Which round for Ontario big game?

M

Max-4

CGN Regular
Rating - 98.8%
85   1   0
Location
Southern Ontario
Hey guys, I am going to be buying a brand new Browning BAR Safari in the next few months. I want to target whitetail deer, moose and black bear in southern to central Ontario. The areas where I hunt are usually hardwoods or thick bush which very rarely allow for a shot over 100 yards. However I would like the ability to shoot 200 or so across a swamp or farm field if need be.

This will be my only big game hunting rifle and I have it narrowed down to the .308 or 30-06. I know you guys are shaking your heads that I started another .308 vs 30-06 thread but I really don't know which one I want.

I was thinking the 30-06 might be overkill on a whitetail at about 40 yards but then again it would be really nice for a bull moose. The .308 might fit the bill nicely for deer but would it be enough to anchor a 1000 pound bull moose at 200 yards?

I don't reload at the moment and would be buying factory ammo off the shelf. I am in a real toss up and am starting to feel like which ever one I choose I will wish I had the other in a few years.

If you could only have one round for hunting these game in Ontario which would you pick and why? Thanks
 
.260 or 6.5x55, can kill anything you point them at and legal for varmints in the south of the province.

I'd even go one step further and load barnes copper wonder bullets in a .243, but I'd probably draw some heat for saying that.
 
Do you want to, or have plans to hand load?

If so .308, if not 30-06.

Commercially there is more options in 30-06 bullets, but if you reload than the sky is the limit.

I might even say .270 if you hand load, but there is a lot more options for .30 cal bullets.
 
I support reloading, and do it as well, but for hunting, you don't need to

I have 2 box's of ammo, one for deer, and one for moose, I purchased 4 years ago, and still have plenty of ammo left for many more years....

Typically your only going to put down one moose, and maybe 2 deer, so a box of 20 for each game will last you a long time.....

Unless your a big time hunter and have an opportunity to hunt many times per year and many places, well even then the price of a box of ammo is nothing compared to the costs involved in the hunting itself
 
My vote goes to the 30-06. No such thing as overkill! Good takedown power, extremely wide variety of factory ammo, and it's easy on the shoulder. Can't really go wrong in my opinion.
 
I am more referring to bullet choice when I mention reloading.

The 30-06 has some heavier bullets available for moose, or elk, if you wanted them, but if you reload then you can just load the same heavy bullets in .308.

That said I prefer .308 myself, and love it's little brother the .243 as well.
 
Either of those calibers will work. I have both, I use a BLR in 308 and my father has a Husqvarna in ought six. Both will put down anything we would hunt (deer, moose or bear).
 
At those ranges (out to 200 yards), a .308 with 180gr bullets will do it all just fine. The slower bullets will damage less meat on close range deer, but still have plenty of steam and trajectory to drop a moose at 200 no problem. Black bear aren't as fearsome as their lighter colored cousins, but they can be a handful when they're angry - 180's will punch through the fat and muscle and put them down for the count. And at those speeds, premium bullets aren't really required. Blue box Federal stuff should do what you need with little fuss and expense.
 
There is not much difference so I would go with which ever was a better deal in a gun that I like. If you found two exact guns that you wanted at the same price offered in either chambering then my preference would be 30-06
 
The 45/70, you can reload full power loads for less then the others mentioned, or load it down, more then enough power for N.A. game.Plus leverguns are kool!!
 
There are many good calibers, I take into account if I need ammo, I want to be able to find it at the local Ma'n Pa shop. So 308 Win or 30-06 Springfield will do the job fine.

Is 30-06 is too much? Nope dead is dead and that what you want. Besides "when it was designed" 308 win was designed to be as powerful as 30-06, it (308) uses a more modern powder.

Other considerations for that are great are 45-70, I hunt with it and as long as I sight my rifle in I can hit 200 yrds no problem.

Pete
 
Both cartridges are equally as good for 200 yards and less. A good quality firearm and a premium bullet is your next stage. Sako rifle using a Nolser 165 gr. Accubond.;)
 
Toss a coin. The two cartridges are ballistically identical. The difference is a half inch of case length and about 100 fps with like bullet weights. Handloading has nothing to do with it, but you'll save some money and get to use ammo that is tailored to your new rifle.
"...in the south of the province..." Geezuz. It's not all of Southern Ontario.
 
I agree with sunray. For hunting purposes I wouldn't worry too much about it. Sight the rifle in with 180gr and you can easily hunt any big game in Ontario. Most of my moose/bear/deer have been taken with an '06, but my old enfield 303 works just as well, and a good friend who hunts with a 308 has no issues either. Ammo is easy to find for both.

sunray said:
Toss a coin. The two cartridges are ballistically identical. The difference is a half inch of case length and about 100 fps with like bullet weights. Handloading has nothing to do with it, but you'll save some money and get to use ammo that is tailored to your new rifle.
"...in the south of the province..." Geezuz. It's not all of Southern Ontario.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom