Large Bore Rifle Recommendations

[SSBotanyBay]

I am planning my dream hunt to Newfoundland but I don't yet have the firepower necessary for such a hunt. What cartridge wisdom do y'all have for me when looking at a cartridge for moose and caribou? In a perfect world, I would still be able to lessen the charge of the cartridge to use for large game in MN as well. Let's hear 'em.

[Cuda66]

I would think .30-06 would be more than adequate.

[gunnerbmg]

On the big heavy boned critters I have had great success with the 338 win mag. My friends in Alaska also use the 375 H&H. The game and fish guys up there use that also. I really like the 338 as it has a wide range of bullet weights. It has served me well.

[SSBotanyBay]

My friends in Alaska also use the 375 H&H.

One of the local shops here in Roch. has a Ruger No.1 in 375H&H and I have been tempted so many times to buy it, but it is the ability to back off the load enough to use here in MN that has stopped me.

[Rip Van Winkle]

A 308 or 30-06 will handle any big game in North America short of big bears.

I'm a firm believer in the Jack O'Conner school of thought, That a mid powered cartridge is more effective because you will learn to shoot it better than a heavy cartridge that beats you up.

A lot of Northern European Elg have been taken with the 6.5 Swede.

[Hoot]

A 308 or 30-06 will handle any big game in North America short of big bears.

I'm a firm believer in the Jack O'Conner school of thought, That a mid powered cartridge is more effective because you will learn to shoot it better than a heavy cartridge that beats you up.

A lot of Northern European Elg have been taken with the 6.5 Swede.

+1 to either .308 or 30-06. They are both up for it. Think about what you're going to do with it after the dream hunt. Think about cost and availability of ammo.

Hoot

[rugersol]

My friends in Alaska also use the 375 H&H.

One of the local shops here in Roch. has a Ruger No.1 in 375H&H and I have been tempted so many times to buy it, but it is the ability to back off the load enough to use here in MN that has stopped me.

If ya reload, ya can back off most anything!

I load/shoot .45-70 and .45-90 ... FWIW, I think the trajectory of a .4 bullet is horse**** fer hunting! It's fine fer within 100yd, if ya know yer rifle, really well! But I'd stick with the .308 - .338 range!

FWIW, .325 WSM would probly do exceptionally well! Not quite the same kinda power, but .338 Federal is likely another very good choice! (although, there don't seem to be a lotta new rifles, chambered fer it! ) There's also a .338 RCM ... probly 'nother very good choice! (though, I'd take a new Winchester over a Ruger, any day!)

.30-06 would probly be fine ... but with a longer case, it uses a heavier charge, fer what ya get ... so ya get more recoil, fer no benefit! If ya reload, and ya want a .308, .300 WSM's a no-brainer!

[Hoot]

.30-06 would probly be fine ... but with a longer case, it uses a heavier charge, fer what ya get ... so ya get more recoil, fer no benefit! If ya reload, and ya want a .308, .300 WSM's a no-brainer!

One of the calibers on my want to try list! I even have an open bag of new brass for it from another caliber experiment that didn't work out. Nice, efficient design in the WSMs.

Hoot

[hunterfreakhd]

7mm Remington mag would also fill that role very nicely. Not exactly large bore but that would definitely be a viable option for any big game in north America.

[splithand]

338 Federal...Works well for deer, elk, bear and moose from 30 to 300 yards. Nice variety of factory loads available

[yuppiejr]

Factory ammo for the 30-06 does not seem particularly hard to find these days and is very cost effective - the Federal Fusion bonded 165 grain load along with the 150 and 180 grain Winchester bonded stuff are all available at Fleet Farm for $20 a box (which isn't much more than the basic cup and core soft-point loads from Federal, Winchester and Remington). I've seen a ton of great 30-06 hunting rifles in used racks lately for very reasonable amounts of money as well. Finding .308 lately is a bit of a chore, and 7mm Remington Magnum usually costs between 5 and 15 a box more than similar cartridges in 30-06 or .308.

As far as 30-06 kicking harder than .308... it's also chucking the projectile faster so it's not apples to apples, but there is a good graph outlining the basic differences here:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

Having recently shot/zeroed a few rifles in the same range trip including a .308, 7mm Rem Mag and 30-06 it was my opinion/perception that the weight of the rifle made a bigger difference than the caliber of the rifle when it came to how "beat-up" I felt on the shooting-end. Bullet weight within the same cartridge also seemed to have a greater felt effect (particularly stepping up to 165 grain .308's from 150's). My lightweight .308 rifle rifle w/ scope weighs less than my heavier 7mm Rem Mag without optics and I noticed the recoil a lot more even though, on paper, it produced less recoil energy. I also noticed the longer 30-06 cartridges seemed to feed more smoothly than the .308 or the belted magnum... not sure if that was just the rifle designs or an advantage in the overall profile/shoulder of the 30-06 cartridge.

[rugersol]

As far as 30-06 kicking harder than .308... it's also chucking the projectile faster so it's not apples to apples

For identical bullet weights at identical velocities, using identical powder, .30-06 requires more ... heavier powder charge factors into the standard recoil calculation!

[farmerj]

have you thought about calling up to the guide up there and finding out their recommendation.

As well as finding out, "what ammo you got up there on the shelf out of curiosity?"

[old guy]

Another vote for the .338.

John

[fjrdc]

.300 Win Mag?