Help! Best North America Big Gun

Chuck_Norris · January 3, 2011, 12:25 PM

I'm looking for an elk, moose, caribou, bear, buffalo gun able to shoot out to 1000 yards. Hoping all shots will be taken under 300 yards but I want the ability if needed. I have a 308 savage, I'm looking for a bigger gun to add to my collection. I was thinking 300 or a 338. Please give me your honest opinion for the best caliber to buy. I'm not to worried about the make or model right now. I first want to find the caliber that best fits my "big gun needs"

Thanks, Chuck

natman · January 3, 2011, 12:32 PM

I would advise you to take your 308 and shoot at some targets from field positions at 300 yards. If you can keep every shot on a paper plate at 300 then you can think about longer shots.

fisherman66 · January 3, 2011, 12:34 PM

What's the drop of a 308 at 400yards, 450, 500?

Shooting beyond that is stunt shooting and our natural resources deserve better.

cornbush · January 3, 2011, 02:02 PM

Half of 1% of hunters can reliably make shots over 500 yards, get closer!
A 50BMG to the a$$ at a thousand yards doesn't do anybody any good.
If you can do it.....good on ya, but from your post it doesn't sound like it, long shots aren't made by the gun.

laytonj1 · January 3, 2011, 02:24 PM

But, you're Chuck Norris... you can do it with a 22.

Jim

jmr40 · January 3, 2011, 03:06 PM

There are people capable of making long range shots. If you are asking for advice you are not one of them.

At 300 yards the 308 is fine for any animal in North America except the big bears. If you want something that drops less making shots longer than 300 yards easier the 7mm Rem mag is the next meaningful step up. Recoil is manageable and it will shoot quite a bit flatter than the 308 with more punch when it gets there. It does not have the punch of the 300 mags, but shoots flatter and still has more than enough power for elk at 600 yards. If you need more punch than the 7 mags, I'd pass over the 300's for one of the 338 mags.

If you really want to shoot large game at extreme range the 338 Lapua is the one you want. It is a 700-800 yard elk gun, 1000+ on deer. If the shooter and equipment is up to the task.

All that said, if I were limited to 1 rifle for North America it would be a good 30-06 (possibly even 308) and I'd modify my ammo for the hunting situation. I'd just get closer and not worry about the extreme long range shots.

ripnbst · January 3, 2011, 03:32 PM

.338 Lapua Assuming you can get the job done.

Most rifles that are chambered in this round unless custom built are sniper/tactical offerings and are made for making distance shots.

**Bud Helms** · January 3, 2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Please give me your honest opinion for the best caliber to buy. I'm not to worried about the make or model right now. I first want to find the caliber that best fits my "big gun needs"

Tell you what, Chuck. I would normally move a rifle discussion to the Art of The Rifle, but in this case I don't think it's what you are looking for.

You will probably have better luck over at bigcaliber.com. Those guys are real shooters and have the been-there-and-done-that t-shirts. Another good thing about them is they will let you talk about caliber all day long and never try to change the subject with things like cartridge or chambering. They understand what "big gun needs" are and won't try to lecture you about hunting ethics and things like that. And they won't try to make you practice for ungodly hours on end just to make sure you can hit that buffalo at 1000 yds.

Yeah, you need to be over at bigcaliber.com for sure. I wouldn't be surprised if they recommended a .50 BMG for your long range needs.

Welcome to TFL and good luck.

fisherman66 · January 3, 2011, 03:52 PM

Do you hunt Bud?

roach4047 · January 3, 2011, 03:59 PM

I hear nice things about the 300 win mag round.

Roach

hogdogs · January 3, 2011, 04:11 PM

Ain't the .30-06 accurate out to 500 and still retaining the needed energy to drop any game on the continent (maybe a bit light for an american bison)?

I doubt I would ever consider a rifle larger/hotter/faster than the venerable ought six.

