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From: cpdlm@marlin.jcu.edu.au (Dominique Morel)
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Subject: Re: Best rifle caliber
Message-ID: <1991Jun25.072013.5406@doug.cae.wisc.edu>
Date: 25 Jun 91 12:20:13 GMT
Organization: James Cook University
Lines: 85
Approved: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu
Originator: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu

>   What is the best all-around hunting caliber for North Americam game?

>I'm stewing with the idea of dumping the bucks into a KDF or McMillan
>and figure I won't ever have any money for the rest of my natural life
>after that, so I need to make one caliber do it all. (except brown bears)

>Which of the following would you choose and why?

>   [ long list of most long-range calibers deleted]

>Any inputs anyone has on any of the .300's would be appreciated.
>-Joseph Crunk

Well I have never shot or been In North America. I have only been in Europe, 
Africa, and Australia, but I have only hunted in Australia. I have
friends who have hunted the world and from personal experience and what I
have been told by other hunters I would have to say that if I had to
have only one rifle I would keep my BRNO ZKK 602 in .375 H & H mag.

I have used a wide variety of rifles from the humble .22RF through to
the 460 Wby Mag.

I own

	.22 RF
	.222 Rem Mag
	.22/250 Rem
	.257 Roberts (In the process of being built)
	.308 Norma Mag M17 action 22" barrel (TOO SHORT USELESS) getting a
			.458 barrel for it
	.308 Norma Mag FN Mauser action 26" barrel (JUST WONDERFUL )
	.375 H & H 
and have shot

	.22 mag (Used to own a rifle to shoot this)
	.22 Hornet
	.218 Bee Improved
	.223
	.222
	.220 Swift
	.243
	.17 
	.303/25 (Used to own a rifle to shoot this)
	6.5 X 52 (Used to own a rifle to shoot this)
	6.5 X 55
	.264 Win Mag
	.250/3000
	.25/06
	.270
	7 X 57
	.308 Win
	.30/06
	.303 British
	8 X 56
	8 X 57
	.44/40
	.444 Marlin
	.45/70 (Used to own a rifle to shoot this)
	.458 Win
	.460 Wby

Of all the above rifles that I have shot only the 460 was unpleasant to
shoot. I have found all the others to have manageable recoil. I have
shot much game with the .375 and have never found it wanting. I use the
beautiful 300 Sierra Spitzer Boat Tail bullets for all excecpt the
Buffalo and wild cattle, where I use the 300 grain Hornandy Solids. I
have found that the bullet is slow enough to kill without much bruising
and yet fast, accurate and heavy enough to kill realiably. I have shot
ducks and rabbits with it as well as many pigs and other game. It kills
well and fast. It also has the penetration to make a heart shot on a 300lbs
boar by aiming between the hams on a fleeing target. I have played with
lighter bullets, but find that they are no a good as the heavy ones.

The Poms got it right in 1912 with the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum.
(Did you know that Holland & Holland of 98 New Bond street London were 
responsible for the belt and the term Magnum)

A good load for the 300gn bullet is either 79.5 gns of IMR 4350 (MAX 82gns)
or 82 gns of IMR 4831

I have recently cronographed the 82 gns of 4831 with 300 Hornandy solid
and got 2660 feet per second out of my 25" barrel.


	Dominique  Morel