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coombsshooter

coombsshooter

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I am thinking of buying a big bore rifle. That being said I do want to build my rounds, hunt, and hit the range a bit. i don't know the first thing about bigger rifles, is there a caliber that stands out? I do like 308 and 300 mag, brands? models?
thanks
:kickInTheNuts:
 
30 calibre cartridges are not considered "big-bore"

If you are just starting out a decent rifle chambered for .308 Winchester or 30-06 Springfield would be a good place to begin.
 
I think we need to know what your definition of "big bore" is.............243-8mm are classed as small bore big game rifles..........338-416 +/- are classed as medium bore rifles and 458 Win Mag and up are classed as big bore rifles now-a-days. Any cartridges that fall between 416 and 458 WM are judged on their muzzle energy as to where they fit.
 
Jack O'Connor, as described in The Rifle Book, classified bore sizes as -

Small Bore: under .33 caliber

Medium Bore: .33 to .40 caliber

Big Bore: over .40 caliber

I like the differentiation between my 375 H&H Magnum which is a medium bore, and my 416's which are big bores.
 
so right now I am shooting a 243 ruger m77 paddle, and a stevens 223. both quite accurate, any recommendations of similar accuracy in a larger size? 375?
 
coombsshooter said:
i want to build something that will nicely take a moose and kick like a bastard lol. i guess medium bore?
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I have just the cartridge for you...........................wait for it...........

















The 340 Weatherby Magnum




This cartridge meets your criteria to a tee...........and is an outstanding short and long range hunting cartridge as well and is superbly accurate.............there is no downside to the 340 Wby.........except a little recoil maybe !!!!
 
coombsshooter said:
i want to build something that will nicely take a moose and kick like a bastard lol. i guess medium bore?
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Since you put it that way, try the .378 Weatherby. Very useful and versatile medium caliber, and will kill your moose nicely. In rifles of equal weight it will kick like 7 1/2 .243s going off at the same time but I'm sure it would be OK if you just rounded that up to 8. Should be the happiest guy around; because it will kick like its parents aren't married.
 
coombsshooter said:
I am thinking of buying a big bore rifle. That being said I do want to build my rounds, hunt, and hit the range a bit. i don't know the first thing about bigger rifles, is there a caliber that stands out? I do like 308 and 300 mag, brands? models?
thanks
:kickInTheNuts:
Click to expand...

Your question is a good one, but it lacks enough detail to give you a good answer.

Your profile does not show where you are. Location is important to a lot of postings. I suggest you add your city.

A hunting rifle in New Brunswick might be very different than a good rifle in Saskatchewan. In NB a 45-70 would be excellent, whereas a Regina guy might be better off with a 270.

I am hard pressed to think of a better all-round caliber than 308. (Lot's of guys here would argue that.) Buy the rifle that fits and shoulders well for you. But on a 2-7 scope and buy 180 gr bullets.

That rig would do a good job on any deer-moose-bear, anywhere.
 
I hunted mostly in Saskatchewan. Must have met Ganderite in a previous life, because I bought a Win 70 XTR in 308 and a Leupold 2-7x33 in about 1978 and shot many truckloads of whitetail, mule deer and two elk with it using 165 grain Speer HotCor @ 2,800 fps. My son has it now. My wife shot her mule deer (close to 200 pound carcass) with 243 Win 85 grain Speer broadside through and through chest. So, OP with .223 and .243 is set up nicely for up to live weight, say, 250-300 pound game with quality bullets. Next reasonable step up, IMO, would be 308/30-06. I last used my 338 Win Mag for elk in North East Saskatchewan. Next time, will probably be my 9.3x62. Would use either of them or my 30-06 for moose. As for experiencing the "kick like a bastard" that OP is looking for, I found my 5 pound 3" 12 gauge single shot, a 7 pound 45-70 double, and an 8 pound 458 Win Mag - no recoil pads on any - get my attention for sure, but not certain what I would hunt with them on purpose. Not really bothered much by big dangerous game here in the Prairies.
 
coombsshooter said:
so right now I am shooting a 243 ruger m77 paddle, and a stevens 223. both quite accurate, any recommendations of similar accuracy in a larger size? 375?
Click to expand...

All of the cartridges that will be suggested to you based on your criteria will be "inherently accurate". Once you get into the heavier recoiling stuff, it's very possible you will be the bottleneck to achieving the kind of groups you are getting with your smallbore stuff. Have you done a lot of shooting with stuff in the 35+ ft/lb recoil range? Are you comfortable with it? Do you know what you're signing up for? If so, you'll find that a .338 or .375 has the potential to shoot every bit as accurately as the light stuff.

I was just looking through my old reloading notes a while ago, and found a load that I'd worked up for my Rem 700 in .338WM (since sold) where I was getting 1.5" groups at 300 yards. About the same time, I had an eccentric friend who decided he needed a Weatherby Mk5 Dlx in .340. One day he came to me and asked if I would sight it in for him for $40 :)

Get a gun in a calibre that will scratch your itch, but that you can also shoot well consistently is my advice. I think Ganderite's suggestion of a .308 is sensible. Powerful, accurate, not brutal in the recoil department but will let you know you're not shooting your .223 anymore.
 
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