Craig Boddington once wrote an article on cartridges for bears and noted that an increase in kinetic energy doesn’t “impress” bears as much as an increase in both bullet diameter and weight.
All very great calibers, I was set some years back to put together a 338 Winchester magnum but then I fell in love with the Ruger 375 compact magnum. Thanks for a great video that gets right to the point.
Most common big game rifles in Alaska are 7mm rem mag, 308win, 30-06 springfield, 300win mag, and 338win mag with premium heavy bullets. Born in Alaska and raised here hunting and fishing. If you don't have a weatherby one of these will do. 30-06 with 200-220 grain is my preference. Thanks @Reloading Weatherby
35 whelen has new loading data from Sierra that pushes a 225gr 2900 FPS and 4200ft-lbs. For me it was the clear choice because I had plenty of loading components for it minus the brass so I did buy some $50 a box ammo to shoot. I got it a CVA hunter in 35 whelen for $295. That kind of punch for that price was hard to beat. Recoil isn't bad with the heavy barrel and the nice recoil pad. Put a Sig whiskey 3 3-9x scope on it. It's $400 complete package that can kill any game in North American (and the world actually)
35 whelem does hsve s following here in ak amongst reloaded. If you don't reload I'd suggest not owning one as ammo for it in small town ak is almost nonexistent
I just got a beautiful used 340 Weatherby. Best part is I got 264 rounds of factory ammo thrown in for free. I don't plan on shooting it that much once it gets sighted in, so that might be a lifetime of ammo.
Lived in Alaska for 13 years and my family is still there, but they would laugh at your selections. We shot 30-06 for years and lately 7mm magnum to take moose, bear (brown and black), sheep, goats, caribou... Never seen the need for blasters if your bullet placement is correct.
I'm aware... most people in Alaska use what they use in the lower 48. Couple of things, the 338 Win mag is used plenty in Alaska and it's just my personal opinion. Thanks for watching!
30-06 will kill anything. 7mm REM Mag will too. A couple of different African PH’s used 7x57 to kill elephants, lions, leopards (most notably, WH Bell). People who compose these lists are usually looking through reloading books, using 500 yard effective range, or some arbitrary energy figure to select rounds. Natives were killing big & dangerous game with spears, bows & arrows (they didn’t try to kill by aiming in non-vital areas). Pioneers, explorers used black powder rifles, flintlocks, and muskets; 19th and 20th century hunters used 303 British, .30-30’s, .45-70’s and other rounds. Shot placement is the key. I use a .300 Savage for just about everything, and stay within 200 yards. It kills cleanly.
I agree completely. If your job entails going into brush after a wounded brown bear, I would probably be inclined for something a little stronger, but I'm no expert. I have heard more brown bears have been killed with a 30-06 than any other caliber, so obviously it's a great cartridge.
Like my father in-law always said to me...Timothy it's all about we're you put that bullet! that said my creature comfort is 300 Win mag with 200 grain bullet.
I think you don’t need that much gun unless you are just hunting Brown Bear I went once to Alaska and left my 300 magnum at home and took a .264 Win Mag for Caribou and it worked perfect. Only saw one Grizzly and it did not concern me. If I had to hunt everything in Alaska with one rifle I would pick 30-06. Premium bullets like a Swift A-Frame
@@tS-sn7jt I lived in southeast alaska for 25 yrs Juneau area amd hunted extensively As hunting fishing and trapping are my passions. All I used was 30-06 180 grain nosler partition for everything from deer to moose . Long before the invention of barnes ttsx bullets .. today I also use barmes ttsx amd partitions still today in 180s 30-06 is all you need in a big game rifle for alaska trust me .magnums aren't necessary. It's the bullet you choose for the job and ttsx amd partitions fill the bill .
Win mag rounds are so much easier to find vs the WBY and Rum mag rounds and they don't crack your wallet as hard either. My opinion is 300 wm, 338 wm and 375 h&h mag will do the job just as good as the other rounds. Thats my opinion.
You're right. I shoot left-handed and I like the weatherby action and stock design and the ballistics of the Weatherby cartridges. I hand load. No problem with ammo.
My choice is the .375 H&H, partly because I have one and partly because I find it surprisingly comfortable to shoot. My .300 Win Mag kicks harder or at least it feels like it. It has a very instantaneous 'crack" where the .375 H&H feels more like a 'heavy push'. That may be in part due to my 35 year old Remington 700 BDL Safari Grade rifle being a tad heavier than most. I worked up a load using 300 gr. Nosler partitions at the middle of the suggested powder amounts as the load is accurate and comfortable to shoot. I've yet to go to Alaska (or Africa) but if I do, this rifle is going with me.
The 375 Holland and Holland kills all out of proportion to its ballistics and recoil. Holland&Holland originally intended it to be used on the larger African plains game but they created a cartridge that would take Buffalo, elephant and any of the world's largest and dangerous animals.
I've still got the 375H&H, .416Rem, but have abandoned all the horrible sharp recoiling magnums that live in 10+lb guns but my choice now is the 9.3x62 with 300gr A-frames. Five in the mag. lighter rifles, less recoil, hammer of a round without the sharp absurd recoil of the RUM, .338win, or .340wby you suggest. I would go so far as to say that the majority of hunters would NEVER practice with these rounds, and would develop bad habits with flinching. Plus, the guns that hold those rounds are heavy pigs because if they weren't your fillings would fly out. I'd add the .338-06, and the ....35 Whelen as a more sensible consideration.
You're better off with a 30-06 up to a 338 win mag at the most They handle anything with the right Bullet including brown bear protection and shoot flat enough for longer shots
i live in juneau slaska 30-06 180 barnes ttsx or partitions We don't hunt trophy bears ..just hooved critters and is what me amd most of my buddies shoot for deer elk and moose . .it gets it done with no fear and works for bear protection ..also carry 44 mag or 454 casull with hard cast buffalo bore bullets for 2nd line bear defence ..and bear mace Can't beat thst combo when you're out deer elk or moose . None will kick the hell out of you either
9.3x62 is one of my absolute favorite rounds that I use, I personally shoot the 250gr accubonds for most of the hunting I do but the 300gr A-Frames I have heard great things about them especially for dangerous game if I used my 9.3x62 for dangerous game that’s probably the bullet I would use. I use my 416 rigby for dangerous game with 400gr A-Frames.
I have a RUM in .300 & .375 cal. I love both and would use either world wide. The .375 RUM is a bone crusher!!!! Real close if not better than the 30-378 for ballistics. I also think the .375 RCM should have made the list, that is a very well thought out cartridge. I have a Ruger guide gun in .300 RCM and I love that thing. I will find a .375 RCM chambered in the guide gun and buy that rifle too. Thanks for the video!!!
I love big heavy magnums. Great list. BUT When I got up here, I found out most people hunt with a .270, .300 win mag, .30-06, .308, 7mm-08, 6.5 creedmoor, .243, 7mm Rem Mag etc... only really need those big bore guns on brown bear, polar bear (can't hunt them anymore) and bison.
Unfortunately, over time a lot of people used the more normal cartridges like 30-06, but assumed the big heavy animals needed big hard bullets, not understanding that moose, elk, even brown bear, are still ultimately thin skinned, lightly structured animals. They are not cape buffalo, they are not giraffes, elephants etc. Nor are they built that way. People would shoot a moose with a 220 grain hard cast 30-06, get terrible terminal performance, and then blame the cartridge instead of the bullet. So we keep going to bigger, faster cartridges, with bigger harder bullets to compensate for the poor bullet performance, when really, the 30-06 wasn’t the problem. The problem was shooting a thin skinned moose with a bullet designed for buffalo. A 30-05 270 etc with a bullet that is designed for light skinned game like an accubond, scirocco etc. will do a better job on Alaskan game than a .375 h&h shooting copper solids or whatever super hard bullet people think they need.
@@fnkdtnk You are very wise sir, 30-06 180 grain nosler partitions ,barnes ttsx,swift A frame,bonded bear claw etc works wonders here in alaska on everything from deer to coastal brown bear defence if need be. Deer drop with almost no meat damage, but you are ready in case of a close brown bear encounter. Never had a performance problem with nosler partitions
@@jamiehurtt3530 my family (myself dad and brother) used 30-06 180 grain winchester supreme silvertips for years, and they absolutely pulverized all of the vitals in whitetail’s and blew a baseball-softball sized hole out of the other side. You cannot tell me that those don’t do enough damage or penetrate far enough to take down elk and moose.
