Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Which gun for Dall sheep and maybe Grizzly?

If you had to choose a sheep gun in grizz country would you shoot the 270 WCF with 150gr at 2900; the 270 Weatherby 150gr at 3200 or the 300 win mag with 180gr at 3050fps? All shoot Partitions or TSX pretty well.

I have guns in the above cartridges and I am just curious what you might choose and why?

Sheep would be under 400 yards 90% of the time; Grizz, between 15 yards and 150 yards with maybe a longer shot under the right conditions.

which one do you prefer ?

Well, the 270 WCF is the lightest and has a 22.5" new Pac-nor barrel; about 7 pounds.

The 270 Weatherby is about 7.5 pounds but it has a 26" barrel; still balances well.

The 300 Win mag is about 7.5 pounds to, with 24" barrel and good balance.

I kinda like the less recoil from the 270 win. and lighter weight. That said, I like the reach of the 270 Weatherby and I like the power of the 300 win mag. Ballistically, they are all within about 12 in" at 500 yards.

Thoughts?

Probably the 270 Win for steep uphill downhill shots. Bad place for a recoil cut. Or which rifle you shoot the best.

im not an expert but a .270 especially with 150 or 160 partition is enough gun fot your purpose especially if you re going with a guide or not alone.

i dont think shooting a grizzly over 150-200 yards is a good idea but again im not an expert and some will chime you more details and better tips.

All 3 will do the job quite easily but if it were me, i'd go with the 270 win and run 150gr or 160 gr Nosler Partitions. The 150gr NP's have worked incredibly well for me over the years and that is my round of choice, even for moose.

As for shooting grizzly, I don't know if i'd shoot out to 200 yards, it would depend on a couple of things before I made that decision.

The 270 Winchester with 130 gr Nosler Partition or Barnes TTXS would be my choice for your hunt.

I'd grab the 270 but any of them will work.

+1

YES!!! to the .270 Win. on both. I've used the .270 for years here & know what it can do. Always with 150 gr. Partitions tho. Tho I've never personally taken a grizzly with it, my former partner did - 1 or 2 times as I recall. These were in the Brooks Range and he had no problem. I would not want a range of more than about 100 yards but otherwise, I'd do it. My .270 Win. gives me 2930 fps with a 150 Partition and I have complete confidence in the rifle's capability. THe only thing I might change is the bullet. Knowing the performance of NorthFork bullets, I could very well lean towards their 150 gr. .27 cal. bullet. Works as good or better than the PArtition and is more accurate than the Partiton. As a side note, I'm taking my .270 WSM into the Brooks this Sat. & it's loaded with a 150 NorthFork. No way would I want a 130 gr. .27 cal. bullet on a grizzly but that's me. Just place your shot properly. I've never been a fan of the Weatherby mags. Most, if not all are too overbore IMHO.
Bear in Fairbanks

I'd take the .270 Win, unless bear was definately on the menu. Then I'd take the .300. Any of the 3 would do all round - just shading the bets....

I'd take the .270 Win, unless bear was definately on the menu. Then I'd take the .300. Any of the 3 would do all round - just shading the bets....

I've never been a fan of the Weatherby mags. Most, if not all are too overbore IMHO.
Bear in Fairbanks [/quote]

I don't think that any of the Weatherby cartridges is overbore with today's powders. The only possible argument that could me raised, though probably not proven, would be the .30/378. Certainly noen of the others are and especially the .270 Weatherby which is a truely wonderful cartridge for mountain hunting. Teh factory velocities were easily achieved using the powders of 15 to 20 years back, let alone what is available now.

John

If your packing out fresh meat on your back in Grizz country take the 300 magnum.

My sheep gun is now a 8mm Remington Magnum just due to bear, Id use the 300 Mag.

Thank you ! +1

maybe I've been lulled to sleep, but I lose not a wink of it with the thought of a bloody backpack upon me and only armed with a 7mm-08, figure if I can keep my head and put a 140 TSX in a good spot I might be okay.


course I have taken my .338 sheep hunting before too, and reckon if I had to use it on a problem bear would rather have it instead.

but please don't misconstrue those thoughts as me looking down my nose at guys that choose a .30 cal or up for the same situation.

like boots, we have to find the chambering that makes us as an individual comfortable, not the size and brand your pard wears

sides at the end of the day, I think I'd make a pretty nice pile of bear scat!

AGW agreed on the 270 Weatherby being an excellent choice for a mountain rifle particularly in the hands of one that has practiced at ranges it's capable of sending a bullet downrange with energy to spare.

had a client take a very nice ram at an honest 400 yards, it was that or there wouldn't be a shot, I was a bit anxious about it, but he'd practiced with the rifle and during sight in at base camp had demonstrated very good proficiency with his setup.

he got er done, though I think it had helped the year before he'd wounded a ram and it made him diligent on his practice upon returning home. I was impressed with what it did that day.

Why not just stoke the little 7/08 with 175's or similar except when you are up high?

used to do that very thing with the 7 mag that was my sheep rifle.

and then just got over it (for me) today's bullet technology really give a fella an edge imo.


but the old saw still trumps all


bullet placement

bullet placement

bullet placement

use enough gun


(how much is enough is certainly open to debate, the first 3 aren't)