|
|
Post by buster1 on Dec 21, 2006 23:58:18 GMT -5
What would you say would be the best all around caliber and load for caribou?
|
|
|
|
Post by RAF on Dec 22, 2006 8:58:15 GMT -5
You have many choices. What have you got? Most 30 caliber rifles will do the trick. Of course the magnum calibers might be better. I guess it depends on your arsenal. I've never hunted caribou but they are a little bigger than white tail. Areas where they are hunted are pretty open so one would expect longer shots. Hope this helps a little
|
|
|
|
Post by wilmsmeyer on Dec 22, 2006 18:26:08 GMT -5
To me it would depend on how far my shots may be and how well of a "field shot" I thought I was.
I have read lots of stories on Caribou. Some of these involved hunts where it was hard to find animals due to migration issues or poorly planned hunts. You may only get a long shot. Some stories tell of huge herds running right by hunters real close.
To be prepared for either I would use any caliber gun from 7mm to 8mm, a bullet that holds together from 150 - 225 grains with a BC of .45 -.50 and strive for around 3000 fps. There are 100 combinations or more that will meet this criteria. Then I'd put a high quality 3-9 variable scope on it and shoot it a lot. Pick a Maximum point blank yardage (With the above criteia this will approach 275 yds with a +/- 3 inch trajectory) Then shoot it in increments of 50 yds past that range until your groups open up to about 8-10 inches and make a chart and tape it to your stock.
For the heck of it, try shooting past 200 yds from sticks, kneeling, sitting and prone from a backpack. Use the chart. Shoot a group. This will open ones eyes to the difficulty in shooting accuratley at game at longer ranges for even the best of shooters.
There is really nothing perfect for any animal. There may be a favorable group of cartridges that can all do about the same thing when handled by a marksman that knows his gun and his own limitations.
Hope that wasn't too much babbling.
|
|
|
|
Post by art338wm on Dec 22, 2006 23:38:07 GMT -5
If I may, it would be of great help if you could also specify if this is going to be a DIY hunt or guided, what type of terrain are you going to be hunting in so as to determine if long shots of 300yrds and more will be quite passable, or will shots tend to be closer to 200yrds or less? What exactly are you shooting skills and what is the maximum effective range you feel your confident shooting at a bull under the correct conditions?
My friend did a 100% DIY caribou hunt in Alaska back in 01, and because he had the right caliber, shooting his own extremely accurate hand loads and shooting at long ranges till he was quite good, took a caribou bull that grossed 398" at 400 yards no less. That range was first confirmed before as well as after the shot with MY borrowed Bushnell laser range finder no less. He knew from months of research prior to ever leaving Indiana that where he was going to hunt in Alaska was far more open terrain than not, so the potential for long shots was as likely as not. More likely than not as it turned out.
If you are at this point unable to answer any of my questions, then I advise you to pick the caliber that is most comfortable for you to shoot a lot. Although they are not elk, caribou are much larger than deer so keep that in mind. I am no expert but any caliber in the class of the 270win, 270 WSM, 7mm/280 Remington Express, 7mm WSM, 7mm Remington Magnum, 30/06, on up to and including any of the belted .300 magnums will kill any caribou bull you will ever see. I would strongly advise you lean toward the most powerful caliber you can handle comfortably. If you can shoot a 7mm Remington mag as easily as a .270win, I doubt strongly you will ever wish you had the .270 instead.
My friend that killed the 398 B&C caribou bull is of average height and weight at 5'-8" and 150lbs and has no problem what so ever with the recoil of his .300wm from the bench. I will add we grew up deer hunting in Illinois with 12ga magnum foster and now sabot slugs so we are quite use to heavy recoil.
|
|
|
|
Post by redhawk1 on Oct 25, 2007 8:30:30 GMT -5
I went to Alaska and did a self guided trip. I took my 300 Win Mag and I think it was a great choice. My shot was 300 yards. The thing you need to know is, you may take a close shot or a far shot and you want to be able to make both. Get a heavy bullet from 165 to 180 gr. to help buffer any wind down range.
|
|
|
|
Post by dogger1 on Dec 16, 2007 14:22:50 GMT -5
a club usually works if your timing is right they will step on you
|
|
|
|
Post by scott7m on Dec 20, 2007 18:41:55 GMT -5
If you know your gun and how it shoots and have confidence with it, I'd just assume to have a 30-06 as I would a 300 mag, oh sure the 300 is more powerful and so on, blah blah blah,, been there done that had both of them.... But if I were going on a caribou hunt today I think i'd reach for my CZ 550 in 30-06 and go get em.. I shoot 168gr. bullets out of it and it is a tack driver... I'd feel compfortable to anything out to 400..
|
|
|
|
Post by RAF on Dec 20, 2007 21:15:12 GMT -5
Of course a 30-06 would work. As I said a caribou is slightly larger than a whitetail and smaller than an elk. I know a fellow that has taken an elk every year for the past 20 years and swears by his 270. It's a matter of confidence in what you have to make the shot. Shot placement at whatever range is the key.
|
|
