- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Interesting answers here. I would consider both the .30-30 and the .45-70 to be specific in nature, rather than for general use. The .45-70 does not come into it's own unless handloaded.
If you are looking for a single rifle suitable for all North American game out to 300 yards, I would go with a .30-06 bolt action such as a Brno, Winchester M-70, Ruger M-77, or a custom Mauser. This caliber allows you to purchase factory ammo in the most out of the way places, and a broad range of bullet weights make is useful for game from varmints to the largest found in North American. A barrel length of 22" - 24" will get the most out of the cartridge. Trigger pull should be about 3 lbs. I think a hinged floor plate is superior to a detachable magazine or to a blind magazine. The rifle should have a sling both for carrying as well as to use as a shooting aid, and my choice in this regard would be the Safari Ching Sling from Galco.
I would recommend a variable power scope not exceeding 10X, and a 2.5X-8X would be nearly perfect. A fixed 4X scope would be a good compromise, but would not do as well in heavy cover or at extended ranges. Leupold is my scope of choice, but there are others I am told. Don't go cheap on the mounts. My preference would be to have metallic sights as a back up, but they don't do much good unless you don't practice with them.
Stainless barrels and synthetic stocks might be an advantage if you hunt coastal areas, or even if you plan to hunt in wet weather. The synthetic stock will not shift the POI as the air dries out in the winter or when it is muggy in the summer.
If you believe you need more power than the .30-06, the .375 H&H is probably the best answer. If it has a disadvantage in Canada it would be that ammunition might be not as wide spread as the .30-06. Conversely, all big game can be taken with a .375 using but a single bullet weight. Trajectory with a 300 gr bullet is similar to a .30-06 loaded with 180 gr bullets.
If you are looking for a single rifle suitable for all North American game out to 300 yards, I would go with a .30-06 bolt action such as a Brno, Winchester M-70, Ruger M-77, or a custom Mauser. This caliber allows you to purchase factory ammo in the most out of the way places, and a broad range of bullet weights make is useful for game from varmints to the largest found in North American. A barrel length of 22" - 24" will get the most out of the cartridge. Trigger pull should be about 3 lbs. I think a hinged floor plate is superior to a detachable magazine or to a blind magazine. The rifle should have a sling both for carrying as well as to use as a shooting aid, and my choice in this regard would be the Safari Ching Sling from Galco.
I would recommend a variable power scope not exceeding 10X, and a 2.5X-8X would be nearly perfect. A fixed 4X scope would be a good compromise, but would not do as well in heavy cover or at extended ranges. Leupold is my scope of choice, but there are others I am told. Don't go cheap on the mounts. My preference would be to have metallic sights as a back up, but they don't do much good unless you don't practice with them.
Stainless barrels and synthetic stocks might be an advantage if you hunt coastal areas, or even if you plan to hunt in wet weather. The synthetic stock will not shift the POI as the air dries out in the winter or when it is muggy in the summer.
If you believe you need more power than the .30-06, the .375 H&H is probably the best answer. If it has a disadvantage in Canada it would be that ammunition might be not as wide spread as the .30-06. Conversely, all big game can be taken with a .375 using but a single bullet weight. Trajectory with a 300 gr bullet is similar to a .30-06 loaded with 180 gr bullets.
. This was a trapper 94 . 
