7MM's in Alaska
08-21-2007, 08:54 AM
#13
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 2,175
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
caribou are considered thin skinned animals. moose are killed easily with smaller calibers too but you cant get those animals confused with heavy boned dangerous game. its more than just the size of the animal. things can happen at the moment of truth and then there are those un-expected close encounters.i would rather have a 250 grain 338 than a 165 gr. 7mm. i know many are passionate about the caliber they use but i would let the type game choose the better caliber. i dont like any room for error.
08-21-2007, 10:22 AM
#14
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The Republic of Texas
Posts: 12,040
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
Interesting that there seem to be a bunch of guys here saying that the 7mm Mag is plenty for big bears. In the Big Game section a week or so ago, there was a lengthy thread on whether the .300 RUM was enough for Browns and Grizzlies, or whether the .338 WM should be considered the absolute minimum...
08-21-2007, 02:01 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location:
Posts: 1,813
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
Interesting that there seem to be a bunch of guys here saying that the 7mm Mag is plenty for big bears. In the Big Game section a week or so ago, there was a lengthy thread on whether the .300 RUM was enough for Browns and Grizzlies, or whether the .338 WM should be considered the absolute minimum...
It's fear that drives those same puter bear "experts" to proclaim you have to havethis or thatto kill a bear...
Anything i say about big bears, is from experience, and not what i read someplace else... Maybe things have changed since i shot my last one??
DM
08-21-2007, 07:35 PM
#17
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 2,175
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
hat's pretty funny about it all is.... How many of those "expert" opinions here, are from folks that have "actually hunted big bears"???? How many of those folks have even seen a big bear in the bush???? It's pretty funny when they sit there and argue there point too, as they just know there right!!
It's fear that drives those same puter bear "experts" to proclaim you have to have this or that to kill a bear...
Anything i say about big bears, is from experience, and not what i read someplace else... Maybe things have changed since i shot my last one??
It's fear that drives those same puter bear "experts" to proclaim you have to have this or that to kill a bear...
Anything i say about big bears, is from experience, and not what i read someplace else... Maybe things have changed since i shot my last one??
ORIGINAL: ipscshooter there was a show on a while back where the hunter shot a couple cape buffalo with a 338 win mag and they dropped with no problems when the minimum recommended is 375h&h. his next couple didnt go down as easy as that. i guess if you want to roll the dice go ahead. every outfitter ive looked at recommends bigger than .284 caliber so its gotta be for a reason.there are also big differences between coastal browns and interior bears. dont have to be a seasoned brown bear hunter to figure bigger lead means business.
Maybe it's evolution at work.... You've thinned out all the weak ones, and the new bears are harder to kill. Soon, nothing short of a .416 Rigby will work on them.
Maybe it's evolution at work.... You've thinned out all the weak ones, and the new bears are harder to kill. Soon, nothing short of a .416 Rigby will work on them.
08-22-2007, 07:45 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location:
Posts: 1,813
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
Maybe it's evolution at work.... You've thinned out all the weak ones, and the new bears are harder to kill. Soon, nothing short of a .416 Rigby will work on them.
DM
08-25-2007, 09:08 AM
#20
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Idaho
Posts: 136
RE: 7MM's in Alaska
Digg,
I agree with some of the other replies concerning using a cartridge with a larger frontal area such as the .338. Don't know if this is a once in a lifetime trip for you, or will become a habit, this factors into the decision. Unless you do a lot of elk hunting down there in Arizona, you probably don't need any rifle larger than a 7 Win Mag. If this is a once in a lifetime experience just load up the 7 Mag with premium 160's or 175's whatever shoots most accurately in your gun, and go for it. Otherwise add a rifle to your collection that is much more designed for this type of hunting, .325, .338, .375 etc. Like everything else, just depends on need vs. want, and how many pesos you have to spend. Anyway you look at it, your going hunting in Alaska, how can you go wrong?
I agree with some of the other replies concerning using a cartridge with a larger frontal area such as the .338. Don't know if this is a once in a lifetime trip for you, or will become a habit, this factors into the decision. Unless you do a lot of elk hunting down there in Arizona, you probably don't need any rifle larger than a 7 Win Mag. If this is a once in a lifetime experience just load up the 7 Mag with premium 160's or 175's whatever shoots most accurately in your gun, and go for it. Otherwise add a rifle to your collection that is much more designed for this type of hunting, .325, .338, .375 etc. Like everything else, just depends on need vs. want, and how many pesos you have to spend. Anyway you look at it, your going hunting in Alaska, how can you go wrong?