rounds for the biggest game in North America?

bandit86

bandit86

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I know of many guns that will take big game. I have a BLR in 450 Marlin and I would feel quite comfortable with it in the middle of nowhere. What other calibers are marginal, or good to be a bush gun?
 
About the biggest game you will encounter in North America would be moose and grizzly / polar bears , and anything 308 on up will do the job with decent shot placement . I use a 223 for yotes , a 30-30 Marlin for a brush rifle on medium sized game......and a 300 Win. Mag. on the bigger game , and long distance shots.....
 
I believe the "biggest" game in NA is the wood bison. Considering that some jurisdictions have calibre restrictions that basically bar anything smaller than .30-06, then that's probably where you should start, and go up from there.
 
Gunexpert007 said:
About the biggest game you will encounter in North America would be moose and grizzly / polar bears , and anything 308 on up will do the job with decent shot placement . I use a 223 for yotes , a 30-30 Marlin for a brush rifle on medium sized game......and a 300 Win. Mag. on the bigger game , and long distance shots.....
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You've never seen a bison I guess. I shot mine with a 9.3x62. That was a good starting point. The 30-06 will do as well given a stout bullet but leaves no margin.

The 30-06, while not glamorous is the minimum when talking about the big animals in North America...Elk, Moose, Brown, Polar and Bison. Smaller than that can be made to work but in reality is not a great idea and leaves little room for less than ideal shot presentation. The magnums are good as well but then you add more stress to the projectile and when presented with a very close shot you can overtax a projectile with too many FPS.

There isn't much need for the average hunter to carry anything bigger than a 9.3x62 or a 338 WM for hunting in North America. For those employed as guides it makes sense to carry something with more authority in case you need to root something dangerous out of the thick bush. The 375 H&H, 416 Rigby/Remington or the 458 WM are fine choices for this sort of pastime.
 
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17hmr anything more and you're just wasting powder, seriously, close shots 45-70govt, 450 marlin, medium 270 and up, medium long 7mm mag,300 wm and up

Long shots? hang you head in shame and go home
 
Actually the largest NA game animal is the Atlantic Walrus at 4000+ lbs.........the most dangerous and certainly getting up in size is the northwest coastal grizzly.........the bison is the largest ungulate and has a reputation to be somewhat nasty and capable of packing some lead..........Polar bear are downright friendly compared to the coastal grizzly, but are still a very large predator..........
Took my polar bear with a bow, have taken 2 bison with a bow, and one with a 375 H&H, my walrus with a 9.3X62 and when I hunt the coastal I think it will be a minimum of some sort of 375, but likely my 416 Rigby. For all but the coastal bear I would feel very adequately armed with my 340 or 9.3X300 WM, even my 9.3X62...........I would not feel adequately armed with a 30-06 however............JMHO.
 
The .416 Rigby has been known to go thru cape buff from stem to stern... I think it's enough for a grizz.

I'm looking for a meat doe to try out a swift A-frame on just to see if I really can eat rite up to the hole...


 
Just about any .30 caliber will do the job and will kill any North American game, but there are instances when you need it dead - NOW. For that there is no replacement for displacement and the .338's are a great starting point. 9.3's I am sure will do the same thing.
 
Exactly saskcop, it's that "need it dead NOW" situation that would see me packing a 416 Rigby, with the double 470 NE back up, for big coastal bears.........I do not fear the big coastals, but I do have a healthy respect for what they can do in a very short time frame. Definitely a "need it dead NOW" kinda critter............
 
saskcop said:
Just about any .30 caliber will do the job and will kill any North American game, but there are instances when you need it dead - NOW. For that there is no replacement for displacement and the .338's are a great starting point. 9.3's I am sure will do the same thing.
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Much like boost, accuracy is the exception to that :p
 
Jim Carmichael once said give me enough time and I will kill every species in north america with a 22 hornet. It could be done but shot placement would be crucial. It would work as long as you are always the hunter not the one being hunted. I've shot several bison in the last couple years and the 243 has never failed. wait till they look at you and pull the trigger.
 
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