hmartyb

Having hunted deerpretty extensively on Kodiak Island in the early 1990's, I'd have to say the .338 is an excellent choice. I used a 7mm-08 and .375 H&H, depending on the bear population of the area I was hunting.

That being said,there's a new kid on the block that I would pick above any of them: the 325 WSM. It's a short action that comes in a LIGHT package. Alaska hunting is a lot of up anddown, so you'll really appreciate this. The 325 is enough gun for a brownie also. A brand, spanking new Model 70Featherweight or Browning A-bolt can be had for under $700.

bugsNbows

Not to push in any one direction but you may wish to check the Ruger M77's on the Wally World website. Their prices are interesting to say the least.

James B

If you are serous about the 45-70 Marlin, Check out the Corbon and Garret sites for real bear stopper loads. Cape Buffalo too. A fellow from Handloader Magazine killed two Cape buffalo with one shot. He was using the Corbon load as I recall. In the Marlin rifle. Another guy took the Big Six in Africa with the Marlin 45-70. The Buffalo hunters of years past took thoudands of american Bison out to 600 yards with the Black Powder 45-70 loads.

There is nothing wrong with the 338. I just never found that it outperformed the 300's enough to be worth while and the 375 and 416's are head and shoulders above the 338. Never found a nich for the 338 enen though I owned two of them. A Ruger and a Savage.

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My son has a 338 Savage that is a one hole wonder at 100 yds.He's a big boy 285 lbs and benches 350, so he can stand the recoil. I on the other hand shoot a Marlin 45-70 ,it to groups very well at 100 yds, if you piss off anything on this continent that you can't kill with one of these you should have stayed home. I see no need for a 375 unless you just want one, but then isn't that what makes our sport fun .I think anyone who likes guns and hunting should also reload ,you can taylor your ammo to specific task. For instance you can load a 338 down to 30-06 power levels and lessen recoil at the same time, it's also a lot of fun.

ejpaul1

Maybe I'll give that a look.

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James B

I gues getting back to the question, No you don't need a 338 as a majority of the big game animals ever killed were killed long before the 338 was even an idea. Back when the 375 H&H ruled for medium range knock down power around the world.Once again if I were to buy a rifle just for the bigger than elk animals, It would have more TKO than the 338. Otherwise I would stick to a 30-06 or 300 Mag. They will do anything that the 338 will do.

bigbulls

No offence there cma3366a but the 45-70 is far from a deer and black bear only cartridge and I certainly wouldn't consider it a short range number either. People have taken large game animals such as bison from distances of 1000 yards with the 45-70 with a single shot. A 30-30 is a short range elk cartridge, the 45-70 isn't even in the same ball park.

The 45-70 is up to the task of tackling the worlds biggest and most dangerous game animals when the correct ammunition is chosen which is readily availble from companies such as Corbon, Garret, and Buffalo Bore.

A 300 grain, hard cast, flat nosed bullet leaving the gun at 2350 fps will flatten any animal that you will encounter on this continent. If sighted in correctly it will have a MPBR of +/- 3 inches to 225 yards.

I would never feel at a handicap toting a 45-70, 450 Marlin or 444 Marlin when going after any animal in North America.


Having said that, the .338 Win mag will have a definite edge in the trajectory department but certainly not in the killing/ stopping department.

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DANTHEHUNTER

It is great that we all have our own opinion. But I can tell you if I want to put an animal to the ground I would not hesitate for one second, My 45/70 would be in my hand. Have you ever seen the wound channel left from a 405gr bullet going 2300 fps ? That is a chunck of lead. Its like a trian slow but once on its way its hard to stop. And those flat nose bullets just plow a groove in there path . In the right hands it can and has been a great 200 yard rifle. But I do understand about the hunt being expensive and I to would want to take my .300mag just in case there was a 300 yard shot I would feel better taking it then with my 45/70. But he already has an 30-06 and if I were him I would take that and back it up with a big bore 45/70 with some buffalo bore 405 gr soft points. That round will kill anything I am man enough to hunt. good luck