My understanding is that the military used the 300 Savage as the basis for the 308. The military wanted a longer neck so it would feed more reliably from machine guns.
Probably will never hunt elk or bear if that was on the menu then my .308 will take care of anything we have in Okie country. Leaving those 2 critters off the menu then there is only one choice that is my go to for anything and that is my 22-250 shooting a 55 gn V-max. It will take anything we have inhabiting western Oklahoma. That 22-250 has always been my go to, had it over 40yrs. My son claims if I can see it I'm gonna hit it, that use to be the truth but " old eyes are not what they use to be".
30-06 was what I started with. .270 is what I use now. I rarely shoot over 200 yards. Haven't shot the 06 in decades. I've never hunted elk and the bear I have ate was too greasy. I don't eat much venison anymore. My favorite all time caliber is 22-250 and 22 magnum.
The 130 grain to 150 grain are the most common but I have some 96 grain 270 Win Norma stuff for thr smaller stuff that would work well.
Seems like the 308 or 30-06 rules the roost on the do all Okie cartridge.
i've hunted and killed alot of squirrels ( hundreds) and I only used a .22 to the head or air rifle.
Head shots were all that were allowed according to John Henry (my grand dad). And if you wasted a boolit, you were beaten. (he was a mean old man, no one liked)
However, grandma liked the brains, but that wasnt my issue, it was dads, as a kid.
a 30-30 will kill any animal in OK. Bullet type and placement is key
When I was 17 (1981) and getting my first centerfire and large game gun my dad (being a WWII vet) told me to get an '06. I did and never looked back. Bear, deer, antelope, hogs and many varmints have been laid to rest. I have many guns to choose from today but the gun you have confidence in is best. I remember several years back I was in a predator tourney w a friend. I didn't have time to check tune on the AR or other guns so I grabbed "Old Faithful", the 700ADL '06. We had to run our calling sets loop to our best wind advantage and the first set was -100yds from a small farm house. Scoring was yotes 1 point, cats and foxes 2 points. At first crack of light from 165yds I dropped 2 bobcats about 5 seconds apart with 165grbt. Crazy irony of distance and bullet weight. The thunderous roll rattled the windows and may have loosened the mortar on that farmhouse chimney. We took to hootin' and hollerin' as the house lights came on. Very rare and uncommon does any team have 4 points in first 5 minutes of a tournament. Helluva start and yes we won that day and that is the only tournament of 5 or 6 total entered I've won ( 3 cats and 3 dogs total - 9 points ). OLD FAITHFULL !!!
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By choice I'm down to one scoped bolt action hunting rifle so my do it all cartridge is the 7mm-08.
I wouldn't feel a bit under gunned using the 08' on elk with a good bullet like 140 gr. Accubonds, Partitions, Interlocks or even Gamekings.
Pondering on it, I also wouldn't feel under gunned using my 15" 6.5x55 Swede Encore handgun on elk size animals either with a good 140 gr premium bullet.
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