Sheep hunt gun recommendation

[IndianaRooster]

I’m preparing for my first sheep hunt later this year, and I‘m having the hardest possible time deciding on what caliber gun to bring with me. The three guns that I have in my safe that I have narrowed it down to are the 6.5-300, 280 AI, and 300WSM. All of them are about the same weight. Any advice you can provide? Or, are there any of these 3 that you absolutely would NOT take on a sheep hunt?

 

[back country]

This is pretty generic, but it can’t be understated: take the one you are most comfortable with and shoot best.

Might not be the advice you’re looking for, but that’s most likely what I’d base my decision off of.


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[wildwilderness]

Which ever one you shoot the best

 

[ReddingArcher]

I'm in the same boat, I have a hunt booked for 23 and bought a 6.5 PRC a while back and I am 90 percent sure I will take that. On the off chance I decide to try and hunt a grizzly I will take my 300 WM. I have a 7-08 that is my lightest gun but we just dont have the best relationship so that one is staying home. There is a Kimber 280AI at my local sportsmans that I am tempted to pick up but I have really been enjoying my PRC so I'm pretty settled on it. Its shooting great. I agree with the other guys, take the one you feel most comfortable with.

 

[pointrow]

300ws

 

[keller]

Which ever one you are comfortable with and shoot the best. caliber does not matter accuracy does. I took a 10lb gun i shot for years and never second guessed it.take lots of pictures and enjoy your hunt it will be over too soon.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Take whichever one you like. I honestly think the sheep hunting rifle is one of the most over thought decisions in the entire world of hunting. Most guys I know here in AK just use a tikka or a Kimber with a lighter scope and do fine.

About 5 years ago I had a buddy who drew a really good sheep tag. He bought a tikka (back when they were less than 600 bucks) and put a 6x SWFA on it. He bought about 3.5k rounds of 308 ammo for it and just practiced his ass off, learned how to dial etc. practiced a few times a week. Just shot the heck out of that rifle. When he found his sheep, he was so comfortable with the gun that the 560 yard shot was a chip shot for him.

A few months after that he was on a Facebook sheep hunting group and somebody was asking about cartridge choice for sheep. He suggested a 308 and a lot of practice and the ever so knowledgeable Facebook sheep crowd just had a field day making fun of 308 etc. well that dude has gotten sheep every year since and a stone in Canada with that same exact rifle/scope combo.

 

[tuffcity]

Out of those three, I personally would roll with the .280AI. But I might be a bit biased as my mountain rifle of choice is a 6.5 CM. Even for grizzly it's fine. My hunting partner took his grizzly with his grandad's .270 with no fuss or bother.

It seems like a lot of talk revolves around "I need a 30 something whiz-bang magnum in case of a bear charge"... chances of that happening are between slim and SFA. And if by some random outside chance it does, let your guide deal with it. He/she would probably prefer you get out of the way any way.

 

[7layerburrito]

Just echoing what everyone has said here: whichever gun you like best. Sheep aren't like elk or moose, they tend to hit the deck with one well placed shot. Even if you end up getting to add on something like caribou, they're not particularly hardy either. Pick a gun early, shoot it til August and show up not worrying about it!

 

[stevevan]

Just echoing what everyone has said here: whichever gun you like best. Sheep aren't like elk or moose, they tend to hit the deck with one well placed shot. Even if you end up getting to add on something like caribou, they're not particularly hardy either. Pick a gun early, shoot it til August and show up not worrying about it!

Give me the 280AI every time. Great bullet choices in 7mm.

 

[JOC Fan]

The bullet type is more important the caliber in my opinion. A quick expanding bullet that anchors him down. Sheep are easy to kill but are rather slab sided.

 

[Huntin_GI]

Take whichever one you like. I honestly think the sheep hunting rifle is one of the most over thought decisions in the entire world of hunting. Most guys I know here in AK just use a tikka or a Kimber with a lighter scope and do fine.

About 5 years ago I had a buddy who drew a really good sheep tag. He bought a tikka (back when they were less than 600 bucks) and put a 6x SWFA on it. He bought about 3.5k rounds of 308 ammo for it and just practiced his ass off, learned how to dial etc. practiced a few times a week. Just shot the heck out of that rifle. When he found his sheep, he was so comfortable with the gun that the 560 yard shot was a chip shot for him.

A few months after that he was on a Facebook sheep hunting group and somebody was asking about cartridge choice for sheep. He suggested a 308 and a lot of practice and the ever so knowledgeable Facebook sheep crowd just had a field day making fun of 308 etc. well that dude has gotten sheep every year since and a stone in Canada with that same exact rifle/scope combo.

And this is why I went with a .308. Ammo availability has yet to show any signs of pre-covid levels and when it is back in stock, I expect pricing to remain high.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

And this is why I went with a .308. Ammo availability has yet to show any signs of pre-covid levels and when it is back in stock, I expect pricing to remain high.

308 is a good round. This particular guy I was talking about got a 308 because he couldn't find a 6.5. That tikka 308 has knocked down a bunch of good rams and a few goats. Its the only rifle that guy owns. He just spends money on ammo and shoots it rather than shopping for new guns. I wish I had that sort of discipline.

 

[SDHNTR]

What scopes are on each? The cartridge won’t matter a lick if you put it where it belongs, but the scope might…

 

[HornPorn]

Just echoing what everyone has said here: whichever gun you like best. Sheep aren't like elk or moose, they tend to hit the deck with one well placed shot. Even if you end up getting to add on something like caribou, they're not particularly hardy either. Pick a gun early, shoot it til August and show up not worrying about it!

The irony of the guy with the bloodiest sheep I have ever seen as his profile pic talking about animals hitting the deck with one well placed shot.

 

[FLATHEAD]

.280AI

 

[DuckDogDr]

I wound up purchasing 2 rifles.. a Remington 700 300 SAUM in titanium and a titanium 300 wm..

I had planned on taking the WM for worst case scenario / lost ammo and availability of need to find some quick…but with very limited load testing .. it needs a lot of fine tuning

That 300 SAUM… I could literally drive a nail at 300 yards with it.. it is Stooopid accurate
So accurate I let my gf try her first attempt at “long range” shooting.. drew her a diagram of where to hold on scope hash marks… she rang steel every shot … so it’s probably going if I ever get lucky enough to make the journey

I would reinforce what others have said… one you’re most comfortable with… practice… practice practice .. need to know all of the quirks of the gun you choose when the rubber meets the road

 

[7layerburrito]

The irony of the guy with the bloodiest sheep I have ever seen as his profile pic talking about animals hitting the deck with one well placed shot.

That sheep was hit right in the heart at 355yds and then fell about 100 ft down a mountain, spraying blood all over hell. They live on mountains, you know!

 

[S-3 ranch]

Every rifle you got will hammer a ram plenty.
uncle and I are heading Fannin sheep hunting , and he is packing a 7-08 Remington model 7 and me a .308 win Remington 788
I don’t think we are going under gunned, aunt Vicky has killed both a goat and a dall sheep with the 7-08 .
imo glass is the most important part of the rifle

 

[jhm2023]

You said all three rifles were all similar in weight but didn't specify what type of rifles. I'd take the one that's most reliable and most impervious to terrible weather and getting banged up in the rocks. If they all fit the bill for that then I'd pick either the 280ai or the 6.5 leaning pretty heavy to the 280 though. I personally prefer 7mm for all things mountain hunting. I'm not a 30 cal person so the 300 would be staying at home even with grizz on the menu.

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