ELKampMaster

Great Bears and small game can't be covered optimally with one gun (except a 30-30 of course); therefore, your cartridge choice needs to be the one to insure your personal safety, I'd recommend 375HH (338Mag min) for the great bears. Cougar are usually shot in a tree after being "treed" by dogs. Its a long fast run to keep up. Most are shot with a fairly light pistol, the chase is the sport, the shooting of the treed cat from 15 feet is much less so.

You are in perfect position to build a three gun rack that will cover the North American continent and everything in it (well).
1. you've already got the varmit end covered - 223/220 Swift excellent
2. .308/.30-06 for the midrange - excellent (not sexy, but real good)
3. For the big boys, 375HH if your tough enough, 338 mag if you're tender.

Never Undergunned,

EKM

Good judgment comes from bad experience! Half of elk hunting is knowing what NOT to do!

Edited by - ELKampMaster on 01/25/2003 00:38:57

Edited by - ELKampMaster on 01/25/2003 00:41:40

GForce

THANKS to all that responded.

I've taken a number of things into consideration on this decision and have decided on the 375 H&H. Primarily based on your input(s) and some reading in the Speer load manual.

I would really like to get to Africa for a plains hunt when I retire, although I'm going to bowhunt some of the antelope species there first. This caliber is the minimum legal bore size in most of the Afican countries. Plus it can be loaded to lower velocities with lighter bullets for use on deer and elk. Sounds fairly versatile.

Now it's time to research the firearm.

Thanks again,



Shoot often - Hunt always

ELKampMaster

GForce,
You'll like the 375HH, lots of power and reasonable recoil. As you noted it is the legal MINIMUM caliber for dangerous game in Africa. Works great in NA for big game also - kills with bullet weight instead of massive velocity the latter which can result in large sections of "blood shot" meat.

Just a word to the wise though, don't broadcast that you have one or that you are hunting with one in the lower 48 - it gets folks all stirred up for no explainable logical reason that I have found other than (1) you aren't properly following the masses, or (2) jealousy that you are apparently going to be moving on to bigger game in other places that most of them will never see.

Never Undergunned,
EKM

Good judgment comes from bad experience! Half of elk hunting is knowing what NOT to do!

BowElkDwn

I would have to go with #2 unless I hit the lottery sometime soon, I'll probably be stuck in the lower 48.

kirkl

He is going with the masses, hes going with the magnum and big bore craze cause animals where bullett proof vests now a day. So i hear.

http://members.aol.com/kleuenberg/hunting.html

DJBAD

i would have to say a 300 winmag there are many loads to use and shoots pretty flat if you want more i would go with a 300 ultra mag

ELKampMaster

Last I heard, most the "masses" (hunters) here in the lower 48 aren't going to Africa, most aren't going beyond the local deer patch. When one is a guest in a foreign country it's only prudent to obey the law - 375 is minimum caliber in most of Africa - GForce is just following the law. 375HH and 416 Rigby showed up in 1911 and 1912 just few years after the 30-06, so if it's a craze, then there is nothing too new about it. I'm betting GForce is going to have a GREAT retirement.

Is there something in the water in Alaska and Africa that causes folks NOT to fear big bores (magnums)? Or does necessity just cause them to &quot;get over it&quot;? I met some PH's (Professional Hunters) at the Sportsmans Exposition in Denver this past weekend - they weren't all that big to be carrying those 458 stopper guns -- so they must be pretty tough. Maybe they ought to start selling bottled Alaskan or African water here in the lower 48 to help fortify the population.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Never Undergunned,
EKM

Good judgment comes from bad experience! Half of elk hunting is knowing what NOT to do!

GForce

Wheww... I really didn't intend to stir-up a hornets nest. Guess since I haven't been to this forum much, I must've missed alot.

Going with the masses; No. Magnumitis; Definite No.

I'm considering the following criteria in this selection:

#1 - My personal safety. If I don't have the confidence in a .308 or '06 ability for downing large grizzly or Alaskan greats; I'm not going. I've talked to a number of guides concerning these bear hunts, and the majority have cited instances where '06's and even 300 WinMag's have created wounded, and mostly lost game. Hence reason #2.

#2 - Out of respect for the animal, whichever species, I will select the best possible firearm caliber which gives me the ability to properly place a shot with enough power to ensure a humane and quick harvest. Again, if I don't have the fitting arm, I'm not going.

And last but not least - Yes, I am going to Africa. But if I were to show up with any caliber less than legal, all I would be shooting is pictures. Not the reason I'm making the trip.






Shoot often - Hunt always

oldelkhunter

I believe that if I were anywhere near a Grizz or Big Brownie that my elevated heart rate would be cut in half packing a 338 or a 375.

livinonluck

Ive done a lot of bear hunting with a bow and have had good luck. I have a few family members that use a 7 mag that have had know trouble with it, its a good flat shooting gun.