Sheep rifle caliber
- Thread starter mackillan
- Start date
- Location
- Dah Soo,ON
.375 RUM singleshot NEF custom shop model with an ACOG.
.270 WSM is pretty close to perfect in terms of performance, but the .260 Rem or 7mm-08 do 99% of what you need a sheep round to do, and do it with a shorter barrel and more rounds in the magazine.
I guess the .270 WSM would cover the 1% of the time when you need to reach out at 500 yards and the sheep is wearing a vest.
I guess the .270 WSM would cover the 1% of the time when you need to reach out at 500 yards and the sheep is wearing a vest.
I can imagine but they are impossible to find in a Sako.
I own one!
If not, take you pick between .25-06 and .338WM.
Or a .50 cal muzzleloader.........
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Would a 7mm Rem mag, a 300 wsm opr a 270 wsm make the most sense? Would a 300 wsm make more sense because of bears? Would you know the name of a good outfitter?
What type would you suggest for a newbie?
LOL...none of them are easy.....you hike, you climb, you glass and you keep doing it till your feet are raw. Dall sheep likely has your best odds of success unless you want to drop 60k and go to Mexico for desert bighorns.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Concern yourself more with the rifle and it's sighting system rather than with the cartridge. Any modern, moderate capacity rifle cartridge with a bullet diameter of .257" or greater will work fine if you choose an appropriate bullet. Over thinking the problem will undoubtedly result in a poor choice. What is important is choosing a rifle that is light enough to pack around easily, and that you can shoot with confidence out to 300 yards. This is a simple yet complex requirement, as one needs to think in terms of a general purpose rifle rather than a mission specific rifle. These threads are filled with rifle choices that are good for one thing only, but do that one thing little better than a more general piece. Pick a carbine length bolt action deer rifle chambered in .257, .260 Remington, 7-08, or .308 , mount a good quality variable low power scope like a 1.5-6X, a 2-7X or a 2.5-8X in good mounts, and start shooting. If a 7-08 and a 7mm magnum are both sighted for 250 yards, what advantage does the magnum have out to 300 yards? Can you use the difference in the field? Will the sheep be able to tell which bullet struck him? The dubious advantage of the magnum is at the cost of a longer, heavier, bulkier rifle, heavier ammunition, and more recoil.
Field marksmanship is more critical than is the choice of cartridge. When you can shoot from field positions and make a first round hit on an 8" aiming point at unknown ranges out to 300 yards, and be able to do it on demand, regardless of wind, or target angle, you will be ready for any North American big game.
Field marksmanship is more critical than is the choice of cartridge. When you can shoot from field positions and make a first round hit on an 8" aiming point at unknown ranges out to 300 yards, and be able to do it on demand, regardless of wind, or target angle, you will be ready for any North American big game.
