Caribou hunting with .303
- Thread starter Tarkus
- Start date
I've never hunted caribou, but I've shot deer, elk, bear, etc with a 303 British -- kills em all dead as dead gets, in pretty short order too, assuming you shoot em in the vitals. I'd be confident to hunt caribou with one at any range you're competent with that rifle to make a good, clean, well placed shot.
The .303 will work on Caribou, or any other North American big game. The trick is as always shot placement.
The .303's biggest drawback is that when compared to other "modern" cartridges, it has a severe trajectory. This doesn't mean it can't reach out, it just means that if you intend to make shots out to 300 metres, don't zero for 50. Shoot at any ranges you intend to hunt at, so you know where the bullet will impact at those ranges. More importantly, know where the bullet is going to be in the intermediate ranges. For instance, if you have a 200 metre zero, you're rounds will hit point blank around 30 metres away, then about 4 inches high at 100 metres, and about 8 inches low at 300.
The most important factor in taking longer range shots is having a gun that is capable of shooting that far. A caribou's vital zone is a bit bigger than a volleyball. If your gun can't group every shot inside a target that size at the range you intend to hunt, then you're asking to make a bad shot. I like to practise with paper plates for targets.
Anyways, a little off topic, but I hope this helps.
Cheers.
Tim
The .303's biggest drawback is that when compared to other "modern" cartridges, it has a severe trajectory. This doesn't mean it can't reach out, it just means that if you intend to make shots out to 300 metres, don't zero for 50. Shoot at any ranges you intend to hunt at, so you know where the bullet will impact at those ranges. More importantly, know where the bullet is going to be in the intermediate ranges. For instance, if you have a 200 metre zero, you're rounds will hit point blank around 30 metres away, then about 4 inches high at 100 metres, and about 8 inches low at 300.
The most important factor in taking longer range shots is having a gun that is capable of shooting that far. A caribou's vital zone is a bit bigger than a volleyball. If your gun can't group every shot inside a target that size at the range you intend to hunt, then you're asking to make a bad shot. I like to practise with paper plates for targets.
Anyways, a little off topic, but I hope this helps.
Cheers.
Tim
Every body gets caught up in 'newer must better' bull#### , ultramag , short mag blah blah nothing wrong with any of the old calibres, I have been to several 'general stores' in the Yukon, NWT and all you will find for ammo is 303, 308, 30-06, 300 win mag, 22 LR and of course 12 gauge 
- Location
- Dah Soo,ON
People in the North used to kill Caribou's with spears...I'm sure a .303 will be fine .
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Post Pics
I haven't hunted cariboo with my .303 but have just about everything else. 303 used to be the go to caliber in the far north (and may still be, I don't know) issued to Rangers who used it for everything.
Please post some pics after your trip, I'm sure there are many of us who dream of such an excursion.
Cheers, Will
I haven't hunted cariboo with my .303 but have just about everything else. 303 used to be the go to caliber in the far north (and may still be, I don't know) issued to Rangers who used it for everything.
Please post some pics after your trip, I'm sure there are many of us who dream of such an excursion.
Cheers, Will
