What is with these big calibres?

A

awesomeame

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Etobicoke, Ontario
I've been shooting for several years now, and every time I go into a shop here in sunny southern Ontario I'm AMAZED at the sheer abundance of large caliber rifles. .375 H&H mag, .375 rem ultra mag, .338 win mag, .416 rem mag, .458 Lott, etc. etc. and even bigger/more powerful.

Who is buying these calibres here in Ontario, and what are you shooting at? I know there might be a cool-to-shoot/own factor. Is that it? Do people actually hunt with these in Ontario? In my deer camp I don't know if I'd be welcome if I showed up with a .500 nitro express, no matter how cool-to-own it might be.

Just curious

Matt
 
Want vs need is won by want. I just bought a .375 because I wanted one, had a 338 and own a 300 wby for the same reason. If need ruled the world all we would shoot is an 06
 
I have a 375 Ruger...Bought it when they first came out, and have only punched paper with it..Took it moose hunting a couple times, but didn't see anything to shoot at while I had it in hand...I basically use 25-06 for everything..When I get bored with it I'm sure the 375, will get some use..
 
But, but , mine is bigger than yours and I can _i_s further than you can too.
Where there is demand there will always be supply.
Should I decide I need a 460 Wby Mag for my once in a lifetime trip to the deep dark reaches of Alaska for a Kodiak Brown I certainly will not take a chance to wait and purchase it at the Walmart in Kodiak Alaska the day before I meet up with my guide.
But, to be serious this morning I have no idea how one justifies any gun one decides to buy, aside from lack of impulse control and rational thinking sometimes.
Tight Groups ,
Rob
 
The 338 win mag is an excellent choice for Ontario moose. I've shot them with less although I can't think of a more appropriate round for moose. If one wanted an all purpose large game rifle for moose hunting in Ontario, with dreams of heading west for elk one day, or even after big bears, the 338 makes sense.
 
awesomeame said:
I've been shooting for several years now, and every time I go into a shop here in sunny southern Ontario I'm AMAZED at the sheer abundance of large caliber rifles.
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You see them on the racks because everybody already bought all the 30-06, .270, .308 and other typical hunting rifles and only the big boomers are left behind. That said, I wouldn't mind owning a .375H&H and a .458 Win Mag just for S&G and I would certainly hunt bigger animals with the .375.


Slugo said:
The 338 win mag is an excellent choice for Ontario moose. I've shot them with less although I can't think of a more appropriate round for moose. If one wanted an all purpose large game rifle for moose hunting in Ontario, with dreams of heading west for elk one day, or even after big bears, the 338 makes sense.
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I think .338 Win Mag is a truly great all around North American cartridge. Everything from deer up to the big northern bears with one gun, nothing wrong with that.


Mark
 
If customers want it then the stores will carry it. There's no problem with "big calibres" in my opinion, if you want to shoot them then shoot them. The problem arises when you start thinking that they are necessary.
 
I've been using my 375 Ruger every year for several years now. It's a great rifle and I've shot several bear, deer and moose with it. I also hunt with several other cartridges.
 
People like you are the reason you have stupid laws (cant use bigger than x caliber on y animal in area z) in your province. Let people use what they want to use.

awesomeame said:
I've been shooting for several years now, and every time I go into a shop here in sunny southern Ontario I'm AMAZED at the sheer abundance of large caliber rifles. .375 H&H mag, .375 rem ultra mag, .338 win mag, .416 rem mag, .458 Lott, etc. etc. and even bigger/more powerful.

Who is buying these calibres here in Ontario, and what are you shooting at? I know there might be a cool-to-shoot/own factor. Is that it? Do people actually hunt with these in Ontario? In my deer camp I don't know if I'd be welcome if I showed up with a .500 nitro express, no matter how cool-to-own it might be.

Just curious

Matt
Click to expand...
 
I would love to build 500Nitro express for plinknig VW or something outragious. Is it useful??? not really... but is it cool??? F YEa!!!!
 
It's kinda like trucks and T.V.s Bigger is better eh? I've tried several big ones and at 69 years my go to rifle is a 308. Jim Carmichel summed it up. Big bullets kill, Fast bullets kill, Big Fast bullets REALLY kill.
 
kman300 said:
People like you are the reason you have stupid laws (cant use bigger than x caliber on y animal in area z) in your province. Let people use what they want to use.
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Hey now!! I'm not advocating anything here. I was just curious if people were hunting with them more in the bush or at the range....seems it's a mix....I've got no agenda here.

Matt
 
When the bear calvary comes u will be glad someone has a big gun! I myself am leaning towards a 458wm for a new toy. And yes I would take it bear hunting. The big boomers are fun
 
Slugo said:
The 338 win mag is an excellent choice for Ontario moose. I've shot them with less although I can't think of a more appropriate round for moose. If one wanted an all purpose large game rifle for moose hunting in Ontario, with dreams of heading west for elk one day, or even after big bears, the 338 makes sense.
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A lot of sense. My post '64 Win. M70 in .338 win mag with the 225 gr. Hornady spire points had a long point blank range, hand loaded, chrono'ed etc. The rifle was lighter and handier than my M77 Ruger .30-06.

Punishing at the bench but never a problem in the field.
 
You really have to touch off a full house 500 gn load in a 450 Ackley or 458 Lott or .470 NE to really appreciate why. Any wimp can shoot a .270 into 1 moa but let me tell you it gets exponentially harder as the recoil goes up and approaches 90 ft/lbs of free recoil. Besides it's just plain fun having your shooting glasses and muffs ripped from your head under recoil severe enough to detach retinas and cause concussions. REALLY!!!!
 
Yep I agree with the OP, we should be restricted to one caliber in Ontario, there's really no need for anything other than a 30-06.

Wait maybe a .270, then there's always the .243, and the 45-70 is nice for the thick stuff, .............never mind
 
c-fbmi said:
You really have to touch off a full house 500 gn load in a 450 Ackley or 458 Lott or .470 NE to really appreciate why. Any wimp can shoot a .270 into 1 moa but let me tell you it gets exponentially harder as the recoil goes up and approaches 90 ft/lbs of free recoil. Besides it's just plain fun having your shooting glasses and muffs ripped from your head under recoil severe enough to detach retinas and cause concussions. REALLY!!!!
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I'm sure that would get old fast but where do I line up for a few shots?
 
Bloody tremors 2 has me planning on a Grizzly Big Bore once I have some money available.......I will find some use for it when some country red dawns us. :)
 
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Sask_Hunter said:
I'm sure that would get old fast but where do I line up for a few shots?
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I do try to keep it under 100 rounds on any given day, for sure!! Anytime you want to venture up the highway, we can go out and beat the snot out of ourselves. Don't have quite the selection of heavies I once had but still have 3-.375 H+Hs and a .416 Rigby and a .470NE. These are all pretty tame compared to the Ackley, 378 and 460 Wby or the .577NE. Never owned a .577 but did shoot one several times, good fun!!
 
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