@@fnkdtnk fist off never once did i mention winchester silvertip ammo in any of my earlier statements ..you need a stout bullet not a cheap cup and core bullet ..and that is exactly what whinchester silvertips are just like remington core lokt anmo..again I repeat ..you need at least a partition style bullet or an all copper solid such as the 180 grain barnes ttsx in the 30-06 at 2700 fps muzzle velocity. Or Nolsler partition,,swift A frame, trophy bonded bear claw etc in reference to minimal meat damage on deer ...try them especially with a 30-06 and the 180 grain barnes ttsx.. You obviously haven't read any of my previous statents on this thread amd if you did you'd see that I never once mentioned winchester silver trip ammo ...and I was speaking about thosw bullets performance on deer with minimal meat damage but tough enough to protect against latge bear without switching ammo ..now do you get what im saying? ..this is what alaskans prefer as we hunt deer moose etc in areas with large coastal brown bear encountere possibilities ..good luck
Interesting list. First place in my opinion would be the 375 Weatherby Magnum. It doesn't beat you up like the 378. With a 300 grain boattail bullet, the 375 will deliver more energy at 800 yards than a 30-06 does at the muzzle.
Ahh I read it again and missed that you referred to the weatherby, my mistake there. Still doesn’t have more energy at 800 than a 30-06 at the muzzle… not even close, 1400 ft-lbs @ 800 yds vs 3080@muzzle. Don’t get me wrong that is still impressive seeing that the 30-06 has 1400 ft-lbs @550 yds.
I have a 375 Weatherby. I can shoot 375 H&H out of it which I can find anywhere in the world. It's recoil is mild compared to the ballistics you get out of it. It's also a legal caliber to use on heavy and Dangerous Game throughout the world.
@@ReloadingWeatherby I reload all, including this cartridge. The 225 gr Barnes X is my favorite. 3000fps with good flat trajectory and a whole lot of kick ass. Haven't loaded any in several yrs now as I haven't hunted in many years. Always will have the rifle. Smoothest action out there. Taken many mule deer with it. For some reason, meat damage is less than my 300WM?? Don't know why.
I personally love my 9.3x62 shooting 250gr Accubonds very light recoil for shooting such a heavy bullet so I can carry a light rifle I personally have a ruger hawkeye African with a Leupold VX 5hd 1-5 that I have used from moose in Alberta to Eland in Namibia this gun just works so well. But I have been debating on adding a 338 win mag, 358 Norma Mag, 338-06, or 340 WBY mag to the collection so love the insight on a few of these from this video.
All good picks but I would be more then comfortable with a 300 win mag and a 200gr ttsx. It would probably be my first choice because it is so well rounded.
I was at the Y last Saturday. My son was ruining outdoor track. Wish I would have thought earlier and got in touch with you when I was down there. In 2014 I drew a Deseret elk tag. A guy that I hunted with and share my hunting hide was using a 30-378 and he introduced me to that cartridge. He said the shells were over 125.00 dollars a box. Ouch!!! He got a nice elk with it, but it took him two or three rounds. I thought they were well placed rounds. All of them did go clean though. Elk are just tough animals.
A simple check of ammo calibers sold in Alaska puts 308 Win and 30-06 1st and second. I prefer calibers that don't cost $60-140/box. I also handload. My preferred moose chambering is 30-06, with a 200 Barnes TSX or TTSX. Drops em. Ft-lbs is surely impressive on your list. However, I have many Alaskan friends and family that use 30-30, 45-70, 308 win, 30-06, and 300 win mag...seems like shot placement and not taking stupid shots is far more important than ft/lbs.
Great list. Those are some pretty big boomers. I live in Canada and we got all the same critters as Alaska for the most part. With modern bullet technology the old 30-06 will still knock them all down here.
Dale, I built a Super Boomer .375 Roy, and it rocks! But a friend of mine married a dude from Fairbanks and her hubby said he's shot Griz his entire life with a .30-06 with 200's. Maybe you don't really need the Super Magnum for them. But, he doesn't shoot coastal bear. I want to use my home made .375 with 300's.
@@Dalesarty in my opinion a 30-06 has plenty of power with a 200 grain bullet it's a 30 caliber you've just got to put the bullet in the right spot if you can kill one of these big animals with an arrow you can definitely kill them with a 30-06
I had a friend who had an older cousin back in the late 1970s who was a RMP officer in Alberta who was barely on his patrol when he went to see his Grandfather who was my friend's great uncle...His grandfather was so proud of him he then asked what he was carrying for a rifle as the grandson told him a 30-30 Winchester...His grandfather went to the back room and brought out his .378 Weatherby Mag...He told him as he gave him this rifle with ammo,"Son...This rifle will save your life!!" A few years passed...Grandpa passes on...One day they get a call of Rogue Grizzly bear causing trouble killing livestock they found the dangerous animal in a field as one officer was using his 30-30 with no avail as the bear was charging...My Friend's cousin had that.378 with him and loaded it up...Blam!! One shot at around 15-20 yards he dropped the Sonofbitch in it's tracks...My friend showed me pictures of his cousin and that bear which was about 7-8' tall and maybe close to or over a ton of fur and claws...Yep... 378 Weatherby Mag gets my respect!!
I had my sights on the 378 weatherby for years. I have a 300 Weatherby. I was always conserned about recoil. So what do I do pay to shoot the 50 cal 5 times. It had one hell of a muzzle break on the beast but it sure was FUN.
Todos son excelentes calibres para ese tipo de cacería en América del norte, de todos esos calibres con el único que he disparado es con el .375 H&H Mag.!! Muy buena recomendación de calibres..!! Excelente vídeo Reloading Weatherby..!! Saludos
Of the 3 Alaskan guides that I know of, one uses a .416 Remington, another uses a .458 Winchester, and thirdly, a .458 Lott. These are backups for hunting where grizzly and big browns charge. It can be a tall order to stop a charging grizzly from 5 feet away.
I built a .375 Weatherby magnum on a 1917 Enfield action (made by Winchester) with a 30" Douglas barrel made in my home state of WV. Have an MPI stocks duplicate of an A-Square Hannibal style stock. I get 2889 ft/s (chono'd) with a 300 grain bullet. That's 5600 ft-lbs. Rifle is phenomenal and Art Alfin really new his stuff. The rifle kicks less than my M700 BDL Remington in .338 Winchester. I long to take it to Alaska for a coastal brownie. It's my favorite rifle. It has the power of a .458, the reach of a .300 magnum, and the recoil (with the special stock) is totally doable. It's within 50 ft/s of a .378 without all the other problems of that caliber. Roy got it right in 1947.....
Great video. My hats off to folks who use those big calibers, they are very cool and have a lot of nostalgia. Those big magnum rounds are very expensive, but readily available online. However, caution to anyone that wants to travel to Ak and go hunting and wants to use this video as a "what caliber" to bring to ak to hunt. Those rounds IMO are usually for the gun fanatic that just likes to collect premier calibers with a connection to the past stories of great adventures in the last frontier. If your the normal guy that could care less about bullet length and primer or powder grains or origins of a bullet. Your best bet is bring a 30-06 or a 300 Win that you have actually shot before. Every person i know in Ak uses one of these two calibers, to hunt with, that's including me as well. Remember when you're hunting in Alaska its grueling, and challenging and the elements rarely ever cooperate, you sure you want to drop your collectors edition big magnum gun in a bog or down a scree field, because you will. ask me how i know... Practice with one caliber for them all. As a resident in Ak you can hunt darned near everyday of the year. You can shoot one brown/grizzly,a dozen caribou,a pile of black bear,a muskox,bison,bunch of goats and sheep,and the king of the forest a Moose. One gun/caliber for all of them! By all means, you should buy those big magnum guns, it's your right to do so. And they are very cool.
I would feel very comfortable with my Marlin 1895 guide gun loaded with 350 gr round nose bullets coming out at over 2100 fps. The size of the bullet with the quick follow-ups from a lever action and over 3500 ft/lbs of energy is more than adequate for most bears except for maybe the rare 1000 lbs grizzly.
Gotta say I'm not familiar with most of those rounds/guns. Most of my life I have carried a 30-06, 7mm mag., and more recently a 45-70. Add to that my S&W 44 mag. Model 29 with 8&5/8" barrel on the hip. In my younger days it was a Stevens 325-G 30-30 bolt action and S&W 357 mag 6" barrel on the hip.
Good video as I am a weatherby enthusiast, but I think the 300 wby with 200 gr bullet is more than adequate. I killed a 1800 lb African eland with a 180 gr barnes.
I completely agree! Not a huge difference between the 300 RUM and the 300 WBY. I felt like I needed to have some cartridge diversity in the video. I couldn't just say pick from a 300 WBY up to a 378 WBY
Well it is true that it could have been a Top 50, but my cartridge of choice is the 35 Whelen. It has the same numbers as the 300 RUM. It shoots a 225 gr pill at 2900 fps so it has 4202 ft/lbs of energy at the muzzle, yet it hits harder because it has more frontal area.
