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RifleDude View Drop Down
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Posts: 6108 		  Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Caliber
    Posted: November/01/2009 at 11:33
You are very fortunate in that there are no shortages of good choices.  All of the recommendations made so far will work very well.  Basically, any big game cartridge from .308 Win class power on up will fit the bill.  I think your best choices for an "all around, general purpose" rifle are .30-06, any of the various 7mm magnums, and any of the various .300 magnums.  .35 Whelen would be great, but there are fewer rifles chambered for it, and ammo is harder to find if you don't reload.  Anything .338 would work well also, but all but the .338 Federal are a bit overkill if the majority of your hunting will be for whitetail.
Ted

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Roy Finn View Drop Down
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Posts: 2726 		  Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/01/2009 at 11:53
Depending on the size of the bear, get an 06 or a 7RM and be done with it.
Remington rifles inspire confidence that most still strive for.
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silver View Drop Down
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Posts: 2058 		  Quote silver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/01/2009 at 14:19
9.3x62 easier to find factory ammo than the .35
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jonoMT View Drop Down
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Posts: 561 		  Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/01/2009 at 14:21
.308 Win or .30-06 (leaning towards the '06 for larger animals). Both are widely available. There's probably no place you could go in North America and not be able to get .30-06 ammo.
Clean what's dirty, tighten what's loose, oil what turns and keep all the pieces. - Lyndel Meikle
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Preston View Drop Down
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Posts: 99 		  Quote Preston Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/01/2009 at 14:40
.300win mag or 30-06
"Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything."
"If the broadhead aint flyin the deer aint dyin"
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Kickboxer View Drop Down
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Posts: 4520 		  Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/01/2009 at 17:33
45/70 would work well...
30-06 has about the best availability and widest range of loadings of any caliber.  Can also take any North American game, but would not be my first choice for bear.  It will do the job, I wouldn't hesitate to use it, but I believe the 45-70 is better.  45-70 is also very good for the other game you mentioned...
Opinion, untempered by fact, is ignorance.
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trigger29 View Drop Down
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X = 180 Y = 90 (X+Pyro)+(Y-Pyro) = ?

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Posts: 1955 		  Quote trigger29 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/01/2009 at 17:51
I think one should ask what calibers you have shot, and how the recoil felt to you. It would be unfortunate to recommend a caliber to you, and have you not shoot it well, because of the recoil. I thought a .300 win mag would be a good choice, but the recoil can be a bit much for some. What calibers have you shot at targets?

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
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Urimaginaryfrnd View Drop Down
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Posts: 5879 		  Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/01/2009 at 17:52
I think Preston knew what I would say.  30-06 or 300 Win Mag would be very good choices.  Hunters in Alaska often use a 338 Win Mag which retains a lot of energy at distance.  Availibility of ammo for 30-06 and 300 WM is good but the 300 WM is quite a bit more expensive to get the same weight bullet pushed about 300 ft per sec faster.  If you are sensitive to recoil the 30-06 would be the better choice.  I would prefer the 300 WM myself.  I believe the rifles would be the same price for most of the calibers mentioned.  I have never had a 338 WM but I do  have a 375 H&H and it's plenty of gun for anything.  The 45-70 is  best used under 200 yds which is why I would only select if for heavy brush.
One of my friends uses a 270 Win to hunt Elk with very successfully.  I've always been told that 30-06 is the absolute minimum for bears.  The more dangerous something is the larger I want the rifle caliber to be  - Big Bear -BazookaBig Bullet.
 
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Sgt. D View Drop Down
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Posts: 1299 		  Quote Sgt. D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/01/2009 at 17:56
30-06 is probably the best starter rifle. A Remington 700 in 30-06 should be on your list of rifles to look at. You can get some quality trigger time on deer with 130gr ammo. Then step up to 150 to 180gr. for the bigger animals. Then if you decide to buy another rifle later on you will have good experience to help you know what you want next. Let us know what you do. Good Luck!
Take care of Soldiers, Show em how its done and do it with em, Run to the Fight & and hold your ground! I die my men go home! If you're a NCO and this ain't you. GET OUT! GOD BLESS AMERICA!
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Urimaginaryfrnd View Drop Down
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Posts: 5879 		  Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/01/2009 at 18:10
General Information:
Load No
Caliber
Grains/ Grams
Bullet Style
Brand
Use
P7RF
7mm Rem. Magnum
160 / 10.37
P3006AH
30-06 Spring. (7.62x63mm)
180 / 11.66
P300WX
300 Win. Magnum
180 / 11.66
P300WSMJ
300 Win. Short Magnum
180 / 11.66
P338K
338 Win. Magnum
225 / 14.58

