Best Big Game Rifles for North America?

Question

I am getting a new rifle for big game in north america. It will be used on caribou, northern ontario moose, black bear, and elk. Just wondering on everyones favorite. My Dad hunted moose and caribou with a 270. win but i wanted something bigger for elk and moose. I dont like 30-06 so i really was interested in a 300. wsm

Answer 1

If you just want a step up from 270, then 280 Remington would do. If your budget allows a semi-custom rifle, 280 AI is available in a couple of nice rifles. Next up from 30-06 would be 338-06.

I found myself in a similar situation once and wound up with 8x68, but both rifles and cartridges are hard to find. That's a shame, because it's an excellent cartridge that fits nicely in that same niche as 325 WSM has now filled.

Answer 2

Stick with the regular .300 Winchester mag..... Anything bigger and the laws of diminshing returns kicks in.....  The jury's still out on whether the .300 WSM will get more popular or disappear into obscurity... That cartridge isnt setting any sales records....

Why buy a rifle that may become obsolete.....

Answer 3

If you like the .300 WSM then that is the one you should get.  

H

Answer 4

Nothing wrong with using a standard caliber. But, if I were buying one, I would go with the classic .338 Win.Mag. I wouldn't get a .300 WSM.

Answer 5

The 30-06 is the one Rifle that does it all.* Magnums are totally not necessary for North American Big Game.* The vast majority of Big, and Small Game is Harvested within 100 yards or less.*  

Answer 6

300 or 338 win mag will do you just fine

Answer 7

a 338 win mag suits you perfect since you can get rounds low enough in power for  black bear and caribou and then you can hop that m**o all the way up to elk dropping moose bashing power

Answer 8

Before you buy check out ammo prices....the best hunting rifle is the one you practice with. If ammo is $50 or $60 dollars a box you will not

pratice as much as you would otherwise.

This may sway your choice in the end.

Answer 9

The 300 wsm is a good gun, also check out the new 338 federal.

Answer 10

300 wsm is the best choice.

Answer 11

Conspicuous by it's absence was Brown bear/ Grizzly. I'm going out on two limbs here, and assuming you either forgot to mention Grizzly, or will grow into it soon. This calls in the 338 Magnum. One may download it to the old 32 Win specs for the deer woods like Great Grandpa swore was perfect for the regular deer woods. Or load for the old 8mm Mauser specs for elk and such. Or use Nosler Partition full loads for excellent safety margin on big Grizzlies. The 200 grain deer bullets also will be King of the Varminters, suffering little from wind drift at top velocities. Is this the fabled "do it all rifle?"  Regards, Larry.

Answer 12

300WSM is a good caliber, but 30-378 Weatherby Magnum shoots flatter and has more stopping power. Below is a link to some ballistics for a plethora of cartridges.