ChrisG
AH elite
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2015
- Messages
- 1,588
- Reaction score
- 2,958
- Location
- Adirondack Park, NY, USA
- Media
- 45
- Articles
- 2
- Member of
- NAHC, NRA, Rocky Mtn. Elk Foundation.
- Hunted
- USA, Canada
Hey everyone,
So My approach to firearms is to have one for every size animal, and one that could fill almost any scenario, while at the same time, keeping the arsenal to a minimum.
So I have weaned it down to these hunting rifles:
Small game (up to 20lbs)- .25 PCP air rifle pushing 45ft-lbs
Varmints/furbear - (up to 100 lbs) - .223 - CZ527 American
Medium Game - (up to 350lbs) - 6.5x55 - Ruger M77 MkII
Large Game - Anything else - .375 Ruger - Ruger M77 Guide Gun
Soo all that said, I am considering a .338 federal in a stainless gun that is lighter weight to fill the gap between the 6.5x55 and the .375ruger. While the .375 is perfect in my opinion for larger bears (My goal would be to hunt Kodiak before I die), elk and moose, It is massively overkill for smaller bears and the 6.5x55 doesn't leave a great blood trail in the fall when I hunt them and they have thick fur and lots of fat to plug up that little hole. Hence the search for a .338 federal.
I also am a big proponent of open sights. As a barrel without them just looks weird to me.
Can anyone comment on using the cartridge on medium to large animals? and if so, is there a manufacturer still making them besides savage? I like Savage but they are almost the price of a Kimber Hunter now. I would have loved a kimber 84M in .338 Fed but they stopped producing them it looks like.
Anyone think of a reason that this is unnecessary? Or does it make sense to round out the gun cabinet?
So My approach to firearms is to have one for every size animal, and one that could fill almost any scenario, while at the same time, keeping the arsenal to a minimum.
So I have weaned it down to these hunting rifles:
Small game (up to 20lbs)- .25 PCP air rifle pushing 45ft-lbs
Varmints/furbear - (up to 100 lbs) - .223 - CZ527 American
Medium Game - (up to 350lbs) - 6.5x55 - Ruger M77 MkII
Large Game - Anything else - .375 Ruger - Ruger M77 Guide Gun
Soo all that said, I am considering a .338 federal in a stainless gun that is lighter weight to fill the gap between the 6.5x55 and the .375ruger. While the .375 is perfect in my opinion for larger bears (My goal would be to hunt Kodiak before I die), elk and moose, It is massively overkill for smaller bears and the 6.5x55 doesn't leave a great blood trail in the fall when I hunt them and they have thick fur and lots of fat to plug up that little hole. Hence the search for a .338 federal.
I also am a big proponent of open sights. As a barrel without them just looks weird to me.
Can anyone comment on using the cartridge on medium to large animals? and if so, is there a manufacturer still making them besides savage? I like Savage but they are almost the price of a Kimber Hunter now. I would have loved a kimber 84M in .338 Fed but they stopped producing them it looks like.
Anyone think of a reason that this is unnecessary? Or does it make sense to round out the gun cabinet?