What rifle caliber would you prefer for large game?
- Thread starter RiMP9
- Start date
Trimmer 905
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Here's another vote for .30-06 Spr. Change bullet weights at random. Scope adjustments aren't needed under 200M.
Mine works. 150gr Grand Slam into the boiler room and it is game over.
- Location
- West Central Alberta
Another vote for the .30-06
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
Attachments
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
I have hunted with danged near everything from 6mm to 375’s . For about 20 years now I have hunted with a .303 for everything from coyotes to elk
killed a Pile of animals with it .
Cat
killed a Pile of animals with it .
Cat
So many choices!
This is a good thing, as most of us hunt different animals, in different envirnoments, with different hunting styles.
I the end, if it consistently works for you, then it is not a wrong choice.
While there may be better choices, many experienced hunters who know their rifles and their game and environments, will adapt to the individual circumstances to ensure a quick, clean harvest of their targeted species with their chosen rifle/cartridge combination within reasonable hunting distances.
While there is a current trend to using smaller, more efficient cartridges for larger game at longer distances, there are still some very good old rules to adhere to, as those with a great amount of hunting and shooting experience came out with those standards (professional hunters, guides, and writers).
In no particular order:
- Use the rifle that you shoot best vs the biggest caliber you own
- Whenever possible, use a solid rest and shooting position vs offhand
- Use a cartidge/bullet combination with enough residual energy for the appropriate species;
- 1000 ft-lbs of energy for deer sized game
- 1500 ft-lbs of energy for moose
- 2000 ft-lbs of energy for elk (I like this for grizzly too jmho)
- Never shoot at an unwounded grizzly/brown bear from more than 100 yards away, and whenever possible, from above the bear
- Learn your rifle and its capabilities, but also recognize your limitations (whatever they may be)
A point that sometimes is lost in these forums and threads is:
This is a place to share and learn. Keep it respectable.
Everyone has their own opinion, and while it may not be the same as yours; if you want respect for yours, you must also respect theirs.
Ours is a shrinking community, and we must not continually tear it apart from within and unwittingly add to our adversaries to the hunting/shooting sports argument against us!
Always fun to jest and tease those we know (I do it myself), but make sure it is clear it is a jest, as others may not read it that way!
This is a good thing, as most of us hunt different animals, in different envirnoments, with different hunting styles.
I the end, if it consistently works for you, then it is not a wrong choice.
While there may be better choices, many experienced hunters who know their rifles and their game and environments, will adapt to the individual circumstances to ensure a quick, clean harvest of their targeted species with their chosen rifle/cartridge combination within reasonable hunting distances.
While there is a current trend to using smaller, more efficient cartridges for larger game at longer distances, there are still some very good old rules to adhere to, as those with a great amount of hunting and shooting experience came out with those standards (professional hunters, guides, and writers).
In no particular order:
- Use the rifle that you shoot best vs the biggest caliber you own
- Whenever possible, use a solid rest and shooting position vs offhand
- Use a cartidge/bullet combination with enough residual energy for the appropriate species;
- 1000 ft-lbs of energy for deer sized game
- 1500 ft-lbs of energy for moose
- 2000 ft-lbs of energy for elk (I like this for grizzly too jmho)
- Never shoot at an unwounded grizzly/brown bear from more than 100 yards away, and whenever possible, from above the bear
- Learn your rifle and its capabilities, but also recognize your limitations (whatever they may be)
A point that sometimes is lost in these forums and threads is:
This is a place to share and learn. Keep it respectable.
Everyone has their own opinion, and while it may not be the same as yours; if you want respect for yours, you must also respect theirs.
Ours is a shrinking community, and we must not continually tear it apart from within and unwittingly add to our adversaries to the hunting/shooting sports argument against us!
Always fun to jest and tease those we know (I do it myself), but make sure it is clear it is a jest, as others may not read it that way!
BushmanBob
Member
- Location
- Sunshine Coast, BC
30/06 - I like the fact that it has a huge range of bullet weights for hunting different size game, and its readily available even in the weirdest little places that you might be hunting! Cost of ammunition is fair.
