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Author Topic: What Caliber Would You Use?  (Read 1669 times)

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Offline Sourdough

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What Caliber Would You Use?
« on: January 30, 2007, 02:32:08 PM »
I'm going to open a bucket of worms here.  But think about this realistically. I know we all have our favorite calibers to hunt deer with in our Handi Rifles.  But some of the calibers are not true calibers for hunting big game.  Some are marginal at best.  But say you are going to visit someone and they would take you on a hunt of a life time, what caliber would you use.

Whitetail?             30-30
Blacktail?               25-06
Mulie?                   30-06
Elk?                      30-06
Antalope?             .270
Black Bear?           .35 Whelen/30-06
Grizzly?                 45-70/450
Moose?                .35 Whelen/30-06
Caribou?               .270/30-06

All these animals are with in driving distance of each and every one of you.  Think about this real close.  Would your .243 be up to it?
Frank Glasser used a 22-250 for Caribou, Moose, and Grizzly.  But Frank Glasser was an old time expert on game anatomy, on shooting, and hunting.  I listed my choices, what would yours be?

Then Let's agree to disagree.
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Offline poncaguy

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2007, 02:34:50 PM »
45-70.........35 Whelen..........270...........in that order
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Offline burntmuch

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2007, 02:39:20 PM »
Im becoming a big fan ofthe 4570. but have yet to hunt with it. So Im gunna say 7rem mag  remington 700
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Offline Sourdough

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2007, 02:52:15 PM »
burntmuch: this is strictly for Handis  They don't make a 7MM
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What Is A Veteran?
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Offline Spanky

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2007, 02:54:49 PM »
My Ruger M77 in .35 Whelen.  It's big enough for the big things and not too big for the small things.
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Offline canon6

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2007, 02:57:09 PM »
If my shoulder would stand it it would be 35 Whelen, a great caliber able to take anything in your list   Doug
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Offline burntmuch

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2007, 02:57:52 PM »
Sorry       30-06 for everything but the grizzly then 4570 after learning how to reload real fast for the (hopefully not needed) 2nd shot  
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Offline cattleskinner

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2007, 02:59:36 PM »
Well, I've mostly had a rifle for hunting groundhogs in Ohio, and hope to make it to another state to hunting deer or hogs.  So I got rid of the small varmint rifles and picked up a 7mm-08 handi rifle...small bullets to bust the g-hogs, and load some stronger bullets for big game(deer to elk).  Although, I might get another smaller cartridge barrel again (223, 22-250, or a 357)

~~Amos
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Offline Spanky

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #8 on: January 30, 2007, 03:04:28 PM »
Sorry about the Ruger thing.  I guess I'd have to get a Handi in .35 Whelen then!!  Come to think of it, that's not a bad idea!!  Maybe one of those nice RMEF .35's with the nice woodwork.  Now you got me thinkin'!   ;)
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2007, 03:09:23 PM »
35 Whelen would be nice for a one gun for everything, but I think a .280 and a .45-70 would be my best pair choice. ;)

Tim
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Offline kennyd

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #10 on: January 30, 2007, 03:23:59 PM »
antelope  .243
whitetail  .25-06
elk  .45-70 or Whelen
muley  30-06 

Don't have the 30-06 (yet), Whelen looks improbable now.  Actually a '06, .270 or .280 would do it all, except the BIG bear.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2007, 03:33:28 PM »
Reminder, as Rog said, calibers are limited what's available in H&Rs, there are no magnum big game calibers.

Tim
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Offline FLNT4EVR

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #12 on: January 30, 2007, 04:18:01 PM »
I would only need three ,30-30, 45-70 and a 280 Rem.
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Offline knight0334

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #13 on: January 30, 2007, 06:29:03 PM »
I know I'm an oddball, but I'd use a 45-70 for everything from groundhog to elephant.  ...given proper loads of course.
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Offline tuxdad

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #14 on: January 30, 2007, 06:39:48 PM »
I'd be quite happy using my 308 on any of the critters mentioned, without a second thought...

Tux
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Offline Dillohide

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #15 on: January 30, 2007, 06:50:09 PM »
30-06 Handi first choice followed by my 45-70.
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Offline Mac11700

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #16 on: January 30, 2007, 07:07:55 PM »
Quote from: Sourdough on January 30, 2007, 02:32:08 PM
I'm going to open a bucket of worms here.  But think about this realistically. I know we all have our favorite calibers to hunt deer with in our Handi Rifles.  But some of the calibers are not true calibers for hunting big game.  Some are marginal at best.  But say you are going to visit someone and they would take you on a hunt of a life time, what caliber would you use.

Whitetail?             30-30
Blacktail?               25-06
Mulie?                   30-06
Elk?                      30-06
Antalope?             .270
Black Bear?           .35 Whelen/30-06
Grizzly?                 45-70/450
Moose?                .35 Whelen/30-06
Caribou?               .270/30-06

All these animals are with in driving distance of each and every one of you.  Think about this real close.  Would your .243 be up to it?
Frank Glasser used a 22-250 for Caribou, Moose, and Grizzly.  But Frank Glasser was an old time expert on game anatomy, on shooting, and hunting.  I listed my choices, what would yours be?

Then Let's agree to disagree.

A hunt of a lifetime..and only available Handi's...hmmm...Well...this for me would entail having my 1 on 1 guide worry about keeping me safe with a suitable gun for any large carnivore...so...I would take 2...My 26" 270 Winchester...and my 26" 338-06 A-Square...Since both of these are available...and having my guide carrying suitable back up fire power..they should span everything that is listed for the above game...and do it quite nicely... ;)

Mac
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #17 on: January 30, 2007, 07:15:03 PM »
Ahhhem, I didn't list custom calibers cuz they aren't available in a Handi, but there are a couple others that I would mention as Mac did, the .338-06 A-Square being one of em, the other being the .405 Winchester!! ;D

Tim
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Offline Badnews Bob

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #18 on: January 30, 2007, 07:25:04 PM »
.357 max .280 rem .45-70 and my .22LR sportster for rabbits and such, Maybe a scatter gun for flying critters.
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Offline Mac11700

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #19 on: January 30, 2007, 07:40:57 PM »


Well...They are available...for a price...just not from the factory... ;)

Mac
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Offline Dave Weiss

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #20 on: January 30, 2007, 11:32:30 PM »
I'd use a 45-70 for all of them, same bullet, same load (I've still got a bowhunter mentality, I've just tripled my effective range  :)).

>>>===> Dave
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Offline Cottonwood

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #21 on: January 31, 2007, 01:26:48 AM »
Have had but three calibers in the H & R line up....  ;D  IE one Handi with the extra barrels that is.

First Choice 45-70
2nd Choice 444 Marlin (New for 2007)
3rd Choice .35 Whelen

Maybe for a 4th choice, the new 500 S&W barrel just for kicks no pun intended.

You all have a great day!
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Offline Scibaer

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #22 on: January 31, 2007, 01:34:46 AM »
I use the 35whelen ...200 gr. bulllet for whitetail and the 225 gr. for the rest .. well i use the .22 for squirrles
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Offline Brett

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #23 on: January 31, 2007, 01:46:11 AM »

.280 Rem or Oh-6 is all one would need for any of them critters you listed.  Oh yeah,  and the guide with a BIG repeater next to me when hunting the Grizzly like Mac said.   ;)
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Offline NONYA

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #24 on: January 31, 2007, 02:07:27 AM »
-06 for all of em.
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Offline James B

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #25 on: January 31, 2007, 03:38:13 AM »
My 308 with the extra 45-70 barrel. If only one, my 35 Whelen.
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Offline bajabill

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #26 on: January 31, 2007, 04:15:40 AM »
30-06 for everything that doesnt want to eat me, and if it wants to eat me, I wont be using a handi rifle, sorry.
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Offline NONYA

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #27 on: January 31, 2007, 05:52:40 AM »
+1
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Offline backstrap

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #28 on: January 31, 2007, 06:01:58 AM »
06 would do it all for me
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Offline 44 Man

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Re: What Caliber Would You Use?
« Reply #29 on: January 31, 2007, 07:27:16 AM »
It's pretty tough to improve on the versitility of the '06!  I like the one gun concept but probably would fall out like this;  243 for everything from coyote, to whitetail, and antilope.  '06 for all medium game, and 45-70 for the big herbivores and griz.  Of course the 35 whelen could fill in that too, but I'd like a bigger, heavier bullet for a Grizzly!  44 Man
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