Outfitters have seen it all—greenhorns with overconfidence, old-timers clinging to outdated rounds, and hunters who show up with gear that sounds good in theory but fails in the field. When it comes to calibers, there are some that make guides grit their teeth. Maybe it’s because they’re notorious for poor penetration, unpredictable trajectory, or marginal knockdown power. Some of these rounds have their place—just not when you’re 200 miles from the nearest town with limited shot opportunities. If you’re heading into camp with one of these chambered up, don’t be surprised if your guide gives you that look.
.243 Winchester (on big game)
The .243 is fast and flat-shooting, but it’s also borderline for larger game like elk or moose. Guides have seen too many wounded animals from poorly placed shots where the round didn’t penetrate deep enough. It’s fine for deer-sized game, but pushing it on bigger animals is a recipe for tracking jobs and frustrated guides.
Most outfitters would rather you show up with a .270, .308, or anything that hits a little harder and breaks bone with confidence. The .243 can work in skilled hands, but it doesn’t leave much room for error. That’s a risk few guides want to deal with when the shot could be at an awkward angle or through brush.
.223 Remington
Yes, it can kill deer. No, most guides still don’t want to see it in camp. The .223 is underpowered for most big game and leaves too small a margin for error. Wounding is a real concern, especially if the bullet choice isn’t perfect or shot placement is even a little off.
It’s fine for predators or varmints, but if you’re planning to take it into the elk woods, expect some serious pushback. Even experienced shooters can struggle with the limitations of the caliber, and most guides would rather not burn daylight tracking something hit with a round that never should’ve been there.
7mm-08 Remington (on elk and larger)
The 7mm-08 is an excellent deer cartridge, and it has a loyal fan base. But for elk, especially at longer ranges, it starts to feel a little light. Many guides have stories about good hits that didn’t anchor big-bodied bulls or poor penetration when the shot wasn’t ideal.
It’s not a bad round by any means—it’s just borderline for elk-sized animals. With modern bullets, you can stretch it a bit, but in rough country where quick follow-ups aren’t easy, most outfitters would rather see you carrying something with more thump.
6.5 Creedmoor (in bear country)
The 6.5 Creedmoor is accurate, consistent, and great for deer and antelope. But show up to a moose or bear camp with one and you might get a raised eyebrow. It’s not that it won’t work—it’s that guides have seen too many folks bring it thinking it’s a do-it-all cartridge.
It lacks the energy dump of larger calibers, especially on big-boned game. In bear country, it doesn’t offer the immediate disruption you want if things go sideways. Guides respect the 6.5 for what it does well, but they also know its limits—and expect you to as well.
.30 Carbine
This round was never meant for hunting, and guides know it. It lacks the speed, energy, and bullet selection for ethical shots on big game. It might work on close-range hogs, but beyond that, it’s more of a historical novelty than a serious hunting caliber.
Guides don’t want to see .30 Carbine show up in camp because they know it turns every animal into a maybe. That’s not fair to the game or to the tracker who has to follow up a bad hit. Leave this one at home or save it for plinking.
5.7x28mm
Fast and flat? Sure. But 5.7x28mm is a varmint cartridge, not a hunting round. It was built for compact carbines and PDWs, and it shines in that niche. Once you put it into the field for anything larger than a coyote, things go downhill fast.
Guides have seen hunters show up with FN pistols or carbines chambered in 5.7 thinking speed equals killing power. But the bullets are light, the wound channels are narrow, and the follow-ups aren’t always quick. It’s not what you want when the shot matters.
.300 Blackout (supersonic and subsonic confusion)
Some hunters bring .300 Blackout into camp thinking it’s good for medium game at range. Guides get nervous because most folks don’t know what load they’re running—supersonic or subsonic—and don’t understand the ballistic drop or energy limits.
The caliber works at close ranges with the right bullet, but it has to be carefully paired with shot placement and realistic expectations. Too many people bring it thinking it’s a .308 replacement. It isn’t. Guides would rather see something that doesn’t require an asterisk every time it’s used.
.22 Magnum (on anything but varmints)
.22 Magnum has its place, but hunting big game isn’t it. A few folks try to push it on hogs or small deer, especially in brush country. Guides know better. The round lacks penetration and energy, even when using the best ammo available.
You might hit something right behind the ear and drop it. But if you don’t, now the guide’s tracking a wounded animal through thick cover with a flashlight. That’s not a good use of anyone’s time or energy. Use it for varmints, not deer-sized game.
6.8 SPC
The 6.8 SPC was designed to squeeze more punch out of the AR platform, and it does a decent job at moderate ranges. But it’s still not in the same class as a .308 or .270 when it comes to larger game.
Most outfitters see it and worry about limited range, soft terminal performance, and whether the shooter knows what they’re doing. Inexperienced hunters using boutique rounds often don’t understand the real-world performance differences. The 6.8 SPC can work—but it’s not what most guides want to bet their morning on.
.30-30 Winchester (beyond its limits)
The .30-30 has filled a lot of freezers, but some folks try to push it too far. At 100 yards and under, it’s a proven killer. Beyond that, the rainbow trajectory and energy drop-off make things risky fast.
Guides have watched hunters take shots at 200+ yards with a .30-30 and wonder why the animal keeps running. It’s not that the caliber doesn’t work—it’s that it only works within a narrow performance window. Use it like it was intended, and everyone’s happy. Try to make it a long-range round, and guides start shaking their heads.
5.45x39mm
Sometimes folks bring an AK-74 into camp thinking it’s a good all-purpose round. The 5.45x39mm does fine on paper and has plenty of speed, but hunting ammo choices are limited, and terminal ballistics on larger game aren’t impressive.
Guides see it and think about poor expansion, limited transfer of energy, and long tracking jobs. It’s a military cartridge meant to wound, not drop an animal on the spot. For deer-size game or bigger, it’s just not what they want to deal with.
.357 SIG (in carbines or pistols)
The .357 SIG has velocity, but it’s still a handgun round at heart. Occasionally someone brings it in a carbine or large pistol thinking it’ll work for hogs or deer. Guides usually disagree. Bullet weights are light, expansion is fast, and penetration isn’t deep enough.
The caliber might look good in gel tests, but in the field, it leaves too many variables. When you’re hunting, variables cost animals. You’re better off with a proper rifle caliber that doesn’t require explaining every time you show up to camp with it.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
