France is a relatively large country in Europe with very different regions in terms of landscape and traditions. That is why there are also very large differences in terms of hunting.

In the east of France, like in Germany, one hunted mainly with bolt action rifles or combined guns. In other parts of France, there has been more hunting with shotgun, but the bolt action rifles are also being used nowadays more and more.

As far as the caliber is concerned, the cartridges 9,3x62 or 9,3x74R for example, were and still are often in use and are not regarded as over gunned. Bigger is extremely rare and there is no need to use. The cartridge 10,75x68 that I once named is extremely rare and in my area in Germany where I hunt an exception and just because of an gunmaker in the region who made a few rifles of that caliber.