Read the ballistic chart on the 35 Whelen. It doesn't come close to the velocity and energy you're stating. A 225 at 2600 feet per second and about 3500 foot pounds of energy. Still it's one hell of a game cartridge.
That's why I like the .358 Norma Mag. It's like the Whelen ate it's wheaties. With a 250 gen bullet, the trajectory almost matches the '06 with 180 gen.
That’s what I carried hunting Grizz over bait. Never got a shot but I never felt undergunned either. It was quicker to aim at close range than my .338WM and easier on the shoulder. Followup shots with a pump gun are much quicker than a bolt action.
Note on the 378 Weatherby, it's not just the amount of recoil, it's the speed that it hits you with. It hits really hard AND incredibly fast (one might say violent). My 338 Lapua shoots a 300gr bullet at 2850fps (measured), and without the muzzle brake can be pretty violent as well. That's 5410 ft/lbs of energy... Personal favorites are the 30/06 & the 370 Sako Magnum though. They are lighter to carry and less brutal.
Roy's magnificent 378 Magnum is one of my favorites. Properly stocked with a straight comb, recoil reducers Installed in the stock, Mag na ported 22 inch barrel for handiness in the Alaskan Bush or African Jungles shooting 350 gr. bullets. The muzzle blast and recoil would be glorious.
I think anything with more recoil than the 375 Wby is simply not practical. I like the 340 Wby a lot but I think the best all round cartridge for this niche is the 358Norma Mag. Best combination of bullet diameter/weight and velocity. Ammo hard to come by unless you load your own but for what it brings to the table I’ll load my own
I like the way you think sir! 358 Norma has got to be the most underated cartridge around. If I was a wealthy man I'd have a left handed 358 Norma. I feel lucky to have a left hand Remington 700 BDL in 338 Win Mag.
@@darvinclement3250 I like the way you think as well sir. I’m thinking of having a left-handed 358 built on a Ruger action. I currently have a leftie 375 Ruger but think the 358 would be more versatile. There’s certainly nothing wrong with your 338 either.
@@darvinclement3250 I have a left-hand 358 Norma Magnum. I had a Weatherby Mark 5 barreled to the 358 Norma mag. Had I ordered a barrel I would have put a number 4 Contour but I got a sensational deal on a Shilen stainless number 3 Contour. You carry it more than you shoot it. Jon Sandra wrote an article years ago. He called it the Big Swede said it was a greatest cartridge to come down the well-traveled cartridge pike. He had his barrel cut to 22 inches. He lost 45 ft per second, truly insignificant. He did have a heavy number 5 Contour Barrel. If I was to do it again I might put a number 5 contour barrel 22 inches or 21inches. It would have iron sights. I like carbines!
@@craigleibbrand7761 I still have an old copy of a Guns and Ammo magazine, one of the special edition ones from the early 80's I think. I think it is on magnum rifles. There is an article where they take some rifles to Texas to try out on Nilgai. The 358 Norma put them down with the most authority and fewest shots. I belive it beat out the 375 H&H. Gotta pull that issue out of the garage and re-read it.
I am prior Assistant Guide, my Father is a Master Guide here in Alaska, we pack 340s and agree on the 4000 ft. lbs of energy with mad bear, for general hunting we both use 300 win, I am getting 375 Ruger for Bear hunting next, wehave shot and killed Brown Bears both a 308, but not up close
I have lived in Alaska for 25 years The most game I have taken is with the 338 Win Mag using the 225gr Nosler Accubond exclusively hand loaded with Reloader 19 @ 76.0. In recent years I up the game to a 388 Rem Ultra Mag using the 225gr Swift A Frame and Reloader 22 powder @ 91.0. It’s a Custom Rem 700 XCR2 it’s a thumper on moose.
I mostly hunt with a close to 100 yr old winchester model 54 .has never let me down on anything. I bought the 9.3 x57 because it was cheap real cheap.the Husqvarna model 46 is the best handling rifles ever.i have the win 54 and 3 other win 70s and 1 model 7 Remington. Nothing handle near as well. Goodluck
I will add one more to your list and it's on the next page from the 340 and it is the 338 rum, I run 225 accubonds at 3250, 250's at 3050 and 300's at 2850 and these are high BC bullets that retain lots of energy for clean long range kills. Gotta love the 340 though
It's interesting how you perceive things as you grow up. My grandfather used an old 1894 Winchester in 30-30 to bag bull moose and brown bear, add to the fact the gun was ancient (All the bluing was worn off and the rifling had been shot out to the point it was pretty much a smoothbore) and he used carry this match with him, and always said "Within 30yrds you can just use the sights, but after that you have to put the match stick under the rear leaf and you'll hit target at up to football field" the rear sight elevator piece had fallen out. Looking back on it now, I remember the first time I saw him use the match stick and bagged this moose at probably 70yrds... with a 30-30, which at the time to me seemed reasonable because it was what I was taught. Looking back, it's friggin bizarre to me how he made those shots with an open sight rifle that would be considered fairly inadequate for such a large animal. Now as an adult, my goto moose gun is my Mosin PU rifle, and I've been in hunting parties with guys that have big bore syndrome, carrying 45-70s, 416 Rigby etc, telling me that my gun doesn't have enough power to reliably drop a moose
I understand that these are your opinions but there are plenty of lesser cartridges that will work on even the large bears. Most Alaskan guides( nonresident hunters are required to have a guide) will tell you that a properly placed 200 grain bonded or monolithic bullet out of a 30-06 will certainly work but if you can handle the recoil and shoot them well any guide would be delighted to see you show up to camp with any of the calibers you listed. Keep up the good work.
Just curious. Has anyone else out there shit a 325wsm and what'd you think?my experience was a Winchester model 70 and it was a damn delight to shoot. Just wanting to gather more info before deciding what to get
@@stevenlaxton3618 for me I reload ammo down here we sort of don’t get much of the quota Winchester make and so when we do have a it’s only a few boxes now and then So I reload there a guy that makes cases (Bertram brass) and he makes projectiles or I reload with the nossler accubonds and shoot out to 600+ yards on Sambar deer and fallow deer the 8mm dosnt get enough love its my fav caliber
@@lukeelliott2183 great thanks so much! It's what my dad runs here in BC Canada for everything from whitetail and mule deer up to elk and moose....I've shot it a few times and am thinking about looking for one but just wanted lend on someone's greater experience with the caliber to solidify my thoughts....it's kinda between 300 and 325 wsm
Appreciate the efforts and research. All good choices. My opinion though, use relevant criteria. Ft/lb of energy at the muzzle has no true relevance unless your intention is to shoot critters kissing the muzzle. Accurize decision making based on expected real world scenarios. Would you go out expecting to shoot 50-100 yds, or maybe glassing the expanses for long range. Alternately your primary concern could be the charging bruin, in which case your 4000ft/lb criteria has a degree of actual relevance.
I have a 340 I built back about 1980 using a Rem 700 magnum action with a match grade 24 inch stainless barrel and Hs precision fibre glass stock with aluminum beading block.After I shot it a bit,working up loads I had the barrel magnaported which greatly reduced the recoil so I could shoot 30 or 40 rounds off the bench and not feel like I did a couple rounds in the boxing ring lol.
Hi from Sweden, my favorite is the 378 , have shot many moose and some beaver too. The big brother 460 and 300 is in the same safe. They really rocks. I would use my 378 on a Alaska trip.
The only one on this list I carry is the .338 WIN. I have always been a fan of the .340, but at least with the .338 these days, I have at least a chance of finding ammo for it :( I also have a .300 WEATHERBY and would be confident shooting anything in Alaska with it.
Jack O'Connor was once asked if he could only use one cartridge to take game all over the world, what would it be?... He said the 30-06 with a 180 grain bullet.
There's only one cartridge for Alaska and that's Roy Weatherby's magnificent 378 Magnum. Elmer Keith would agree, however Jack 0' Conner would use his 270 or 30 ought 6. O'Connor wrote of shooting a grizzly 400 yards away with a 30-06 with 180 gr. Bullets. The bullets were complete pass throughs kicking up sand on the sand bar. He said more penetration than that from 200 or 220 gr bullets is not needed. He also shot a grizzly with a 300 Weatherby 180 gr. Rem Bronze Point bullet. The bear hit the ground so hard it bounced. On the off side was a hole so large you could stick your arm in and bits of bone, lung tissue and blood was in a fan spray 10 ft. From the animal. It was an article he wrote on 300 Magnums having to much recoil, muzzle blast and blowing big holes in anything they hit!
