Hunting North American game with dangerous game calibers?

[track]

This might fit in here somewhere. If you’re going to take the handicap of using what is basically an elephant cartridge on medium sized game, why not go for the whole experience and go with iron sights as well? Using my four five eight for example my front bead covers 8 inches at 100 yards. Thats going to vary wth the bead size, barrel length and the individual shooter but isn’t far off normal. If I sight it in so the bullets impact exactly at the top of the bead at 100 yards its a pretty good deal. If you want a precise shot at the range you’re probably going to shoot at use the top of the bead, though it isn’t make much difference. If something is close enough to stomp you it won’t make a dimes worth of difference if you use the center of the bead or not, and at 200 the bead is covering 16 inches and the bullet will be dropping right back into the middle of it. You can push it a little farther where its hitting toward the bottom of the bead. If the bead covers the deer its probably tme to think about quitting. Who needs rangefinders.

I'll add onto the list, try hunting with a double rifle, they are mostly regulated for 50 yards/meters..............bowhunting skill will be needed to get in close.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I'll add onto the list, try hunting with a double rifle, they are mostly regulated for 50 yards/meters..............bowhunting skill will be needed to get in close.

I'd love to hunt with a double rifle, my wallet is saying otherwise unfortunately.

A Heym 89B in 470NE would be fun.

 

[bcsteve]

I've been using my .375 Ruger Alaskan loaded with 250gr TTSX for moose for the last few years. Shot three bulls with it from 60 to 350 yards. One shot each and they dropped within a few yards. It may not be necessary for moose but I don't feel its an handicap either.

 

[Ardent]

.375s quick, just a super sized .30-06.

 

[track]

I'd love to hunt with a double rifle, my wallet is saying otherwise unfortunately.

A Heym 89B in 470NE would be fun.

Ouch! A 470 NE for North American game, no thanks; I could not take the pain, especially on the bench to sight-in and practice. A 30-06, 8x57 or 9.3x74r would be an excellent choice for moose and bear, in a double rifle.

 

[Ardent]

I'll add onto the list, try hunting with a double rifle, they are mostly regulated for 50 yards/meters..............bowhunting skill will be needed to get in close.

Not my experience, have had no problem taking game at 200-300 with a double, but it’s a .375 not a .470.

 

[Northern Shooter]

Not my experience, have had no problem taking game at 200-300 with a double, but it’s a .375 not a .470.

Interesting, I didn't know doubles were ever used at those distances. I thought most doubles were regulated at the 50-70m mark. Were these regulated for further out?

 

[Ardent]

You just learn where it shoots, best to consider it a single shot at past 100-150 dependent on your own personal rifle, but it’s no less effective than a Ruger No. 1.

I could easily hit a paper plate with that rifle at 300, so I can’t say it wasn’t a suitable 300 yard gun. Again that’s with a chambering leaving the muzzle at 2500fps+ however.

 

[Dogleg]

Interesting, I didn't know doubles were ever used at those distances. I thought most doubles were regulated at the 50-70m mark. Were these regulated for further out?

As long as you know where the first barrel’s going thats 90 percent of the battle.

 

[Ardent]

Indeed nobody ever told the first barrel it can’t shoot past 70 yards.

 

[medvedqc]

I'd love to hunt with a double rifle, my wallet is saying otherwise unfortunately.

A Heym 89B in 470NE would be fun.

all double rifle are not born with a silver or gold spoon ... try to find a 9.3x74r not as romantic as a 470 ne but it was used in africa as well ...

 

[Dogleg]

Indeed nobody ever told the first barrel it can’t shoot past 70 yards.

And even if you did, would it listen?

 

[Northern Shooter]

As long as you know where the first barrel’s going thats 90 percent of the battle.

For some reason I never thought of it this way, basically two single shot rifles.

I thought because of the angle that the barrels are regulated at, the "#####-cross" range was always close in and they couldn't accurately be used at further distances.

I guess you would just account for lateral change as well as vertical drop.

 

[Ardent]

You sight to your first barrel, and that’s your shot, there is no lateral when shooting just one barrel. And at the regulated range, they shoot to the same point, so there’s still no lateral to consider. Beyond wherever the two diverge unreasonably, say when one leaves the edge of the paper plate with the first centered, that’s the end of using both barrels conventionally. That varies rifle to rifle, the smaller bores are better regulated for distance generally in doubles. I wouldn’t expect much from a .470 or .500 in regards to range, that’s not what they’re built for and the ballistics suck wind anyhow.