Brent

hogdogs · January 3, 2011, 04:16 PM

Fisherman,
Here is the results of a little search... Here are the threads started by Bud in the hunt...
http://thefiringline.com/forums/sear...archid=4931454

And here are the threads he has participated in at the hunt...
http://thefiringline.com/forums/sear...archid=4931447

Go thru them and you may find he shoots at four leggers now and again...

Brent

fisherman66 · January 3, 2011, 04:22 PM

No one said I had to agree with his stance, Brent. As a fellow hunter I will respectfully disagree. Were he not a hunter I would disrespectfully disagree.

hogdogs · January 3, 2011, 04:30 PM

Oh wasn't pickin' either way... I just took yer question and did a search as I thought I had read some of his participating posts in the past...

He was simply pointing out that here at TFL, the thread veer towards normalcy and ethics is a sure thing.

Personally, i know my limits and hope the others out in the woods I am in also know theirs...

But if an ass shot deer wanders near me... I promise I will lay claim to it as soon as I kill it off...

And the ass shooter can pound sand.

Brent

fisherman66 · January 3, 2011, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Personally, i know my limits and hope the others out in the woods I am in also know theirs...

I hear ya. It usually takes a deer season or two to work the dumb butt sniper out of the new hunter. Sometimes it takes longer.

Here's the Bud I luv...

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=424325

phunny the dichotomy

Capt. Charlie · January 3, 2011, 05:01 PM

Um...... Guys?

Speaking of thread veer....

emirikol · January 3, 2011, 06:32 PM

It's North America. there are some big brown animals, but they're all thin skinned and none are armored. A 30-06 will do it all, all day long.
A .300 win mag will too, but not needed. A .375H&H is fun overkill.

**Bud Helms** · January 3, 2011, 07:30 PM

fisherman66, I salute your willingness to give a new guy a break. And I appreciate your restraint. But respectfully, this is not about hunting.

Not one bit.

silvercorvette · January 3, 2011, 08:34 PM

An ethical hunter is morally obligated to make a clean swift kill. If you are far shooting at distances far beyond your ability to make a clean accurate shot and will make the animal suffer needlessly you have no business hunting.

Gehrhard · January 3, 2011, 09:37 PM

.30-06 Ackley Improved is THE North American Chambering.

Well, on vitamins anyway. Actually, let's change its 65 year old name to the more correct .308 ATM (Assault Tactical Magnum) so it gets some well deserved traction in the 21st Century. I'll let you read up on it Chuck, and anyone/everyone else who may have overlooked it.

As for the hunting ethics, right on target. Reminds me of Avatar (where I am considering getting all of my belief-system from now)! We should all strive to be one of The People, blue, and at one with The Force. Sorry, that was the LAST belief system. Now I am one with Gaia, or something like that (no subtitles)...

Gehr

pichon · January 3, 2011, 11:41 PM

The moral issues, having been discussed ad nauseam, I will attempt to address the OP's question.

I am assuming by caliber you mean cartridge. If that is the case, look into the .30-378 Weatherby Magnum. This is from wikipedia so take it for what it is worth:

Quote:

The .30-378 case holds as much as 120 grains (8 g) of powder without requiring a compressed load. This allows the cartridge to develop more energy than the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum and .375 H&H Magnum, especially when handloads are used. The .30-378 has comparable muzzle energy to the larger .338 Lapua Magnum in military use. When bullets heavier than 200 grains (13 g) are loaded, the .30-378 can exceed the .458 Winchester Magnum in terms of both Muzzle Energy and Taylor Knockout Value.

nate45 · January 4, 2011, 12:05 AM

Chuck, I honestly think you need the Anzio 20mm Vulcan Rifle / Cannon, its larger than life, just like you.

Come on, if for nothing else do it for the lulz.

Win_94 · January 4, 2011, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Ain't the .30-06 accurate out to 500 and still retaining the needed energy to drop any game on the continent (maybe a bit light for an american bison)?

