Best North American hunting caliber?

As this article suggests, Brown Bears on Kodiak Island and Grizzly bears of the lower 48 are linked genetically by all being classified as ursus arctos. But they are not linked in physical ways such as size and social temperment due to habitat.

http://www.shadowofthebear.com/Brown,%20Grizzly%20or%20Kodiak%20Bear.html

If you saw a large Kodiak or Coastal boar or sow in the lower 48, you'd be saying, "Holy S%@&, that is by far the biggest Grizzly I've ever seen!" And it likely would be.
 
I did not read this whole thread, so forgive me if I'm not sure what the biology lesson is all about.

Anyhoo, I spent a good amount of time behind a 300 Ultra mag yesterday, and I would say the 200gr Swift A-frames I was slinging would work well for any NA game species, given the powder charge behind it............
 
No brake and my shoulder feels just fine. It was a standard BDL. To be perfectly honest, It did not kick as much as I thought it would. Less than a 338 Win IMO. I could have shot it all day with no complaints..........
 
My friend has a 300 ultra with a brake on it. Ear plugs and muffs on and it's still way loud. I would take the kick to the shoulder before having one with a break on it myself. They do a number on coyotes though.
 
for all big game and not small game a 45-70 gov handloaded to different specks for different game could be a great choice some kind of 200 gr soft point for smaller stuff way out there ...right up to 700gr solids! or the more practical 400-500gr hard cast or prartition or solids?
 
I would say a. 308.. if its brown bears ur worried about then a 208 amazon or round nose would work. Then u have a 110 max for coyotes. Bo one gun will fit the bill.... id go with a .223 if it was a survival situation with a .22 kit with me for squirrels etc.. head shots would be a must
 
Originally Posted By: bigsky_songdogsHey, my 338 is blued, and lots of those oldtimers got killed and eaten too.
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Ya BigSky. People who haven't had to deal with heavy dangerous game like to come up with all kinds of funny beliefs.
 
Can we get off the brown bear. . Please. You guys are driving me crazy..
The 338 works good. Much better than Any 300.. The 375 works better than the 338 . The 416 works much better than the 375. .I use the 458 and the 416s ..
A 12 guage is what most Alaskans who have lots of brown bear experience call a city boys gun. Meaning very inexperienced ...
Never chose Buck shot for heavy game. It may be better than bird shot..
I would rather have a 260 Rem loaded with 130 gr TSX than a 12 GA..

My sig. Line is not wishful thinking. Its what I use.

I thot this site was about shooting coyotes.
 
Originally Posted By: gumboot458I thot this site was about shooting coyotes.

A bear is a predator.

After all, this is Predator Masters.

Not Coyote Masters.......


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Gees, gumboot, don't go mentioning using 416's and 458's here against dangerous game. Some north country white tail hunter is likely going to hurt his shoulder just trying to keep up.
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Originally Posted By: Mike21Originally Posted By: gumboot458I thot this site was about shooting coyotes.

A bear is a predator.

After all, this is Predator Masters.

Not Coyote Masters.......


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apparently someone likes to start arguments... I will be sure to avoid threads you are on, sir.
 
Originally Posted By: snowwhite204apparently someone likes to start arguments... I will be sure to avoid threads you are on, sir.

It was merely a friendly jab sir, nothing to be taken seriously...
 
If you exclude Grizzley then the .270 or 30-06 is really all a guy could ever need. These 300 mags and so fourth gain little in performance at the cost of alot more recoil. I also feel the idea that you will engage animals at 400+ yards is mostly a fantasy. 1 out of 500 or more shooters can hit that far and even less shooters will actualy have that opportunity in the field.

If you really need more punch for huge hogs, grizzley, or similar then you can't go wrong with a Marlin lever gun chambered in 450 marlin.
 
caliber? how about bore?

12 Gauge. Ammo for every type of wild game or self-defense scenario, period. Effective Range of 0-50 Yards with the best chokes and shells available.
 
Been a fascinating read. There are a number of cartridges that work well on all game.

But after thinking about it, and reading the arguments for all the different cartridges, I am another vote for the .30-06 Springfield in a good sporter with a 3-9x40mm scope on it.

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There isn't a big game animal in North America that hasn't been killed with a .30-06. Are there better cartridges for particular animals? Heck yes. I can't think of an animal that the .30-06 is the best for, but it is good enough for anything that might be encountered, and not impractical overkill for animals down to ground hog size.

I saw one comment that it beats up deer meat too much. Frankly, with all due respect, that's just a matter of bullet choice and shot placement.

Ammo availability is nearly universal. If a country store sells any ammo at all, it will have .22LR and .30-06.

One can buy a nice new .30-06, boxes of ammo as needed, and hunt with it for a lifetime with out shooting the barrel out of it. My '53 Model 70 shoots holes touching 3 shot groups after 53 years (it's 11 years younger than I am) of being carried through the woods by my Dad and myself with only minor work (barrel floated, bedded, trigger adjusted, and new recoil pad added). The rifle/cartridge is one of the easiest to reload for in my experience. It isn't fussy, components available in huge variety and high quality.

At 10 lbs it is easy to shoot and doesn't beat me up.

Anyway, for me, that's it. Fortunately I don't have to limit my self to just one rifle. The others are optimized for various game or ranges and aren't as good overall as the .30-06.

Fitch
 
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Originally Posted By: Chupathingy I'm gonna sing him a lulaby. By the way, he'll die at the end of a shotgun muzzle if anyone wants to know.
Chupa

WINNING!!!!
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