All purpose hunting rifle

Toomanyguns said:
The OP did state that he had 338 on the mind. Some of us western folks fill upwards of 6 or more big game (moose, elk, deer, bear, goat, sheep) tags per year and numerous coyotes and wolves. I'd call that "all purpose".

You ever hunt BC in your life?
Click to expand...

Actually, I have. In Grizzly country of that too. And not an 'in and out' excursion either. My statement still stands correct. never heard of a moose, elk or bear for that matter, who didn't yield to a half-dissent 06 shot with a 200 grain sp.

Again, nobody is trying to deny excellence of some larger calibers in some applications, "some applications" being the operating word. I am simply suggesting that 338 and 45-70 and 454 casull (for hand guns) and 3 1/2 " (shotgun) may not be suitable 'all purpose" "only gun" cartridge suggestions for starters. You are simply generating more "almost new" rifles for sale on EE.:D
 
Home3 said:
Actually, I have. In Grizzly country of that too. And not an 'in and out' excursion either. My statement still stands correct. never heard of a moose, elk or bear for that matter, who didn't yield to a half-dissent 06 shot with a 200 grain sp.

Again, nobody is trying to deny excellence of some larger calibers in some applications, "some applications" being the operating word. I am simply suggesting that 338 and 45-70 and 454 casull (for hand guns) and 3 1/2 " (shotgun) may not be suitable 'all purpose" "only gun" cartridge suggestions for starters. You are simply generating more "almost new" rifles for sale on EE.:D
Click to expand...

Handgun???? Shotgun???? Perhaps go back and read the OP's first post.
You are indeed correct about 30-06. A 30-06 will do the job fine. I have used 165 gr bullets with great success.
 
Just differing opinions about whats suitable. I consider a 338 light years more suitable than an 06. The 338 is an 06 with bigger bullets. Not a question of weather an 06 can kill a Moose as it will for sure. The 338 is an all purpose gun. Inexperienced guys or guys who haven't shot many big guns look at it differently. It's my Deer gun. I like bigger for big animals. Do I need them, no. Do they work better, you bet. Anyone who says a 308 or 06 kills as good as a 338 is telling me they have never killed anything with one. Forget the premium bullet argument as a 338 can shot TTSXs as well.
 
The OP asked if the .338 was suitable for deer, coyotes,moose, buffalo and longrange work.(It is that). I don't remember him asking if it kicks or not, or whether it was a good first gun.(yes and no) I assume he's over 18, sane and capable of decideing whether he bit off more than he can chew.
BTW my kid was shooting my 7 pound .338 the other day. Nobody died.
 
Dogleg said:
The OP asked if the .338 was suitable for deer, coyotes,moose, buffalo and longrange work.(It is that). I don't remember him asking if it kicks or not, or whether it was a good first gun.(yes and no) I assume he's over 18, sane and capable of decideing whether he bit off more than he can chew.
BTW my kid was shooting my 7 pound .338 the other day. Nobody died.
Click to expand...


Fair enough. I just put 2 and 2 together and made an "assumption" that an all purpose rifle would be an only rifle, hence the only one he'd be shooting, and practicing with. Could be my mistake. Maybe he'll still have more than one rifle, maybe he will like to put tons of mileage on the .338 at the range without a twitch, maybe he doesn't shoot more than 10 shots a year and only shoots when it's at something, who really knows. I guess we're all making assumptions, as we tend to do when asked about a topic, unless we know the poster personally.

Out of curiosity, how many rounds is your kid comfortable putting through your .338? Not being smart, just curious.

Hell, why should the OP stop at a .338. A .375 will do the job too as an "all-purpose" calibre. Why not one of Roy's big boys for that matter? :D
 
Just to clarify, I can shoot small groups with my .416, I can shoot it prone and no I don't flinch. I don't use the big cased WBYs because they actually are a little big for prone or light holds for long range accuracy. Believe me I've owned and tried them. Fun but a little big.
 
Hell, why should the OP stop at a .338. A .375 will do the job too as an "all-purpose" calibre.
Click to expand...

That would be my choice, in fact, its close to the only choice. Kicks less than a .338 too, as far as I'm concerned. Not that I have any interest in being a one rifle hunter, but there are times when you can only travel with one, and you can usually only carry one at a time.
I only let him shoot a magazine full. He had already shot 50 .308 and 20 .257 Weatherbys that evening, so there's no use going crazy. He thinks recoil is fun, and when hes wrapped up in my prone jacket it is. An "event" is how he describes it.
 
In North America the 30-06 is the best all around caliber for hunting.Reasonable recoil and plenty of killing power. Nothing will walk away if you learn how to shoot.Anything more than that and your a gunnut not a hunter.
 
Toomanyguns said:
What kind of vehicle do real hunters drive?
Click to expand...

Good question. How about this? A "Mid East Quad"

MidEastQuad.jpg


I couldn't resist. The devil made me do it:p.
 
Originally Posted by Toomanyguns
What kind of vehicle do real hunters drive?


But of course, a VW Beetle, with a wild flower in their hair.:p Why are you asking?
 
6.5x55 SE

I didn't read through all the posts, and I am sure there are some very good points made.

6.5x55 SE will kill anything in NA with authority, using the proper bullets. Get a firearm in a modern action, and it will be the re-loaders wet dream!
 
Hey Holmes. Hunter extraordinaire from TO. Good to have you back. Have enjoyed your in-depth knowledge and experience on this thread.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom