Need advice on a N. Amer. big game rifle

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SteveS

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I am looking to purchase a rifle that I will use on a moose hunting trip to Newfoundland in Fall of 2004. I would eventually like to try bear and Alaskan Moose, so I would like some advice on what would be a good, all-around choice for these types of game.

Thanks,
Steve
 
What action type are you interested in? Do you reload or will you buy all your ammo? Do you want to use iron sights or a scope? Both?
 
A good start would be a .338 or .375-----stainless action and barrel---and a synthetic stock of some sort. The rest is personal preferance.
 
300 Remington Ultra Mag... and I just happen to have one for sale. :D

Actually, I'll second the .338
 
Once you get past the "Thutty" barrier, the .338 is the next logical stop. Note that the .338 and the .375 are about equal out to 3-400 yards, where the .338 pulls ahead a bit. Everything I've ever shot with my .338 has died quickly, with less meat damage on antelope than my partner's '06. There are several in the shortmag flavor that despense with that stupid belt, I think, if you reload.
Another option favored by many, is the 7 mag. For big bear, its a bit light for my taste, but it'll work.

Tom
 
The only person I know that hunts moose with regularity (in western Canada and Montana) does so with a 7mm Rem Mag. And I don't believe he has had one get away from him in many years.

338 should be more than up to the tast but I think your shooting experience should enter into the exposure. Sometimes it is hard to judge from such a question.

How long have you been shooting?

Do you have any tendency to flinch with 30-06 or 300 Win Mag?

How closely can you keep shots at 200 yards with said calibers?

Are you the sort of person that will keep his shots to within 250 yards or so or are you looking for and ready to take a 400 yard or longer shot?

Plenty of moose has been taken with 270 Winchester. Plenty of moose has been taken with 45-70. Those cartridges are hard to recommend for someone going on a moose hunt. 300 Win Mag, 300 Ultra, 338 Win, 350 Rem Mag, 35 Whelen, 375 H&H should all be very well up to the tast and the most recommended. Provided you can take advantage of their capabilities as a shooter. As always, shot placement and bullet selection are the most important factors, assuming you're using something over a .243. :p

Good luck. I'd love to go on a leisurely moose hunt, perhaps on land where I knew the owner. I'm just not ready to go on a paid hunt yet. ;)
 
MY

first choice would be a 30/06 with 180's or 200's. I read that more moose have been taken by 30/30's than any other caliber, you just have to do your part.

Unless you're used to shooting 338's and such, a slightly smaller but more manageable caliber for you would seem the better choice.

Study moose anatomy.
 
First of all, thanks for all the quick responses. I see I'll need to provide more info.

I like bolt-action, but I am open to trying something different. I prefer to use a scope. I don't reload, but would like to try in the not-too-distant future.

I consider myself a reasonably experienced shooter (20+ years) and have shot a variety of guns up to .350 Rem Mag without flinching.

I think I would have to do quite a bit of practicing before I would be confident out to 400 yards, but I would prefer to stay under 300 yards.
 
.338

i'd have to go along with the .338, if you can handle the .350 this should not be a problem. make sure the rifle fits you well and if you want to try somthing other than a bolt gun look at the browning bar. the guys saying 30-06, 7mm mag are right they will get the job done if you do your part but if your like me we need good excuses to get that next gun. good luck and happy hunting.:cool:
 
If I can pester everyone with just one more question...what brand(s)? I would like to keep my costs under $1300 (w/out scope).
 
I would recommend the Browning BAR Mkll Safari in .338 WinMag. I've never lost an animal shot with it.

The gas system reduces the recoil to .308 Win. level. With the Browning, you can shoot full power .338 off of the bench all day long and never get a sore shoulder.

If you ever shoot the BAR, you won't even look at anything else. It also comes in .300 WinMag, 7MM Mag and .30-06 is you're so inclined.

I have the .338, and wouldn't give it up for anything.
 
short of sounding like an antiquatied old fart , i'm only 33, i'll have to say 308 win.
i doubt there is a small store an any town in NA that doesnt have a box. a reasonable distances w/ proper shot placement you can take any NA game, period.
flame on...
 
Yeah, for actual rifle choice, with $1,300 plus scope you're pretty wide open. If this is your comfortable price range, I'd probably look at a Sako or Weatherby. If you prefer using a scope, I'd look into a fixed 6x Swarovski, Zeiss or Kahles. Personally, I'd skip any sort of muzzle break or BOSS system though I guess you can keep the BOSS closed.

