Which rifle is better for big game!?

Question

I am doing a couple big game hunts over the 3 years, This year i am doing a alaskan moose and Grizzly combo hunt, Next year i have 2 tags for northern quebec caribou. The the year after that i am trying to get a colorodo elk tag but i dont know if i will get one.

I was thinking of getting either a 30-378 wby mag. or a 300. wsm. I know the 300. wsm is alot cheapper in the rifle and ammunition but the bullistics are increadible on the 30-378 wby mag. Which one should i get and why?

Answer 1

I might be a bit biased being a .300 man but u really cant go past it as a round man, run 150gr for the smaller stuff right up to 200gr in a core lokt for the bigger stuff, place it right and u will be fine.

Only other suggestion is use the rifle for day to day shooting for a couple of months before you go, so when it matters the rifle naturally works with you.

Good luck buddy. Witty.

Answer 2

Since you're throwing Grizzly into the mix I wouldn't trust either choice.  I'd take a minimum of the .338 Winchester Magnum.  A .375 H&H Mag. or the newer .375 Ruger Magnum would not be too much for Grizzly bear.

Happy hunting.

H

Answer 3

dear friend.

both the cailabers you listed will do just fine but have u considerd a 30.06? it has killed more big game than both them calibers u listed can ever dream of. when ur hunting dangerous game like grizzlys accuracy reliablity and speed all comes into play. most people say get a bolt action but i am not one of those. i suggest a remington 7600 pump action rifle in 30.06 most pawn shops have this rifle for 400$ and its plenty accurate for hunting its more reliable than a auto loader and alot faster than a bolt action combine all that and you have the perfect big game rifle (in my opinion that is). anouther gun i recomend is the marlin guide gun in 45-70. this thing with its .45 caliber slug and over will send a 300 grain bullet at a  awsome 2000 fps itll stop the biggest grizzleys in there tracks! not to mention its lever action so it shares the same charactoristics of the pump action. then i suggest you go to a local pawn shop and get a .357 magnum revolver and carry it with u on ur hunt .u can get them for around 300$ and who knows? it could save ur life.

Answer 4

I use a .338 Lapua magnum and have had great luck. This round is bigger than any of the ones you've mentioned and is a guaranteed kill out to 1000 yards. The ammo is a little pricey, but they've finally made a rifle cheap enough for the general public in this caliber. It is the Remington 700 police edition in .338 lapua magnum. The rifle in Canada is $1200 to $1500, but in the US might be cheaper than that. Plus you'll spend more than that on almost any other big game rifles. Happy hunting!!

Answer 5

The .30-06 has taken every kind of game of the north American continent and can be found at any sporting goods store including Walmart and Kmart so why would you want to use a Weatherby since it's hard to find unless you go to a regular gun store and even then you might have to order it? Besides there is kill and there is over kill and you really don't need that extra power. Placement of the bullet is much more important that the amount of power and since the .30-06 is less expensive you can afford to practice and get your shooting groups tighter. You can load the .30-06 with lighter weight bullets and take smaller game without the need to buy another rifle. Read this site and see if you don't agree? http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0...

Answer 6

I know from your other posts that you have a 270 --- which is more than perfect for caribou. I'd use that and get a truely appropriate round for two of the largest animals in North America. If you think you're going to take a small / meduim bear or moose, a 30 caliber magnum will be alright. But if you have a chance at a true trophy size animal, I think you're going to be wanting a 338 or larger.

The other poster said a 375 H&H. That would be a good choice. Another to consider is the newer 375Ruger. This is a magnum round that equals the 375HH but in a standard long action rifle (not the heavier beefed up magnum actions). Ruger makes the rifle as does Howa (Howa's appearance is more like a "regular" rifle where as Ruger does give off a more "magnum" appearance.

I think the 338 or a 375 is what you're looking for if you think you're going to have a chance at a big one.

Answer 7

get the 30-378 wby mag or tone it down a bit to the 300 wby mag. Still drop moose, elk, caribou, grizzley, just about anything with that little bit extra less of recoil.

Good Hunting & have a blast in Alaska...

Answer 8

The 30-378 Wby Mag is some serious firepower.  A lot of recoil behind something like that.  Recoil isn't so bad when you are young, but after years of shelling out $75 for a box of ammo and taking hits that would rival Mike Tyson, a 30-378 Wby Mag may end up being a safe queen instead of a rifle you use every season.

My father grew up a subsistance lifestyle in Alaska.  He killed pretty much everything there was to kill in Alaska.  His weapon of choice?  A 250 Savage.  This was the days before bonded bullets or even before bullets of good quality by today's standard.  Today people would think a 250 Savage is inadequate for Griz and Moose.  I don't think the anatomy of animals has changed much in 50 years and like my Dad told me the animals didn't seen to notice that they were shot with only a 250 Savage.

If you are looking for an excuse to buy a 30-378 Wby Mag, then by all means get one.  If you are looking for a good compromise between recoil, cost, and ballistics the 300 WSM is a better choice.

Personally, my first weapon choice would be a 300 WSM (or a 300 Win Mag..but I don't own one of those).  If I were looking for a new rifle, I'd probably opt for a 338 Win Mag (I've heard mixed reviews on the 325 WSM, so I don't know if I'd use one of those on a once in a lifetime hunt).  If you don't mind the recoil and are a handloader, I'd even consider the 375 H&H Mag.  It has some pretty impressive ballistics with lighter bullets.  With heavier bullets and a little patience, it can take down anything that walks the earth.

Good Luck and happy hunting.

Answer 9

the 300 wsm it is cheaper and just about as good. It will get the job done, but it does not always matter what gun it is it matters who is behind the gun and who if he/she can shoot the animal in the correct area which is right behind the front shoulder.

Sounds like you are going to have a great three years, good luck.

Answer 10

Your best choice is the tried, true, tested, and proven since 1906 is the 30-06.* It has harvested more big game than any other caliber except for the 30-30 Winchester.* You have a greater variety of bullet weights to choose from with the 30-06.* It will harvest the game effectively and efficiently without needing a Magnum.* The vast majority of big game is harvested within 100 yards or less.*

Answer 11

those are once in a lifetime hunts.   You don't want to miss a good shot because you skimped on your  rifle.

Go with the weapon you think is best and have some great hunts.

PS I am sure the PETA crowd will call you all kinds of names on here ignore them

Answer 12

You don't really need a .30-378 for hunting. It's for long range target shooting. The recoil is greater than the power you gain over standard .300 Magnums. I'd go with the .300 WSM for sure.

Answer 13

I have taken all the animals you mentioned in Alaska and I used the 300 win mag. You can get loads for this cartridge that are lite enough for whitetail and strong enough for Griz. I would go with the rifle that has more variety of ammo. By the way all my animals were taken with one shot from a browning bar in 300 win mag.