Bare minimum for elk,moose,caribou,deer,bear
- Thread starter 7mm-08
- Start date
A bare minimum? That's a bad way to put it, I hate the thought of minimum cartridges. Not saying that you need a magnum, you certainly don't. If I was only going to have one rifle it would be a bolt action 30/06. It's not the minimum needed to kill any of the animals you mention, but will easily get the job done on any of them.
Minimums will be different from the frame structure of deer, to elk. So an all round, cartridge, although boring to some, would be what I already mentioned. I've got 4 of them, but never used any of them for hunting
. I'm in the process of refinishing a BSA 30/06 for a buddy's little guy...........his first rifle. It should be ready for this fall, so he's got a full year to practice with it before he gets to go hunting with a gun, instead of just being our partner
Minimums will be different from the frame structure of deer, to elk. So an all round, cartridge, although boring to some, would be what I already mentioned. I've got 4 of them, but never used any of them for hunting
. I'm in the process of refinishing a BSA 30/06 for a buddy's little guy...........his first rifle. It should be ready for this fall, so he's got a full year to practice with it before he gets to go hunting with a gun, instead of just being our partnerBare minimum for what conditions?For what shot distances?I will no longer hunt elk with any bullet smaller than 7mm,so to me the bare minimum would be the 7mm-08,and I would not shoot at an elk over about 250 yards.If you want to shoot elk out to over 300 yards,my bare minimum would be the 7mmremmag.Then again I do know of people that take elk and moose with the 243win,but they are very fussy about shot selection and wait for the perfect opportunity.They also kill their animals at fairly close range.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
I would look at the BULLET before the cartrdige.7mm-08 said:
You asked about a caliber minnimum, but quoted two cartridges!
140 grain bullet will do all you need for all those aniumals, be it from a 6.5X55, 7/08, 270win, etc. Proper bullet construction is also to be considered.
YOU have to put it where it is supposed to go however!
Cat
bare minimum Id say would be a 243 Winchester, loaded with a Barnes X bullet
better yet would be a 25-06 with an X, or a 6.5x55/260 with a good premium 140 grainer. the 270 Winchester with 150s is even better
somewhere around 270/7-08 is where I would be fairly confident hunting elk and moose, with good bullets
better yet would be a 25-06 with an X, or a 6.5x55/260 with a good premium 140 grainer. the 270 Winchester with 150s is even better
somewhere around 270/7-08 is where I would be fairly confident hunting elk and moose, with good bullets
My understanding is that Elk are the hardest to put down of the animals listed. I have been told by many that a .270 is a minimal caliber for Elk... I have seen them kill Moose, Deer and Bear and I believe they will kill Elk. But I think I would rather have a .280AI, 7mmRemMag or one of the 7mm Short Mags as the minimum cartridge for that task.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
The mighty 30-30 has taken every game animal on the continent.
Given good placement, I'll take it. 'course you knew I'd say that.
The old 44-40, with all it's pathetic (by modern standards) ballistics has also taken all the game you listed. But I wouldn't use it on anything larger than deer, unless I was in a survival situation.
As already mentioned, so has the 22 rimfire. I guess it comes down to what you would feel comfortable with as minimum.
I'd take the 30-30 over the 243 any day.
Given good placement, I'll take it. 'course you knew I'd say that.
The old 44-40, with all it's pathetic (by modern standards) ballistics has also taken all the game you listed. But I wouldn't use it on anything larger than deer, unless I was in a survival situation.
As already mentioned, so has the 22 rimfire. I guess it comes down to what you would feel comfortable with as minimum.
I'd take the 30-30 over the 243 any day.
