Im trying to build a rifle battery that would be suitable to hunt most game in North America.
I already have these rifles:
Savage 93 in 17HMR
Marlin 39A in 22LR
Olympic Arms AR15 in 223
Remington 710 in 243win
Remington 700 in 308win
My question is what caliber i would best be suited with for game that is too large for the 308. I was thinking that a bolt action in 338 Federal would be a nice addition to the collection but honestly i dont know how large of an animal i would be able to take with the 308 within 300yards, so i might not even need a larger gun.
I want to stay with a bolt action and would not mind stepping up to a round that requires a long action.
I would also like to stay away from the 30 cal magnums, the 308 has enough recoil that i cant shoot much more than 20rounds at a time.
I'm still trying to convince my wife that I need a different rifle for every circumstance. When I do there will be a 25-06, 300win mag, and a 45-70 in my cabinet. I LIKE RECOIL, if your shoulder isn't a little bruised when your done shooting, then you're not done shooting.
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At short ranges that .308 will take anything in north America with a well placed shot.More than what cartridge,what bullet counts when getting them to go down. sam.
Other than some of the larger bears, I'd say the .308 would pretty well cover it in N.A. If you want a step up, I'd suggest a 300 Win. in a good heavy gun with a good pad that will help tame the recoil. A 7mm mag would be another good choice. I personally am not a big magnum fan as the ammo cost more and they beat you up worse. A .30-06 won't give you a large boost in performance but has the advantage of using ammo with heavier bullet weight for larger animals.
I'm still trying to convince my wife that I need a different rifle for every circumstance. When I do there will be a 25-06, 300win mag, and a 45-70 in my cabinet. I LIKE RECOIL, if your shoulder isn't a little bruised when your done shooting, then you're not done shooting.
If your shoulder is bruised when you are done shooting you are not holding the weapon right. sam.
If your shoulder is bruised when you are done shooting you are not holding the weapon right. sam.
That's not always true. If your shoulder bruises after 5 shots, then yeah, you're probably doing something wrong.
But I'll admit that my shoulder has minor bruise lines after 40 rounds of 30-06. I think I start to get lazy and not press the rifle firmly enough up against my shoulder.
While I'd tend to agree generally that your .308 Win will with proper bullet selection (enhanced by careful handloading even better) will take "Most" North American Game, however unlike a few here I would seriously recommend a heavier caliber for hunting what not some few of us here consider North America's dangerous game, ie: Brown and/or Kodiak Bear, Russian Boar, Moose. I'd recommend no lighter than a .338 or in my case a .375. There ain't no such animal as too much gun when hunting something that can hunt you back!
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I wonder! The proper position is placing the butt directly under the jaw so the head only goes forward a little.When the head has to be tilted to the side the butt is over on the joint and any gun with recoil will do a # on you.The other part is to lean into the firearm so the head only has to be lowered a little bit for the cheak to touch the comb of the stock.This keeps the eyes level and allows the torso to roll with the recoil.Keeping both eyes level and open makes for easier target alignment and better vision of the target.I see more people tilt their head to alighn the sight meaning they have the butplate on thr most sensitive spot on the shoulder.I also see them stand straight meaning the butt is too low and they must have that butt right where it will hurt and must tilt the head to line the sights up instead of lowering the head just slightly.If you love the pain just keep that butt over on that joint.I have fired .600 Nitro,s 25 shots straight with no blemish on my arm.They kick. sam.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ezearln
While I'd tend to agree generally that your .308 Win will with proper bullet selection (enhanced by careful handloading even better) will take "Most" North American Game, however unlike a few here I would seriously recommend a heavier caliber for hunting what not some few of us here consider North America's dangerous game, ie: Brown and/or Kodiak Bear, Russian Boar, Moose. I'd recommend no lighter than a .338 or in my case a .375. There ain't no such animal as too much gun when hunting something that can hunt you back!
