Wolf killer

First off Welcome to the board toll_gate.
With the number of states & game animals that can be hunted in you might want to look at two rifles instead of just one?
First gun 270-Winchester for deer, antelope & hogs. The 270 can also be used as a back-up rilfe when you are hunting bigger game.
Second rifle 338-win mag. There are several other second gun options. 338-R.U.M., 340-Weatherby, 375-H & H or 375-R.U.M.?
The rifles I listed for your second rifle are big, heavy & kick hard. I recommend two rifles because you can cover all big game animals better with two rifles than you can with one.
If you buy one rifle instead of two? I would recommed you look at the 300-win mag as a starting point.
If I had to pick one "do-all" gun for myself it would be the 338-Remington Ultra Mag.

Good luck,

WK

speedgator

I have researched this for months now, and came to the conclusion that for me I would need no more nor less than a 270, I chose the 270WSM for the extra oomph. Take a look, it's a great chambering. Lots of info here: www.shortmags.org

PaJack

30-06...

Virginia7

Welcome,

Ah, the "all-around" rifle - pursuit of the myth continues!
For the lower 48, including elk & moose, it would be hard to argue with the recommendations for a good 30-06. The 280 Rem., 308Win. could also handle the job,
as would the 7mm Rem.Mag.
But, now you go and throw in Alaska - home of some really big bears, and if irritated they might well reverse the role of hunter/hunted. Some would recommend cartridges such as the 300Win.Mag as it would not be too excessive in the lower 48, but, IMHO, it is
minimal for the big bears. If you're going to limit yourself to just one rifle to do it all I'd have to recommend at least the 338 Win.Mag. A 375H&H is not too much either. If you will be handloading then these can make a really good selection as you can always load
"light" for stuff like antelope, deer, and hogs.
My personal preference, to handle the range your considering, would be to have two rifles. I think I'd go with maybe a 270Win. or 280Rem., or a 30-06 if you want. The second rifle, for big stuff, would be a 375H&H.
For just one rifle there is only one cartridge that comes to mind to handle it all, and that's the 35Whelen. But, the ammo selection is limited. Again, if you handload this could be the answer for you. The 35Whelen is not one of the most popular cartridges going, but it's a "whopper" - much underrated by many. It's currently available from Remington in their new CDL model. Throw on a Leupold 1.5 - 6x VXIII, and you're all set.

James B

Hard to beat a 270, 280 or 30-06. 308 would be right in there also as would the 7mm-08 or 7x57 mauser. Or my much loved 6.5X55. Swede.

RDJ

I would have recommended the 7mm or 300 win mag as a good all around rifle, but since you threw Alaska into the mix, I would have to recommend the 338 Win Mag.
Good Luck!

handloader1

I would go with a 300 Mag. Good luck

HighDesertWolf

just my opinion but id say these five calibers would be the all around rifles they will do the trick on anything in north america except maybe grizzly and brown bears.

1. 30-06 springfield

2. 280 rem

3. 308 win

4. 7mm/08 rem

5. 270 win

Night Hawk 223

i wouldnt be afraid to hunt any big game with my 308 win with the correct bullet of course.

HighDesertWolf

The biggest animal I killed with my 308 was a 317 lbs ferrell hog one shot with a 180 grain core lokt to the shoulder from about 150 yards put that pig down quick it only ran 10 or 15 yards and was completely expired once i got up to it. after seeing what that bullet did to that big piece of pork the bullet exited behind the other shoulder a complete pass through. I wouldnt hesitate to use it on any big game even elk.