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Two Rifles, but which two???
ff.hogue
Member Posts: 213 ✭✭✭
Two Rifles, but which two??? 0 Minutes ago Karma: 0
I am looking at consolidating my ever growing firearm inventory to try to purchase two nice custom hunting rifles. i do mainly hog and deer hunting, but will soon be heading to Alaska to do some caribu hunting and possibly moose, and in the future plan on doing a lot more. What i am wanting to know is with a range of 100lb hogs to 1200lb moose, what are the two perfect calibers to cover the spectrum? a smaller gun that wont destroy the hogs but big enough to take a bear, and a bigger gun that is still realistic to kill a bear or deer but can easily take a moose?what i have been looking at is a .243 for my smaller rifle and a .300 Weatherby for my larger. i have a .243 winchester model 70 classic that is a absolute blast to shoot and seems to have good ballistics, and i have a .300 win mag that is also nice, but i wouldnt mind the jump to a weatherby for the 500+ yard shots. from everything i have read the weatherby has better ballistics than the ultra mag. What are your thoughts? Have i missed any unbelieveable callibers? i will also be hand loading my rounds so availability of production rounds shouldnt affect my choics to much.
Thanks!
-Thomas
I am looking at consolidating my ever growing firearm inventory to try to purchase two nice custom hunting rifles. i do mainly hog and deer hunting, but will soon be heading to Alaska to do some caribu hunting and possibly moose, and in the future plan on doing a lot more. What i am wanting to know is with a range of 100lb hogs to 1200lb moose, what are the two perfect calibers to cover the spectrum? a smaller gun that wont destroy the hogs but big enough to take a bear, and a bigger gun that is still realistic to kill a bear or deer but can easily take a moose?what i have been looking at is a .243 for my smaller rifle and a .300 Weatherby for my larger. i have a .243 winchester model 70 classic that is a absolute blast to shoot and seems to have good ballistics, and i have a .300 win mag that is also nice, but i wouldnt mind the jump to a weatherby for the 500+ yard shots. from everything i have read the weatherby has better ballistics than the ultra mag. What are your thoughts? Have i missed any unbelieveable callibers? i will also be hand loading my rounds so availability of production rounds shouldnt affect my choics to much.
Thanks!
-Thomas
Comments
The Wby and the Win Mag have almost the same trajectory--at 500 yards they are exactly the same with 180 grain loads -38.7"
http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/comparative_ballistics_results.aspx?data=R300WB1*PRSC300WB
The .243 is out for big bears and moose. Now you state at the end of your post that the Weatherby has better ballistics than the Ultra mag but from looking at the Remington chart again it's probably not enough that you would notice it--it's not like you are comparing a .300 Weatherby to a .45/70.
here is the link comparing the Ultra & Weatherby.
http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/comparative_ballistics_results.aspx?data=R300WB1*PR300UM2-P2
But ultimately it is your wallet and money to spend as you see fit. It is also something to note that Weatherby ammo is usually pricey and not as easy to find in some places so good thing you handload.
The 375 H&H will drop anything large such as a Moose, Bear, Hog, or whatever very well. It is the do all caliber in Africa.
Now, if you want more than the 1 chambering, look st the 7mm-08 or 25-06 for the light gun and the 338WM or 375H&H for your heavy gun.
I noticed you skipped "vermin wacking", and for that the 22-250 is hard to beat.
Best.
I'd say get proficient++ with what you have, because they will do the job if you hold up your end.
Being able to use one or two pieces over a wide range of conditions is a great challenge to your skills.
With handloading, you have the advantage of finding the sweet loads for differing conditions. --- That, IMO , widens the utility of any piece. IOW , if you fail, it will not be the gun's 'fault'.
ENJOY !!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=111049365
Former Member U.S. Navy Shooting Team
Former NSSA All American
Navy Distinguished Pistol Shot
MO, CT, VA.
I can shoot decent groups all day long from a bench at 500 yards, and I can enjoy shooting a good fitting .375 H & H from offhand or even kneeling position, but don't ask me to shoot the big bores prone or from bench. My days of taking that kind of abuse are over. Some can, I'm not one of them. I sight in at the bench, or prone, then let sitting, kneeling, off-hand and reasonable field rests determine how far I can expect to deliver clean kills.