I'm one of those guys I can hunt with a 7 mm 08 for whitetail deer and be 100% satisfied but if I was going to go hunt brown bear or any other kind of dangerous game I would definitely want one of these calibers this brother just mentioned I would probably pick the 375 h&h Magnum
It's easy. Get an 30-06 and get an 338win mag or perhaps an 375 h&h or 375 Ruger. I wouldn't get the more exotic and harder to source Weatherby cartridges. The Weatherby 6lug backcountry rifle they now offer is really nice but Weatherby headstamps don't do it for me.
I only agree with two of those cartridges- 375 H&H and 338 WM. I would drop to 3500 ft/lbs and include the 9.3x62. One left off is the 300 Win Mag. For big thumpers how about 458 Win Mag or 50 Alaskan. FWIW there has been a lot of Alaskan game taken with a 30-30 and a 45-70. Three of the cartridges were just too exotic to readily find ammo and rifles.
I hand load so there's no problem. The 340 Weatherby I would probably carry more then any other rifle accept maybe my 358 Norma Magnum. None of that 225 gr bullet the kids use. 250s or above. I like 275, 280s or the new 300 gr. Nosler Accubond. I'm talking Alaska.
annother very good option would be the .358 STA (shooting times alaskan) only downside its not as accesible as more commercial cartridges.... it shoots much flatter than the .375 H&H , but have much more trauma upon impact than any .338 can offer.... .358 STA enjoys the same advantage over .358 norma magnum, like the .340 wby over .338 win mag does with its medium bore effectiveness and handloading flexibility.
@@ReloadingWeatherby if i remember correctly it is the 8 mm remington magnum necked up to .35 by foundr layne simpson, and a-square comp did som changes on shoulder diameter and case throat, to make it the final version .358 STA, so a wildcat cartridge....perhaps much easier to buy/get in the u.s than here in norway i guess !
@@ReloadingWeatherby yes, it is the same 8 mm remington magnum necked down to 7mm, and yes it was also created by Layne Simpson, in other words he created both 7mm STW and .358 STA...
@@ReloadingWeatherby BY the way, the 7mm Shooting times western is 8mm rem magnum necked down to 7mm with no other changes.....lookin at 140gr@ 3500 fps +!!! flat shooting YES!
I'd like to take a 264 win mag with 160 grain partitions to Alaska. I'd like to shoot caribou, dall's sheep, and then moose to test the bullets performance on game. Maybe I'm weird, but I like heavy for caliber round nose bullets.
A .404 to .423 caliber bullet that weighs between 400 and 450 grains is ideal for coastal brown bear. The biggest coastal brownies can be darn near as large in body as African buffalo, and many consider anything less than 416 caliber to not be big enough for the dugga boys, legally or not. 375 is good, but 416 is much better.👌
A grizzly bear once told me, in perfect English, " Dear American hunters, the best cartridge for Alaska, the best bear cartridge is the 22LR." A big bull moose concurred.
A 12 year old boy killed a elk just shy of 1400 yards with a 7 Rem Mag and a 180 grain Berger bullet. It’s the longest confirmed kill shot on a elk ever recorded. So it’s fair to say anything under 1400 yards a 7 Rem Mag is all the gun you need.
I've never been to Alaska. I've been chasing deer in Mississippi my whole life with a .308. That's what I would take. I would have a back up .45-70 in case of a grizzly charge.
Lower 48ers - “for Alaskan game, you need a rifle that rivals a howitzer!” Native Alaskans “our great grandfather swam across the Bering Straight and stole a Mosin back in 1897. The generations since have killed 2,000 moose, countless Elk, and never failed to stop a charging bear. Last week a kodiac charged me while I was skinning a moose. We are having roast grizzmoosken for dinner tonight, are you hungry?”
I realize I'm weighing in a little bit late here but the internet is timeless 😁. I rarely ever disagree with your opinions and I don't here. Anyone of your top five will kill all dangerous game found in Alaska anywhere. So happy New Year my friend and I'm hoping my wife will let me go hunt that vast wilderness someday. But she probably won't...
You're damn right if you ever see a Grizzly or brown bear work a ground squirrel colony or fish for Salmon and see how fast and Powerful they are, you will think you can't get a powerful enough gun in your hands!
Craig Boddington once wrote an article on cartridges for bears and noted that an increase in kinetic energy doesn’t “impress” bears as much as an increase in both bullet diameter and weight.
All very great calibers, I was set some years back to put together a 338 Winchester magnum but then I fell in love with the Ruger 375 compact magnum. Thanks for a great video that gets right to the point.
Thanks! 375 Ruger is a good one!
375 Ruger is a hell of a round. Just picked up a savage 110 in 375 Ruger looking forward to shooting it.
Most common big game rifles in Alaska are 7mm rem mag, 308win, 30-06 springfield, 300win mag, and 338win mag with premium heavy bullets. Born in Alaska and raised here hunting and fishing. If you don't have a weatherby one of these will do. 30-06 with 200-220 grain is my preference. Thanks @Reloading Weatherby
Thanks for your comment! I appreciate your insight.
I'll throw in a plug for the .35 whelen
Lest we not forget the 9.3x62. Does all the work a 375 HH will do with less recoil and shorter action length.
@@josephindahl6388 its got a cult following but not popular here in Alaska
Yep 40+ yrs alaskan sourdough myself ..I've only hunted with an 06 and 180 grain partitions never failed me ..if it ain't broke don't fix it
35 whelen has new loading data from Sierra that pushes a 225gr 2900 FPS and 4200ft-lbs. For me it was the clear choice because I had plenty of loading components for it minus the brass so I did buy some $50 a box ammo to shoot. I got it a CVA hunter in 35 whelen for $295. That kind of punch for that price was hard to beat. Recoil isn't bad with the heavy barrel and the nice recoil pad. Put a Sig whiskey 3 3-9x scope on it. It's $400 complete package that can kill any game in North American (and the world actually)
Thanks for sharing
35 whelen is North America's dangerous game cartridge.
35 whelem does hsve s following here in ak amongst reloaded.
If you don't reload I'd suggest not owning one as ammo for it in small town ak is almost nonexistent
I just got a beautiful used 340 Weatherby. Best part is I got 264 rounds of factory ammo thrown in for free. I don't plan on shooting it that much once it gets sighted in, so that might be a lifetime of ammo.
That's awesome!
If you ever get tired we can private msg as I'd love to round out my collections I'm missing a 7mm weatherby mag and a 340
Very good. I plan to carry the 340 Weatherby in Alaska more than any other rifle.
Lived in Alaska for 13 years and my family is still there, but they would laugh at your selections. We shot 30-06 for years and lately 7mm magnum to take moose, bear (brown and black), sheep, goats, caribou... Never seen the need for blasters if your bullet placement is correct.
I'm aware... most people in Alaska use what they use in the lower 48. Couple of things, the 338 Win mag is used plenty in Alaska and it's just my personal opinion. Thanks for watching!
30-06 will kill anything. 7mm REM Mag will too. A couple of different African PH’s used 7x57 to kill elephants, lions, leopards (most notably, WH Bell). People who compose these lists are usually looking through reloading books, using 500 yard effective range, or some arbitrary energy figure to select rounds. Natives were killing big & dangerous game with spears, bows & arrows (they didn’t try to kill by aiming in non-vital areas). Pioneers, explorers used black powder rifles, flintlocks, and muskets; 19th and 20th century hunters used 303 British, .30-30’s, .45-70’s and other rounds. Shot placement is the key.
I use a .300 Savage for just about everything, and stay within 200 yards. It kills cleanly.
I agree completely. If your job entails going into brush after a wounded brown bear, I would probably be inclined for something a little stronger, but I'm no expert. I have heard more brown bears have been killed with a 30-06 than any other caliber, so obviously it's a great cartridge.
Like my father in-law always said to me...Timothy it's all about we're you put that bullet! that said my creature comfort is 300 Win mag with 200 grain bullet.
Right on
30-06 all the way
Good luck finding those exotic cartridges in small town alaska
30-06 all we ever need in alaska
I think you don’t need that much gun unless you are just hunting Brown Bear
I went once to Alaska and left my 300 magnum at home and took a .264 Win Mag for Caribou and it worked perfect. Only saw one Grizzly and it did not concern me.
If I had to hunt everything in Alaska with one rifle I would pick 30-06. Premium bullets like a Swift A-Frame
Yes sir
Your 100% right this video is BS this guy never set foot in Alaska
@@tS-sn7jt
I lived in southeast alaska for 25 yrs
Juneau area amd hunted extensively
As hunting fishing and trapping are my passions.
All I used was 30-06 180 grain nosler partition for everything from deer to moose .
Long before the invention of barnes ttsx bullets .. today I also use barmes ttsx amd partitions still today in 180s
30-06 is all you need in a big game rifle for alaska trust me .magnums aren't necessary.
It's the bullet you choose for the job and ttsx amd partitions fill the bill .
I'll always choose the .22 short for brown bear
How do you like being brown and mushy?
To shoot your buddy in the leg?
Lol
you should
Win mag rounds are so much easier to find vs the WBY and Rum mag rounds and they don't crack your wallet as hard either. My opinion is 300 wm, 338 wm and 375 h&h mag will do the job just as good as the other rounds. Thats my opinion.
Thanks for watching
You're right. I shoot left-handed and I like the weatherby action and stock design and the ballistics of the Weatherby cartridges. I hand load. No problem with ammo.
My choice is the .375 H&H, partly because I have one and partly because I find it surprisingly comfortable to shoot. My .300 Win Mag kicks harder or at least it feels like it. It has a very instantaneous 'crack" where the .375 H&H feels more like a 'heavy push'. That may be in part due to my 35 year old Remington 700 BDL Safari Grade rifle being a tad heavier than most.
I worked up a load using 300 gr. Nosler partitions at the middle of the suggested powder amounts as the load is accurate and comfortable to shoot. I've yet to go to Alaska (or Africa) but if I do, this rifle is going with me.
Thanks for sharing
Hard to beat .375.
The 375 Holland and Holland kills all out of proportion to its ballistics and recoil. Holland&Holland originally intended it to be used on the larger African plains game but they created a cartridge that would take Buffalo, elephant and any of the world's largest and dangerous animals.
I've still got the 375H&H, .416Rem, but have abandoned all the horrible sharp recoiling magnums that live in 10+lb guns but my choice now is the 9.3x62 with 300gr A-frames. Five in the mag. lighter rifles, less recoil, hammer of a round without the sharp absurd recoil of the RUM, .338win, or .340wby you suggest. I would go so far as to say that the majority of hunters would NEVER practice with these rounds, and would develop bad habits with flinching. Plus, the guns that hold those rounds are heavy pigs because if they weren't your fillings would fly out. I'd add the .338-06, and the ....35 Whelen as a more sensible consideration.
You're better off with a 30-06 up to a 338 win mag at the most
They handle anything with the right Bullet including brown bear protection and shoot flat enough for longer shots
i live in juneau slaska
30-06 180 barnes ttsx or partitions
We don't hunt trophy bears ..just hooved critters and is what me amd most of my buddies shoot for deer elk and moose . .it gets it done with no fear and works for bear protection ..also carry 44 mag or 454 casull with hard cast buffalo bore bullets for 2nd line bear defence ..and bear mace
Can't beat thst combo when you're out deer elk or moose .
None will kick the hell out of you either
9.3x62 is one of my absolute favorite rounds that I use, I personally shoot the 250gr accubonds for most of the hunting I do but the 300gr A-Frames I have heard great things about them especially for dangerous game if I used my 9.3x62 for dangerous game that’s probably the bullet I would use. I use my 416 rigby for dangerous game with 400gr A-Frames.
I have a RUM in .300 & .375 cal. I love both and would use either world wide. The .375 RUM is a bone crusher!!!! Real close if not better than the 30-378 for ballistics. I also think the .375 RCM should have made the list, that is a very well thought out cartridge. I have a Ruger guide gun in .300 RCM and I love that thing. I will find a .375 RCM chambered in the guide gun and buy that rifle too. Thanks for the video!!!
Thanks for watching!
Fun fact any cartidge with 338 in the name kicks harder and sharper recoil felt than those with more recoil :)
I love big heavy magnums. Great list. BUT When I got up here, I found out most people hunt with a .270, .300 win mag, .30-06, .308, 7mm-08, 6.5 creedmoor, .243, 7mm Rem Mag etc... only really need those big bore guns on brown bear, polar bear (can't hunt them anymore) and bison.
I think people forget sometimes how effective those ordinary rounds are with proper shot placement
Unfortunately, over time a lot of people used the more normal cartridges like 30-06, but assumed the big heavy animals needed big hard bullets, not understanding that moose, elk, even brown bear, are still ultimately thin skinned, lightly structured animals. They are not cape buffalo, they are not giraffes, elephants etc. Nor are they built that way. People would shoot a moose with a 220 grain hard cast 30-06, get terrible terminal performance, and then blame the cartridge instead of the bullet. So we keep going to bigger, faster cartridges, with bigger harder bullets to compensate for the poor bullet performance, when really, the 30-06 wasn’t the problem. The problem was shooting a thin skinned moose with a bullet designed for buffalo. A 30-05 270 etc with a bullet that is designed for light skinned game like an accubond, scirocco etc. will do a better job on Alaskan game than a .375 h&h shooting copper solids or whatever super hard bullet people think they need.
@@fnkdtnk
You are very wise sir,
30-06 180 grain nosler partitions ,barnes ttsx,swift A frame,bonded bear claw etc works wonders here in alaska on everything from deer to coastal brown bear defence if need be.
Deer drop with almost no meat damage, but you are ready in case of a close brown bear encounter.
Never had a performance problem with nosler partitions
@@jamiehurtt3530 my family (myself dad and brother) used 30-06 180 grain winchester supreme silvertips for years, and they absolutely pulverized all of the vitals in whitetail’s and blew a baseball-softball sized hole out of the other side. You cannot tell me that those don’t do enough damage or penetrate far enough to take down elk and moose.
@@fnkdtnk fist off never once did i mention winchester silvertip ammo in any of my earlier statements ..you need a stout bullet not a cheap cup and core bullet ..and that is exactly what whinchester silvertips are just like remington core lokt anmo..again I repeat ..you need at least a partition style bullet or an all copper solid such as the 180 grain barnes ttsx in the 30-06 at 2700 fps muzzle velocity.
Or Nolsler partition,,swift A frame, trophy bonded bear claw etc in reference to minimal meat damage on deer ...try them especially with a 30-06 and the 180 grain barnes ttsx..
You obviously haven't read any of my previous statents on this thread amd if you did you'd see that I never once mentioned winchester silver trip ammo ...and I was speaking about thosw bullets performance on deer with minimal meat damage but tough enough to protect against latge bear without switching ammo ..now do you get what im saying? ..this is what alaskans prefer as we hunt deer moose etc in areas with large coastal brown bear encountere possibilities ..good luck
Interesting list. First place in my opinion would be the 375 Weatherby Magnum. It doesn't beat you up like the 378. With a 300 grain boattail bullet, the 375 will deliver more energy at 800 yards than a 30-06 does at the muzzle.
And 3 times the recoil! Lol
Nope… .375 H&H 260gr accubond has around 1170 ft-lbs at 800 yds and the 30-06 180gr accubond has around 950 ft-lbs at 800 yds.
@@mec5texan803 I didn't refer to the 375 H&H, and I didn't refer to a 260 grain projectile.
Ahh I read it again and missed that you referred to the weatherby, my mistake there. Still doesn’t have more energy at 800 than a 30-06 at the muzzle… not even close, 1400 ft-lbs @ 800 yds vs 3080@muzzle. Don’t get me wrong that is still impressive seeing that the 30-06 has 1400 ft-lbs @550 yds.
I have a 375 Weatherby.
I can shoot 375 H&H out of it which I can find anywhere in the world. It's recoil is mild compared to the ballistics you get out of it. It's also a legal caliber to use on heavy and Dangerous Game throughout the world.
Bought a 340 wby mkV back in 1991. Beautiful rifle. Longest shot was a spike elk at 700 yds. Went clean thru. Great caliber.
I really like my 300 WBY, but I wouldn't mind upgrading to a 340 WBY
@@ReloadingWeatherby I reload all, including this cartridge. The 225 gr Barnes X is my favorite. 3000fps with good flat trajectory and a whole lot of kick ass. Haven't loaded any in several yrs now as I haven't hunted in many years. Always will have the rifle. Smoothest action out there. Taken many mule deer with it. For some reason, meat damage is less than my 300WM?? Don't know why.
I bet that rifle is a beaut
I own the 338 win mag , its my favorite caliber
9.3x62 mauser in a rigby rifle would be a dream "one gun for north america"
Until you tried to find ammo.
I personally love my 9.3x62 shooting 250gr Accubonds very light recoil for shooting such a heavy bullet so I can carry a light rifle I personally have a ruger hawkeye African with a Leupold VX 5hd 1-5 that I have used from moose in Alberta to Eland in Namibia this gun just works so well. But I have been debating on adding a 338 win mag, 358 Norma Mag, 338-06, or 340 WBY mag to the collection so love the insight on a few of these from this video.
Thanks for sharing!
