What Caliber for My Next Rifle?
11-29-2012, 02:10 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Westchester County,NY
Posts: 223
What Caliber for My Next Rifle?
OK, here's the deal...
I own 2 bold action rifles presently; a Howa 1500 in .223 and a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .308.
Sticking with the bolt action platform, I'd like to add a heavier hitter to my arsenal. As I see it, I am covered from fun at the range to varmint/predators to deer/black bear/hogs/pronghorn to (arguably) elk & Maine moose (as opposed to the larger Alaskan or Yukon variety).
Here we go...
I'd like to hear opinions on the logical next caliber up from the .308 for North American game (I am not headed to Africa in my lifetime).
I'm thinking it would need to cover elk thru Bullwinkle thru brown/grizzly bear (am I missing something?).
Now don't be shy - I'm sure you have an opinion...LOL!
I own 2 bold action rifles presently; a Howa 1500 in .223 and a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .308.
Sticking with the bolt action platform, I'd like to add a heavier hitter to my arsenal. As I see it, I am covered from fun at the range to varmint/predators to deer/black bear/hogs/pronghorn to (arguably) elk & Maine moose (as opposed to the larger Alaskan or Yukon variety).
Here we go...
I'd like to hear opinions on the logical next caliber up from the .308 for North American game (I am not headed to Africa in my lifetime).
I'm thinking it would need to cover elk thru Bullwinkle thru brown/grizzly bear (am I missing something?).
Now don't be shy - I'm sure you have an opinion...LOL!
11-29-2012, 04:54 PM
#6
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allegan, MI
Posts: 8,019
The .308 you have will take an elk or moose with no problem with the proper bonded bullet out to 300+ yards, so stay with what you have unless you want to move up to one of the big boomers that have been mentioned and then you'll pay 3 or 4 dollars for each shell to get your shoulder pounded, but I would want one of them for the big bears you mentioned.
11-29-2012, 07:26 PM
#9
Fork Horn
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 360
There are some that would argue that the 223 will kill anything in north america, maybe even africa! (rolls eyes).
Now realistically, 338winmag, or the vaunted 375H&H. The h&h is said to have an easier to manage recoil pulse vs the 338. And contrary to misinformed popular belief, the 375 will not blow whole sides of a deer off.
Now realistically, 338winmag, or the vaunted 375H&H. The h&h is said to have an easier to manage recoil pulse vs the 338. And contrary to misinformed popular belief, the 375 will not blow whole sides of a deer off.
