A Rifle For Large North American Animals

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

I eventually want one of the 1886 chiappa 45-70 take down models, I would also like to have one of the new Rossi 454/45 colt, has the loading gate and the magazine loading/unloading as do the Henry's.
I can remember all semi and lever 22s had that loading system, and have had for over 100 years, just wondered when the centerfire boys would start. Thanks to Henry and Rossi, they have

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

I have one of the stainless Rossi 38/357 mag with 16 inch barrel and is a hoot to carry

 

[3Crows]

chiappa builds a 1886 with 18 inch barrel, take down, brushed chrome plated, 45-70, is one of their Kodiak models. I would love to have one.
My new Henry 45-70, all weather, brushed chrome plated, 18.5 inch barrel, with the side loading gate, also has the tube loading/unloading, and shoots like a dream.
Henry is coming out with new models all the time.
That brushed chrome is an industrial hard chrome, and is totally awesome in both the Henry and the Chiappa 1886.

I do not care for chrome plating, would much prefer a stainless steel Marlin. Not impressed with either Henry (please, just no on the rebounding hammer or the mag tube that has been known to eject itself) or $Chiappa$ for that matter. Each to their own. People like or dislike things based on personal preferences that cannot always be quaitified or even completely explained. Thus my being mystified with many folks choices in guns .

 

[Elkins45]

I bought a LH Ruger stainless laminated Alaskan rifle in 375 Ruger on closeout. I figured if the lions ever escape from the zoo or a secret velociraptor cloning facility nearby springs a leak I’m all set.

This was a classic example of buying the deal. I have absolutely no real use for this gun at all, although I did use it once to take a whitetail doe using a reduced power cast bullet load. Turns out 1900 fps is plenty fast enough when you‘re using a 275 grain bullet that’s .377” in diameter.

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

I do not care for the funky safety on any of the new Marlins or Winchesters, My two granddads were town marshalls in Oklahoma in the 20s and 30s and carried either Marlins or Winchesters course theres were 44-40s, and they taught us to use them.
If I have to have a lawyer induced safety would rather have the one on the Henry. Would actually like the 1886 as is true to the original design and no safety. Sides I was always taught the best safety of all is the one between your ears

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

I am 72 years young, and been handling guns since I was 10 years old, and have never had one go off accidentally, (knock on wood) and hopefully never will. and when I was young had my ears boxed if I even thought of doing something stupid with a gun

 

[tdbmd]

Caribou ,.Elk ,Moose, Musk Ox , Grizzlies, Polar Bears, etc.

What is the rifle you would first reach for in the hunt?

The simple answer for ALL North American game would be .375 H&H which could do all and with a single load. The .30-06 could certainly do it as well, as demonstrated by J.Y. Jones but he did use different bullet weights for different animals. I would personally go with a .35 Whelen with a 225 grain bullet.

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

I have to agree with an earlier comment, that for anything in the lower 48 states, the 30.06 would be enough gun, provided the larger bullets would be used for elk, moose, grizzly bear, and bison. And for those animals it still might be marginal.
Alaska is another story. I was stationed in Alaska twice, and the state fish and game recommended a pump shot gun with slugs , and the Marlin 45-70. The reason being those animals are very large, hard to kill, and the normal ranges are very short.
As the 35 Whelen is pretty much the equal to the old 350 Remington mag, it would also work on most game, but I would want the most powerful thing I could reasonalbly carry, those moose, grizzly bears, brown bears, and polar bears are very large, and with the exception of the Moose, very agressive. The truth is moose kills more people up there than the bears, and when those animals charge they are very close, and for me the lever works faster than a bolt. So as for me and mine, we would carry an older Marlin, or a new Henry, or even one of the 1886, all in 45-70. Have to understand as a non resident of Alaska, a professional guide is required for any bear hunt, or sheep hunt. Makes hunting in Alaska expensive

 

[.308 Norma]

for anything in the lower 48 states, the 30.06 would be enough gun, provided the larger bullets would be used for elk, moose, grizzly bear, and bison. And for those animals it still might be marginal.

I've killed a lot of elk in the "lower 48" (Idaho) and I guarantee you the 30-06 is not "marginal" for them. With 180gr bullets, the 30-06 is near perfect for elk. Elmer Kieth was entertaining, but he wasn't always right - not even way back when he was an elk hunter.
Secondly, moose in the "lower 48" are smaller than Alaskan Moose, and while I've never drawn a moose tag, I suspect my old 30-06 with 180gr bullets would work swell for one of them too.
Thirdly, if you shoot a grizzly in the "lower 48," you'd better be wearing claw marks. Grizzlies are protected in the "lower 48," and hunting them on purpose is very much frowned upon.
I've never shot a bison either - because I think it would be like getting permission to go out and shoot one of my rancher friend's bulls. But if I did, I think my old 30-06 would kill one of them just fine too. Back in the 1800s, there was a lot of bison killed with muzzle loaders.
BTW, I use a .308 Norma nowadays only because of nostalgic reasons. It's nice that it's shoots a little bit flatter than a 30-06. But the truth is, my 30-06 shoots "flat" enough for me and probably every other big game hunter in the "lower 48."

 

[WisBorn]

@.308 Norma I'm with you! With Polar Bears on the protected list and Grizzlies protected in the lower forty eight. Actually hunting big bears is not something many of us will do.
I have not hunted elk or moose, but they have been taken with every cartridge on the list.
If I was going after musk ox it would be with a camera. I would carry my 44mag with me for wilderness protection or a 12 gauge with slugs.

In recent months I have had it in my head that life is to short. I may start looking at applying for a elk tag and buying a new rifle for the task.... 300 prc looks good, but the old 300WM would be a good choice too! Or maybe take Mrs Norma and @DM~ and use my 7rm!!!

 

[bigpower491]

My vote is for 338, as in 338-06. Powerful enough for the largest on the continent with much lighter recoil than any of the Magnums. Honestly, the performance isn't that much behind the magnum. Like any other rifle, bullet choice, and there's a bunch in this caliber, will get you where you want to be. From Deer to Bear, can't go wrong with this old wildcat in your stable

 

[IJ1981]

Too many great replies to count! Thank you all! As happens so often, the 30.06 is the runaway winner. The Babe Ruth of American rifles.

 

[Elkins45]

I am 72 years young, and been handling guns since I was 10 years old, and have never had one go off accidentally, (knock on wood) and hopefully never will. and when I was young had my ears boxed if I even thought of doing something stupid with a gun

Others have, that’s why the safeties exist.

We can argue about their poor implementation all day, but the reason the safeties were added is because people were shooting themselves and others. Most were probably the result of doing something goofy, but at least a few were the result of limbs catching the hammer and trigger in thick brush.

Personally I think the way Browning did it on the BLR is the very best. It’s completely unobtrusive and you can’t pull the trigger on an engaged safety like you can with the Marlin crossbolt.

 

[bigpower491]

But the truth is, my 30-06 shoots "flat" enough for me and probably every other big game hunter in the "lower 48."

And that friends, is a very true statement.

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

as for carrying a 44 mag, I did up there fishing, but now most are using a 454 casull .

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

have to understand a 30-30 is more powerfull than the 44 mag, and no one says the 30-30 is enough for a brown bear

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

if you ever read a book entitled Alaska Bear Tails, can read the story of my ex's granddad that was killed and partially eaten by a brown bear.

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

In fact when stationed in Kodiak, ALASKA, the fish and game said the population of the island was about 18 thousand people, and the population of the brown bears was about 22 thousand

 

[eastbank]

after owning and shooting game with most of the rifles on the list, i would choose the .375 H&H as i,ve used it on 14-15 species of african game with out the loss of one animal.

 

[Skeptic13]

I like the .375 Ruger. A little more velocity than the .375 H&H.

 

[herrwalther]

I have to agree with an earlier comment, that for anything in the lower 48 states, the 30.06 would be enough gun, provided the larger bullets would be used for elk, moose, grizzly bear, and bison. And for those animals it still might be marginal.
Alaska is another story. I was stationed in Alaska twice, and the state fish and game recommended a pump shot gun with slugs , and the Marlin 45-70. The reason being those animals are very large, hard to kill, and the normal ranges are very short.
As the 35 Whelen is pretty much the equal to the old 350 Remington mag, it would also work on most game, but I would want the most powerful thing I could reasonalbly carry, those moose, grizzly bears, brown bears, and polar bears are very large, and with the exception of the Moose, very agressive. The truth is moose kills more people up there than the bears, and when those animals charge they are very close, and for me the lever works faster than a bolt. So as for me and mine, we would carry an older Marlin, or a new Henry, or even one of the 1886, all in 45-70. Have to understand as a non resident of Alaska, a professional guide is required for any bear hunt, or sheep hunt. Makes hunting in Alaska expensive

There are thousands of Alaskan homesteaders that live there, full time, for generations still using passed down 1903s, 1917s, and Model 70s in 30-06. The locals where I was stationed used 30-06 the most. Around Ft Wainwright. Just a tad north of Kodiak.

 

[WisBorn]

There are thousands of Alaskan homesteaders that live there, full time, for generations still using passed down 1903s, 19172, and Model 70s in 30-06. The locals where I was stationed used 30-06 the most. Around Ft Wainwright. Just a tad north of Kodiak.

Exactly what I was thinking about.
The indigenous people of northern Alaska are much more likely to come in contact with big bears. What do they choose

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

thats up near Fairbanks isn't it ?

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

Most of the natives I met used old 1886s or Marlins in 45-70 and a very few used 1903s or even M-1 Garrands

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

Most did not reload, and only bought ammo when they really needed it. I did not start reloading till I got there in 1975, cause 45 colt and 45-70 ammo was hard to find. Notice i did not say 45 acp, which was very common