caliber matter

notso

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Exclude the extremes like a 22 for a water buffalo and a 50 cal for a coyote and nothing is going to attack and kill me. Im asking in a normal hunting condition with a shot through the lungs or heart and the ability to shoot a caliber well with a good bullet like nosler partiton. Does it really matter that i shoot a 243 or a 30-06 or 338 or 375? Is it only preference? As long as I wait for a good shot and really think about the caliber and its ability for the size and weight of animal that im hunting. Im not out to attack anyones choices. I love my 270 and it has dropped some pretty big animals. But I love my 338 and want to go up tp 375 ruger. I dont need either for deer but i may just use them for that and actually have used my 338 for deer. Sorry for the rambling. P.S. I really wanted to talk about the caliber for an up close and personal grizzly attack i believe something as large as 375 or bigger. Of course ive never been there so have no idea just preference from a big fear of death by grizzly.
 
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Buy the .375, and keep the .270. That would cover just about everything that needs doing. I killed a lot of animals smaller than deer with a .375 and never felt guilty about it, and tipped over one animal that went 3000 pounds. That kind of versatility has an appeal all it's own, and is just the beginning of what the three seven five is capable of. What's not to like?
 
If you have a .375, there is no hunting scenario you cannot handle - anywhere. The .375 will do it all, and the lightweight bullets offered by Barnes would make it suitable for even coyotes and pronghorn.

There is something the .375 can do that the .270 can't. That is, once mastered it, the .375 generates confidence when you are hunting in dangerous game habitat. Yes a .270 will kill a grizzly, but does the .270 give you the confidence to defend yourself against a grizzly in heavy cover when the range is measured in feet rather than yards. After you've used it for a while, the .375 will.

Lets talk about the larger calibers. Once we consider cartridges like the .458, .470, and various 500's, we are looking at cartridges with very specific rolls. The velocity of these rounds are very similar - 1900 fps up to about 2100. The low velocities dictate that these rounds are short-range solutions for big game. The .375's and the .416's have the trajectory and power to easily take game out to 300 yards and in some cases farther, so are better general hunting cartridges. The .375 has an edge over the .416 in the selection of bullets available for it. The .375 also has an edge in the recoil department. While I consider the .416 manageable, I could hold mine prone for 3 rounds with full powered loads while my .375 I can hold for 5. Some folks can do better, some not so well, but either way, the .375 is less difficult.
 
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Even a .375 gives you no guarantee of a one shot stop for Yogi. Not that Yogi is interested in you. If you're afraid of Yogi, stay home.
"...when the range is measured in feet rather than yards..." That'd be far too late. PO Yogi a few feet away and you're finished.
 
Sunray ive hunted here for 20 years and have not once had a up close and personal visit from a bear. But I have this wonderful picture of dying in my sleep lol. Not in some bears belly. And more then anything staying home is not an option in beautiful country that i have the option to live in. My option in rifles does give me the choice to feel more comfy with a big caliber. Fear is no reason to stay home anyways. Its more reason to get out and play. I may have to call moose from the box of my truck but Ill be out thereeee. Have a good day.

Belisle I agree that we all need one rifle in each caliber its just when I go hunting my truck gets a little crowded(not kidding). So i really want the 375 ruger and i can afford to sell one 338 because i have 2 hahah. Hopefully that is my answer to hunting with one rifle. If not ill be back to hunting with them all.

Everybody else thank you for the replys
 
If you have a .375, there is no hunting scenario you cannot handle - anywhere. The .375 will do it all, and the lightweight bullets offered by Barnes would make it suitable for even coyotes and pronghorn.

There is something the .375 can do that the .270 can't. That is, once mastered it, the .375 generates confidence when you are hunting in dangerous game habitat. Yes a .270 will kill a grizzly, but does the .270 give you the confidence to defend yourself against a grizzly in heavy cover when the range is measured in feet rather than yards. After you've used it for a while, the .375 will.

Lets talk about the larger calibers. Once we consider cartridges like the .458, .470, and various 500's, we are looking at cartridges with very specific rolls. The velocity of these rounds are very similar - 1900 fps up to about 2100. The low velocities dictate that these rounds are short-range solutions for big game. The .375's and the .416's have the trajectory and power to easily take game out to 300 yards and in some cases farther, so are better general hunting cartridges. The .375 has an edge over the .416 in the selection of bullets available for it. The .375 also has an edge in the recoil department. While I consider the .416 manageable, I could hold mine prone for 3 rounds with full powered loads while my .375 I can hold for 5. Some folks can do better, some not so well, but either way, the .375 is less difficult.

My 9.3X74R is a fantastic cartridge, but the availabilty of lighter bullets than the 375H&H has makes it the loser if you are looking at a "one gun scenario"
The H&H will push bullets from the lighter 235's to the heavier ones easier, and so far the only bullets I can readily get for my 9.3 are the 285 lapuas and Hornady 286(?) as well as the Barnes 250.
the 375 bullets , in contrast, I can readily get bullets of 235 for the H&H.
This would be for a World-wide traveling rifle however, and I'm not about to head anywhere but locally for some time.
In my case of a "local" rifle, the 9.3X74 is fine . It's a double, so if I do go for Bison it will be great, and for the type of white tail hunting I do it's very good also.
Moose would not even be a bit of a problem for it!:D
That being said, if Ii were to choose a different rifle for me, it would be likely soemthing like a 7X57, or 6.5X55 maybe .
of course, I own them already and many others, so I guess it goes back to the
"what if" scenaraio of ONE rifle!!
Cat
 
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Hey Cat in the Hat-

I'm sourcing out a double in the 9.3x74r as well. The fellows in the Nitroexpress forum discuss using 320gr bullets in the 9.3 (Though I'm not sure its the 74r).

Have you any idea what the max load for the double rifle 9.3 is? Could a guy use the 320gr?

I checked at Sportsmans warehouse, and couln't find any books/pamphlets on reloading the 9.3
 
Hey Cat in the Hat-

I'm sourcing out a double in the 9.3x74r as well. The fellows in the Nitroexpress forum discuss using 320gr bullets in the 9.3 (Though I'm not sure its the 74r).

Have you any idea what the max load for the double rifle 9.3 is? Could a guy use the 320gr?

I checked at Sportsmans warehouse, and couln't find any books/pamphlets on reloading the 9.3

Generally a double rifle will be regulated for one specific load only. The rifle itself should have that information on the flats.

Regulation is a very long drawn out process of shooting the rifle and then adjusting the barrles until they shoot together at a specific distance, usually between 75 and 100 yards. Just one of the things that makes these rifles so expensive.
 
PO Yogi a few feet away and you're finished.

Your ability to be wrong on this issue so often is astonishing.

If one is competent in the use of his rifle, and if one is alert to the problem, and if one doesn't have any preconceived ideas concerning what interests a bear; you are far from finished.

Conversely, traipsing through heavy cover in bear habitat with your head up your ass could result in a non-survivable event.
 
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