Hunting rifle battery. Suggestions? - A cabin fever thread

O

Omenator

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
52   0   0
Location
BC, Fraser Valley
So I got to thinking (cabin fever kicking in...) and I was making a few different types of lists specific to hunting rifle batteries for hunting in Canada, BC in particular. Here in BC we have a wide variety of hunt-able game ranging from crows and ground squirrels up to grizzly and bison. Mind you, the general open season game most are interested in is as follows: coyote, wolf, blacktail deer, whitetail deer, mule deer, caribou, sheep (various), mountain goat, elk, moose, and black bear. I have a friend who hasn't yet fallen down the rabbit hole of gun collecting (yet!), and he was wondering what the recommended rifle battery for hunting all game in BC would look like (skipping birds and therefore shotguns as that isn't really my area). Of course you could get away with one rifle in anything from 270 WIN to 300 WIN MAG (he doesn't handload, so keeping it to the somewhat available chamberings is appreciated). Really though, I think it'd be best to have three or four rifles to cover the hunt-able game as then you aren't compromising so much.
I recommended the following:
223 REM or 22-250 REM in bolt action walking-varmint type rifle. I'd use the 223 REM if I was only after coyotes, but if you went with the 22-250 REM you could use it for coyote, wolf, and blacktail deer. I admit a 6mm would likely be better for wolf and blacktail deer, but with the tough 22 cal bullets now the 22-250 REM would work.
For specific rifles: Howa Mini Action or CZ 527 in the 223 REM. Sako Forester or Weatherby Vanguard in 22-250, but there are lots of suitable short actions that would work great in this role.

270 WIN in a lightweight bolt action (under 7-1/2lbs scoped). If you're only after deer, a heavier rifle is fine, but throw sheep and goats in the mix and it's recommended to trim weight wherever possible. I went with 270 WIN since it's available (cheaper) and lacks the recoil of the larger cartridges which could get nasty in a light rifle.
For specific rifles: As per the thread I started the other day, I think the Kimber Montana in 270 WIN is the benchmark for this role.

300 WIN MAG in a suitable weight bolt action. Personal recoil tolerance would play a part in determining which rifle would be best, but too heavy and it's a pain to carry. I went with the 300 WIN MAG as I feel the 270 WIN is a little light for elk, moose, and larger, but larger than 300 WIN MAG and recoil can become a hindrance to practice.
For specific rifles: Weatherby Vanguard in 300 WIN MAG (sensing a trend yet?)

375 H&H or 375 RUGER as a bonus rifle specifically for grizzly and bison, but this wouldn't really be necessary with the 300 WIN MAG.
For specific rifles: Sako L61R/AIII/AIV/AV, Ruger Safari MKII, Montana Rifle Co. X2, or Winchester Model 70 in 375 H&H or Ruger M77 MKII or Howa 1500 in 375 RUGER.

Well that's what I thought, how about you guys?
 
Simple answers, there is no gun for everything. 270 I think covers MOST of the game your looking for. Yotes, wolfs, it will be hard on pelts.... No issue with deer. Goats and elk, take good shots. 17hmr for gophers and small game. 300 Win for large game... That keeps it down too three for yah.
 
Every hunter should have a rimfire for practice, preferably in the same type of action as their preferred hunting rifle. I just left it out above as varmints smaller than coyotes are somewhat uncommon or found in no shooting areas. We just don't have the vast open farmland for the gopher shooting that guys in the central provinces have.
 
7mm rem mag, 338 win mag, and 458 win mag in a trio of bolt actions with peep sights is the fantasy I have sometimes.

I have worked in almost every part of BC but the interior. For 3-4 guns there the options are really limitless. My trio of 2.5 inch magnums would pound the hell out of Vancouver/ Gulf and sunshine coastal islands and HG blacktail though.

Bet the first two would be good for you on a cutblock hunting black bears in PG or in a farmers field in the FSJ area. That trio would give you buffalo, close quarters grizzly and muleys, elk etc in NE BC provided you get your tags. 7mm rem mag in the kootenays for various needs, or .338 if so inclined.

Lightweight .338 for the coastal bears to prove a point, and .458 for general large game needs in the brush that covers most of the province (ok, ok I said 7mm for the cutblocks).
 
Rimfires
204 ruger
25/06
300 wm
35 Whelen
416 Taylor
45/70
458 wm
50 Cal muzzleloader

This is my list. Almost complete. 416 is kinda like a 40 cal until I can afford my 450/400 double.
 
conor_90 said:
7mm rem mag, 338 win mag, and 458 win mag in a trio of bolt actions with peep sights is the fantasy I have sometimes.

I have worked in almost every part of BC but the interior. For 3-4 guns there the options are really limitless. My trio of 2.5 inch magnums would pound the hell out of Vancouver/ Gulf and sunshine coastal islands and HG blacktail though.

Bet the first two would be good for you on a cutblock hunting black bears in PG or in a farmers field in the FSJ area. That trio would give you buffalo, close quarters grizzly and muleys, elk etc in NE BC provided you get your tags. 7mm rem mag in the kootenays for various needs, or .338 if so inclined.

Lightweight .338 for the coastal bears to prove a point, and .458 for general large game needs in the brush that covers most of the province (ok, ok I said 7mm for the cutblocks).
Click to expand...

It was a bit of a toss up on between 375 H&H/375 RUGER and 458 WIN MAG, but for the non reloader 458 WIN MAG factory ammo is $$$! I am planning on one day getting a 458 WIN MAG and loading it like a 45-75 GOVT with the lighter bullets and maybe some cast lead too. I think it would be great fun in the tight bush.
Funny enough I only have one of the rifles on the list I made, but I'm always shuffling guns so that'll likely change sometime.
 
Factory 375 H&H is actually cheaper than .338 WM in a lot of cases as well. Seems the same with components too. Heavy 375 may have less felt recoil than a light .338, at least in my limited experience.


I too aspire to own a .458 and load it with cast someday, ever since a user on here (Boomer I think?) mentioned that you cannot achieve velocities that cause leading in it. Take brass out of the equation (and even here we are close) and it actually seems the .458 is cheaper to load than the .338 which I have yet to find any inexpensive projectiles for.

I've never seen a factory .375 ruger round in the wild in BC or otherwise but I've never looked. Just brass.

I also only have one of the calibers on my list, but my battery would not impress anyone.

I lived mostly on southern VI, my dream battery for there would be: 30/30, scoped .223 , and a 12 gauge slug/buck gun for those little shot and shotgun only zones. I bet a bolt action 7.62x39 would actually be perfect there, no need for a scope for me. Maybe throw in a bolt action '06 for bears. I'm a simple man.
 
Hah! My battery at the moment is 22LR, 7mm REM MAG, 30-06, and 375 H&H. The 7mm REM MAG and 30-06 are pretty well interchangeable and the only reason I have both is one belonged to a friend that died. Haven't got up the nerve to shoot the 375 H&H yet, still recovering from an injury.
 
It's okay, send it to me.

Then we will both own only 2 CF rifles that are practically the same thing.

I do more small game hunting than anything. A single shot shotgun and a henry .22 are what I've settled on for hare and grouse, my primary targets.
 
Fargone4sure said:
I reject the notion of trying to reduce the number of various calibers to only what is sensibly needed. Rational thought should play no part in this.
Click to expand...

That wasn't what I was getting at in this thread. I had someone new to hunting that only has a 22LR and 270 WIN ask what a good hunting rifle battery would look like that would cover all the huntable game species in BC. He doesn't like to tinker like I do and he doesn't much care about the minor differences between cartridges and rifles, just wanted to know what would work.
 
Omenator said:
That wasn't what I was getting at in this thread. I had someone new to hunting that only has a 22LR and 270 WIN ask what a good hunting rifle battery would look like that would cover all the huntable game species in BC. He doesn't like to tinker like I do and he doesn't much care about the minor differences between cartridges and rifles, just wanted to know what would work.
Click to expand...

Once your new to hunting fella catches on, chances are he will end up with a safe full of guns and looking for more. The addiction just hasn't caught him just yet. It will though.
 
The 458 wm is a lot more versatile than most think. Given most animals are taken within 200 yards. I've used it on bears from 6' from the muzzle to 160 yards. I've hammered steel gongs at 250 yards. Yes it drops quickly out a ways but it carries with it momentum
Close range it can't be beat and does little damage to surrounding meat. Bullets from 300-600 gr can be loaded from 700-2600 fps. It's the 30/06 of big bores
I've used Oregon trail lazer cast bullets at 2400 fps with no leading. I only tried a couple. Very accurate but 50 fps slower than jacketed of the same weight
I don't download mine as I have a 45/70 but I tried the starting load 72 grs h4895 under a 405 gr Remington flat nose and I can't shoot good enough to find a better load. So I never tried. I get 2450 fps from a 26" barrel
It's my favorite caliber
 
22LR
223
243
270
300 WM
375 H&H or 375 Ruger


Skip the 223 and 270 if needed to shorten the list. This is for those that don't hand load, and need easily accessible ammo.
 
As for the addiction, I think I'm solidly in the terminally affected category. Here's the list I keep handy as it's the different cartridges I want to try out, I have another list for rifles hah!
223 REM, 22-250 REM, 243 WIN, 6.5x55, 6.5 CREEDMOOR, 260 REM, 270 WIN, 7x57, 7mm-08 REM, 280 REM, 280 AI, 7mm REM MAG, 30-30 WIN, 308 WIN, 30-06, 300 WIN MAG, 338 WIN MAG, 35 WHELEN, 9.3x62, 375 H&H, 375 RUGER, 45-70, 458 WIN MAG
I'm gonna need another safe...
 
brybenn said:
The 458 wm is a lot more versatile than most think. Given most animals are taken within 200 yards. I've used it on bears from 6' from the muzzle to 160 yards. I've hammered steel gongs at 250 yards. Yes it drops quickly out a ways but it carries with it momentum
Close range it can't be beat and does little damage to surrounding meat. Bullets from 300-600 gr can be loaded from 700-2600 fps. It's the 30/06 of big bores
I've used Oregon trail lazer cast bullets at 2400 fps with no leading. I only tried a couple. Very accurate but 50 fps slower than jacketed of the same weight
I don't download mine as I have a 45/70 but I tried the starting load 72 grs h4895 under a 405 gr Remington flat nose and I can't shoot good enough to find a better load. So I never tried. I get 2450 fps from a 26" barrel
It's my favorite caliber
Click to expand...

What rifle are you using? I almost bought a Winchester Model 70 in 458 WIN MAG, but I've never fired anything bigger than 7mm REM MAG or 30-06 so I got a 375 H&H instead. Decided I'd take some smaller steps when jumping up the recoil ladder, but I'm thinking a 22" barreled 458 WIN MAG on a 7-1/2 to 8lb rifle would be a great bush basher. Spend any time in overgrown cutblocks and you quickly realize ol yogi could really wreck your day and you'd hardly have any notice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom