller game.

The 7mm Remington Magnum cartridge is, without question, a big-game round with an overall versatility rate of 1.5 out of 5. 7mm Rem. Mag. rifles are capable of taking some of the largest game in North America at distances of 400 yards or more. We considered three bullet weights between 139 and 162 grains.

When used with lightweight bullets, a 7mm Rem. Mag. need not necessarily be ruled out for varmints and predators like prairie dogs or coyotes – though there are certainly many better caliber options for such game.

The .243 Winchester is one of the most versatile rifle calibers with an overall versatility score of 1.7 out of 5. Though the .243 may be insufficient to take some of the largest North American game, like elk, in many states, it is the minimum legal caliber for big game hunting.

We considered six bullet weights between 58 and 100 grains. With low recoil and a flat trajectory, the .243 is a popular rifle for deer and varmint hunting. Considering six different bullet masses, from 58 to 100 grain, the .243 is suitable for taking game weighing from less than 100 pounds to more than 1,500 pounds, at a range of 100 yards.

Introduced in the early 2000s, the 7mm Winchester Short Magnum is a relatively new round with an overall versatility score of 2.0 out of 5. We considered two bullet weights between 150 and 162 grains. Used around the world for hunting large game to the toughest game, the 7mm WSM can also be used for medium-sized game at longer ranges.

A versatile chamber with a relatively light recoil, the .25-06 Remington is an ideal deer rifle for many American hunters and has an overall versatility score of 2.0 out of 5. With a 117-grain bullet, a .25-06 can effectively take the toughest game at 100 yards, and large and medium game at 300 and 400 yards.

We considered two bullet weights between 90 and 117 grains. It should be noted that though we did not consider 25-06 bullets lighter than 90 grain in this analysis, 75-grain bullets are available in the .25-06 caliber and can be used for smaller game at longer ranges.

An old cartridge, .45-70 caliber guns were popular with hunters as far back as the 1800s. With an overall versatility score of 2.1 out of 5, rifles chambered for .45-70 caliber rounds are capable of firing large rounds, with masses up to 500 grains – but for this analysis, we only considered three bullet weights of 250, 325, and 410-grain bullets.

While larger bullets often do not travel as fast as smaller ones, their mass can compensate for the lower velocities upon impact. With a 325-grain bullet, a .45-70 caliber rifle can take some of the toughest game at 100 yards. When loaded with a 410-grain bullet, the rifle can take smaller game at 200 and 300 yards, though longer-range shots are difficult and not necessarily recommended with this caliber.

The .300 Winchester Magnum is one of the most popular hunting calibers in North America – and also among the most versatile with an overall versatility score of 2.6 out of 5. Though notorious for having heavy recoil, a .300 Win. Mag. rifle can take on virtually any large game on the continent, including elk, moose, and bear.

We considered five bullet weights between 150 and 200 grains. Deer hunters carrying a .300 Win. Mag. should stick to longer-range shots with lower-grain ammunition. Those looking to hunt small game would be well advised to use a different, smaller caliber rifle.

With an overall versatility score of 2.7 out of 5, the .376 Steyr caliber round, introduced in 1999, was specifically designed for versatility. We considered two bullet weights, the 225 and 270 grains. At 100 yards, a 270-grain bullet can take the toughest game in North America and even large African game, while a 225-grain bullet is well suited for medium-sized game at 400 and 500 yards.

With an overall versatility score of 2.9 out of 5, it is perhaps not among the most popular rifle calibers, but the .375 Ruger, introduced in 2007, is certainly among the most versatile. Capable of delivering 4,052 foot-pounds of energy at 100 yards with a 270-grain bullet at 100 yards, the .375 Ruger is a contender for the most powerful rifle chamber on this list.

We considered three bullet weights between 250 and 300 grains. At 300 and even 400 yards, it is still suitable for some of the toughest game in North America. And with a slower 300-grain bullet, the .375 Ruger is also a reasonable choice for taking medium-sized game beyond 400 yards.

The 7mm-08 Remington is effectively a .308 Winchester round necked down to hold 7mm bullets and has an overall versatility score of 3.3 out of 5. Though less popular than the .308, the 7mm-08 offers shooters a lighter rifle with lower recoil. We considered three bullet weights between 120 and 150 grains. Rifles chambered in 7mm-08 are capable of taking some of the largest North American game, including moose and bear, as well as smaller game like deer and hogs. The rifle is also capable of taking most game on African plains.

A 110-year-old round, the .375 H & H Magnum was introduced by British gunmaker Holland & Holland in 1912 and has an overall versatility score of 3.5 out of 5. Three bullet weights were considered, between 250 and 300 grains. Suitable for some of the largest African game, it is one of the most popular rifle chambers in Africa. A .375 H&H Magnum rifle is also versatile and capable of taking large and medium-sized North American game with slower 300-grain bullets.

The .308 Winchester is a time-tested caliber that remains popular 70 years after it was introduced and has an overall versatility score of 3.9 out of 5. Though many similar and newer rounds have been introduced over the years, the longevity of the .308 is attributable to its capability and versatility.

Six bullet weights were considered between 125 and 178 grains. With smaller, 125-grain ammunition, a .308 is appropriate for taking small game at distances of over 300 yards. And with heavier ammunition, a .308 is well matched for medium-sized game up to the toughest game.

Originally introduced in the 1920s, the .270 Winchester is one of several cartridges on this list that has stood the test of time. With an overall versatility score of 4.0 out of 5, the .270 has a flat trajectory out to 300 yards and, with the right ammunition, is capable of taking nearly all big North American game.

Five bullet weights were considered from between 120 to 150 grains. With a 150-grain bullet at 400 or more yards, hunters can use a .270 for taking medium game, and with a 120-grain bullet at 400 yards, even small game. As a result, the .270 Winchester is one of the most versatile rifles on the market.

Since the .30-06 Springfield rifle was introduced over 100 years ago, it has established itself as perhaps the most popular big-game rifle in North America which is evidenced by its high overall versatility score of 4.9 out of 5. Out to 200 yards, with the right ammunition, the gun is more than capable of taking a wide variety of game from deer and antelope up to elk and moose.

Four bullet weights were considered between 125 and 180 grains. While the round’s performance does begin to suffer at longer ranges, with a lighter 125-grain bullet, it can still be effective against smaller game at 300 or more yards. The .30-06 was also used by the U.S. military in World War II.