What's Your Favorite Rifle and Cartridge Fo Out West.....

[Lawdog]

Seeing that a lot of shots we take out west here are a tad bit longer than those taken by our eastern brothers Just what do you like to use for those wide open shots?  Me for deer I prefer my .25-06 Ruger M77V.  For bigger game like Elk, Moose and such then I fall back on my old friend a .300 Weatherby Mag. Mark V Deluxe.  If it can bite back like Brown, Polar and Grizzly Bears then I'm going to be carrying my newest toy a .375 Weatherby Mag. Mark V Deluxe.  Breaking it down into these three categories what is your choice?  Lawdog

1.) Deer
2.) Elk and the like
3.) Critters that bite back

[Robert]

I'll stick to the firearms that you have.
I am assuning that you re-load, if you own Weatherby's and dont re-load, you wouldnt be called a Gun-nut, ...just nuts, either that or very wealthy.

Deer ..........................300 Weatherby
Elk..............................300 Weatherby
Animals that bit back....300 Weatherby

A 375 is sure fun to have if you are going to Africa, but hunting the N/W, there isnt anything that you cant do with that 300 with the right bullets and loads.  You can load it all the way down to 2200 fps for close range work on deer with AA 5744, hunting for Elk if you have it chambered with loads for brush hunting, and see a 400 yd shot, that Elk isnt going to hear you re-chamber a hot load with some reach out and touch.  I am basing this on my experience with a 300 RUM.  Another excellent choice for the N/W is one of the 7mm Mags, even a little more reach out and touch, yet with plenty of knockdown.

[freddogs]

:-D I like my 30.06 for everything. I haven't hunted any large bears but I've used it on elk, deer, black bears, antelope, and coyotes. I used the 35 whelan a couple of times just for a change. The 30.06 is all I need.

[Robert]

..I agree, most versatile cartridge ever invented.......But since Lawdog didnt mention it, neither did I.  That 300 Weatherby that he has will do most anything.  Also ...Lawdog, that 375 is a great gun, I would love to have one.  But once again, just like the Ultra-mags, it will not do what the 300 will do.  I have read a lot of posts from hunters and professional hunters about seeing that trophy animal out to 400 yds and having a big whopping BIG BORE firearm, and wishing that you had the 'RIGHT GUN' for the shot.  That 300 will do anything you need to do in North America. (In my opinion)  The 375 is definately better for dangerous game at shorter distances.  Like I heard someone say once...with a big bore, you dont worry about trying to find a blood trail, you just follow the trail of chunks of bone and flesh.  I would certainly take one if the right oppurtunity came along.  But buddy...I feel real confident with a 300 Magnum, I dont care if it is 50 yds or 400 or further if necessary.  I can load mine with roundnose 200 gr hardcast for 1500- 2000 fps, or 180 gr Grandslams or partitions at about 3300 fps, or 150 gr Nosler Boattails almost 3500 fps for some real reach out and touch.

[JOE MACK]

Seeing that a lot of shots we take out west here are a tad bit longer than those taken by our eastern brothers Just what do you like to use for those wide open shots?  Me for deer I prefer my .25-06 Ruger M77V.  For bigger game like Elk, Moose and such then I fall back on my old friend a .300 Weatherby Mag. Mark V Deluxe.  If it can bite back like Brown, Polar and Grizzly Bears then I'm going to be carrying my newest toy a .375 Weatherby Mag. Mark V Deluxe.  Breaking it down into these three categories what is your choice?  Lawdog

1.) Deer
2.) Elk and the like
3.) Critters that bite back

If someone puts a gun to my head and I HAVE TO use a rifle I use as follows:
                 Deer-Ruger #1 in .280Remington
                 Elk and the like- Ruger #1 in .338Winchester Magnum
                 Critters that bite back-Winchester M70 SS with synthetic stock
                                                  in .411/.416Remington

I am a hard-core handgun hunter and use a rifle infrequently at best, but there are my choices. :money:  RKBA!

[tominboise]

Here's my choices,

Deer = 6.5X55 in M70 Featherweight - 140 gr Nosler Partition
Elk = 7mm Rem Mag in M70 Classic stainless - 160 gr Nosler Partition
Bears = 45-70 in Win (miroku) 1886 - 350 gr Laser cast or 405 gr Rem Sp.

Note that I would use all three rifles interchangeably against all three critters, although maybe with different bullets in each depending on the animal.

Tom

[mike8946]

I like the .300 magnums for all.  Maybe the .300 ultra mag for the big bitting ones.

[sideironjohn]

I have read a lot of posts from hunters and professional hunters about seeing that trophy animal out to 400 yds and having a big whopping BIG BORE firearm, and wishing that you had the 'RIGHT GUN' for the shot.  That 300 will do anything you need to do in North America. (In my opinion)  The 375 is definately better for dangerous game at shorter distances.  Like I heard someone say once...with a big bore, you dont worry about trying to find a blood trail, you just follow the trail of chunks of bone and flesh.  I would certainly take one if the right oppurtunity came along.  But buddy...I feel real confident with a 300 Magnum, I dont care if it is 50 yds or 400 or further if necessary.  I can load mine with roundnose 200 gr hardcast for 1500- 2000 fps, or 180 gr Grandslams or partitions at about 3300 fps, or 150 gr Nosler Boattails almost 3500 fps for some real reach out and touch.

358 STA!! :lol:

I haven't done it yet, but hopefully will by fall.
A 280 grain Swift A-Frame (BC .388, SD .3121) projectile leaving the gate at 2850 fps is +3.44" high at 140yds, zero @250, -4.14" at 300, -17.86" at 400, -40.16" @500. Energies are (in '/#'s, respectively) 5050, 3996, 3297, 3013, 2502, 2061.

By contrast, a FAST 200 gr .308" (BC .556, SD .30118) bullet such as travelling from an Ultra Mag, at say 3100 fps (fast) will be -3" @300, -13" @400, -26.68" @500.
Energies are 3029, 2668, and 2378 '/#'s.

So, you want big AND flat?!
[of course, we won't talk about the recoil of 5000 '/# of energy!]