Preacherman
Member
I debated whether to put this thread in Rifles or Hunting, but chose Rifles because it's more about the rifle than about animals as such.
We all know that there are various types of terrain that affect or influence our choice of rifle. I can think of plains, mountains, desert (perhaps not too dissimilar to plains?), woods/brush, etc.
There's also the question of the animals in that region. You can hunt for a specific animal with a highly specialised rifle (e.g. mountain sheep), or carry a rifle that's good for anything you might encounter. I would think the latter is a big factor in someplace like Alaska or Africa.
So, based on your experience, what would be the best general-purpose rifle for a particular region/type of terrain? I'm thinking caliber, weight, size, etc. are all factors that would have to be taken into account. Specific regions or terrains are:
1. Alaska.
2. Africa - plains or bush.
3. Desert (e.g. Arizona, New Mexico, etc.).
4. Plains (e.g. Dakotas, Kansas, etc.).
5. Woods/brush (e.g. much of the South, Michigan, New England).
6. Mountains (e.g. Colorado, parts of Montana and Wyoming, etc.)
If you can think of any other regions or types of terrain that call for a rifle suited to the area, please post them.
I'll start with the two areas with which I'm familiar.
Africa: You need something powerful enough to defend yourself against things with teeth, but also able to take smaller antelope. I think the quintessential all-round African cartridge is the .375 H&H. With solids, it'll take small antelope cleanly, but also do a job on elephant, buffalo, etc. With soft-points, it'll take the largest antelope (eland are considerably bigger than moose, growing to about 2,000 pounds), and also be useful against lion, etc. It's usually in a bolt-action rifle, but I like the balance and speed into action of doubles, and the cartridge is equally at home in either format.
Woods/brush: This is all-pervasive in north central Louisiana, where I live, and I think this is classic lever-action territory. I've used .30-30, .45-70, and .308 in lever guns, and think that their shorter length, ease of balance, and speed of action are the best for this terrain.
Let's hear your thoughts!
We all know that there are various types of terrain that affect or influence our choice of rifle. I can think of plains, mountains, desert (perhaps not too dissimilar to plains?), woods/brush, etc.
There's also the question of the animals in that region. You can hunt for a specific animal with a highly specialised rifle (e.g. mountain sheep), or carry a rifle that's good for anything you might encounter. I would think the latter is a big factor in someplace like Alaska or Africa.
So, based on your experience, what would be the best general-purpose rifle for a particular region/type of terrain? I'm thinking caliber, weight, size, etc. are all factors that would have to be taken into account. Specific regions or terrains are:
1. Alaska.
2. Africa - plains or bush.
3. Desert (e.g. Arizona, New Mexico, etc.).
4. Plains (e.g. Dakotas, Kansas, etc.).
5. Woods/brush (e.g. much of the South, Michigan, New England).
6. Mountains (e.g. Colorado, parts of Montana and Wyoming, etc.)
If you can think of any other regions or types of terrain that call for a rifle suited to the area, please post them.
I'll start with the two areas with which I'm familiar.
Africa: You need something powerful enough to defend yourself against things with teeth, but also able to take smaller antelope. I think the quintessential all-round African cartridge is the .375 H&H. With solids, it'll take small antelope cleanly, but also do a job on elephant, buffalo, etc. With soft-points, it'll take the largest antelope (eland are considerably bigger than moose, growing to about 2,000 pounds), and also be useful against lion, etc. It's usually in a bolt-action rifle, but I like the balance and speed into action of doubles, and the cartridge is equally at home in either format.
Woods/brush: This is all-pervasive in north central Louisiana, where I live, and I think this is classic lever-action territory. I've used .30-30, .45-70, and .308 in lever guns, and think that their shorter length, ease of balance, and speed of action are the best for this terrain.
Let's hear your thoughts!