Long range hunting gun

Freyr_255 said:
Doing my research into what I want to get for a long range hunting rig(sheep/goat) and wanted some opinions. Looking at about 500m shots and capable of dropping a griz at close range. So what rifle/chambering/scope/bullet would you use?
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From most to least:
each loaded with a 350 gr TTSX:
.416 Weatherby
.416 Rigby

each loaded with a 250 gr TTSX
.378 Weatherby
.375 Ultra

each loaded with a 225 gr TTSX
.338 Lapua
.338-378 Weatherby
.338 Ultra

each loaded with a 180 gr TTSX
.300 Weatherby
.300 Winchester
.300 H&H
 
Don't forget the 375 H&H or Ruger. Both seriously powerful and accurate out to 1000 yds. But you'll need a 10" group or less at 500 to be assured of a clean kill. My offhand groups at 300 are 12". Which isn't anywhere good enough for 500. I'm shooting an 8x57 so I don't shoot anything past 200
 
Id' personally pick a 7mm RM or 7WSM or 300WSM, but anything in that range will work great, as will a .280 or 30-06, too. The trick is choosing your load wisely, and setting up your rifle correctly to achieve the 500 yard shots and the very, very, very almost miniscule chance you will need to stop a bear charge.
 
Denisb said:
Don't forget the 375 H&H or Ruger. Both seriously powerful and accurate out to 1000 yds. But you'll need a 10" group or less at 500 to be assured of a clean kill. My offhand groups at 300 are 12". Which isn't anywhere good enough for 500. I'm shooting an 8x57 so I don't shoot anything past 200
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He already has a .375 H+H, and remember guys most grizzlies in this country go less than 7 feet and 400 lbs with the very odd bear going over 8 feet and 5 or 600 lbs. These bears also learned long, long ago you don't get to over 8 feet hanging around people vey much. When he says a bear at close range it's not 'cause the bear is getting close to him it's because we can quite often get very close to them.
 
c-fbmi said:
He already has a .375 H+H, and remember guys most grizzlies in this country go less than 7 feet and 400 lbs with the very odd bear going over 8 feet and 5 or 600 lbs. These bears also learned long, long ago you don't get to over 8 feet hanging around people vey much. When he says a bear at close range it's not 'cause the bear is getting close to him it's because we can quite often get very close to them.
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Well said. I love when people think they will have bear problems. I have never had an encounter with a bear in 6 years guiding in BC, Yukon or NWT. What ever rifle I have in my hands is going to be a whole lot better than tossing rocks at a grumpy bear.
 
Sask_Hunter said:
Well said. I love when people think they will have bear problems. I have never had an encounter with a bear in 6 years guiding in BC, Yukon or NWT. What ever rifle I have in my hands is going to be a whole lot better than tossing rocks at a grumpy bear.
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I haven't had any issues bears in the 7 years I worked full time in the bush either(pulled spray on a wolverine once that surpised me during a tundra nap). That being said neither did one of my co-workers until he got killed in 2006 by walking over a rise straight into a mother griz's den. Yes whatever rifle you have is better than nothing but it also doesn't mean you shouldn't be prepared either. I compare it to wearing a seat belt really.

Anyway I think I'm bouncing around all the 30 cal magnum chamberings for my final choice. I contemplated the 338-378 because they have one in town but it'll be far more gun than I'm really looking for and expensive as all hell to shoot. As for which 30 cal I get...well...going to depend on what I stumble across for a good deal. :p

:cheers:
 
Well for sheep in the Yukon a 30-06 or 300 Win Mag works just fine out to 500yds. And can be fired in a 8lb all up rifle without loosening fillings.
A .338 can too and with 225gr Accubonds its a fantastic long range rifle, and is still reasonable in a 8lb setup, but most people will not shoot it well.
I have killed everything I have purposed to out to 550yds with a 2.5-8. That said a 3.5-10 is great and 4.5-14 would work too.

Any of the above with with the right bullets will dump a grizz with the authority needed. If you don't believe me ask an authority on Grizz and Brown bears. Phil Shoemaker thinks the 30-06 and a 168 TSX or 180 Partition is dandy for 1000lb Brownies, so why not a 600lb Mountain Grizz?

I would do the .338 personally, but I like recoil ;)
 
I doubt that the cartridge is the problem, the .30/06 answers most questions in good workman like fashion, but a long barreled rifle with a large optic that I envision being chosen for long range big game hunting is not one that would necessarily prove particularly handy for shooting a grizzly in the willows at "blood on the shoes" range. However, neither is an iron sighted carbine with a short stock, ideal for a 500 yard shot on a sheep.

Of course I've already answered the question with my 20" .375 Ultra. Loaded with a 260 gr AB or a 250 gr TTSX at 2900 fps from the short pipe, it'll reach out there like a 7mm magnum, and still be handy enough to tackle a bear in the thick stuff. If the bear issue is not on your radar, then just get a good .270 and go hunting. But for all the naysayers, I'm frankly more likely to have an up close bear problem then I am to take a 500 yard shot on a sheep.
 
.338wm. with 225g. if i was going to outfit my self. but i would not have a issure tromping out with my 30-06 at all eithr
 
You said sheep and goats right not wooly mammoth, well I'd say 26" barrel 243 or 25-06 the best optics you can afford and as said 500m to point blank won't work so I'd pretend I'm in the U.S. and pack 45 auto loader maxed out for Bobo.
 
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