In the 200-300 ballpark you’ve got a single shot and you’re only sighted on the first barrel. Second is just for show and happens to be strapped to the first, good chance it’s 2’ off out there. Again, avoid needlessly big bore and slow options and you’ll have a useful rifle for many things.

 

[track]

Not my experience, have had no problem taking game at 200-300 with a double, but it’s a .375 not a .470.

Shooting at 200 to 300 yards is the exception with a double rifle. I as well had several chances to shoot deer/black bear at 200 yards with my previous Blaser S2, 9.3x74R, however, I take greater joy stalking big game, really gets the heart pumping. Case-in-point, I never did shoot anything with the double rifle, however, I'm back in the market for another, either Merkel, Blaser or Chapuis, in a standard cartridge, maybe another 9.3x74R.
I know that the left barrel (rear trigger) on the Blaser was more accurate than the right barrel, therefore, if a long shot was taken, the left barrel would of been utilized. The Blaser S2, Merkel 141 and Chapuis are awesome rifles, barrels can be regulated by the owner, especially for a hand-loader. Possibly as soon as this November, I will be hunting again with a double.
Traditional doubles can kill at greater distances than 50 yards, however the hunter must practice and know POI at various distances. Would I take a 300 yard shot, damn right I would, as long as the conditions were perfect. Animal must be of trophy quality, great rest, knowing POI, edequate enviornmental conditions, otherwise; a stalk is preformed or the animal walks.

 

[Pete04]

I'd use 400gr TBBC @ 2250 fps mv w/o hesitation should work pretty good too on whatever. https://www.federalpremium.com/rifle/premium-safari/safari-trophy-bonded-bear-claw/11-P458T1.html

Yes, this is kind of what I had in mind. This would most likely be mainly for hand loading.
300g-450g copper solid moving at 1,800-2,200fps.
Looking for complete (straight line, bone crushing) pass through, no matter the North American game or angle of attack. (within reason)
If not an instant kill, this would surly leave a good blood trail.
The aim is for ethical/instant kill with as little meat damage as possible. I see the same size hole for enter and exit instead of calibre size hole going in and basket ball size exit hole.
I'm in On. and hunt my own 100 acres around Orillia. Heavy gun (mostly tree stands) and Crappy Tire ammo are not issues.
Shots here would never be more than 150yds. Game is Deer and bear.
Moose and elk on the property but not legal to hunt yet.

 

[geologist]

Yes, this is kind of what I had in mind. This would most likely be mainly for hand loading.
300g-450g copper solid moving at 1,800-2,200fps.
Looking for complete (straight line, bone crushing) pass through, no matter the North American game or angle of attack. (within reason)
If not an instant kill, this would surly leave a good blood trail.
The aim is for ethical/instant kill with as little meat damage as possible. I see the same size hole for enter and exit instead of calibre size hole going in and basket ball size exit hole.
I'm in On. and hunt my own 100 acres around Orillia. Heavy gun (mostly tree stands) and Crappy Tire ammo are not issues.
Shots here would never be more than 150yds. Game is Deer and bear.
Moose and elk on the property but not legal to hunt yet.

You could downsize to an intermediate .375 H&H with a penetration cartridge like the discontinued Failsafe. 300g at 2500 fps is doable.

 

[medvedqc]

You could downsize to an intermediate .375 H&H with a penetration cartridge like the discontinued Failsafe. 300g at 2500 fps is doable.

one of the best bullet ever made but misunderstood by most users ...

 

[Ardent]

You could downsize to an intermediate .375 H&H with a penetration cartridge like the discontinued Failsafe. 300g at 2500 fps is doable.

Can always get silly like the 350gr TSX and 380gr Rhino in .375.

Those get slow, and penetrate like mad. There’s little reason to use them on this continent I’m afraid, but they’re interesting and take a .375 from a modern round to one from a different century.

 

[geologist]

one of the best bullet ever made but misunderstood by most users ...

I think of Failsafes as a penetration first bullet so in instances where you have to shoot big things close up at really bad presentation angles and you need to break big bones, it gets the NOD ie. expansion is secondary.