If you go by the school of thought, [900ft-lb to kill a deer, 1500 for an elk, 2100 moose,] then no. With my 30-06 load using Hornady 190gr SPBTs; it has the "needed energy" for moose at 150 yards, elk at 250 and a deer at 650.

If one doesn't go by the energy scheme above, then your answer might be "yes."
The above load's velocity at 500 yards is 1695fps, with an energy of 1209ft-lbs. Some people would say that is enough for a well placed shot.

Ideal Tool · January 5, 2011, 12:09 AM

.45-110 or 120 Sharps?

old bear · January 5, 2011, 04:06 PM

I'm not a hunter, but I have several friends who are life long hunters and everyone of them recommends the .338 Winchester Magnum for BIG game and long range shots.

January 3, 2011, 12:25 PM	#1
Chuck_Norris Junior Member Join Date: January 3, 2011 Posts: 1	Help! Best North America Big Gun I'm looking for an elk, moose, caribou, bear, buffalo gun able to shoot out to 1000 yards. Hoping all shots will be taken under 300 yards but I want the ability if needed. I have a 308 savage, I'm looking for a bigger gun to add to my collection. I was thinking 300 or a 338. Please give me your honest opinion for the best caliber to buy. I'm not to worried about the make or model right now. I first want to find the caliber that best fits my "big gun needs" Thanks, Chuck

January 3, 2011, 12:34 PM	#3
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	What's the drop of a 308 at 400yards, 450, 500? Shooting beyond that is stunt shooting and our natural resources deserve better. __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

January 3, 2011, 02:02 PM	#4
cornbush Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: The retarded place below Idaho Posts: 1,408	Half of 1% of hunters can reliably make shots over 500 yards, get closer! A 50BMG to the a$$ at a thousand yards doesn't do anybody any good. If you can do it.....good on ya, but from your post it doesn't sound like it, long shots aren't made by the gun. __________________ The best shot I ever made was an accident

January 3, 2011, 03:52 PM	#9
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	Do you hunt Bud? __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

January 3, 2011, 04:22 PM	#13
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	No one said I had to agree with his stance, Brent. As a fellow hunter I will respectfully disagree. Were he not a hunter I would disrespectfully disagree. __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

January 3, 2011, 12:32 PM	#2
natman Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2008 Posts: 2,607	I would advise you to take your 308 and shoot at some targets from field positions at 300 yards. If you can keep every shot on a paper plate at 300 then you can think about longer shots.

January 3, 2011, 02:24 PM	#5
laytonj1 Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2005 Posts: 4,443	But, you're Chuck Norris... you can do it with a 22. Jim

January 3, 2011, 03:06 PM	#6
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,808	There are people capable of making long range shots. If you are asking for advice you are not one of them. At 300 yards the 308 is fine for any animal in North America except the big bears. If you want something that drops less making shots longer than 300 yards easier the 7mm Rem mag is the next meaningful step up. Recoil is manageable and it will shoot quite a bit flatter than the 308 with more punch when it gets there. It does not have the punch of the 300 mags, but shoots flatter and still has more than enough power for elk at 600 yards. If you need more punch than the 7 mags, I'd pass over the 300's for one of the 338 mags. If you really want to shoot large game at extreme range the 338 Lapua is the one you want. It is a 700-800 yard elk gun, 1000+ on deer. If the shooter and equipment is up to the task. All that said, if I were limited to 1 rifle for North America it would be a good 30-06 (possibly even 308) and I'd modify my ammo for the hunting situation. I'd just get closer and not worry about the extreme long range shots.

January 3, 2011, 03:32 PM	#7
ripnbst Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2010 Location: Spring, TX Posts: 1,552	.338 Lapua Assuming you can get the job done. Most rifles that are chambered in this round unless custom built are sniper/tactical offerings and are made for making distance shots.

