Largest caliber that you comfortably hunt with?

Northern Shooter said:
For your big game game hunting are you firmly in the 30 cal camp or do you hunt with something larger? Is it a once in a while choice or something that you consistently hunt with?
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50-70 or 475 Ackley Magnum, and it's a once in a while thing. I usually take at least one different rifle out every year. - dan
 
dan belisle said:
50-70 or 475 Ackley Magnum, and it's a once in a while thing. I usually take at least one different rifle out every year. - dan
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What 50-70 do you have? Always wanted a Ruger No. 1 in 50-70, I'd settle for 500 S&W and just call it a 50-70.
 
In the military I used potentially big kickers but the platforms had the weight and balance to manage the excessive recoil.

On a normal hunting platform I tap out at recoil beyond the 375H&H. I have a Sako Bavarian 375H&H that I dropped into a laminate stock for a bit more weight than the very light, factory walnut and added a Grind-to-Fit pad. I carry my 375 on certain hunts and I can shoot it well, even turn out a tight cloverleaf grouping with heavy loads but it jars me every time I squeeze the trigger. Although I have a couple of amazingly accurate 300 and 7mm rifles, I do most of my hunting with either a 270Win or a 35Whelen which are both very low recoil.
 
In Ontario a 30cal is more than enough for anything out in the bush, so that's it for me in bolt guns. I have a couple levers that are bigger though - a 38cal and a 45cal. These are brush guns shooting heavy bullets at relatively low velocities though, so they actually recoil less than the 30s.

I've had big magnums in the past. Fun to shoot, and I wouldn;t hesitate using them for big game. I think its all about what YOU can shoot WELL. a 6.5swede or 270win will kill a moose just as dead as a 300mag, so if you're recoil shy, there are still a lot of very good options out there.
 
300 WSM and 338 WM are my go to regular rifles.
Occasional 9.3x74 and 45-70 if I break out the No 1’s.
I’ve sold off the 375’s and 416 Rigby as another Africa trip fades from possible.
 
I have a 300 H&H and a newly aquired 9.3x74R. I never hunted with these chambered rifles, let alone killed something. I was going to use the 300 H&H this season for moose, however, since I just purchased the 9.3x74R, I'll be using it instead. I have shot these cartridges, both have a snappy spicy recoil, kind of wakes a person up.
 
Northern Shooter said:
Sectional density is where the 6.5s shine. I've been able to find 156gr from S&B but have been trying to track down some 160+grain options.
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Wonder if there are Woodleighs in that caliber around still? Less than 160 but the Lapua Megas look good too.

I use monos
 
Various .45's which I don't necessarily need to load to max bolt action .458 Lott for example will do for me at .45-70 level III depends how/where I'm hunting what I go with.
 
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I might use a 500 nitro in a north west BC moose hunt,
but I'm concerned of the lack of shock affect
where grizzly grow to 1500 lbs
 
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I did all the 35 and 375cals when I was younger. BTDT but no longer have interest in the med cals. Down to a couple 30-06s and 300H&H now for my "BIG GUN" line up, but then the last moose I shot was with a 7x57.

Sometimes I think I want another 358Winchester, but also know that a 308 with 180gr NPs wouldn't be giving up much over a 358 so why bother?
 
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