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> Dedicated Rifle for Elk, Moose, and Bear
Dedicated Rifle for Elk, Moose, and Bear
@ 07:22 am (GMT) |
Stephen SeibertI would like to build a rifle dedicated for use on certain big game hunts (elk, moose, bear). This would be somewhat of a brush rifle with ideally a 20" to 22" heavier contour barrel. I would like a cartridge that performs emphatically out to 200 hundred yards but can also perform sufficiently on the rare shot out to around 500 yards. i am not opposed to a dual load program.I would like to accomplish this if possible with a .35 caliber. I have considered all cartridges in this caliber and I am unsure which route is best suited for the rifle configuration. I think that I would lose too much velocity with a short barreled 358 Norma or Whelen and I don't think the wonderful 358 Win has enough power in any barrel length for the longer range shots. The 350 rem is interesting but brass is way too hard to find. That leaves the 35 Sambar which I would think (but don't know) that I could get sufficient velocity out to 400-500-- even with a 22 inch barrel. But then I am going full blown obscure wildcat which is intriguing but also can be problematic. Additionally, I have never owned any of the short mags but I have heard several times about feeding issues-- especially with custom jobs. If I went the Sambar route I would probably start with a Model 70 short mag action to hopefully reduce some risk of feeding problems. Anyway, I am open to any and all suggestions and feel free to contradict my thoughts on the other 35 cartridges. I could obviously accomplish this with a short barreled 300 win or 300 wsm just to name a few but I would really like to go with a 35 if possible. Thanks, and any advice is appreciated. |
Replies
@ 08:00 am (GMT) |
Rob BirdRe: Dedicated Rifle for Elk, Moose, and Bear358-375 Ruger? 358 STA? What kind of velocity are you hoping for? |
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@ 01:02 pm (GMT) |
Sundance SeibertRe: Dedicated Rifle for Elk, Moose, and BearThanks i think i need the equivalent of 2900-3000 mv out of a 225 grain. I will probably shoot 250s but that will give you an idea of what i think i need. If i am wrong please let me know. |
@ 11:27 pm (GMT) |
Ed SybertRe: Dedicated Rifle for Elk, Moose, and BearI think you're asking a lot out of a single cartridge. But, assuming that most of your shots will be at the closer ranges based on where you say you will be hunting; I suggest you consider a .35 Whelen and compromise on a 23" barrel. My personal .35 Whelen is a re-bored/re-rifled 24" Pre '64 M70 that was originally a 30-06. I put the barreled action in a Bishop stock that I slimmed down. The action is steel bedded with cross pins to prevent splitting. I've carried it hunting in MD, PA, and MT. Thick woods and semi-open mountains. I've never wished that the barrel was shorter. With some of the modern long-range bullets, I think it would work out to 400-500 yards. -Ed |
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@ 07:15 pm (GMT) |
Sundance SeibertRe: Dedicated Rifle for Elk, Moose, and BearIf i go that direction why not go with a 358 Norma? |
@ 07:11 am (GMT) |
Taj ShoemakerRe: Dedicated Rifle for Elk, Moose, and BearQuote: If i go that direction why not go with a 358 Norma?
5 down, smooth feeding in any converted 30-06, can buy factory ammo, easier to get components. If you are going to go magnum bolt face, 375 Ruger is the way to go in my opinion. My personal choices for this type of rifle are 22” 35 Whelen and 20-23” 375 Ruger. I choose the Whelen more often but I am a 200yrd hunter for larger game so its ballistic deficiencies are mitigated. I think the 375 could be stretched to 500 with careful bullet selection, the selection is just not there for 35s. Maybe one day a 250 ELD type bullet will appear - it happened for 25s and 277s…. But not likely. But really, for larger game and stretching past 300yards the 338s are probably the way to go. A vanilla 338 Win Mag will hit hard up close and reach out just fine with the great selection of sleek 338 bullets. Elmer Keith knew this three quarters of a century ago, and I think not much has really changed in that regard. I personally feel the 35s and 375s hit harder up close, but only marginally so. And the 338 tromps them ballistically past 300 yards. Again, I’m a 200-250 yard hunter on large game so my opinion on shooting large game past 300 yards is mostly theoretical. Free advice and all that…. |
@ 07:30 am (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Dedicated Rifle for Elk, Moose, and BearFree advice and all that - but well executed. The points you have made Taj summarize anything I would would have said and likely more succinctly.Stephen, have a think about what Taj has said as he has highlighted some key points. |
@ 12:00 pm (GMT) |
ThegraymanRe: Dedicated Rifle for Elk, Moose, and BearI've been looking at this lately after reading Nathan's article on .358 norma mag. My thought on the subject is a 250gr rebated boat tail bullet with an s8 ogive profile. I have talked with northern precision bullets https://npcustombullets.com/, and it is possible. He makes bullets with corbin dies and can bond them as well. Prices would be $1 per non bonded and $1.5 per bonded bullet. He has agreed to produce them if pre orders would meet his cost for new tooling about $1200. He has been making bullets since 1989. |
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