January 3, 2011, 03:59 PM	#10
roach4047 Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2008 Posts: 189	I hear nice things about the 300 win mag round. Roach

January 3, 2011, 04:11 PM	#11
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Ain't the .30-06 accurate out to 500 and still retaining the needed energy to drop any game on the continent (maybe a bit light for an american bison)? I doubt I would ever consider a rifle larger/hotter/faster than the venerable ought six. Brent

January 3, 2011, 04:16 PM	#12
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Fisherman, Here is the results of a little search... Here are the threads started by Bud in the hunt... http://thefiringline.com/forums/sear...archid=4931454 And here are the threads he has participated in at the hunt... http://thefiringline.com/forums/sear...archid=4931447 Go thru them and you may find he shoots at four leggers now and again... Brent

January 3, 2011, 04:30 PM	#14
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Oh wasn't pickin' either way... I just took yer question and did a search as I thought I had read some of his participating posts in the past... He was simply pointing out that here at TFL, the thread veer towards normalcy and ethics is a sure thing. Personally, i know my limits and hope the others out in the woods I am in also know theirs... But if an ass shot deer wanders near me... I promise I will lay claim to it as soon as I kill it off... And the ass shooter can pound sand. Brent

January 3, 2011, 05:01 PM	#16
Capt. Charlie Moderator Emeritus Join Date: March 24, 2005 Location: Steubenville, OH Posts: 4,446	Um...... Guys? Speaking of thread veer.... __________________ TFL Members are ambassadors to the world for firearm owners. What kind of ambassador does *your* post make *you?* I train in earnest, to do the things that I pray in earnest, I'll never have to do. --Capt. Charlie

January 3, 2011, 06:32 PM	#17
emirikol Member Join Date: October 7, 2010 Posts: 20	It's North America. there are some big brown animals, but they're all thin skinned and none are armored. A 30-06 will do it all, all day long. A .300 win mag will too, but not needed. A .375H&H is fun overkill.

January 3, 2011, 07:30 PM	#18
Bud Helms Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 1999 Location: Middle Georgia, USA Posts: 13,198	fisherman66, I salute your willingness to give a new guy a break. And I appreciate your restraint. But respectfully, this is not about hunting. Not one bit.

January 3, 2011, 08:34 PM	#19
silvercorvette Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2010 Location: Anderson SC Posts: 466	An ethical hunter is morally obligated to make a clean swift kill. If you are far shooting at distances far beyond your ability to make a clean accurate shot and will make the animal suffer needlessly you have no business hunting. __________________ I am broke, I spent my money on fast cars, guns, reloading equipment and ammo, the rest my money was wasted on nonessential stuff

January 3, 2011, 09:37 PM	#20
Gehrhard Junior member Join Date: July 15, 2009 Location: East of the Missississippippi Posts: 675	.30-06, But On Steroids! .30-06 Ackley Improved is THE North American Chambering. Well, on vitamins anyway. Actually, let's change its 65 year old name to the more correct .308 ATM (Assault Tactical Magnum) so it gets some well deserved traction in the 21st Century. I'll let you read up on it Chuck, and anyone/everyone else who may have overlooked it. As for the hunting ethics, right on target. Reminds me of Avatar (where I am considering getting all of my belief-system from now)! We should all strive to be one of The People, blue, and at one with The Force. Sorry, that was the LAST belief system. Now I am one with Gaia, or something like that (no subtitles)... Gehr Last edited by Gehrhard; January 3, 2011 at 10:13 PM.

January 4, 2011, 12:05 AM	#22
nate45 Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,746	Chuck, I honestly think you need the Anzio 20mm Vulcan Rifle / Cannon, its larger than life, just like you. Come on, if for nothing else do it for the lulz. __________________ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."- Thomas Jefferson ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ (>_<)

January 5, 2011, 12:09 AM	#24
Ideal Tool Junior member Join Date: October 6, 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,080	.45-110 or 120 Sharps?

January 5, 2011, 04:06 PM	#25
old bear Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2009 Location: Not close enough to the beach Posts: 1,477	I'm not a hunter, but I have several friends who are life long hunters and everyone of them recommends the .338 Winchester Magnum for BIG game and long range shots.