Ballistics Comparisons:
  Velocity in Feet per Second (To nearest 10 FPS)
Load No
Caliber
Muzzle
100 Y
200 Y
300 Y
400 Y
500 Y
P7RF
7mm Rem. Magnum
2950
2752
2563
2381
2207
2040
P3006AH
30-06 Spring. (7.62x63mm)
2700
2538
2382
2232
2087
1947
P300WX
300 Win. Magnum
2960
2789
2624
2465
2312
2164
P300WSMJ
300 Win. Short Magnum
2980
2808
2643
2483
2329
2181
P338K
338 Win. Magnum
2800
2566
2343
2132
1931
1744

  Energy in Foot Pounds (To nearest 5 Foot Pounds)
Load No
Caliber
Muzzle
100 Y
200 Y
300 Y
400 Y
500 Y
P7RF
7mm Rem. Magnum
3091
2691
2333
2014
1730
1479
P3006AH
30-06 Spring. (7.62x63mm)
2913
2575
2268
1991
1741
1516
P300WX
300 Win. Magnum
3502
3108
2752
2429
2136
1872
P300WSMJ
300 Win. Short Magnum
3549
3151
2791
2464
2168
1901
P338K
338 Win. Magnum
3917
3289
2742
2270
1863
1519

  Wind Drift in Inches (at 10 MPH)
Load No
Caliber
100 Y
200 Y
300 Y
400 Y
500 Y
P7RF
7mm Rem. Magnum
0.6
2.7
6.0
11.3
18.2
P3006AH
30-06 Spring. (7.62x63mm)
0.6
2.4
5.9
10.8
17.3
P300WX
300 Win. Magnum
0.5
2.3
5.1
9.4
15.3
P300WSMJ
300 Win. Short Magnum
0.5
2.2
5.1
9.3
15.1
P338K
338 Win. Magnum
0.9
3.5
8.4
15.4
25.4

  Average Range
Load No
Caliber
50 Y
100 Y
200 Y
300 Y
P7RF
7mm Rem. Magnum
-0.2
-3.1
-11.5
P3006AH
30-06 Spring. (7.62x63mm)
-0.1
-3.9
-13.9
P300WX
300 Win. Magnum
-0.2
-3.0
-11.0
P300WSMJ
300 Win. Short Magnum
-0.2
-2.9
-10.8
P338K
338 Win. Magnum
-0.1
-3.8
-14.0

  Long Range
Load No
Caliber
50 Y
100 Y
200 Y
300 Y
400 Y
500 Y
P7RF
7mm Rem. Magnum
0.6
1.6
-6.8
-19.8
-40.0
P3006AH
30-06 Spring. (7.62x63mm)
0.8
1.9
-8.1
-23.3
-46.1
P300WX
300 Win. Magnum
0.5
1.5
-6.5
-18.7
-37.6
P300WSMJ
300 Win. Short Magnum
0.5
1.5
-6.4
-18.4
-37.0
P338K
338 Win. Magnum
0.8
1.9
-8.3
-24.1
-49.5
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Blackbird View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
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Posts: 169 		  Quote Blackbird Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/02/2009 at 07:48
Originally posted by RifleDude

You are very fortunate in that there are no shortages of good choices.  All of the recommendations made so far will work very well.  Basically, any big game cartridge from .308 Win class power on up will fit the bill.  I think your best choices for an "all around, general purpose" rifle are .30-06, any of the various 7mm magnums, and any of the various .300 magnums.  .35 Whelen would be great, but there are fewer rifles chambered for it, and ammo is harder to find if you don't reload.  Anything .338 would work well also, but all but the .338 Federal are a bit overkill if the majority of your hunting will be for whitetail.
 
Couldn't have been said any better than what RifleDude replied. You can't go wrong with magnum 7's, high powered .30 cals, or larger since you opt to kill bear and moose. 
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martin3175 View Drop Down
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Posts: 2607 		  Quote martin3175 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/02/2009 at 08:00
I like the 35 Whelen ..that'll get it done for you ...
If not - I would look at a 30-06 as the MINIMUM and  up from  there with the 30 cal magnums and so forth , topping out at 338 Win Mag ... The 45/70 ( I have 2 ) is a good 200 yd or less choice and can be had in a compact Marlin lever action
 
 
As an aside .. My nephew just got back from Iraq and bought his first "do it all " rifle . Found a 300 Win Short Mag stainless Weatherby Vanguard on Gunbroker and topped it with an Elite 4200 3x9 ..All in all done for under $800 and it's virtually weatherproof to boot ..shoots Winchester XP3 180's right at an inch at 100 yd.s . He's set for his first bear hunt in New Brunswick this spring ..


Edited by martin3175 - November/02/2009 at 08:08
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