Need help choosing caliber

Arch Stanton · 11-20-2011, 04:52 AM

Hello all,

I currently do most of my hunting for Whitetails and bear in the North East....with most shots are less then 100 yards.

I am going to start expanding my hunting opportunities over the next few years and need help finding a caliber that would be a good all around Elk, Moose, Caribou round...Shots no longer then 200 yards (I hope)...People have suggested 300 Win Mag, 338 Win Mag, or 338 Rem Ultra Mag. (My 75 year old father still swears by his 06 or 30-30 lol) But these people are as novices as well.

What do you guys suggest???

Muley Hunter · 11-20-2011, 06:37 AM

Before you laugh at the 30-30. I watched a hunting show last night. He went hunting for Moose in Alaska with a lever action open sight sighted 30-30.

Found a mature bull moose. when the Moose was hit it swayed to the left, stumbled and piled up. It didn't go 10 yds.

His next target was a Grizzly with the same gun. He ran out of time, before he could get one, but will keep trying.

I've killed plenty of elk with a 30-30 back in the 60's.

Do I recommend it? No, most hunters want to just take long shots with magnums.

Champlain Islander · 11-20-2011, 08:04 AM

The 30-06 is more than enough fire power for 200 yd shots at elk and moose. If you have a buring desire to step up to something bigger I would start with a .300 WSM or .300 Win Mag and end at a .338 Win Mag. If you mostly hunt eastern whitetails like I do then that 06 is certainly a better use caliber.

Bocajnala · 11-20-2011, 10:18 AM

For less than 200, a .30-06 would be just fine in my opinion. If I were in your situation and just wanted something different I'd get something interesting. One of those .338s sounds fun. But really, and '06 would do the job just fine.
-Jake

handloader1 · 11-20-2011, 02:22 PM

.300 Wby. Mag., or .300 RUM. Good luck

Big Z · 11-20-2011, 02:32 PM

Ohh I think somewhere in that 260 - 375H&H realm will do ok.
Send a good bullet fast enough to satisfy you, and voila.

Sheridan · 11-20-2011, 04:34 PM

No bears; 7MM rem mag or .300 win mag.

Bears; .338 win mag

westtexducks · 11-20-2011, 05:37 PM

Well it depends on the bear a 800 lb grizzly .338 if a 300 lb black bear a 7mm or .300 mag will get the job done. But honestly I would probably take my .270 for any of the hunts he mentioned. But if I had the itch for a new gun it would probably be a .300 win mag. or a .375 H&H. Then I can go to Africa if the need ever arises. Might need to go take out some rogue cape buffalo or something.

salukipv1 · 11-20-2011, 05:50 PM

.30-06 sounds about right... esp at 200yds or less.

.338win.mag. is a great moose, elk, bear gun.

.325 WSM sounds nice, but not sure it'll be around in 10yrs, and the 300wsm will do everything the 325 will do probably and is already a success and will be around forever probably.

.35 whelen?

aaalaska · 11-20-2011, 08:40 PM

Let me pit it this way ,most of my friends and I carry 30 cal 30-06 300 win mag 300 WSM.Been all I needed for over 20 years, except when hunting in thick stuff with a lot of big bears, then I carry a 45/70 guide gun with heavy cast bullets , just because I can get a lot more lead down range quick.We all feel we are armed well enough for Alaska.