Big Game- One caliber rifle------ 3 animals, ----blk bear, Moose, and Elk

A

allgrainbeer

New member
Hi All,

I am officially going to be able to hunt all 3 animals on a yearly bases..........blk bear, Moose, and Elk.

Time for a new purchase.

What CALIBER would you recomend?

(please, only answer if you have KILLED one of these 3 animals and please specify the animal you harvested)

Thanks
 
I've killed black bear and elk. For only one rifle, I'd choose one of several. Start with the 6.5x55, 7mm-08, 7x57, 308. I'd pick one of these because they all work real well in a 22" barrel. The bear and the moose could be found in some cover where it would be nice to have a handy rifle, the elk could also. I'd also stick to a 2-7x scope or less. In 6.5 I like 140gr bullet's, 7mm 160gr bullets and in 308 180gr bullets.
 
7mm rem mag,300 wm,i have killed tons,(literally) of elk,a pile of bears and a big cow moose with the 7mag,i have seen all three killed with the 300 wm,didnt see any difference between the two besides more recoil in the 300wm.
 
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When I started hunting here in Idaho my go to the woods elk rifle was a 308 norma magnum, the forerunner to the 300 Win mag. It killed a pile of elk and deer using 180 grain bullets.

When I got stationed in Alaska I moved up to the 8mm Remington Mag shooting a 220 Sierra boattail at 3080 fps. This rifle has killed 20 plus elk, I'm not sure how many deer, four big Kodiak bears, half a dozen moose and that many cariboo. It served back in Idaho from 1979 til last year when I became to crippled up to chase elk up and down these steep mountians and replaced it with a Remington 280 mountian rifle for deer.

This gun is not available new anymore, but it is a great cartridge. If I were going to replace it today I'd look closly at the 338 Ultra-mag. Plenty of power for anything in North America and with the right loads shoots darn near as flat as the big 30 magnums.

Did I say I like both Elmer's and Craig Boddingtons ideas.
 
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(please, only answer if you have KILLED one of these 3 animals and please specify the animal you harvested)

Thanks




I have killed all three of these, so I guess I am of no help..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
I have shot bear with both a 300 Win mag and a Tikka 270 and they have never gone more than 40 yrds after the shot. I have also shot moose with both the 300 and a 30-06 and never had one go very far. Never had an oppertunity to hunt elk. Like everything else, shoot placement is the important thing.
 
I was stationed in Alaska for 4 years and got 2 bears,2 moose and a caribou all with a .300 Win Mag (many others with a bow).I wanted to make sure if I ran into a PO'd brown bear that I would have enough power to atleast slow him or her down.If you are hunting where you dont have to worry about Grizzly Bears,then I would go with the 7mm Rem Mag.Has plenty of knock-down power,flat shooting,been around for 100 years so plenty of factory loads,and every little Mom & Pop store will have ammo in case you need it.If you dont like the 7mm,I hunted with a friend that used a .270 or a 30-06 for everything and they worked just fine.Same thing,been around forever,ammo is cheap and very plentiful.Good luck in your choice and good luck hunting.I sure do miss hunting up there!!!!!!!!!
 
I love the .270 for my big game gun. I shoot everything with the 270 and love it. The gun is pretty cheap to shoot and the caliber doesn't kick like some others mentioned here. I can shoot a couple boxes at a time through my 270 without a sore shoulder.

For most it is considered on the light side, but I know for a fact exactly where my bullet will go and I have extreme confidence in it.

My suggestion would be to find a rifle and caliber that you can shoot alot and often. That way handling the rifle becomes second nature and your comfortible with the rifle. I see guys every year come out with all sorts of fancy gadgets and new high powered rifles. They sit down at the range and are lucky to hit a piece of paper. (My dad used to be a prime example). He has a 375 H+H he uses for elk. Problem is that he only shoots it once a year the week before season. And then can only get about 4 shots through it before he puts it away.

I have shot the elk only and have shot alot of them, but I believe the elk is probably the tuffiest out of the 3 on the list.
 
tjkanavel; where do you get that 7mm Remington Mag. as "around for a 100 years"? It is an excellent cartridge but it is nowheres near that old. And as for this thread, I havn't shot any of the animals listed but would not hesite for a minute to use the 7mm Remington Mag. for any of them.
 
I was being sarcastic... just trying to say that all 3 of the rounds I listed are tried and true rounds that have been around for a very long time,unlike these new WSM and Ultra Mags. Sorry,maybe should've but a little face after that comment,have to remember that for next time...........

And I totally agree with you Chris,the 7mm would be my choice for hunting these animals in the lower 48..
 
325 wsm they say is great caliber for these animals. But just find one that is a pleasure to shoot and punch holes through their lungs and it doesn't matter that much on caliber. As long as you hit them good. Sorry I wasn't more help.
 
Honestly, I'd put more thought into the proper bullet to use rather than the caliber. Pick a rifle that points, packs, and handles nice. Pick a caliber that doesn't beat the hell out of you and shoot it.

Any of the calibers mentioned will easily kill moose, elk, and black bear. When it comes down to it, the bullet is what I believe makes the most difference.
 
358 win small compact easy to tote around plenty of power for these critters and others
I don't like Rugers newest 358 win but there is finally a major arms manufacturer building rifles around this fine cartridge /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 


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