How big is too big in terms of caliber for hunting big game in Canada.
- Thread starter RemingtonMarlin
- Start date
clifford13
New member
- Location
- Newfoundland, Canada
I'd say no bigger than 20mm 
My way of thinking is I don't want a rifle that will just do it when everything is perfect. I want a rifle that works when the chips are down. I shoot a 458wm and shoot it rather well. To me it kicks less then some loads I put thru my lightweight shotguns. Friends have shot it and bled and bruised. Others asked if it was truly an elephant gun with great surprise they lived to tell about it. Recoil is subjective. To shoot the bigger bores you must practice. Fit is most important. The worst recoil I remember was a 30/378. It didn't punch that hard but recoiled extremely fast. The scope touched my shades.
Too big is an assessment of the shooter. If you can handle big bores then you them. Their a lot of fun. If you can't then be honest with yourself and choose a smaller cartridge. There's no shame in using smaller bores as long as they're capable of taking the game in question. Don't take a 17 mach2 after deer. A 250 savage works well if you do your part.
For bigger game I personally like bigger guns. Moose is a 6.5 and up for me.
For others its a learning curve from bad experience. I had a buddy give up his 303 because a wounded bear ran at him after a well placed shot. He was standing on the trail. That bear terrified him and he moved to a 300 win mag. It took him a long time to learn to shoot it well
Best of luck with your new rifle
Too big is an assessment of the shooter. If you can handle big bores then you them. Their a lot of fun. If you can't then be honest with yourself and choose a smaller cartridge. There's no shame in using smaller bores as long as they're capable of taking the game in question. Don't take a 17 mach2 after deer. A 250 savage works well if you do your part.
For bigger game I personally like bigger guns. Moose is a 6.5 and up for me.
For others its a learning curve from bad experience. I had a buddy give up his 303 because a wounded bear ran at him after a well placed shot. He was standing on the trail. That bear terrified him and he moved to a 300 win mag. It took him a long time to learn to shoot it well
Best of luck with your new rifle
my 375ruger with 300g Bullets has 2 bear 1 deer and 1 coyote under it belt.
everything was dead before it could get my eyes back on them.
not a lot of meat damage. infact have two bears hanging side by side. one with my 375ruger and the other was a 300WM with 180g.
we cut more meat off the bear with the 300WM. both shot in the lungs
everything was dead before it could get my eyes back on them.
not a lot of meat damage. infact have two bears hanging side by side. one with my 375ruger and the other was a 300WM with 180g.
we cut more meat off the bear with the 300WM. both shot in the lungs
The .375H&H is accurate and effective on game and don't result (usually) in a lot of blood shot meat that higher velocity rounds might cause. Once you ignore all the folks that havent shot a 375H&H very much and learn to enjoy (and have confidence) in what a 375H&H can do ... you will be very pleased you bought it. The only inconvenience is some of them can be heavy. If you are a handloader you will certainly expand the use and pleasure the rifle will give you. Ignore the naysayers who dont know what they dont know.
I got a nice big bull moose and another big black bear this year with my .375 Ruger. It has become my favorite rifle. It is just phenomenal in the takedown department. (375 is a 375, don't matter the case, as the bullet is the same. )
I'd have bought a .375 H & H if I'd had the money, but the Ruger platform is just less expensive to buy and feed.
I'd have bought a .375 H & H if I'd had the money, but the Ruger platform is just less expensive to buy and feed.
This ^ exactly. Shooting your big bore on hunts when the extra bullet weight or power isn't absolutely required makes perfect sense. Not only will it be more effective and fun to use, it will help ensure that when you someday do need it, you will be completely familiar and comfortable with it.
But unfortunately, this topic seems to bring out a lot of folks who think that a gun which THEY can't shoot must be foolish for ANYONE to use.
Just one more to jump in. I have owned a few different 375s. I liked them all a lot, the #1 being very high on my list. The cartridge is a one gun for all big game. Whitetail to moose 1 shot kills. I have not shot a big bear but we all know it is up to the job. Cast shoots well out of most & is fun. A farmer friend shoots a lot of coyotes in the yard with his #1 with cast. You have a great gun, in a fantastic caliber. Some here seem to think the smallest legal cartridge is the way to go! I think the game deserves better and you have enough gun. A well placed shot will drop anything fast. Good luck and have fun. AJ
I loaded up some 235gr Speer Hot-Cor bullets and some 235 X bullets. Now it has extended to my wolf gun too. Love 375 ANYGUN
I soo love shooting me brno 602 .375 ... even belly down prone/bipod with hot 270gr loads is a whole lotta fun. It is quite frankly nearing the upper limit of my personal recoil tolerence .. yes .. and a long eye relief scope is pretty much mandatory .. yes .. but oh so rewarding to hit so HARD well out past 400 yards.
However ....
Enter Husqvarna 9.3x62. An aging man's med. bore carry gun.
3 1/2 pounds lighter than 602, both rifles identically scoped, slung, and loaded with 5 down.
9.3 pushes 250's less than 100fps slower than .375 does with 270's. Can't discern any difference in downrange smack, and trajectory is plenty good to well past 300yds.
Works for me.
However ....
Enter Husqvarna 9.3x62. An aging man's med. bore carry gun.
3 1/2 pounds lighter than 602, both rifles identically scoped, slung, and loaded with 5 down.
9.3 pushes 250's less than 100fps slower than .375 does with 270's. Can't discern any difference in downrange smack, and trajectory is plenty good to well past 300yds.
Works for me.
This ^.