All good picks but I would be more then comfortable with a 300 win mag and a 200gr ttsx. It would probably be my first choice because it is so well rounded.
That would be a good choice! Thanks for watching!
My choices are 338 RUM and or the 30-378 Wby.. both are hammers .. one and done!💥
I hope you have an Alaskan hunt on your bucket list. How does the Weatherby 30-378 fit in here? Thanks for sharing.
It's a powerhouse. Would do great in Alaska
I was at the Y last Saturday. My son was ruining outdoor track. Wish I would have thought earlier and got in touch with you when I was down there.
In 2014 I drew a Deseret elk tag. A guy that I hunted with and share my hunting hide was using a 30-378 and he introduced me to that cartridge. He said the shells were over 125.00 dollars a box. Ouch!!! He got a nice elk with it, but it took him two or three rounds. I thought they were well placed rounds. All of them did go clean though. Elk are just tough animals.
All are more than enough, I think I would go with the 375 H&H as I do not shoot far and I am wimpy about recoil.
I love mine
A simple check of ammo calibers sold in Alaska puts 308 Win and 30-06 1st and second.
I prefer calibers that don't cost $60-140/box. I also handload. My preferred moose chambering is 30-06, with a 200 Barnes TSX or TTSX. Drops em.
Ft-lbs is surely impressive on your list. However, I have many Alaskan friends and family that use 30-30, 45-70, 308 win, 30-06, and 300 win mag...seems like shot placement and not taking stupid shots is far more important than ft/lbs.
Great list. Those are some pretty big boomers. I live in Canada and we got all the same critters as Alaska for the most part. With modern bullet technology the old 30-06 will still knock them all down here.
Dale, I built a Super Boomer .375 Roy, and it rocks! But a friend of mine married a dude from Fairbanks and her hubby said he's shot Griz his entire life with a .30-06 with 200's. Maybe you don't really need the Super Magnum for them. But, he doesn't shoot coastal bear. I want to use my home made .375 with 300's.
@@jimgolden9666 ya I think for big griz I’d go with something bigger then an 06. 👍👍
@@Dalesarty in my opinion a 30-06 has plenty of power with a 200 grain bullet it's a 30 caliber you've just got to put the bullet in the right spot if you can kill one of these big animals with an arrow you can definitely kill them with a 30-06
@@2017Toy completely agree
@@2017Toy
30-06 180 ,grain barnes ttsx or nosler partition will handle anything
I had a friend who had an older cousin back in the late 1970s who was a RMP officer in Alberta who was barely on his patrol when he went to see his Grandfather who was my friend's great uncle...His grandfather was so proud of him he then asked what he was carrying for a rifle as the grandson told him a 30-30 Winchester...His grandfather went to the back room and brought out his .378 Weatherby Mag...He told him as he gave him this rifle with ammo,"Son...This rifle will save your life!!" A few years passed...Grandpa passes on...One day they get a call of Rogue Grizzly bear causing trouble killing livestock they found the dangerous animal in a field as one officer was using his 30-30 with no avail as the bear was charging...My Friend's cousin had that.378 with him and loaded it up...Blam!! One shot at around 15-20 yards he dropped the Sonofbitch in it's tracks...My friend showed me pictures of his cousin and that bear which was about 7-8' tall and maybe close to or over a ton of fur and claws...Yep... 378 Weatherby Mag gets my respect!!
Thanks for sharing!
Over a ton. LOL
I had my sights on the 378 weatherby for years. I have a 300 Weatherby. I was always conserned about recoil. So what do I do pay to shoot the 50 cal 5 times. It had one hell of a muzzle break on the beast but it sure was FUN.
@@johnkoenig496 yeah probably half a ton
Todos son excelentes calibres para ese tipo de cacería en América del norte, de todos esos calibres con el único que he disparado es con el .375 H&H Mag.!! Muy buena recomendación de calibres..!! Excelente vídeo Reloading Weatherby..!! Saludos
Of the 3 Alaskan guides that I know of, one uses a .416 Remington, another uses a .458 Winchester, and thirdly, a .458 Lott. These are backups for hunting where grizzly and big browns charge. It can be a tall order to stop a charging grizzly from 5 feet away.
Thanks for sharing!
I built a .375 Weatherby magnum on a 1917 Enfield action (made by Winchester) with a 30" Douglas barrel made in my home state of WV. Have an MPI stocks duplicate of an A-Square Hannibal style stock. I get 2889 ft/s (chono'd) with a 300 grain bullet. That's 5600 ft-lbs. Rifle is phenomenal and Art Alfin really new his stuff. The rifle kicks less than my M700 BDL Remington in .338 Winchester. I long to take it to Alaska for a coastal brownie. It's my favorite rifle. It has the power of a .458, the reach of a .300 magnum, and the recoil (with the special stock) is totally doable. It's within 50 ft/s of a .378 without all the other problems of that caliber. Roy got it right in 1947.....
That's really impressive
30" barrel? That would be brutal carry in the thick stuff, but I bet it really is a sweet shooter!
@@darvinclement3250 If I were going into the alders after a wounded brownie, I think I'd want a .470 or .500 double :)
Great video. My hats off to folks who use those big calibers, they are very cool and have a lot of nostalgia. Those big magnum rounds are very expensive, but readily available online.
However, caution to anyone that wants to travel to Ak and go hunting and wants to use this video as a "what caliber" to bring to ak to hunt. Those rounds IMO are usually for the gun fanatic that just likes to collect premier calibers with a connection to the past stories of great adventures in the last frontier. If your the normal guy that could care less about bullet length and primer or powder grains or origins of a bullet. Your best bet is bring a 30-06 or a 300 Win that you have actually shot before. Every person i know in Ak uses one of these two calibers, to hunt with, that's including me as well. Remember when you're hunting in Alaska its grueling, and challenging and the elements rarely ever cooperate, you sure you want to drop your collectors edition big magnum gun in a bog or down a scree field, because you will. ask me how i know... Practice with one caliber for them all. As a resident in Ak you can hunt darned near everyday of the year. You can shoot one brown/grizzly,a dozen caribou,a pile of black bear,a muskox,bison,bunch of goats and sheep,and the king of the forest a Moose. One gun/caliber for all of them!
By all means, you should buy those big magnum guns, it's your right to do so. And they are very cool.
Absolutely loved the video. You should do a part two or maybe an honorable mention video
Thanks for watching! I will do more videos about this
I would feel very comfortable with my Marlin 1895 guide gun loaded with 350 gr round nose bullets coming out at over 2100 fps. The size of the bullet with the quick follow-ups from a lever action and over 3500 ft/lbs of energy is more than adequate for most bears except for maybe the rare 1000 lbs grizzly.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Gotta say I'm not familiar with most of those rounds/guns. Most of my life I have carried a 30-06, 7mm mag., and more recently a 45-70. Add to that my S&W 44 mag. Model 29 with 8&5/8" barrel on the hip. In my younger days it was a Stevens 325-G 30-30 bolt action and S&W 357 mag 6" barrel on the hip.
Good video as I am a weatherby enthusiast, but I think the 300 wby with 200 gr bullet is more than adequate. I killed a 1800 lb African eland with a 180 gr barnes.
I completely agree! Not a huge difference between the 300 RUM and the 300 WBY. I felt like I needed to have some cartridge diversity in the video. I couldn't just say pick from a 300 WBY up to a 378 WBY
@@ReloadingWeatherby It would be just like a 340 WBY vs 338Lapua. Identical ballistics, but its newer. The 340 has been there for over 60 years.
Enjoy watching your video. Keep up the great work!
Thank you! Will do!
Well it is true that it could have been a Top 50, but my cartridge of choice is the 35 Whelen. It has the same numbers as the 300 RUM. It shoots a 225 gr pill at 2900 fps so it has 4202 ft/lbs of energy at the muzzle, yet it hits harder because it has more frontal area.
Read the ballistic chart on the 35 Whelen. It doesn't come close to the velocity and energy you're stating. A 225 at 2600 feet per second and about 3500 foot pounds of energy. Still it's one hell of a game cartridge.
@@craigleibbrand7761 check out Buffalo Bore Ammo.
That's why I like the .358 Norma Mag. It's like the Whelen ate it's wheaties. With a 250 gen bullet, the trajectory almost matches the '06 with 180 gen.
I have two of them. With Reloader 26. It push either a Barnes TTSX or Nosler Partition at 3,235!!!
Two 340 WBY?
Not a hunting rifle but don't forget 12 gauge slugs all good choices thanks
That’s what I carried hunting Grizz over bait. Never got a shot but I never felt undergunned either. It was quicker to aim at close range than my .338WM and easier on the shoulder. Followup shots with a pump gun are much quicker than a bolt action.
