moose-bear calibre?

which would you choose for moose-bear?

  • 300

    Votes: 61 39.9%

  • 338

    Votes: 70 45.8%

  • 35 magnum

    Votes: 22 14.4%
  • Total voters
    153
bone-collector said:
what does it matter if its a cave bear or a kodiak or a polar bear or that wolly mamoth the americans are trying to clone, a 6.5x55 behind the ear and the hydro goes out
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That's alright if it s standing still, a little diff if it's charging at 35 MPH.:D

358 Norma cause i own one
 
Seeing as I just bought my second 358 Norma I'll vote for it too.

As far as bullet selection the 358 has some outstanding choices from 225 Nosler Partition and X bullets to 250 Partitions, GrandSlams, X bullets North Forks and even the plain jane Speer. Up at 275 grains we have Hawks, A Square Triads and if you are lucky the Old Barnes O's which can also be found in 300 grainers.

Loaded to 4200 FtPounds they all do pretty well.
 
I dunno...I'm on a "bigger is better" kick right now. It's funny that most, or all, of the people who answered that are from the Yukon or NWT chose the largest caliber offered. They are also ones who are most likely to encounter tough, large and mean beasts. Kind of hard to argue with that kind of experience.

Bone-collector is an exception, he is in moose/grizzly country and is experienced, yet disagrees. Although, and correct me if I am wrong, until recently he used a .458 Win Mag!
 
358 Norma Magnum, but other flavours of .35 will do just fine.

I am told by some that the .35's lack for a selection of bullets to match to the job. Well, ignoring the fact that the .35's will readily use pistol bullets bought in volume, making for target practice with your hunting rifle about as inexpensive as it gets, there are hunting bullets available in 140, 150, 180, 200, 225, 250, 275, and 310 grain. Much of them available from makers like Barnes, Nosler, and Woodleigh. Seems that both ends of the weight spectrum - and the middle - is nicely filled in.

If those bullets still aren't a sufficient selection to choose from for whatever is being hunted on this continent, I'm not sure just what it takes to get the job done.
 
and in 19 years......still 35 Newton....good back then and still now.
I was told years ago that it is light that kills animals....The more light you let in a beast the faster it dies, therefore the 35 cal lets in more light than the others so kills better. simple really.
 
It really depends on how much recoil bears can handle before they develop a flinch.
 
Last autumn I shot my bull moose with my 9.3x74R, this past spring I hunted black bear with the same cartridge. Didn't shoot a bear, no boars to be found, only sows.
 
My pet hunting calibre has been the .338 for the last 40 years. However, any of the calibres listed are up to the task comfortably if you do your part. Therefore, whichever one YOU can shoot the tightest group with consistency would be the BEST choice IF you own all three and are just choosing what to carry. If looking to acquire a new gun specificity for moose/bears, they all have plenty of stopping power so the choice boils down to availability of a desired rifle in said calibre and availability of ammo. JMO
 
308, 30-06, 8x57, 8mm06, 9.3x62, 458win mag…. These are the one I have and used!
 
sunray said:
None of 'em. You don't need a magnum anything for either beastie.
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Exactly. Once a bullet is moving at any kind of reasonable speed, it's moving fast enough. At that point, accuracy and a quick handling rifle trump everything else. And if anyone thinks shooting bears at stupid distances means a magnum is needed ... well, they don't with me. After hunting with one for 2-1/2 decades, I'm still waiting to find out what a 30/06 won't kill cleanly inside 400 yards.
 
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Neo said:
Exactly. Once a bullet is moving at any kind of reasonable speed, it's moving fast enough. At that point, accuracy and a quick handling rifle trump everything else. And if anyone thinks shooting bears at stupid distances means a magnum is needed ... well, they don't with me. After hunting with one for 2-1/2 decades, I'm still waiting to find out what a 30/06 won't kill cleanly inside 400 yards.
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Nothing wrong with a 30-06 , damn fine calibre. However, regarding the quote you posted, define “magnum” as it pertained to calibres. The word means “big” but, generally speaking, in the gin world “magnum” usually refers to belted cartridges which, of course is nothing more than a head spacing feature. There are SOME calibre labeled as “magnum” that are not belted but, typically, that is all they are.
 
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