Author Topic: 375 H&H on Caribou (Read 1803 times)

Redhawk1 · « **on:** April 16, 2004, 11:36:08 AM »

I just got invited to a hunt for Caribou in Alaska this August & September. :-D I am planning on taking my Sako 375 H&H. Is the 300 gr. bullet to big for Caribou? I am not concerned with meat damage. We will be sleeping out in the open and I want to have a big bullet in case a big bear would come to close. :shock:

talon · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2004, 03:59:43 PM »

An Alaskan would tell you that a .375 is NOT what you want to use. A caribou is a small animal... about like a whitetail, thou about 2/3rds less wide in the chest area. Take a rifle you feel comfortable with at 250 yard shots, something in the .270-300 mag class. And, if you are worried about Brownies, keep the magazine full and don't do anything dumb. Suggest using a 12 ga slug gun for camp protection, or a huge caliber pistol. Shooting a big bear who knows you are there is real problematic.

Chief · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2004, 05:08:06 PM »

Redhawk1,
I can offer my opinion. The caribou I've seen here in Alaska are larger animals than the white tail I hunted in West Virginia but even so as far as the 375 H&H is concerned, far more gun than needed. However, since I only have 22s, a 30-30, and 375 H&H for rifles, the 375 would be my choice. I would probably use a somewhat lighter bullet (maybe 260 gr. Nosler) and make it a premium style. Controlled expansion will keep meat damage down but do the job you need. You may not be concerned about meat damage but I can assure you there are many Alaskans who take wasting meat very seriously. You can easily find someone who will gladly take the meat off you hands. The 375 also has considerable reach, at least far as I can shoot. And....as you pointed out, it can handle an upset bear...just in case. Odds are well in your favor that you will never have any problems with bear but every year there are a few unlucky encounters in the news. Have fun when you arrive.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 17, 2004, 01:13:23 AM »

The rifles I have to choose from are Marlin 45-70, Shiloh Sharps 45-70, Savage Tactical (Very Heavy) .308 Winchester, Marlin in 44 MAG and my Sako 375 H&H. I have a Encore pistol in 30-06, but I want to take a rifle on this hunt. I am a reloader so I can load my 375 H&H down and use lighter bullets.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2004, 01:22:21 AM »

Quote from: Chief

Redhawk1,
I can offer my opinion. The caribou I've seen here in Alaska are larger animals than the white tail I hunted in West Virginia but even so as far as the 375 H&H is concerned, far more gun than needed. However, since I only have 22s, a 30-30, and 375 H&H for rifles, the 375 would be my choice. I would probably use a somewhat lighter bullet (maybe 260 gr. Nosler) and make it a premium style. Controlled expansion will keep meat damage down but do the job you need. You may not be concerned about meat damage but I can assure you there are many Alaskans who take wasting meat very seriously. You can easily find someone who will gladly take the meat off you hands. The 375 also has considerable reach, at least far as I can shoot. And....as you pointed out, it can handle an upset bear...just in case. Odds are well in your favor that you will never have any problems with bear but every year there are a few unlucky encounters in the news. Have fun when you arrive.

We planned to leave the meat with the locals. I did not mean to sound like I did not care about meat damage. I take shot placement very seriously. A good shot will prevent meat loss. I just do not want to go out and buy another gun just for this hunt. I think I will look for some lighter bullets in the 200 to 225 gr. class for this hunt. But thank you for the feedback. :grin:

dave375hh · « **Reply #5 on:** April 17, 2004, 04:21:39 AM »

Load it with the 240gr. Barnes X lighter, faster, flater, yet still tough enough to shoot through a grizzly. Caribou are about 350-400lbs on the hoof and are fairly easy to kill compared to an amped up Whitetail or Elk.
As to too much gun? how dead is dead? It's only too much if you can't shoot it due to recoil. A succesful hunt gives you memories, meat, horns for a trophy, but there are no style points awarded according to what caliber you used.

Biathlonman · « **Reply #6 on:** April 17, 2004, 05:54:05 AM »

I think you might be well served by the 225 Hornady Spirepoint, or give the 260 Accubond a try. Accuracy of the .375 Accubonds have been very good for me.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 17, 2004, 10:04:36 AM »

Thanks for all the feedback. I am going to load some 225 gr. in the 375 H&H. I will load it down to .338 win mag power.

