What cartridge for Alaska and western big game?

[LightFoot]

(Edited after further consideration)

 

[LightFoot]

I am looking for a cartridge to hunt big game out west and in Alaska. The largest game I hunt now are whitetail deer. I use a suppressed Tikka T3x in 6.5CM at ranges of 70-300 yards.

I am moving out west and want to go after elk, black bear, pronghorn, mountain goat, and other things. Later I plan to go to Alaska to hunt caribou and moose. I still don't expect to take shots at more than 500 yards. The 6.5CM should be enough for pronghorn but I think I need a more powerful cartridge for the rest.

I don't hand load. I don't put together custom rifles. And I am very adverse to recoil. So I am not even considering the 7PRC, or 300 Win Mag, or anything that kicks similarly hard. I cannot shoot those effectively. I am currently looking at the 6.8 Western, 7mm-08, or the 308. Which of those would be best for an off the shelf mountain rifle and ammunition? Whatever I go with will have my 8" suppressor on it. Are there other cartridges I should consider?

Did you make a decision?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AcesHigh]

Did you just get out of jail or something

You can’t be scared your whole life! Difference of opinion is just what it is. I’m attacked. I’ll return fire. Peace be with you and happy hunting, with youth rifles…

 

[Bamf_Pa]

I’m not reading 12 pages of comments but if I’m hunting in grizzly or brown bear country the bleed moor is not gonna be on my shoulder. Yes I would carry a handgun but the rifle will be in my hands or near my hands more than a handgun. I would lean into a 300 win mag you can shoot 150 up and over 200 grains in a factory round. Get a 7-8 lb gun outfit for around 10 lbs brake it and choose lighter loads for practice or medium game throw in 180-215 for Alaska or elk

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I’m not reading 12 pages of comments but if I’m hunting in grizzly or brown bear country the bleed moor is not gonna be on my shoulder. Yes I would carry a handgun but the rifle will be in my hands or near my hands more than a handgun. I would lean into a 300 win mag you can shoot 150 up and over 200 grains in a factory round. Get a 7-8 lb gun outfit for around 10 lbs brake it and choose lighter loads for practice or medium game throw in 180-215 for Alaska or elk

22 bleed moor worked pretty good...

 

[Ryan Avery]

22 bleed moor worked pretty good...


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22 Magnum……

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

22 Magnum……

Nah my barrel says 6.5x224 Magnum.

 

[SSP_AK]

22 bleed moor worked pretty good...


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What bullet and shot distance if you don’t mind, considering one of these for a new build.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

What bullet and shot distance if you don’t mind, considering one of these for a new build.

80 ELDX.

523 yards for the moose.

280 yards for the bear.

 

[Bamf_Pa]

Can’t argue with success, but that doesn’t change my mind lol.

 

[patrickj71]

270 it kills everything

I was thinking the same thing. He could get by with the 6.5 CM but the 270 is my favorite all around choice. I prefer the 140gn Accubond but there are many choices available.

 

[Gravel Road]

I was thinking the same thing. He could get by with the 6.5 CM but the 270 is my favorite all around choice. I prefer the 140gn Accubond but there are many choices available.

.013 makes ALL the difference.

 

[LongWayAround]

.013 makes ALL the difference.

It's where the wallop happens.

 

[UnckleBob]

.013 makes ALL the difference.

I think the extra 3-400 fps might have something to do with it.

 

[Upstateram]

300 prc is great

 

[Wapack]

Damn when I clicked on this thread I didn’t expect to be this entertained. Wild ride.

 

[00ninja00]

Man, asking which caliber to hunters is asking what’s the best car for racing, what’s the best shoe for hiking, what’s the best etc etc. each forum has its own kind of people which kind of lean to one direction with a few exceptions.
I don’t claim to have the most experience or most collection of rifles, but I’ve had my fair share. Chased a lot of “trends”, first AIs, then creedmores, and last bandwagon were the PRCs. Had one of each of those, 280ai, 6.5cm, then a 7prc. Even chased a trend of the big powa with a 30 Norma AI (pita with the brass). Ultimately, I now just carry my old school surgeon 308, with rebarreled proof carbon sendero. Admittedly, if I was going for moose in Alaska and plan to do long shots, I’d bring 7prc or maybe 300norm, but for everything else here out west, there’s nothing I’d hesitate to take with my old trusty 308. Take that with a grain of salt, as I’ve never been to Alaska.

All that to say: use what you got. Your 6.5 is plenty for most out west besides (imo 500y+) big bears and moose. But if you’re just inside 500y, it’ll take anything. As others have stated, spending money on other equipment will help you more than a new rifle and caliber.
If you still itching to get something new, go try out a few buddies and then decide.

 

[00ninja00]

Damn when I clicked on this thread I didn’t expect to be this entertained. Wild ride.

Forreals!

 

[30338]

80 ELDX.

523 yards for the moose.

280 yards for the bear.

I guess a 7mm Remington with a 175 or 180 grain bullet may be overkill on the grizzly. Any excitement on the bear or just one and done?