Going to the Yukon: do I have enough gun?

S

Svejk

Member
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Yellowknife, NT
It seems like I might have a new job in the New Year in the Yukon.

Currently, shooting deer in AB with my 81 BLR in .308 has been working fine. Understanding that moose, caribou, and elk are the Game up there should I really need to move upto a 30-06 or some other CP3 Cartridge?

Gun shopping will be easier down south and it will be Christmas.

Cheers.
 
your 308 will not the chit out of any thing up there. moose arent tough caribou go about 400pounds on the hoof. plus your 308 can take grizzly's if you need. spend money on good optics and good bullets not a big shiny new gun.
 
By all means, get anew gun if you want it, but a .30-06 isn't really a step up from a .308

Next step up would be a .300 of some sort but a real step up woudl be into the .338's and .375's
 
Stick with your .308 and spend your money on a quality scope, a quality bino, a decent knife, and a bunch of 150gr or 165gr TTSX bullets, and you'll be in great shape.
 
North of Carmacks - .50 BMG
South of Carmacks - .45-70

Make sure they're full auto..... ;)

In all seriousness, this just sounds like an AWESOME opportunity to purchase a couple of just-in-case rifles. Personally, I'd keep the .308, go up a level & add a .300 or .338 or even a .375 (as stated above -because you NEVER know) and down one to a handy .243 or something similar. DON'T shoot caribou with a .300WM. I 'rook'd' out like that in the other Territory. It was the first time I had multiple kills with a single shot. Well, aside from gophers...
 
I've hunted the Yukon with my cousin who lives in WH. I brought two rifles, .338WM and .375H&H. The fellows in camp (locals) were astonished at the size of my bullets. The guns in camp were "yes' a .303 Brit, a .270, a 30-06 and a 7mmMag. Another fellow that we met up with took his bull moose with a 45-70. The thing to consider in the Yukon if you hunt on land is what you might run into, not necessarily what you have a tag for :eek: Some I'm thinking the 30-06 to be on the safe side, should be minimum.
 
.308 is more than good enough, and since you can buy Heavy Mag shells in .308 that match or exceed .30-06.

I shoot 150 grn SST's at everything, and haven't lost an animal. That includes big bull elk which are FAR tougher than moose. Skin one sometime to see the difference...

Besides, the weight you add to go long action for .30-06 probably ain't worth it.

Party on!
 
There are better alternatives but your .308 is fine for the task.

However, if you're looking for a reason to own a new rifle, I've always shot better at longer distances with a good bolt gun. Personally, caliber-wise, I wouldn't go bigger than a 7mm or 300 mag. 338's can be hard to handle if you don't like recoil and may take away from your ablity to shoot as accurately at longer distances. If you can, go out and try before you buy.
 
A .308 will handle all of your shooting chores in the Yukon. IMHO, if you want more you should go bigger rather than faster and a Ruger Alaskan in .375 Ruger or 9.3X62 (available next year) would be a good step up. When this question of cartridge suitability comes up, one should consider that on Stewart Edward White's African Safari which lasted something like 6 months, he took every species of game he encountered with a custom Springfield rifle chambered for the then new .30/06 cartridge. His load, the only one available, was the military service cartridge which drove the 150 gr spitzer FMJ bullet at 2700 fps. Most of his shots were bang flops, and no game animal got away. Your .308, with its selection of modern bullets will eclipse the performance SEW had with his .30/06. If I was to choose between a .308 and a .30/06 I would choose the '06, but if I already owned a .308 rifle that I liked, I would not swap it for one.
 
Don't sell your 08 for on 06, but if you want a new gun go 338 or 375. Stainless Mod. 70 Classic with the barrel cut to 22-23" and you're done.
 
With the same bullets of medium weight, here is NO practical in-the-field difference on game between the .308 and the 30-06. There is a practical difference however between rifles with similar chamberings and different handling characteristics. Go with the rifle that fits you and that you can shoot well.
Use premium bullets rather than the cheaper cup-and-core variety, and the moose or grizzly or caribou will never know what size chamber pushed that lethal bullet through their chest.
Of course, you do have a really good excuse to buy another rifle....
 
Your .308 will be just fine. I have lived in the Yukon for 34 years (since the day I was born). I have done 99% of my hunting with 30-30, .270, 7mm-08 and 7x57. After 17 years of hunting I have chosen the 7x57 as my go-to rifle. I did use my .308 for caribou last year. I have shot bear with a 6.5x55 which I have since given to a friend who has shot 3 moose with it. A close friend of mine shot a charging grizzly at close range (5 yards?) with his 30-30. The bear was chasing his dog. I have seen so many moose shot with .303 (all my dad ever carried), 6.5x55, 7mm-08, 30-30, .270, and 30-06 that I wouldn't try to count them. One legal restriction in the Yukon that is good to know is that you need minimum 30-06 if you want to hunt bison. If you love your .308 keep it and enjoy it! Jonathan
 
lledwod,

that looks like an awesome ram, got a bigger pic?


ive guided 3 years in the yukon and could have killed every animal with a 308. big mags are not needed. i would rather have a client come in to camp with his old 308 than a shiny new heavy mag.

spend your money on optics or hunting trips, then upgrade if you want
 
I personally don't understand the magnum crazy. Of course there are times one would be great but I see guys hunting deer with a .300 WSM. I guess I didn't know that the deer have armour plating to protect them

Big thing is to be capable of a good shot. Buy a premium bullet and place the shot carefully and you shouldn't have any problem.

Your .308 is more than capable of bagging virtually any North American Game.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom