Largest caliber that you comfortably hunt with?
- Thread starter Northern Shooter
- Start date
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Using the 50bmg for a whitetail doe cull is certainly enough gun. Doubt it will become popular to pack around a seven foot rifle weighing about 30 lbs.
Then there's the questionable use as a stunt to generate YouTube views. I'm not sure exactly what he was trying to accomplish.
Then there's the questionable use as a stunt to generate YouTube views. I'm not sure exactly what he was trying to accomplish.
Iron Sighted
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peace Region
I've got a No.1H in 50-140 that I'd like to try and use on a hunt or two this fall.
- Location
- calgary alberta
I thought it was just me that thought that about his shot placement. I have shot a fair amount of game with a 50BMG, never at as close a range as that clown but the results are rather underwhelming for sure from the outside of the animal. I have never had an animal NOT go done right then and there either. Using 750 gr Amax bullets, I have never had 1 exit an animal. The inside of the animal is turned to thick soup however if shot in the heart/lung area.
buck knife
CGN Regular
- Location
- Golden forest
45/70, but I don't hunt with any factory ammo,it makes a mess out of things quick.I like a nice light load with a 300 grain Hornady hollow point for whitetail and black bear ,no meat loss compared to factory hunting ammo.
While I have taken game over the years with 30 cals (30-30, 308, 30-06 and 300 Mags - Win and WSM), and I still have a 300 WSM, it is not my favourite caliber despite it being quite effective.
For the over 30 cal, I am fond of the the 338, 35, 9.3 and 375 calibers, and have and continue to hunt with them all in bolt actions and lever actions. Each has its place depending on game and terrain being hunted on each excursion.
I have a 416 Taylor but haven't taken anything with it yet, and hunted with a friend's No.1 in 458 Win Mag, but did not take any game with it (was past legal shooting light when I came upon a large grizzly boar).
I also hunt with under 30 cals as well, with 257, 6.5, and 7mm being my favourites in this end of the caliber spectrum.
For the over 30 cal, I am fond of the the 338, 35, 9.3 and 375 calibers, and have and continue to hunt with them all in bolt actions and lever actions. Each has its place depending on game and terrain being hunted on each excursion.
I have a 416 Taylor but haven't taken anything with it yet, and hunted with a friend's No.1 in 458 Win Mag, but did not take any game with it (was past legal shooting light when I came upon a large grizzly boar).
I also hunt with under 30 cals as well, with 257, 6.5, and 7mm being my favourites in this end of the caliber spectrum.
I have a 375 Ruger. I have taken a few deer and bear with.
45 colt henry will be in my hands this season.
My 243 and 30-30 work just as well.
Over the years I have been using less and less gun. The 375ruger is just fun. But not necessarily
45 colt henry will be in my hands this season.
My 243 and 30-30 work just as well.
Over the years I have been using less and less gun. The 375ruger is just fun. But not necessarily
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I've been the victim of "caliber creep" the last decade or so. Used to be that my .35 Whelen rifle was my "big" one. Used it a lot and with perfect satisfaction for local elk and moose and such. Since then I've done a bunch of hunting with 9.3x62, 9.3x74R, .375H&H and .450-400 3" Nitro Express in anticipation of several African Safaris where bigger bores are "normal" and appropriate.
I'm glad I have gained some local experience with dangerous game capable cartridges because that familiarity not only came in handy while hunting African buffalo, but it actually saved my life last March while hunting elephant. My Ph and I faced an unprovoked charge from a bull elephant, which we shot at 5 meters distance. Both of us missed the brain on our first shot, and my PH was put out of action by tripping backwards on a thorn bush, and so it was up to me to finish the job with a rented Win. Model 70 .416 Rem. I was very glad that I was previously acquainted with the rifle's long bolt throw and substantial recoil.
The most powerful rifle I own is a .450-400 3" Nitro Express. It is a heavy 10.5 lb. double so recoil is manageable. It shoots good too. I used it for local elk and moose, and one Cape buffalo. It was my moose rifle last October. Worked perfectly. But bigger is not always "better". In an odd twist, the longest tracking job I've ever had on an elk that was properly shot through both lungs was with this rifle. The heavy 400 grain slug didn't meet enough resistance to transfer much energy or expand much, it just punched a .40 caliber hole through. A .308 would have killed quicker, and has done so for me, many times.
I'm glad I have gained some local experience with dangerous game capable cartridges because that familiarity not only came in handy while hunting African buffalo, but it actually saved my life last March while hunting elephant. My Ph and I faced an unprovoked charge from a bull elephant, which we shot at 5 meters distance. Both of us missed the brain on our first shot, and my PH was put out of action by tripping backwards on a thorn bush, and so it was up to me to finish the job with a rented Win. Model 70 .416 Rem. I was very glad that I was previously acquainted with the rifle's long bolt throw and substantial recoil.
The most powerful rifle I own is a .450-400 3" Nitro Express. It is a heavy 10.5 lb. double so recoil is manageable. It shoots good too. I used it for local elk and moose, and one Cape buffalo. It was my moose rifle last October. Worked perfectly. But bigger is not always "better". In an odd twist, the longest tracking job I've ever had on an elk that was properly shot through both lungs was with this rifle. The heavy 400 grain slug didn't meet enough resistance to transfer much energy or expand much, it just punched a .40 caliber hole through. A .308 would have killed quicker, and has done so for me, many times.
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I have done 90% of my hunting the last 12 years with a 375 Ruger Alaskan. My backup usually a Win model 70 Extreme weather in 30-06. Such a nice gun but it doesnt come in 375 Ruger, so the Alaskan Ruger it usually is.
Those Rugers in 375/416 are hard to come by these days. I'd love to find an Alaskan or Guide Gun in 416.
I've also considered that all weather Model 70 in 338WM. I find it curious that Winchester offers their "Alaskan" model in a traditional wood stock and blued barrel configuration.
Wasn't their previous Alaskan a stainless laminate model?
I've owned many larger cartridges over the years, 375 H&H, .416 Rem Mag, .458 Win Mag being the "biggest". Currently, "hardest kicking" is a 7 pound .300 Weatherby Mag (which did receive a brake) and "biggest caliber" is a .35 Whelen which came with a brake but hunts nicer without. I'm still on the hunt for the right 9.3x62mm (have ammo and dies but hated the rifle) and although I don't need one, the 8mm Rem Mag is really, really cool.
I think my personal recoil limit is probably the .375 H&H magnum in a Win 70 Alaskan. The Model 70 Safari is heavier and more pleasant to shoot. All standing. Not sure about the bench, although I think I tanked a few hits to get the 2.5x20mm sighted in on the Safari.
Had a Ruger RSM in .458 Lott/WM and after four 500 grain rounds (standing) with a PAST pad on, I remember thinking, "Maybe this is a bridge too far...".
I had a flinch for a few weeks after that. The .375 H&H didn't give me a flinch and I shot that quite a bit before. Neither did 12 gauges at skeet and trap.
Still like the notion of a .458 WM: I think it's a sensible answer to the Marlin .45-70. The 325 grain Leverevolutions were pleasant to shoot in the Marlin. Drive the same weight in a copper solid .458 WM and I bet it would be outstanding for far bigger stuff, while still pleasant to shoot. I also think a 450 grain A-Frame would give up nothing to a 500 grain bullet, and allow for uncompressed loads. I suspect it might be a better standard than the 500 grain bullet now, given improvements in powders and bullet construction over the past 50 years.
However, reading about retinal detachment makes me question my interest in the .458 WM even more. And if I'm just going to load 325-350 grains for lighter recoil, then I might as well use the .375 H&H and get more SD out of similar bullet weights.
FN/BACO had a run of SHOT show stainless laminate South Carolina Alaskans in .30-06, .338 WM, and .375 H&H. I think those should have been the standard Alaskans and not the blue/walnut ones. Maybe FN will come to their senses.
Had a Ruger RSM in .458 Lott/WM and after four 500 grain rounds (standing) with a PAST pad on, I remember thinking, "Maybe this is a bridge too far...".
I had a flinch for a few weeks after that. The .375 H&H didn't give me a flinch and I shot that quite a bit before. Neither did 12 gauges at skeet and trap.Still like the notion of a .458 WM: I think it's a sensible answer to the Marlin .45-70. The 325 grain Leverevolutions were pleasant to shoot in the Marlin. Drive the same weight in a copper solid .458 WM and I bet it would be outstanding for far bigger stuff, while still pleasant to shoot. I also think a 450 grain A-Frame would give up nothing to a 500 grain bullet, and allow for uncompressed loads. I suspect it might be a better standard than the 500 grain bullet now, given improvements in powders and bullet construction over the past 50 years.
However, reading about retinal detachment makes me question my interest in the .458 WM even more. And if I'm just going to load 325-350 grains for lighter recoil, then I might as well use the .375 H&H and get more SD out of similar bullet weights.
FN/BACO had a run of SHOT show stainless laminate South Carolina Alaskans in .30-06, .338 WM, and .375 H&H. I think those should have been the standard Alaskans and not the blue/walnut ones. Maybe FN will come to their senses.
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nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
My worst kicking rifles of all time are a Remington M700 ultralight in 300wea, and a Savage M110 in 7 rem magnum.
The Savage 110 singlehandedly cost me four gun safes, and about probably $100k. I kept pushing/training my recoil tolerance, one rifle at.a.time. Unfortunately, it's a skill acquired through repetition, and I don't shoot as much as years past.
Some rifles just kick. Most common factors are; stock design, projectile weight, and rifle weight. A 300win, usually in a 8ish lb all in walking rifle, has ft/lbs of recoil impulse....and recoil velocity. Literally a snap; whereas, a 10.5lb 375 h$h is more a slow rolling boom.
The Savage 110 singlehandedly cost me four gun safes, and about probably $100k. I kept pushing/training my recoil tolerance, one rifle at.a.time. Unfortunately, it's a skill acquired through repetition, and I don't shoot as much as years past.
Some rifles just kick. Most common factors are; stock design, projectile weight, and rifle weight. A 300win, usually in a 8ish lb all in walking rifle, has ft/lbs of recoil impulse....and recoil velocity. Literally a snap; whereas, a 10.5lb 375 h$h is more a slow rolling boom.
My largest cartridge is 458wm while largest diameter is 50cal. I'm sure I could tolerate heavier recoil but I don't own anything bigger than a 458wm. I can't see myself buying a bigger gun as the 458wmncan do everything I need
rajczak_kashka
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Surrey, B.C.
23mm AP