The BAR comes highly recommended by all that I know that use it but I'm not but my experience is very limited with it only having shot one in 270. I've always though in the back of my mind that if I were to buy a 338, it would be a BAR.
 
cheygriz wrote:
I would recommend the Browning BAR Mkll Safari in .338 WinMag. I've never lost an animal shot with it.

The gas system reduces the recoil to .308 Win. level. With the Browning, you can shoot full power .338 off of the bench all day long and never get a sore shoulder.

If you ever shoot the BAR, you won't even look at anything else. It also comes in .300 WinMag, 7MM Mag and .30-06 is you're so inclined.

I have the .338, and wouldn't give it up for anything.
Click to expand...

That would be one helluva good choice. :)
 
Just to be a contrarian....

If you don't see the need to take shots much beyond 100 yards, a .45-70 would be another option. Lever action instead of bolt...

Rich Lucibella over at The Firing Line took a Cape Buffalo with one.

Hits plenty hard, but long range is not its strength.

OTOH, neither bear nor moose are often taken at long range.

Just another option to consider.
 
OK...here it is...the Alaska rig

Win 70 Stainless synthetic, 338 Win Mag, have iron sights installed, Leupold 3X9 or 3.5X10 in QD mounts, now you are ready to go for less than 1300.

Wildlikesthe338forAlaska
 
Never done any of that sort of hunting, but I've been reading about it since the days of Russell Annabel's experiences.

Seems like anything in the '06 class or a bit more will do, particularly with the types of bullets available nowadays. (Excluding the Alaskan big brownies, of course.) A .338 oughta be plenty good, seems to me.

Seems to me that there are three main factors: First, the personal fit of a rifle; next, sufficient practice to be comfortable with your "hittability". Then, proper selection of type of bullet...

:), Art
 
I live on Kodiak and mainly hunt deer. I had a problem with a bear a few years back and decided I needed an "all-around" caliber rifle. A heavier caliber.

To make my decision more complicated, I decided that I also wanted a very compact rifle. If I have to drag the thing around all day I wanted less weight.
Since much of the country I hunt is thick brush, I wanted a rifle compact enough to swing around if I woke up something big and furry. If you've ever traversed an alder patch you'll know what I mean.

And ... there is (was) no production rifle that filled the bill. The closest thing is the old Remington 600 in .350 rem. Mag. I couldn't find one of those, so I ordered a Model 7 in the same caliber from the remington custom shop. It was about $1100, but it is THE rifle. It weighs six pounds and has a short (.308 length) action.
It's not overkill for deer and it doesn't beat you to death when you pull the trigger. Yet, it'll throw a .250 grain bullet out with enough velocity to stop anything in North America.

The downside is ammo. Factory ammo is hard to find and only available in 200 grain slugs. It's basically a reloaders caliber.

The .376 Steyr might serve, but at the price they want, I'll pass.

If Winchester gets off their behind and offers one of their short mags in .350 or .375, that would be even better. Until then, this is it as far as I'm concerned.

Keith
 
I will take a look at the Rem. My father in law (who will be going on the trip) has used the 600 for years and really likes it. The .350 Rem mag ammo is supposed to be more plentiful, with the reintroduction of the 673.

I was at Gander Mtn. last night and held a Weatherby Ultra LTW in .300 Wby. It was fairly light. Is this a decent cal.?
 
Although I hunt with a Rem 700ss .375H&H with Leupold 3x9 in Leupold lever mounts, I'd go with Wikldalaska because: Mod 70ss has controlled round feed and .338 Win feeds well in 'standard length' actions. Also there is better (more modern choices) of factory .338 ammo available alot cheaper than .375. Forget .30s if you want a dedicated rifle for elk and up. Get stainless and a synthetic stock if your around wet. $1300 will get you the rifle and Leupold scope and a little gunsmith smoothing of action and trigger and you'll have it all!
 
Damn! Those guys at remington finally got around to bringing back the .350! That is great news.

This rifle is about a pound heavier and two inches longer in the barrel, but I wouldn't quibble about that since it's a production rifle, and more affordable the custom shop version.

And bringing that back is going to inject new life into the cartridge. Anybody know if they are bringing back the .250 grainers?

Keith
 
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