I get this question probably more than any other. What caliber should I choose for wild boar? What about elk? Moose? Texas whitetailed deer? Mule deer? What if I find myself out on a bear hunt and I come across a moose, which I also have a license for and is conveniently in season, what gun should I take?
Folks, first of all, there is no one magic caliber or rifle. Second of all, there are far too many other variables. What is the terrain? Are you going to be hunting in dense brush where your maximum range might top out at 75 yards, or are you seeking out game on wide open rolling plains where a 300 yard shot is considered normal?
At the end of the day, you should choose a rifle that you can comfortable shoot accurately, that won’t cause you to flinch from excessive recoil, and that has enough energy to reliably drop your quarry. Ammunition availability and cost is another consideration as well, since having a rifle you can’t find affordable ammunition for renders it pretty much useless.
Still, there are some calibers favored by sportsmen. A .30-06, .308, .270, or even a 6.5×55 can be used on any game animal found in North America. In fact, outside of Africa (and maybe Australian Water buffalo), these calibers are useful on any medium or large game found throughout the entire world. Get a rifle that you can shoot comfortably in one of these calibers and top it off with a good quality 3-9x scope and you’ll be well equipped for most any hunt.