The biggest,meanest animal in North America and most of africa can be brought down with one shot from any firearm that can develope over 1800ft lbs using a bullet with the proper expansion control.The .308win.developes over 2600lbs and can handle up to 200gr bullets designed for deep penetration and double diameter expansion.At anyplace under 100yds with 180gr expansion controled bullets I would consider myself suficiently armed for any big game in N.America.They use the 7.62 NATO to cull elephants in Africa,admittedly multiple shots of fmj,s. sam.
Last edited by samuel; 10-24-2007 at 10:01 PM.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
After Extensive evaluation here in Alaska shooting Big Game animals and what worked the best with the best ballistics , there was only 1 Choice ...
Model 70 Winchester in .300 Win Mag.
Deer and Caribou and Dall Sheep,at long ranges, Bears Point Blank, Moose that are charging, and BIG mean Buffalo Bulls... It kills em Dead and usually with ONE Shot, cause that may be all you get!
A good Variety of Bullets and loads available along with Milder Recoil and extremely Flat shooting Makes it My weapon Of choice out of Many That I Own.
Rich
__________________
[I]You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!:( [/I]
After Extensive evaluation here in Alaska shooting Big Game animals and what worked the best with the best ballistics , there was only 1 Choice ...
Model 70 Winchester in .300 Win Mag.
Deer and Caribou and Dall Sheep,at long ranges, Bears Point Blank, Moose that are charging, and BIG mean Buffalo Bulls... It kills em Dead and usually with ONE Shot, cause that may be all you get!
A good Variety of Bullets and loads available along with Milder Recoil and extremely Flat shooting Makes it My weapon Of choice out of Many That I Own.
Rich
You are absolutely right to state that a .300win.mag. is a great choice for an all around hunting rifle for the larger game in North America.What you point out is correct if you throw in all the variables such as long range.I wasnt using long range,just the range a certain cartridge can be used in and expect proper results.What I said was I would feel completely confident that I could make a one shot kill on any game in N.A. with a .308win. at 100yds and under. To illistrate I will use one bullet that can be loaded in the .308win,-the .300win.mag.,-and the .300RUM.The bullet is a 180gr Nosler Partition.- Using 1800lbs as the magic # for killing big game,the .308 has 2355ft lbs at 2430fps,at 100yds.-The .300win.mag. has 2395ft.lbs.at 2450fps at 200yds. -The .300RUM has 2407ft,lbs.at 2454fps at 400yds.The .308 will do exactly the same at 100yds as the .300win.mag will at 200yds and the .300RUM will at 400yds.It isnt unusual for these cartridges to be used at the prospective ranges. I would feel confident using a .300RUM at 400yds or a .300win.mag at 200yds and there is no reason I shouldnt feel confident using a .308win at 100yds and under.As to the revered ,338win.mag.,at 400yds with a 250gr bullet it still has 2130ft,lbs at 1960fps.putting it right in there with the .300Rum. I do not advocate the use of a .308win.for larger big game.I only state that I myself would not turn down a shot at the largest of game in N.A.if a .308win. was what I happened to have. If a person were recoil sensitive and wanted to hunt with a .308win.and could handle it better than the harder recoil cartridges,I believe they would be not only justified but better off. sam.
Easy now, Mooseman, I like the 300 Win. I have always thought that at 100 yards, a bullet placed in the same spot with a 30-06 or 300 magnum had the same results. You might get a little more shock with the magnum, but thats about it.
From personal experience, there is a big difference, sure the 30/06 will kill them, The .300 will kill them Faster and knock them down too. It is a wound channel/shock thing...Like getting hit with a ball peen hammer VS. a Sledge Hammer !
Hornady Ballistic tables show 698 Ft. lbs difference at 100 yards for the same 180 grain spire point and 705 ft.lbs difference at 200 yards and 430 at 300 yards.
Rich
__________________
[I]You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!:( [/I]
