Lowest caliber for:

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Aaryq

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Howdy folks. You may have seen my post about Lowest Caliber for Deer. Well, I was thinking about it again and have some more lowest caliber (and prime caliber) questions for crittersI might be hunting in 1-3 years (I'll miss this year's everything season).

I'll be hunting in ND, MN, AK (if I'm lucky), MT, and SD.

Elk
Moose
Grizzly Bear
Brown Bear
Black Bear
Yotes (for fur)
Buffalo (if I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY lucky)
 
I'd feel OK with the .30-06 on everything on your list, except the girz. A full length rifle in .35 Whelen may be a nice compromise for an all-around gun.
 
Sounds like a two-gun safari.

I think I'd go to a 300 Mag for the Brown bear, especially.

That 35 Whelen or it's twin, the 350 Remington Magnum, would certainly be good choices for the big bears as well.....and quite suitable for moose and elk and that Buffalo if you're lucky.

Either would work and your second would be a .270 that would do for the black bear and any coyotes or other vermin you may come across and could also serve for the elk and moose portion of the hunt.
 
'06 would be fine for all, but personally, I'd want a .30 or better belted magnum with a bit more authority for the 2 big bears. A man should have all the edge he can when hunting something that can hunt you right back & in a hurry, too.
 
I didn't know there was still a fir market now days. For the coyotes, .22 WMR is about perfect and minimal. For the rest, just get a .338 and you're covered, I mean, not that there are any of those animals in Texas other than the coyotes. The .338 is a lot of gun for stuff like black bear, but can you shoot "too much gun"? Being a handloader, I can load it down, too. We had some buffalo down the road from my place a while back. Belonged to a rancher who was breeding 'em. I don't think he wanted 'em shot. Plenty of coyotes, but who buys fir anymore? I just shoot 'em with whatever I'm totin', usually a .308 winchester.
 
I would say go with a 223 or some other such small caliber, high velocity round for the yotes. I believe a 300 Win Mag, or 300 WSM would effectively kill the rest of the animals on your list. Hell, people killed elk, bear and moose for a long time with a 30-30. Wouldn't be my first choice, but I suppose it would still work.
 
the 3006 has taken everything you want to hunt if you can shoot with the right bullet id use a Mauser type action for your hunt though ruger Winchester mod 70 this is just my opinion
 
How much hunting have you done?
Looks like you live in So Cal which means your probably gonna be hiring a guide for your out of state hunts. My advice would be to ask him what your gonna need, get one and do lots of practice.

I have killed deer in So Cal. and the foothills are litterly full of coyotes, cotton tails, and quail, so you do have hunting opportunities close to home too.
Buy a good 22 and with a bit of searching you have some of the best ground squirrel hunting in the Western US. If they will still let a guy shoot in the foothills there. I am not sure of that as I left over 25 years ago but you could then, but then you could sell a gun in the newspaper there too, so ya better do some checking before you do any shooting.
 
Three guns.

For the 'yotes, I'd go with a .223 or .243.
Everything else except buffalo, the .35 Whellen.
For the buffs, a .45-70 or something with comperable "thump" in a bolt action if you don't want a levergun.
 
I do not like the term "lowest caliber choice". It all depends on the shooter and his/her confidence/ability/judgement and situation. My situation might be different than the next guy's. His or her ability and situation might allow the use of a "lighter than normal caliber". You might use better judgement than the average person on a specific situation and can get away with a lower caliber.
The point is, the term "lowest", excludes too many options and creates too many debates without knowing all the facts. As we all know, we have all heard or read stories, maybe even experienced situations where unlikely calibers were used to take down the largest beast. You know what I mean, ie. a .22 short for deer, .222 for Polar Bears, 7x57 for elephant, etc, etc. etc. Yes, almost every single rifle caliber, will kill almost every sort or land mammal on earth under a specific circumstance. If the shooter has the ability, the situation presents itself, using the right bullet, and the range is correct, you could probably kill a Cape Buffalo with a .22 magnum shot through the eye. Now would the average, sane person try this? No. However, the lowest caliber could be used, in theory.
I am not advocating the use of lighter caliber bullets. I am on the total opposite side. I do believe and wish that more hunters would practice with their firearm of choice and know thier limitations. I am stating that too many opnions are given without thinking or knowing all the facts or situations. A prime example; is that the .270 is the lowest caliber you should use for elk. There are probably many on this web site that hunt elk with a 25-06. Now should everyone do it, no? The guys that do it, know thier gun, use the right bullets, and practice. "Lowest caliber" is too broad and generic. Why don't we change it to "Recommended Minimum"???
 
As Townsend Whelen was wont to say, "The .30-06 is never a mistake."

A modern .30-06 in Lite Magnum or Hi Energy loadings just about matches the .300 WM standard loads. Throw in premium bullets, and the .30-06 is more versatile than ever.
 
Triple S, I think you have summed up the lowest caliber debate once and for all. I think you just said everything I have been trying to say for a long time. My minimum and someone else's minimum may be totally different. There have been many, many heated debates on this subject for the past few days. Personally, I think Aaryq is bored and enjoys watching the verbal wars between me and Eliphalet.:D
 
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