help on choosing new caliber

[jimmonn01]

i live in pa an own 30-06,270,243,30-30,25-06,and want to add a little bigger gun to the gun case,i want something for moose or grizzly an still be able to use on deer if need be,i was thinking a 338 win mag they say i could even use this in africa even thou it a little small for there.
what do you all thing would be a good choice?

thank,jim

[ozark]

Before reading down to your thinking I thought of the 338, I think that is a good choice.

[billc]

Other options 300 Win, Weatherby, or H&H mags, 338-06, 358Win, 35Whelan, and if you like pain and want to make sure the animal never twitches 8 mm Rem Mag.

[deadeye]

300rum

[lanenebraska]

45-70

Or the 338 Ultra Magnum ;D

.

[pposey]

If you are going hunting for interior Griz then a 300WM would be fine full of 225-250 grain partitions,,,

If going after coastal Browns, I'd up to the 338WM it you want a gun just for that,

I have no intention of hunting bears so when I get back to AK the 300WM will be enough gun for an emergency if needed.

a 30-06 with 200-250 grain partitions is also tough hitter, still in use by many Alaskans.

[whelenman]

For a possible Africa and Alaska you might want to consider the .375 H&H. It's a lot of rifle but necessary if you think about Africa and would do well on any of the grizzlies. If only thinking of Alaska I'd go with the 338WM. Since I love the 35 Whelen if looking for larger I'd think more of a .358 Norma and stay with my 35 calibers. I've been planning on building one but haven't yet and don't really have a need for one but may have to build one anyway. You know how that is.

[jimmonn01]

can the 375h&h get a small enough factory load to be used on whitetail? i know its good for big and dangerous game.

jim

[pposey]

Ya know the .375 Ruger is really nice,,,, I have thought of rechambering one of my 300WMs to it if I move back to Alaska,,,,, standard 30-06 sized action H&H Mag performance, no belt, no rebated rim,,,,,,,, were I getting a dangerous game rifle I'd go that route.

[mountainam]

I second the use of a 8mm Remington Mag. Flat shooting with power to spare for the big stuff in Alaska and good for the plains quadrapeds in Africa.

[jimmonn01]

then its down to 375 h&h or the 8 mm if thats what you all think

[rrbou]

I have both the 8 mag and the 375. For what you stated as your wants and needs I would use the 8 mag. You will not be disappointed in the performance very flat shooting and packs a punch. If you reload it is even a better choice with premium bullets. Do not load it with standard bullets as these were made for the 8 mouser and will give you very unsatisfactory results.

[Tarheel]

The 375 H&H has more factory load offerings. Unless you are considering hunting the Big Five in Africa, you don't need the 375. I'm with deadeye, the 300 Remington Ultra Mag is awesome. 150gr-165gr bullets are lethal for long distance deer and 180gr-200gr will handle bigger critters with authority. The 300 RUM will handle anything in North America, and I believe it would be OK for the Big Five with 200gr premium bullets, except that the legal minimum is the 375 H&H.

[ttracer9]

hard to beat a .45-70 in a Ruger no1. You can load it down for deer or load it up for just about anything on this planet. Nice looking great handeling rifle also.

[monster99]

i talked to someone who hunts south africa he uses a 7mm mag if thats the case that sound like a really good all around caliber what do you all think?

thanks,
jim

[cfvickers]

If I were looking for something in that range I would go for a .325 wsm. I know a lot of people are going to say it lacks bullet choice but most manufacturers are starting to broaden the range as it gains popularity. If you are actually going to go to Africa, sure, maybe a 375. They say the 7 mag is good for plains game, not for the big stuff though.