Originally Posted by
desertloper
I am looking for a rifle fit for caribou/bear up to 300yds so that I don't need to tote around two rifles...but I also want enough 'umph for a cape buff.
My thoughts are to look at the .416-.458 calibers..but they aren't as adept for a 300yd shot as the .375's are...BUT they pack a bit more punch when it may be needed.
As far as my 7wsm goes..I like it. As long as Federal keeps packaging the Barnes TSX..I'm happy-and I can always get hand loads after that.
I have done a fair amount of caribou and bear hunting over the years in Alaska...I have never used anything bigger than my 270WSM on caribou and my brother and Sis-In-Law most commonly use 30-06 and 300 Win Mag's on our regular caribou hunts...and we all have taken animal out to 300+ on several occasions.
Now bear is a different story...but only if you are Griz hunting...99% of my black bear hunts were with a 308 or 270...and one of my hunting partners who is a big time bear hunter has taken more black bears with a .243 loaded with 100g Nosler Ballistic Tips than the rest of us in the group combined.
Cape buffalo....now that's a different story....but a 375 or 416 would certainly be overkill for a caribou.