Common Canadian calibers?

[bigbore442001]

I think I watch too much Survivorman on the Discovery Channel but I was thinking about this as I watched him in some of the most remote areas of the earth.

What are the most commonly found calibers in the remote areas of Canada? Say you went on a trip and found yourself in a small place like a Cree Indian village on the shores of James Bay and stopped at a trading post or store. What would you find? I will assume that oddball stuff like the Winchester Short mags would not be on the shelves but maybe 30-30 would.

I would appreciate any information. Thanks

[Thebear_78]

Probably find some 303 british,  30/06, 300 wm, 338wm or 375 H&H.  I know that the 06, 300 winnie, 338 winnie, and 375 H&H are almost universally available here in AK.

[upnorth]

after spending 3 years in northern manitoba, 308, 30-06 were the most common. the trappers running the lines carried a .22 and a 30-30.

[hummer]

Everywhere you look you'll find .243 Winchester.

[7x57]

Every where I've been you can find 12 gauge, 30/06, 30/30, .22, 303 brit, 243, 270, 300 winmag, 338 win mag, 308, 223, 7mm mag, and oddly enough 6.5x55

[steve66]

well were i grew up unless you wanted to drive for more then an hr, you had to hunt with either a .22, 30.06, 30-30 or a 12 guage.  had some other calibers in there but never paid to much attention to them.

[Cappy]

If you were way up north in the middle of no where and you had to bet on 1 calibre I would hedge towards the .303 British. Its' still issued to the rangers up in the remote portions of the artic. Otherwise any of your "standard" calibres can be found pretty much in every Canadian Tire/Hardware stores.

[steve66]

i will tell you one thing dont come up north with a 16 guage or an odd ball caliber like a 7.62X39mm because u wont find shells, believe me

[jro45]

Sounds like you guys don't have full access to all the new calibers up in Canada. I was up in Ontario to Cockrin [ not sure if this right spelling ] Black Bear hunting and I brought all my own rifles and ammo so I had no reason to look for more ammo. But I feel thats a shame that you guys can't try the new stuff way up in Canada.

[Bushwalker]

In my experience in travelling across northern Ontario from Hudson's Bay to the Manitoba bordor, 303 British was the common calibre used by the natives. Other calibres available, but not at all locations were 308, 30.06, 30.30, 22, 12 gauge shot shells,3 and 3 1/2 steel. Some of the isolated settlements will have more caibres available, but not everyone. I am talking about the isolated communities in northern ontario where access is by aircraft or long trip by boat. Locations across northern Ontario that have highway access will have most calibres available. We up here in Northern Ontario do have contact with the rest of the world.

[Cappy]

Yep, we aren't all in the dark ages. You name it I can probably get my hands on it here in Calgary.

[josquin]

Sounds like you guys don't have full access to all the new calibers up in Canada. I was up in Ontario to Cockrin [ not sure if this right spelling ] Black Bear hunting and I brought all my own rifles and ammo so I had no reason to look for more ammo. But I feel thats a shame that you guys can't try the new stuff way up in Canada.

Well, I'd say we can probably get most of the new stuff in the larger centres, but even in "down south" if you found yourself in, say, Cooperville KY, you'd have a hard time finding a box of .325 WSM!

Stuart

[yellowknifedave]

The Rangers do provide 303 british firearms and ammunition to the members.  A lot of the members are only there so they can have access to a good hunting rifle.  While in Yellowknife; a non-remote northern community, there was a well stocked sporting goods/gun store.  The natives in the area bought all the new stuff that was out.  Can't hunt with them legally though (all the new short magnums have too short of a length to qualify as a hunting round in NWT).

I would reckon, in the more remote locations, the Northern Stores only stock old time ammo: 303 brit, 30-06, 3030 and 12 guage.

YKD

[eroyd]

The 303 British only has a following because of all the surplus rifle that still excist. and heck, it's still a very effective caliber on everything up to moose.

In BC you see a lot of 270's, 30-06, 308 win., 7mm Rem Mags, 300 mags and 338 win. mags.

There's a few magazine readers that are suckered into the Ultra-mag thing.

[sms1717]

Well I have a .35 remington, .243 win., 12 gauge, .410 and a good ole arrow!

[John Y Cannuck]

If I wanted toget a rifle in a cartridge guaranteed to be stocked in a Northern Ontario/Quebec area, it would be 303Br, 30-30, and possibly 30-06, and 308.
Small mom and pop stores only stock stuff that moves. Fancy New stuff, or oddballs might sit in their inventory for years they can't afford that.

[Rick Teal]

JYC:

You might be able to add one .300 to that list...............The .300 Savage.