Ready for Caribou, Impressed with 300 WSM Again

[Long Time Long Ranger]

We shot quite a bit this evening getting ready for caribou and again was very impressed with the little 300 WSM. I have been working with this one in a 25.5" barrel for about a year now and it just never fails to amaze me as I learn more about it and the powders that turn it on. I hit on a load this evening that was hitting one hole groups at 100 yards which I have come to expect with this rifle and is common. What amazes me is the 150 grain bullets were clocking 3455 fps with 5 fps extreme spread. Now I have this little gun clearly into 300 win mag performance with less powder, kick and noise. The E-Tips have a .469 BC which makes this little round a great mountain backpack deer rifle. The ballistics look very good on it. It weighs 7.2 pounds scoped out and ready to hunt. I like It for backpacking!

Also amazed with the 300 ultramag with factory ammo. I always wondered what the factory stuff would do. Remington 180 grain nosler partitions clocked 3346 fps with 12 fps extreme spread. At 400 yards they hit a 1.8" group. Why am I reloading this thing?

257 wby performed as usual, outstanding. .92" group at 400 yards with 100 grain TSX at 3780 fps. Caribou be aware.

338-378 with 200 grain nosler clocking 3615 fps with awesome groups at 400 yards. Amazing what it does to gallon jugs full of water even at 400 yards. My son had a blast with it and the 257 wby popping jugs. Now time to pop some Bou!

 

[Pdvdh]

Sounds like the guns and loads are ready for hunting. Hope you get some nice weather to hunt in and the caribou are on the move.

 

[jimbires]

sounds like you are ready . where are you going to hunt ? I was in Quebec 2006 on a caribou hunt . it was really a good time . I was in camp with 8 guys . we took 6 bulls and 2 cows. caribou tastes great . good luck Jim





I hunted with these guys .
Canada fishing vacation and caribou hunting trip in Northern Quebec


they still have my pic. in their brochure .
http://www.arcticadventures.ca/files/3470_NewsLetterFinal.pdf

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

Hunting Barren ground caribou in Alaska. Looking forward to getting back up there. I missed last year with a broken leg so excited about this years hunt. Just can't decide what to shoot. We love caribou meat. It is excellent.

 

[bigbuck]

How does caribou meat compare to elk meat?

BigBuck

 

[jimbires]

How does caribou meat compare to elk meat?

BigBuck

I myself like caribou better than elk . my dad also thought caribou was better . the one guy that went on the hunt with me said the caribou sucked. LOL so I guess it's a matter of taste . I had caribou bulls , and a elk cow . Jim

 

[jimbires]

Hunting Barren ground caribou in Alaska. Looking forward to getting back up there. I missed last year with a broken leg so excited about this years hunt. Just can't decide what to shoot. We love caribou meat. It is excellent.

are you going do it yourself ? or guided ? I'd love to hunt alaska . do you drive ?

 

[LRSickle]

What powder, col, primers are you using with your 257Wby? Mine likes RL22 behind 100gr TSXs. It won't shoot near the groups yours does but it's a 3/4 inch shooter. What a laser those 257s are!

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

I think caribou is better than elk. Driving up on do it yourself hunt. I usually fly up but driving this year. Always do it yourself and never an unfilled tag. We need another guy this year but leaving tommorrow.

I am using Magpro in the 257 wby with CCI 250 primers. Could not get consistent velocities with this one and the 215 match primers. I think it is 75.5 grains. I don't have my notes with me. Magpro has done very well for me in a number of chamberings. I found this rifle on the used rack at Cabelas at a steal and thought it would be a great deer-antelope round for my son. All I did was free float the barrel and bed it. Standard Mk 5 wby with brake. It is one of my best shooters always in the 1-1.5" range at 400 yards but yesterday it went crazy. That was a three shot group by the way.

 

[Pdvdh]

That is one long drive to hunt. Interesting that a couple have said caribou is tastier than elk. I've never eaten elk and I always wondered how the two compared. I agree caribou is good eating though. I like it better than moose. I like dall sheep the best of the Alaskan game animals though.

Good luck and let us know how you do on your hunt when you're back home and settled?

 

[115vld]

I like dall sheep the best of the Alaskan game animals though.

+1 on that. Had a good Dall sheep hunt last August and a fellow hunter in camp got a HUGE caribou. I have to say both were better than elk and the Dall was just fantastic! I leave for africa on thursday and get to eat some tasty game over there from what I have heard. I will have a very nice review for ya'll to read about in a few weeks!