Best Cartidge for Ultralight Sheep Rifle?

[sako75]

You guys sure go sheep hunting with a cartridge with less power than I would or you don’t hunt sheep where grizzly bears live. Not that a 22 creed couldn’t kill a sheep just fine but a close encounter with a bear I would want a little more.

 

[Ryan Avery]

You must just want another rifle, and that is OK! The 22CM is the answer.. Unless you start reloading, then it's the 6UM.

 

[z987k]

You guys sure go sheep hunting with a cartridge with less power than I would or you don’t hunt sheep where grizzly bears live. Not that a 22 creed couldn’t kill a sheep just fine but a close encounter with a bear I would want a little more.

You'd watch a bear coming for a day and a half in sheep country. Not an issue.

 

[Comerade]

I am also a sheep hunter, in B.C. we hunt allover our province .
Alot can happen on these trips and ammunition can be a problem to find for many of newer chamberings or older less common ones.
The .270 wcf is the most classic sheep round and is found everywhere.
Old Geezer advice

 

[Deere_Man]

I am also a sheep hunter, in B.C. we hunt allover our province .
Alot can happen on these trips and ammunition can be a problem to find for many of newer chamberings or older less common ones.
The .270 wcf is the most classic sheep round and is found everywhere.
Old Geezer advice

I’m a fan of the 270 Winchester myself, for these same reasons. Coincidentally, I am also a fan of just about every cartridge between 22LR and .3o/o6, so sometimes retail therapy is just good for me and good for the economy.

 

[KHntr]

You guys sure go sheep hunting with a cartridge with less power than I would or you don’t hunt sheep where grizzly bears live. Not that a 22 creed couldn’t kill a sheep just fine but a close encounter with a bear I would want a little more.

Last couple years I’ve been hunting sheep with 223AI and 22 Creedmoor. Where I live in NE BC my back lawn is grizzly country.

I used to carry a 280AI stuffed with 150TTSX for sheep just in case I had to change a bears mind. Then I shot some moose and deer and black bears and elk with the 88 ELD m from a 1:7 twist, saw bigger wound channels and broken shoulder bones and stuff dying faster. Much faster.

It isn’t rifle “power” that will make the difference in that situation. Bullets matter, headstamps don’t.

 

[KHntr]

I should clarify I suppose, my bear tolerance could be higher than others possibly. (Or rather, probably.) I can’t think of a sheep hunt in the last 5 or 6 years where we didn’t bump a grizzly in the timber at sub 50 yards, and there has been exactly zero shots fired.

Carry whatever lets you sleep at night, but don’t focus on the wrong variable if you are worried about close range bear encounters. Most people are real unlikely to carry a big enough bear gun where bore size would actually make a difference on a sheep hunt.

 

[Brandon_SPC]

Since you don't have it, spend the money on reloading equipment vs buying a new rifle.

 

[sako75]

You'd watch a bear coming for a day and a half in sheep country. Not an issue.

Don’t know where you hunt sheep but not the case in British Columbia I’ve had 4 very close encounters two were very tense and one ended in having to use my rifle.all in bush and creek bottoms. I’ve also seen bears a couple hundred yards from the tent as darkness is falling and all you can do is get in the tent and go to sleep. That scenario didn’t worry me at all. I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind you guys do what works for you.

 

[z987k]

Don’t know where you hunt sheep but not the case in British Columbia I’ve had 4 very close encounters two were very tense and one ended in having to use my rifle.all in bush and creek bottoms. I’ve also seen bears a couple hundred yards from the tent as darkness is falling and all you can do is get in the tent and go to sleep. That scenario didn’t worry me at all. I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind you guys do what works for you.

Photo from last year. Bears aren't hiding anywhere in that.

We saw a few bears on this trip. They were larger than any vegetation. Also, like most bears, wanted nothing at all to do with us.