Nice video!! I have my eye on a 378 WBY... it's been calling my name for a few months! Love the list!
Thanks, 378 WBY is a beast! Congrats on getting 1,000 subs!
@@ReloadingWeatherby Getting close! Just trying to keep making valuable content! Keep pushing!
@@cr42hunting99 Keep up the great work! Really enjoy your shooting comparisons!
start training those front delts, cos youre shoulder is to experience VIOLENCE!!!
Note on the 378 Weatherby, it's not just the amount of recoil, it's the speed that it hits you with. It hits really hard AND incredibly fast (one might say violent).
My 338 Lapua shoots a 300gr bullet at 2850fps (measured), and without the muzzle brake can be pretty violent as well. That's 5410 ft/lbs of energy...
Personal favorites are the 30/06 & the 370 Sako Magnum though. They are lighter to carry and less brutal.
Roy's magnificent 378 Magnum is one of my favorites.
Properly stocked with a straight comb, recoil reducers Installed in the stock, Mag na ported 22 inch barrel for handiness in the Alaskan Bush or African Jungles shooting 350 gr. bullets. The muzzle blast and recoil would be glorious.
I would say, obnoxious!!!
I think anything with more recoil than the 375 Wby is simply not practical. I like the 340 Wby a lot but I think the best all round cartridge for this niche is the 358Norma Mag. Best combination of bullet diameter/weight and velocity. Ammo hard to come by unless you load your own but for what it brings to the table I’ll load my own
I like the way you think sir! 358 Norma has got to be the most underated cartridge around. If I was a wealthy man I'd have a left handed 358 Norma. I feel lucky to have a left hand Remington 700 BDL in 338 Win Mag.
@@darvinclement3250 I like the way you think as well sir. I’m thinking of having a left-handed 358 built on a Ruger action. I currently have a leftie 375 Ruger but think the 358 would be more versatile. There’s certainly nothing wrong with your 338 either.
@@darvinclement3250 I have a left-hand 358 Norma Magnum. I had a Weatherby Mark 5 barreled to the 358 Norma mag. Had I ordered a barrel I would have put a number 4 Contour but I got a sensational deal on a Shilen stainless number 3 Contour. You carry it more than you shoot it. Jon Sandra wrote an article years ago. He called it the Big Swede said it was a greatest cartridge to come down the well-traveled cartridge pike. He had his barrel cut to 22 inches. He lost 45 ft per second, truly insignificant. He did have a heavy number 5 Contour Barrel. If I was to do it again I might put a number 5 contour barrel 22 inches or 21inches. It would have iron sights. I like carbines!
@@craigleibbrand7761 I still have an old copy of a Guns and Ammo magazine, one of the special edition ones from the early 80's I think. I think it is on magnum rifles. There is an article where they take some rifles to Texas to try out on Nilgai. The 358 Norma put them down with the most authority and fewest shots. I belive it beat out the 375 H&H. Gotta pull that issue out of the garage and re-read it.
I am prior Assistant Guide, my Father is a Master Guide here in Alaska, we pack 340s and agree on the 4000 ft. lbs of energy with mad bear, for general hunting we both use 300 win, I am getting 375 Ruger for Bear hunting next, wehave shot and killed Brown Bears both a 308, but not up close
Thanks for commenting
I have lived in Alaska for 25 years
The most game I have taken is with the 338 Win Mag using the 225gr Nosler Accubond exclusively hand loaded with Reloader 19 @ 76.0. In recent years I up the game to a 388 Rem Ultra Mag using the 225gr Swift A Frame and Reloader 22 powder @ 91.0. It’s a Custom Rem 700 XCR2 it’s a thumper on moose.
Thanks for sharing
I mostly hunt with a close to 100 yr old winchester model 54 .has never let me down on anything. I bought the 9.3 x57 because it was cheap real cheap.the Husqvarna model 46 is the best handling rifles ever.i have the win 54 and 3 other win 70s and 1 model 7 Remington. Nothing handle near as well. Goodluck
Thanks for commenting! And happy hunting!
I will add one more to your list and it's on the next page from the 340 and it is the 338 rum, I run 225 accubonds at 3250, 250's at 3050 and 300's at 2850 and these are high BC bullets that retain lots of energy for clean long range kills. Gotta love the 340 though
338 RUM is a great cartridge! Impressive numbers you've got!
lived in Vancouver for 6yrs with numerous jaunts to Alaska…the Weatherby 7mm and Carl Zeiss on top of it did it all for me…
Thanks for sharing. My list is a bit on the big side.
It's interesting how you perceive things as you grow up. My grandfather used an old 1894 Winchester in 30-30 to bag bull moose and brown bear, add to the fact the gun was ancient (All the bluing was worn off and the rifling had been shot out to the point it was pretty much a smoothbore) and he used carry this match with him, and always said "Within 30yrds you can just use the sights, but after that you have to put the match stick under the rear leaf and you'll hit target at up to football field" the rear sight elevator piece had fallen out. Looking back on it now, I remember the first time I saw him use the match stick and bagged this moose at probably 70yrds... with a 30-30, which at the time to me seemed reasonable because it was what I was taught. Looking back, it's friggin bizarre to me how he made those shots with an open sight rifle that would be considered fairly inadequate for such a large animal. Now as an adult, my goto moose gun is my Mosin PU rifle, and I've been in hunting parties with guys that have big bore syndrome, carrying 45-70s, 416 Rigby etc, telling me that my gun doesn't have enough power to reliably drop a moose
No doubt you can use slower smaller bullets. But at the same time I don't think it hurts to be over gunned for dangerous game.
All driven by marketing hype and gun mags
Unless you are hunting brown bear, a .30-06 should be on this list. And 300 Win mag is an excellent all around Alaska cartridge.
Yep those two would be great
Where's the 45-70 love? I scrolled through the comments and didn't even see it listed?
I didn't include it in this video.... but it is a favorite of mine. My newest video I talk about the 45-70
Great list those Weatherbys will cost you 5 to 10 dollars a round though 35 whelen is great if you need more than that 375 ruger.
All ammo is expensive now.... but yes Weatherby is very expensive.
I have a few .35 Whelen’s. Plenty of gun under 250 yards.
I reload all of my Weatherby ammunition and it costs about $2.
I understand that these are your opinions but there are plenty of lesser cartridges that will work on even the large bears. Most Alaskan guides( nonresident hunters are required to have a guide) will tell you that a properly placed 200 grain bonded or monolithic bullet out of a 30-06 will certainly work but if you can handle the recoil and shoot them well any guide would be delighted to see you show up to camp with any of the calibers you listed. Keep up the good work.
Just curious. Has anyone else out there shit a 325wsm and what'd you think?my experience was a Winchester model 70 and it was a damn delight to shoot. Just wanting to gather more info before deciding what to get
I sadly have no experience
I shoot snd run a 325wsm browning xbolt here in Australia love it great deer hunting cal
@@lukeelliott2183 thanks...how do you find ammo availability down there?
@@stevenlaxton3618 for me I reload ammo down here we sort of don’t get much of the quota Winchester make and so when we do have a it’s only a few boxes now and then
So I reload there a guy that makes cases (Bertram brass) and he makes projectiles or I reload with the nossler accubonds and shoot out to 600+ yards on Sambar deer and fallow deer the 8mm dosnt get enough love its my fav caliber
@@lukeelliott2183 great thanks so much! It's what my dad runs here in BC Canada for everything from whitetail and mule deer up to elk and moose....I've shot it a few times and am thinking about looking for one but just wanted lend on someone's greater experience with the caliber to solidify my thoughts....it's kinda between 300 and 325 wsm
Appreciate the efforts and research. All good choices. My opinion though, use relevant criteria. Ft/lb of energy at the muzzle has no true relevance unless your intention is to shoot critters kissing the muzzle. Accurize decision making based on expected real world scenarios. Would you go out expecting to shoot 50-100 yds, or maybe glassing the expanses for long range. Alternately your primary concern could be the charging bruin, in which case your 4000ft/lb criteria has a degree of actual relevance.
That's fair. But I think most of these cartridges will do just fine within 300 yards. Thanks for watching
I have a 340 I built back about 1980 using a Rem 700 magnum action with a match grade 24 inch stainless barrel and Hs precision fibre glass stock with aluminum beading block.After I shot it a bit,working up loads I had the barrel magnaported which greatly reduced the recoil so I could shoot 30 or 40 rounds off the bench and not feel like I did a couple rounds in the boxing ring lol.
I bet that rifle is awesome!
Hi from Sweden, my favorite is the 378 , have shot many moose and some beaver too. The big brother 460 and 300 is in the same safe. They really rocks. I would use my 378 on a Alaska trip.
