Dangerous Game Caliber, What is the smallest you would go with?
Ok...I must admit I will probably never go to Africa and hunt Lion, Elephant, Leopard, or Cape, but I would like to hunt Grizzly someday. But forgetting I said all that what is the smallest cartridge you would go with? .375 H&H?? .338 Win Mag? I'm open to suggestions. I just don't know if I want to take a 30-06 to bag a Grizzly. I know it can do it....but....I think I would like a heavier payload than whats offered for the 30-06.
Maybe I have eaten too much pizza and I'm in need of some sleep. lol
Any thoughts?
Hmm, my choice would be .338 Winchester Magnum as a minimum if you are into bolt actions, while a .375 h&h would be a little more comforting. Of course a .45-70 would also be just fine in my book, and I know that it is available in my most favorite platform!
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In my opinion, and in the opinion of men much more experienced, and intelligent than myself, a bolt action, CRF .375 H&H is regarded as the ultimate "all arounder" for hunting dangerous game here in NA, and Africa as well.
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Depends on the application. If you're seriously considering hunting Grizzlies, I'd say .300 Win. Mag at the bare minimum. If you're staying away from the "big cuddlies" a .30-06 will be fine.
I feel you must not go below a .458 Winchester Magnum.
For North America a .338 Winchester Magnum might be a caliber of choice although for a charging grizzly bear I would once again mention the .458 Winchester Magnum.
While we can't hunt em here in MT, I have had my fair share of close encounters with grizzlies, admitting they are smaller than AK bears, I didn't feel I didn't have enough gun with a .300 Win Mag if it came to that point which it hasn't yet. My one encounter I did pull the trigger on was with a cougar and I had a 30-30, I didn't hit it or take the time to aim(a bit of an oh S*!T thing, get lead flying asap and pray) but the noise was enough for it to decide I wasn't safe to try and eat.
If I were to go after bears in AK I would probably choose something more along the line of a .375 H&H.
I'd say .350 Remington Magnum or better. .444 Marlin is a good choice if you can stand the punishment. .375 Holland and Holland is great, but the expense is more than the average hunter can bear (no pun intended). Don't go hunting bear without a rifle you know can do the job. And go and shoot the rifle before you hunt, make darn sure the rifle functions flawlessly and that you can depend on it when the time comes. The Grizzly is one of the most potentially dangerous creatures you could possibly imagine. He's as tough as bootleather and has a skull like a sherman tank. One swipe of his claws can behead you. If you're going to do this, don't do any part of it, half-way. I mean this in the best possible way, and if I've overstated the obvious, I want you to know I'm darn glad I did.
Most guides carry a .375 H&H, including African guides as a back up. I would have no qualms about the .338 - wonderful cartridge, loaded up or down!
I have heard of Griz still coming after yer a**after having their heart totally blown apart. Running strictly on adrenaline. .44 mag in the mouth for really close range stuff!
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I really like the .45/70 in a lever gun. I've never shot anything with mine using the LeverEvolution 325 grainers from Hornady that it didn't zip right through tearing up everything in and close to it's path. Zipped through an elk on a quartering shot last week so fast that I thought I'd missed on account of the dust cloud where it hit the ground on the far side of the animal.
I would be more inclined to use a 505 Gibbs if elephant was a possibility. But I am going to be partial to the 600 Nitro Express Magnum only because I am building one on a savage 210 slug gun action, when I am done I will have a nice African rifle
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Does anyone have any experience with a 338 Federal? Or is that a wimp? I heard it was pretty stout in close range situations. But that was just what a writer said in an article that I read 2 years ago.
The .338 Federal has energy close to the 7mm Rem mag, it is a great black bear and whitetail cartridge, but I wouldn't use it for grizzlies, if you want a .338 cal, step up to the .338 Win Mag.
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