HUNTING BIG GAME IN CANADA, IS THERE A CALIBRE THAT IS BETTER THAN THE REST?

On the off chance that I could use just one rifle and cartridge combo for all my hunts, what might it be? I'm frequently posed that inquiry, particularly by new trackers wanting to purchase their first gun. They ordinarily state they're searching for an overall versatile rifle, as it will be the only one they buy (…sure bud). While I don't have the heart to reveal to them that one rifle is rarely adequate—they'll make sense of that on their own soon enough—I do have a few proposals.

If the goal is to discover only one rifle that can do everything, you first need to figure out what precisely "do everything" signifies. What if your hunting is bound to timberlands in Eastern Canada, where shots for deer, moose and wild bear are regularly taken at under 100 yards. That’s where you might want a light, short-barrel rifle—Browning's BLR or BAR in .308 would be a great choice.

On the off chance that your preferences run more to deer and antelope on the prairie grasslands, a dazzling .25-06 bolt-action, like a Ruger M77 Mark II, would possess all the necessary qualities. Also, if hunting in the mountains chasing elk, mule deer and moose is your “everything”, you may be better off with a Remington 700 XCR in .300 Win. Mag.

The fact of the matter I'm trying to settle on is that your decision of rifle and cartridge will rely to a great extent upon the game you intend to chase, and the landscape you are hunting in.

Yet, you're still compelled to pick only one rifle/cartridge pairing for chasing the entirety of Canada's major game (how about we keep grizzlies and polar bears of the conversation for now). You'd need something that is appropriate for a wide scope of work, from antelope at 300 yards, elk at 250 and moose at 200, to whitetail deer at 100 yards and bears at 50. That is a great deal to ask from one rifle.

Plainly, the decision lies somewhere around the .270 Win. to one of the .300 magnums. I'm a major enthusiast of the .270, having taken everything from bears to moose with this cartridge through the seasons. All things considered, the cartridge is restricted to 130-and 150-grain slugs which forfeits some downrange vitality and infiltration making it somewhat touchy for bigger game like elk and moose. Truly, a great many elk have been taken with the .270, yet you do need to be precise with your shots (same with .280 Remington).

Numerous trackers tout the excellencies of the 7mm Rem. Mag., however I wouldn't think of it as the best all-around decision—although I do enjoy shooting with it. While it's surely a fine round, it's restricted by the inaccessibility of slugs heavier than 175 grains and it’s not cheap. The equivalent goes for the entire class of .277 and .284 magnums, including Weatherbies, RUMs and WSMs.

On the other hand, the total group of .30-bore magnum cartridges is unquestionably equipped for taking care of all Canadian major game. Some hunters cannot deal with the kick and obviously there's the significant expense and restricted accessibility of ammo all of which take this family out of the conversation for the ideal calibre.

Wow this is exhausting to think about. At long last, the decision truly comes down to the respected .30-06 or the .308. Found anyplace ammo is sold, these cartridges are average cost and the kick is in the passable range for most hunters. Of the two, I lean toward the '06, just for the accessibility of a great selection of factory ammo. Specifically, you can get plant ammunition up to 220 grains, while the .308 is restricted to 180 grains. This distinction shows itself with bigger game, for example, elk, moose, and bears, where stopping power is key.

What truly brings .30-06 to the forefront, is that the full selection of factory-made ammo from 55 to 220 grains-permits hunters select rounds by the game and environmental conditions close by. There is a reason that this round is over 105 years old and still widely used.

Final Choice?

So you've chosen a .30-06. But, which model to purchase? On the off chance that you stick to one of the significant rifle makers, you can’t really go wrong. Among the most mainstream are Browning, Ruger, Sako, Savage, Tikka and Winchester. Next comes your decision on the action. While the present-day levers, semi-automatic and pump-action rifles are sublime, it's difficult to beat the unwavering quality and solidness of the bolt activity. What's more, be sure to buy the best 3-9X scope you can manage; no rifle/cartridge mix can satisfy its promises in the event that you can't see your target.

Happy hunting!