Thanks for watching!
I have had 3 378 Magnums it's one of my favorite heavy caliber rifles I have to get another one for Alaska go big or go home
Thanks for the great information you did a great job on this video
Thanks for watching!
Swap the 300 rum for a 300 wby mag :)
Yeah that would make all the difference
Smart choice.
Trade the 300 rum for a 338 rum or 375 rum or 30-378 wby
Why did you choose 4000 ft.lbs for a number ?
I was thinking 338 Win mag and bigger. 338 Win is right at 4000 ft.lbs
The only one on this list I carry is the .338 WIN. I have always been a fan of the .340, but at least with the .338 these days, I have at least a chance of finding ammo for it :( I also have a .300 WEATHERBY and would be confident shooting anything in Alaska with it.
Thanks for sharing!
Jack O'Connor was once asked if he could only use one cartridge to take game all over the world, what would it be?... He said the 30-06 with a 180 grain bullet.
Definitely a good choice as well
There's only one cartridge for Alaska and that's Roy Weatherby's magnificent 378 Magnum. Elmer Keith would agree, however Jack 0' Conner would use his 270 or 30 ought 6. O'Connor wrote of shooting a grizzly 400 yards away with a 30-06 with 180 gr. Bullets. The bullets were complete pass throughs kicking up sand on the sand bar. He said more penetration than that from 200 or 220 gr bullets is not needed. He also shot a grizzly with a 300 Weatherby 180 gr. Rem Bronze Point bullet. The bear hit the ground so hard it bounced. On the off side was a hole so large you could stick your arm in and bits of bone, lung tissue and blood was in a fan spray 10 ft. From the animal. It was an article he wrote on 300 Magnums having to much recoil, muzzle blast and blowing big holes in anything they hit!
30-06 has probably killed more Alaskan big game than any other.
358 Nora Magnum?
Yep, there are a lot of good options
What book is that? Thanks
Hornady reloading manual
I'm one of those guys I can hunt with a 7 mm 08 for whitetail deer and be 100% satisfied but if I was going to go hunt brown bear or any other kind of dangerous game I would definitely want one of these calibers this brother just mentioned I would probably pick the 375 h&h Magnum
Nice choice
It's easy. Get an 30-06 and get an 338win mag or perhaps an 375 h&h or 375 Ruger.
I wouldn't get the more exotic and harder to source Weatherby cartridges. The Weatherby 6lug backcountry rifle they now offer is really nice but Weatherby headstamps don't do it for me.
Oh man you left out 338 Lapua Magnum and 30 Nosler! Just messing with you. I love my Lapua and Nosler
I just did a video of me shooting a 30 Nosler
what is that book? I might have to get one.
Hornady reloading book
@@ReloadingWeatherby thanks!
I only agree with two of those cartridges- 375 H&H and 338 WM. I would drop to 3500 ft/lbs and include the 9.3x62. One left off is the 300 Win Mag. For big thumpers how about 458 Win Mag or 50 Alaskan. FWIW there has been a lot of Alaskan game taken with a 30-30 and a 45-70. Three of the cartridges were just too exotic to readily find ammo and rifles.
Ironic enough those 3 cartridges that are exotic... I have seen plenty of ammo for them during the pandemic.
I hand load so there's no problem. The 340 Weatherby I would probably carry more then any other rifle accept maybe my 358 Norma Magnum. None of that 225 gr
bullet the kids use. 250s or above. I like 275, 280s or the new 300 gr. Nosler Accubond. I'm talking Alaska.
annother very good option would be the .358 STA (shooting times alaskan) only downside its not as accesible as more commercial cartridges....
it shoots much flatter than the .375 H&H , but have much more trauma upon impact than any .338 can offer....
.358 STA enjoys the same advantage over .358 norma magnum, like the .340 wby over .338 win mag does with its medium bore effectiveness and handloading flexibility.
Does that have the same case as the 7STW?
@@ReloadingWeatherby if i remember correctly it is the 8 mm remington magnum necked up to .35 by foundr layne simpson, and a-square comp did som changes on shoulder diameter and case throat, to make it the final version .358 STA, so a wildcat cartridge....perhaps much easier to buy/get in the u.s than here in norway i guess !
@@ReloadingWeatherby yes, it is the same 8 mm remington magnum necked down to 7mm, and yes it was also created by Layne Simpson, in other words he created both 7mm STW and .358 STA...
@@ReloadingWeatherby BY the way, the 7mm Shooting times western is 8mm rem magnum necked down to 7mm with no other changes.....lookin at 140gr@ 3500 fps +!!! flat shooting YES!
My brother in law is from Alaska. Him and all his friends use 30 06 and .338mags. I've hunted
Congrats on the 1000 Subs ! oh i will take the .340 please lol
i want that book what its name?
Hornady reloading manual
That's a good list!
Thanks!
I'd like to take a 264 win mag with 160 grain partitions to Alaska. I'd like to shoot caribou, dall's sheep, and then moose to test the bullets performance on game.
Maybe I'm weird, but I like heavy for caliber round nose bullets.
Thanks for liking me! 👍
A .404 to .423 caliber bullet that weighs between 400 and 450 grains is ideal for coastal brown bear. The biggest coastal brownies can be darn near as large in body as African buffalo, and many consider anything less than 416 caliber to not be big enough for the dugga boys, legally or not.
375 is good, but 416 is much better.👌
I wonder if you can even find these calibers anywhere in AK or any other states?!
338 Win mag and 300 RUM, the others would be hard to find right now
8mm rem mag honorable mention
I go with my 340 Weatherby. I’ve gotten 2983 fps with the 250 gr Barnes X.
That's awesome! I really want a Mark V deluxe in 340 Weatherby
I use a wrist rocket and a stone but in my defense I'm pretty manly!
A grizzly bear once told me, in perfect English, " Dear American hunters, the best cartridge for Alaska, the best bear cartridge is the 22LR." A big bull moose concurred.
Nice
i have a 340 and love it great choice
Thanks for sharing!
is something like 50 BMG good or a bit overkill?
It's just a heavy rifle setup. Most rifles weigh 30 lbs.
Hi, I am writing from Europe, what this book is called?
Great video.
Hornady reloading manual
@@ReloadingWeatherby Thx👍
577 nitro express or the 505 Gibbs.
Go big or go home huh?
338 Norma mag. Or a .338 Lepua not a fan of Weatherby they corner markets for their ammo and they pack so much in there it hurts their accuracy
340 wea and 338 rum are splendid choice fr the average hunter who can shot them well.............in the thick stuff im picking 458 win or the 458 lott
How about the 338-378 Weatherby
That would certainly do the trick. Thanks for watching!
A 12 year old boy killed a elk just shy of 1400 yards with a 7 Rem Mag and a 180 grain Berger bullet. It’s the longest confirmed kill shot on a elk ever recorded. So it’s fair to say anything under 1400 yards a 7 Rem Mag is all the gun you need.
I've seen that video
Can you do 375 h&h vs 50-140 sharps?
I'll see what I can do. Thanks for watching
I've never been to Alaska. I've been chasing deer in Mississippi my whole life with a .308. That's what I would take. I would have a back up .45-70 in case of a grizzly charge.
Good choice
Lower 48ers - “for Alaskan game, you need a rifle that rivals a howitzer!”
Native Alaskans “our great grandfather swam across the Bering Straight and stole a Mosin back in 1897. The generations since have killed 2,000 moose, countless Elk, and never failed to stop a charging bear. Last week a kodiac charged me while I was skinning a moose. We are having roast grizzmoosken for dinner tonight, are you hungry?”
Honestly a 378 weatherby with a muzzle brake would be sweet do it all
What's the name of this book, please? Greetings from Brazil!
Hornady Reloading Manual
@@ReloadingWeatherby Thank you!
Alaska Game and Fish recommends the 30-06 with premium bullets."?…..
Nice
I realize I'm weighing in a little bit late here but the internet is timeless 😁. I rarely ever disagree with your opinions and I don't here. Anyone of your top five will kill all dangerous game found in Alaska anywhere. So happy New Year my friend and I'm hoping my wife will let me go hunt that vast wilderness someday. But she probably won't...
Happy New Year!
270 wby magnum?
where can i get a book like that?
Online or a local gun store. Hornady reloading manual
What book are you referencing here?
Hornady reloading manual
people have taken bear and moose and everything you can think of with a 30-30 now everyone needs all these magnums.
You don't need a magnum, but it's better safe than sorry.
You're damn right if you ever see a Grizzly or brown bear work a ground squirrel colony or fish for Salmon and see how fast and Powerful they are, you will think you can't get a powerful enough gun in your hands!