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RE: Elk & Bear rifle

44mag/30-06/338/ there are more than i can say but you should find one just for you

RE: Elk & Bear rifle

You could not do better than a .338 of some kind, either the .338/'06 or a .338 Winchester Mag. If you don't believe me, just ask Elmer Keith!!

Keep yore powder dry!!

RE: Elk & Bear rifle

You can get 338-06 and 358 Win barrels ready to go on a Savage 110 for a little over $130 at MidwayUSA.

I forgot, they have 35 Whelen barrels too.

Edited by - frizzellr on 12/13/2002 12:49:08

RE: Elk & Bear rifle

Get a 12ga. he he he.

The mossberg bolt action slug gun is great.
Pushing the effective range but it makes a BIG hole.

"Hey ya'll, watch this"

RE: Elk & Bear rifle

a savage 110 converted to 35whelan sounds like the ticket to me. though remington just introduced the 673 in .35rem mag. the savage conversion will cost about as much as a new remington or winchester or ruger. so i thinkk thats the option id go with

propmahn
save the world, reload your brass

RE: Elk & Bear rifle

The balistic difference between the 338/06 and the 35 whelen are really negligable. I was going to put together a custom mouser 98 in 338/06 but when I started looking at all the money involved in doing it right I went and got a Ruger 77 in 35 whelen. It was one of the oddball calibers offered in a special run of rifles that they are trying to use up thier old style synthetic stocks for. I think that my choice of caliber was right but I have had some problems with the Ruger 77, a short trip back to ruger and a little tinkering around and I have solved the problems and have a very good all around rifle for big game hunting. I have two loads worked up that I can use with the same zero, one is a 250gr Hornady RN at 2400fps and the other is a 225gr Sierra SBT at 2750fps. With the RN at dead on at 100 yards the 225 gr SBT prints exactly 3" high. With this zero I can shoot out to 300 yards easily with the 225gr bullet and can use the 250gr loads for brushier area or as a camp defense,for bears. I can buy two differnt brands of ammo for the whelen at walmart and some other sporting goods stores in case I need some and can't reload, and recoil is really mild for either load. The 350 is about the ballistic twin to the whelen but comes in a smaller package and factory ammunition will be hard to find. Another thing about the 350 is that you have to push the longer heavier bullets so deep in the case you rob yourself of powder room.

RE: Elk & Bear rifle

Robert - If you will handload, don't count out the 8x57mm Mauser. Lots of cheap factory ammo for practice, and 200gr or 220gr bullets should knock the tar out of what you're after at those ranges.

Of the ones you mention, I like the .338-06. Hits like a ton of bricks.

Also, I really wouldn't be surprised if Winchester came out with a .338 WSM real soon. Medium magnum performance in a short case may be exactly what you're after.

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting

RE: Elk & Bear rifle

...between the 35 Whelen, and the 350 Rem mag, I'd go for the Whelen. Brass is everywhere ( '06, 270, 280, etc..) and does not have a belt on it... The difference in a long and short action is minimal.. I'll bet most people can't tell the difference. Also, I think with the 350 mag, if you load heavier bullets, they tend to encroach on your powder capacity. I could be wrong about this, but I think I have read people complaining about it. The Whelen (I have one) is just a dandy cartridge. I shoot a 225gr bullet at about 2700fps, and the recoil isn't as bad as I thought it would be. More than an '06, less than a .338 Win mag...
Ballistically, I think it's a dead heat between the 338-06 and the 35 Whelen... but I just like the extra 20thousandths of diameter... bigger is better. Actually the 375 Hawk/Scovill might be the perfect big game round out to 200yds.... I'm tempted to try one of those.... and I do have a couple of extra mauser actions sitting around... hmmm

"Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness..those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Santayana

RE: Elk & Bear rifle

Now that Remington has dug up the .350 Rem. Mag., (and P.T. Barnum as well, just look at the ugly beast they are going to chamber it in), you will soon have a third choice available to make your pick more complicated. I understand their new .350 load will use the 225 Nosler partition bullet!!

Keep yore powder dry!!

RE: Elk & Bear rifle

Robert - otis is right. The BLR 81 in .358 Win would be about perfect for your needs. With the 225 Partition or A-Frame bullet, or especially the 250gr A-Frame bullet, you will hammer the game you describe at the distances you anticipate. <img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle>

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting

RE: Elk & Bear rifle

robert scott...

i think almost any caliber that is over 150gr's with a good premium bullet will do the trick to your distance you posted.
from what i have read. the only thing the 338-06 has over the 35whelen is that it is better over 200yds for long range shooting anf that it has better S.D.
i would pick the 35whelen just becuase i like the 35calibers.