Mountain hunting caliber
- Thread starter taz1977
- Start date
Oddly enough, owning both a 7/08 and a 7 mag that are built on the same platform (not to mention a 280AI as well), from what I've seen from shooting said rifles a bit at distance as well as having other folks shoot them at distance, most folks are going to have more success at 400-500 yards with a 7/08. Given of course, equal bullets, and some trigger time behind said rifle.
A 7/08 will get shot more, and that will result in much more confidence for the average shooter who wants to maybe dabble in longer distance stuff. A 7/08 has a bunch less recoil than a 7 mag, and that is a serious consideration for anyone that doesn't shoot a BUNCH.
More muzzle blast and recoil doesn't do anyone any favors. Accurate bullet placement is much more important.
A 7/08 will get shot more, and that will result in much more confidence for the average shooter who wants to maybe dabble in longer distance stuff. A 7/08 has a bunch less recoil than a 7 mag, and that is a serious consideration for anyone that doesn't shoot a BUNCH.
More muzzle blast and recoil doesn't do anyone any favors. Accurate bullet placement is much more important.
I would say VERY oddly... I shoot all of those as well as 7X64 and standard .280 and 7 STW... it would be my experience and opinion that between 400 and 500 yards pretty much any shooter will have better success with a 7RM over a 7-08... someone afraid of recoil at that level is just plain afraid of recoil and likely can't shoot a .243 either.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Nothing else really needs to be said after this post, but undoubtedly before long, we'll be discussing magnumitis, useless belts, pointless ballistic coefficients and lastly an article about a little old indian lady that shot a grizzly with a 22 will be posted.
Nothing else really needs to be said after this post, but undoubtedly before long, we'll be discussing magnumitis, useless belts, pointless ballistic coefficients and lastly an article about a little old indian lady that shot a grizzly with a 22 will be posted.
I'm in to as much information as I can get and everyone point to thank you all keep it coming
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
I might consider taking it down a notch and go with my 338 Win. Mag. Ruger Hawkeye. I haven't seen much 338 WM interest around here. Lots of good bullets available, some with impressive ballistic coefficients.
Hits pretty hard with 250+ gr bullets and can shoot quite flat. This one has a factory muzzle brake but I removed it and installed a thread protector because it was way too loud with the brake and this rifle isn't a heavy kicker at all.
Weighs 9 lbs scoped and hunting in the rain wouldn't bother me since it's stainless laminate. Could put a lighter scope on it like the Leupold Ultralight 3-9x to save a few ounces.
Hits pretty hard with 250+ gr bullets and can shoot quite flat. This one has a factory muzzle brake but I removed it and installed a thread protector because it was way too loud with the brake and this rifle isn't a heavy kicker at all.
Weighs 9 lbs scoped and hunting in the rain wouldn't bother me since it's stainless laminate. Could put a lighter scope on it like the Leupold Ultralight 3-9x to save a few ounces.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
I stand by my assessment that given equal bullets and rifles, everyone will shoot a lesser recoiling, lesser muzzle blast rifle more accurately. Especially when shooting positions other than a bench rest are factored in. Feel free to expand on your opinion though, I'm always interested in hearing other peoples thoughts on the subject.
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
Unless one has an interest in taking the time to be proficient with heavier kickers. How precise does one have to be with shot placement on a Ram, for example? There's some leeway unlike on a tiny varmint.
Naw, in my opinion you just wanted to sling some ####, and then back out. But that's quite alright, to each their own.
Never said that folks can't become proficient with heavy kickers, (although a 9lb 338wm isn't exactly a heavy kicker IMO, if that was what you were referring to) merely that folks will shoot lighter recoiling cartridges better. Shooting a light recoiling rifle will have the OP shooting MORE, becoming a better shot, become more proficient with THAT rifle. Not many folks become truly great rifle shots by reading about shooting. Popping primers is still the only way to get truly good at it, and shooting skill is one of those ones that diminishes with lack of practice.
And not all rams are killed standing in the open broadside. Some, like the Stone a buddy killed 2 years ago with his '06, was shot in his bed, through a small 8" window in the rocks at 300+, while his partner hung onto him so he didn't fall off the cliff he was hanging over to get the shot.
But, as has been said before, if a person needs a 338 with 250's to feel safe in the bush, by all means, carry whatever you like. No skin off of my ass at all.
The OP asked for a lightweight rifle, for the mountains. Kimber Montana 7/08 makes an ideal lightweight mountain rifle.
I tend to agree with this train of thought
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KJ..... the OP didn't ask for a lightweight mountain rifle (likely because that comes up about 4 times a week)..... he asked for a caliber...
As for recoil, my two cents (which rounds down to zero at the cash now), is that everyone has a recoil tolerance..... once they get past a certain recoil level, they begin to shoot less proficiently. In other words, a shooter may shoot a .223, 243 and .308 all to the same level of marksmanship..... BUT that shooter may get to 300 winnmag and begin to lose proficiency....
As mentioned though, the rifle design and weight plays a factor, as a heavier rifle will recoil less than light one....... then, of course, there is always the position to take into account...... when I shoot offhand and completely unsupported I actually shoot heavier rifles better than really light ones......
As for recoil, my two cents (which rounds down to zero at the cash now), is that everyone has a recoil tolerance..... once they get past a certain recoil level, they begin to shoot less proficiently. In other words, a shooter may shoot a .223, 243 and .308 all to the same level of marksmanship..... BUT that shooter may get to 300 winnmag and begin to lose proficiency....
As mentioned though, the rifle design and weight plays a factor, as a heavier rifle will recoil less than light one....... then, of course, there is always the position to take into account...... when I shoot offhand and completely unsupported I actually shoot heavier rifles better than really light ones......
Well gentlemen I have shot many sheep and a few goats on some relatively ugly real estate. After many, many back pack hunts for them I can tell you my priority became weight. I can shoot sub MOA groups with 375s and 340 Wbys and 458s and 470 NEs so recoil is completely irrelevant to me. Most of my sheep and goat hunting was in country shared by a very healthy population of grizzlies so when I decided to build a specific mountain hunting rifle I decided I wanted a rifle cartridge effective enough for grizzly that may be very close and aggressive. So I built this...............
It is a Remington Titanium in 300 WSM with a Brown Precision Kevlar 14 oz stock and a few other lightening parts. With the Leupold Vari X II 3-9 compact it weighs 5 lbs 15 oz. It loves 150 gn Barnes TTSX bullets so it fills my criteria for the odd problem bear I may encounter and gives me the ballistics I was seeking in a mountain rifle. As can be seen in the photo it has been blooded with the type of critter it was designed to hunt. It is also 100% weather impervious and I don't have to worry about rust or scratches. After 40 years of mountain hunting I believe I have come up with the perfect rifle and cartridge...........but of course that is JMHO.
It is a Remington Titanium in 300 WSM with a Brown Precision Kevlar 14 oz stock and a few other lightening parts. With the Leupold Vari X II 3-9 compact it weighs 5 lbs 15 oz. It loves 150 gn Barnes TTSX bullets so it fills my criteria for the odd problem bear I may encounter and gives me the ballistics I was seeking in a mountain rifle. As can be seen in the photo it has been blooded with the type of critter it was designed to hunt. It is also 100% weather impervious and I don't have to worry about rust or scratches. After 40 years of mountain hunting I believe I have come up with the perfect rifle and cartridge...........but of course that is JMHO.
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