Lawdog · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2004, 02:40:26 PM »

Redhawk1,

The best defense against having unwanted visitors in your camp is to keep a clean camp. Also you may want to take along a few 300 grain full boat bear repellant loads to have in your .375 at night(I would and ten or so rounds don't weight that much). May just let you sleep a little better. For Caribou I would go with the 260 gr. Nosler AccuBond. I am getting great accuracy with them in all of my .375 calibers. Small groups and tight lines to you. Lawdog

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 17, 2004, 02:58:22 PM »

Lawdog, I am going with 2 guys that have hunted the area where we are going in AK. They are familiar with the area. I do understand about keeping the camp clean. :-) I am thinking of taking my BFR in 500 Mag also. It is cut down to 5 1/4 inches. My buddy wants to borrow my Super Street Hawk in 454 casull with a 2 1/2 inch barrel. We just need to find out about taking handguns with us to AK.

I just ordered some 250 gr. Barnes X bullets to load up in the 375 H&H. I will order some 260 gr. Nosler AccuBond and try them also.

Thanks

Lawdog · « **Reply #10 on:** April 18, 2004, 12:16:36 PM »

Redhawk1,

Any that know me know that my favorite critter to hunt is a bear. Any and all types. I killed my first Black Bear at the age of 12 at a distance of about 20 yards. Scared and excited me at the same time. It also made me a bear hunter for life. Being such I have run into many hunters that have had dealings with bears and the one consensus is that handguns are not a good choice for protection against bears. Any bear in your camp(60 feet or less) is not going to give you time for more than one shot if he is coming for you. I would rather depend on your rifle. Like I said before a few 300 gr. RNSPs dont take up much room and hit a lot harder than any handgun. Lawdog

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #11 on:** April 19, 2004, 11:32:13 AM »

Redhawk1

I agree with Lawdog, the handgun is only good if that's all you have. If you have a rifle like a three-sixbits why on earth reach for a handgun? The 10 rounds of 300 grainers will make you sleep better in Alaskan bear country as Lawdog says.

As for caribou hunting in Alaska and going nose to nose with brear grizz, been there - done that - got the teeshirt. I've hunted the Mulchatna herd north of the Nushigak up 15 Mile Creek. (I know I am butchering the names but don't have my maps here for proper spelling) The average caribou is about twice the size of any whitetail I've ever seen but standard cartridges will kill them quite nicely. I suggest a quality bullet, heavy for caliber though as their hair/hides are pretty thick and they are pretty solid in the front end. Shoot them low through the shoulders (heart/lung shot) if you can. Don't shoot them "behind the shoulder" unless you like a gut shot mess as their paunch extends farther forward than deer or elks.

When they are migrating (in September that is a good bet) all they do is eat, sh*t and move. No sense trying to chase after one, no matter how good the trophy is, as you won't catch it and it won't know you tried. Again they just eat, sh*t and move and quite quickly at that! Best to get on some high ground and observe (quality binos or spotting scope is a must if looking for a trophy) the herd that is still coming at you. When you spot the one you want, get out in front and ambush it. Ranges will usually be 50 to 100 yards. The nicer bulls will either be in small groups by themselves or bringing up the rear in larger herds 10 to 100+) led by an old cow. Where she goes so will go the rest of that small herd. If you are really in the path of migration you can see numerous herds in all directions (Probably several thousand if you have a good vantage point).

When I go to Alaska again to hunt caribou (I will) the rifle I will take is my three-sixbits which is a M70. I will have probably take some cast bullet loads (377449/275 gr at 2200 fps) for the caribou, some .375 gr RBs over 4 gr of BE at 890 fps for Ptarmigan and some 285 gr Speer Grand Slams over 72 gr of Varget for 2675 fps so I can sleep at night or concentrate on the wonderful fishing the Nushigak has to offer. Last trip I took a 30-06 loaded with Hornady 180 SPBTs. While it did well killing two very nice caribou it was looking very small when I was at 25 yards nose to nose with that grizz. The three-sixbits may be "over kill" for the 'bou but so what?

Larry Gibson

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 19, 2004, 05:43:24 PM »

I went to the gun shop to pick up a 7mm Rem Mag that I was going to get today and a guy just sold his Tikka 300 Win Mag with a Redfield 3X9X40 scope. I picked it up at a great price. I already took off the Redfield scope and put my 3X9X50 Leupold scope on it. I already had the die for the 300 Win Mag so I will be reloading. I needed an excuse to buy a new gun.

Lawdog · « **Reply #13 on:** April 20, 2004, 11:07:52 AM »

Redhawk1,

The .300 Win. Mag. is a good choice for Caribou, especially using a Nosler 165 gr. Partitions. Now take the .375 H&H as a back up to the .300 Win. Mag. just in case something happens and also for company around camp. Small groups and tight lines to you. Lawdog