Big game cartridge choice?

back the very first post ...... 9.3x62 is the answer. put it in a modern action at modern pressures and hang on tight .

it is big , but not too big , meat damage on almost tiny deer is non-existent . I can shoot full tilt highpower out of it all day and only be a bit sore the next day .
with practice 400 yard shots are feasible .

and the cool thing is , it isn't some fancy , new fangled round of the week . it has been around almost as long as the 303 , and used in just as many countries .....but never in the act of war . it has always been used in the act of feeding people and families and their defense against wild animals .
 
c-fbmi said:
Any of the 300 mags with 200 gn bullets will work on everything NA has to offer, including the bears and bison. Although not necessarily the ultimate cartridge for the biggest of the big bears it will suffice in 99% of hunting situations. I consider the 300 mags to be far superior to the 338 WM and 300 WM ammo is as common as 30-06 and 270 in the stores.
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I'm with c-fbmi, there are a lot of voices of solid experience in here and most will point you to the .300 Win and .338 Win. The .300 Win is likely you're best option in North America.
 
H4831 said:
I just can't believe all the terrible poor information given on this thread!
Your rifle for most north American game, one you will use factory ammunition in, should in no way, be a belted magnum. The ammunition will run $4 a pop for some of the magnums suggested. I'm sure he will practice enough with heavy recoiling guns at that price for ammo to be a good game shot!
A 30-06 fills the bill perfectly for him.
Oh, you said he might hunt grizzly? It has been calculated that more grizzly and Alaskan brown bear, have been killed with a 30-06 than any other calibre!
'Nuff said.
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What he said. 30'06 with the appropriate weight bullet for the game you're after will do it all. Bonded bullets rein supreme for the big stuff; elk, moose, and Griz. Why pay more for magnum calibers at the additional expense of more recoil, wear and tear. Unless you have the capability of shooting 1500 meters with a 338 Lapua, why bother with it at all? Most big game are taken at a range of less than 400 yrds. Game is not going to die any faster whether they're hit with a 30 caliber round travelling at 2900 fps or a 330 caliber round at 3200 fps. Choose your bullets wisely and you won't be disappointed in the performance of the tried and true 30'06. All the best!
 
Out of your 2 listed options, the .338 Win. For the list of what you want to do, an easy choice is the .300 Win based on a blend of ability and commonality. For the list of 500-600 yard moose and grizzly hunting cartridges suitable for a twice a year shooter, there aren't any. There's a notable shortage of 500-600 yard shooters in any case, and a sad shortage of 500-600 yard ranges to practice on.
 
How likely is it you will end up on a Grizzly Hunt? Or Africa for that matter?

.30-06 is all you need, If you can afford Africa or a Grizzly hunt, another rifle/caliber should not be a problem.

You could also opt for a rifle package that offers multiple calibers as add-on barrels.
 
I'd go with the .338 and not look back. IMR or H 4350 and 225gr bullets of good construction are an excellent combo. Flat trajectory, lots of BC and horsepower.
 
burnt_servo said:
back the very first post ...... 9.3x62 is the answer. put it in a modern action at modern pressures and hang on tight .

it is big , but not too big , meat damage on almost tiny deer is non-existent . I can shoot full tilt highpower out of it all day and only be a bit sore the next day .
with practice 400 yard shots are feasible .

and the cool thing is , it isn't some fancy , new fangled round of the week . it has been around almost as long as the 303 , and used in just as many countries .....but never in the act of war . it has always been used in the act of feeding people and families and their defense against wild animals .
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you can never agree
 
CanadianMac said:
Im in the market for a new bolt action for N.A. big game with the option of grizzlies but mainly moose, caribou, elk. I'm not a reloader and have no interest in wildcats or custom rounds. That said, being able to buy the ammo is important.

Im leaning towards the 338 Lapua or 338 Win Mag.

After i chose the caliber the next choice is the rifle.!



Thoughtful input and advice is most welcome. Thanks everyone.
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This is what you need!


 
If you already have a .308 and .270, I just can't see the point of another largely-redundant choice like the .300...it's such a small step up it doesn't seem like the best choice. For that reason, I'd go with the .338. If this was to be your one-and-only, the .300 would be the reasonable answer. People steering you toward sentimental favourites like the .35Whelen or 9.3x62 are ignoring the stated need for 500+ yard shots...and you would be well advised to start ignoring that idea as well. Generally speaking (and no disrespect is intended here), if you need to ask questions like the ones you ask in this thread, you should not be shooting at warm targets at those distances...maybe not even half of those distances.

I don't see where you have contradicted yourself as others keep stating, but if I'm reading you correctly...i.e. you have no intention of shooting more than a box or two a year with any gun...then I don't see the point of buying another gun at all. Your current battery already contains two that will do anything that you should reasonably expect to do with essentially no practice. If you really intend to take advantage of 500 and 600 yard targets of opportunity, you really need to put a few hundred yards downrange with your .308 at those ranges, and then follow that up with enough rounds out of the actual gun you intend to use to know what to expect. If you're too busy to do that, then I can tell you what to expect...but it won't be pretty, and it won't be what you want to hear.
 
I really don't see a reason for buying a 300 mag or 338 mag when you already own a 308 and a 270. (Unless you just want one.... then by all means) Why not consider adding a Marlin Guide Gun 45/70 to your battery? Great on big bears and lots of fun to reload.
 
I keep it simple. I've shot a few truckloads of what passes for big game in Canada with a 30-06 and 180 grain Nosler Partitions at 2700 fps...But you need to practice...and once you really learn the trajectory it works fine out to a bit beyond 300 yards with a 4X scope. For actual "big game" in Africa or wherever you would probably want something bigger in which case I'd keep it simple again by stepping up to a .375 H+H. The ones I've owned have been very accurate and the recoil, even in a relatively light rifle, was acceptable.
 
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