What rifle caliber would you prefer for large game?
- Thread starter RiMP9
- Start date
For a non handloading OP, and from his list of both animals and cartridges, the 30-06. Theres nothing on the animal list thats tough and only the moose thats big.
For myself, and from the list, I'd take "etc".
For myself, and from the list, I'd take "etc".
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I've got a Krag, but its a 6.5; perhaps I need a wannabe .303 too.
Hand in your mancard bucko...………….
Every man should have at least one 30-06 rifle, preferably a good quality Mauser action CRF with good iron sights.
I guess my "card" is safe then, since I've got 5 of them, 2 CRF bolt guns with ghost ring and post sights, and 3 gas guns.
I've taken a lot of game with a 300 win mag, I've shot a moose with a 308 win and my last trip to Africa took a 270 and 375 H&H. All of those animals died without much fuss but the 270 and 308 get more bench time because they are easier on the shoulder. If that means I shoot them better than so be it. Not much can't be taken with those calibers
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The one i grab lately is either my 300 wm, or my father's last rifle, a T3 in 30-06.
When im up north, its a 338wm.
When im up north, its a 338wm.
If I were going to buy a rifle for the large game mentioned it would be chambered for the 6.5 PRC preferably in a Montana Rifle X3 which has a CRF like a Mauser and does very well as this review shows. https://www.longrangehunting.com/articles/6-5-prc-review.1223/. However Sauer, and Ruger are coming on the market as well as others and good quality Factory ammo is available at a reasonable price. I would be handloading and looking at a 160 Woodleigh for the larger bears.
For many years I used a 270 Win with 130 PPP bullets for moose to 600 yards. The 30-06 with 180 PPP would penetrate to the hide on the other side of a moose at 600 yards but on two occasions I saw the 270 bullet pass through moose at that range. When I discovered I could get even better performance with 7mm-08 handloads it became my cartridge of choice for many years. Over the years I killed over 50 moose and about a dozen elk with these cartridges and saw many others killed as well. Actually the 6.5 CM would have been my choice as it performs much the same to 600 yards with less recoil. However the 6.5 PRC adds a couple hundred yards to the equation, with less recoil than a 270, so that is why it would be my first choice.
The definition of “large game” depends where you live or where you hunt. In B.C., the moose are much bigger up north then down south and in some parts of Canada, bears can be black, grizzly or polar.
Rifles are like golf clubs for many people; you need the best caliber for a certain game at a certain range etc just like you need a different club to putt or whatever.
Most people will do fine with a 30-06 or 7mm which they can use for just about anything and make it their one gun. Price of ammo isn’t so important in a hunting gun in my opinion as most people will not shoot it often like they would a target gun. The 30-30 is a deer sized animal gun or black bear gun.
If there are big bears and bison? Well, maybe two guns are in order?
Rifles are like golf clubs for many people; you need the best caliber for a certain game at a certain range etc just like you need a different club to putt or whatever.
Most people will do fine with a 30-06 or 7mm which they can use for just about anything and make it their one gun. Price of ammo isn’t so important in a hunting gun in my opinion as most people will not shoot it often like they would a target gun. The 30-30 is a deer sized animal gun or black bear gun.
If there are big bears and bison? Well, maybe two guns are in order?
Yet opinions fly about all sorts of other game .... I assume bear was black bear, but it wasn’t specific nor was the hunting area as some people hunt out of province, but you’re right, so I suggested a simple 30-06 or 7mm.
308 would be fine for smaller moose too.
YMMV
So, what I have learned so far is that there are LOTS of cartridges, in several calibers, that will, according to rumor, work for all of it? That's a question.
If the answer is yes, there are LOTS of them, then we're actually done. It's an endless conversation because there are so many different answers that are actually true. If you measure with hunting results, they all work well enough.
If the answer is yes, there are LOTS of them, then we're actually done. It's an endless conversation because there are so many different answers that are actually true. If you measure with hunting results, they all work well enough.
On a Grizzly bear, would a 300wm big enough ? Guess its all about type of ammo and placement..
Ive been told those who hunt on kodiak island, need a 338 and up otherwise they can't access the area but I'm not sure about this statement
Yes a 300WM would be enough with the proper bullet, but would you be able to make an ethical kill shot?
All calibres will kill something. It's up to the hunter to match the calibre choice/bullet weight/style to the game and make an ethical shot that produces a clean kill.
a 180 or 200gr solid jacket in the vital should be enough but I wouldn't try in less than 200 yards. That give me some time to run away in case I misplaced lol
Also works with a 9mm pistol lol
https://www.wideopenspaces.com/alaska-man-kills-charging-brown-bear-with-a-9mm-pistol/
https://www.wideopenspaces.com/alaska-man-kills-charging-brown-bear-with-a-9mm-pistol/
