Caliber Recommendation for 600 Yard Sheep Rifle

[dogz]

Who are you hunting with in BC? I regularly go to BC for spring black bear have seen literally hundreds of Grizzly over the past 20 years there. I personally know two of the top stone sheep guides in BC. I generally hunt the same place/guide for the last 10+ years. I know you said the guide your going with doesnt carry a rifle so I know it isnt the two guides I know. One of them carries a lever 375 Win all the time and the other a 45/70 guide gun.

An earlier post said guides live there 4 month or so and know about all the bears and that is completely true. The two guides I know that is the source of 90% of their annual income. They guide spring black bear as well but that is pennies on the dollar compared to stone sheep hunts.

Ive shot lots of black bears and used several different calibers but I still always go on the premise of what if I run into a Grizz with a bad attitude. I would start my rifle selection for your hunt on something 30cal or better. Definitely on the lighter side for sure. Sheep are not hard to kill at all but big bears are especially in a scenario we all hope to never encounter. I have a hi-tek custom 340 WTBY that shoots 212gr hammers into little tiny groups it weighs just under 8 1/2 lbs ready to hunt. That would be my choice if I was to ever go on a stone sheep hunt.

I would pack ammo as well as mail up same ammo a few months ahead.

Air Canada as of a few years ago will charge you extra for a rifle case and also I freeze my meat and bring it home on plane and they charged me 150 (US) for my gun each way and same for each cooler box on the way home. Just FYI.

I know you have a lot of money invested in this hunt, dont let the bears deter you in any way you will likely see them but for as many times as I have been around them we never had a issue (knocking on wood here). A little prep and planning like you are doing now will ease your mind and improve your overall trip.

Have fun and shoot a whopper. I look forward to seeing a post all about your success on the hunt...

You've been there and done that a ton load over the last 2 decades that's pretty darn cool. Question for you if you don't mind, but how many times have you fired your rifle in defense at close range on bears that were set on doing you harm?

Many thanks

 

[Marky_mark]

If you were getting a custom rifle built for the sole purpose of a stone sheep hunt (in grizz territory) and wanted to have 600 yard reach, what caliber would you go with?

I do handload/reload, but have heard some stores lately of ammunition/luggage getting lost, so part of me thinks it is wise to go with something a store in BC is going to carry

Thanks in advance

Some of the comments on here are pretty funny

You don't need a 375 or a 338

Your hunting a stone sheep, so pick the best thing to accomplish that objective. If being able to find ammo is a big deal, I'd get something like a 6.5 prc. Remember, that your outfitter will have a rifle you could use if something happens with yours. So if your looking at a wildcat or something odd… Dont worry about it. The biggest thing with flying is making sure you have 3 hour layovers.

If your looking for bear protection… just develop a load with bullets like a frames or ttsx's. Have them ready to go, and switch bullets when your on the sheep. Your point of impact between the two should be close.

Your focus should be on the stone

Who are you hunting with by the way?

 

[madcalfe]

I'm using a custom built 5lb 300wsm 20" tube shooting 178gr eldx cruising at 2920fps
Contemplating even dropping down to 168gr nosler accubond long range.

I usually do about 2-3 stone sheep hunts a year some solo and have never been worried about g bears or being under gunned..

If I were to build another gun it would be a 7 Sherman short

 

[Kentuckywindage]

Some of the comments on here are pretty funny

You don't need a 375 or a 338

Your hunting a stone sheep, so pick the best thing to accomplish that objective. If being able to find ammo is a big deal, I'd get something like a 6.5 prc. Remember, that your outfitter will have a rifle you could use if something happens with yours. So if your looking at a wildcat or something odd… Dont worry about it. The biggest thing with flying is making sure you have 3 hour layovers.

If your looking for bear protection… just develop a load with bullets like a frames or ttsx's. Have them ready to go, and switch bullets when your on the sheep. Your point of impact between the two should be close.

Your focus should be on the stone

Who are you hunting with by the way?

I maybe wrong here, but I understood the guide would not be carrying a weapon. If so I stand by my statement. Also, I will never leave my safety to someone else if at all possible. Learned that lesson the hard way. Will take the damage and repercussions to my grave, (not a game hunting incident however) .I also know if there were 5 people and one where me, standing under a roof that fell. It would squarely smack the living sh!t out of me first. Just saying

 

[Marky_mark]

I maybe wrong here, but I understood the guide would not be carrying a weapon. If so I stand by my statement. Also, I will never leave my safety to someone else if at all possible. Learned that lesson the hard way. Will take the damage and repercussions to my grave, (not a game hunting incident however) .I also know if there were 5 people and one where me, standing under a roof that fell. It would squarely smack the living sh!t out of me first. Just saying

Not many guides will be bringing a rifle if your hunting sheep. Not many will be bringing a rifle even if your hunting grizzlys. Bullet choice will turn most rifles into an adequate bear rifle.
I killed a grizzly with a 6.5 last year in the yukon and almost had to shoot another one that was chasing our horses on a bighorn hunt. A-frames punch through grizzly shoulders and bones even out of a 6.5

 

[kk1111]

I would look at the 28 Nosler, 7 mm or a 6.5 PRC.

 

[Barret04]

7mm rem mag or 28 nosler will make the job just fine, 168 Berger VLD Hunter

 

[JAYgs8163]

300WSM

 

[Swamplord]

What in TH kind of "hunting guide" doesn't carry a defense rifle in bear country ?

How is he going to protect his clients ? So many here have commented to let the guide worry about the bears ..
Is he gonna "woah bear, woah bear" those beasts into submission ?

300 Win Mag & up, if a grown man can climb a mountain range to shoot a sheep then he should be physically capable of handling any magnum cartridge

 

[vancewalker007]

If you were getting a custom rifle built for the sole purpose of a stone sheep hunt (in grizz territory) and wanted to have 600 yard reach, what caliber would you go with?

I do handload/reload, but have heard some stores lately of ammunition/luggage getting lost, so part of me thinks it is wise to go with something a store in BC is going to carry

Thanks in advance

As others have said, if you are worried about loosing ammo go with a 7mm Rem or a 300 Win Mag. Someone will have ammo for it. I've been lucky travelling to Africa and have not lost ammo but it does happen. If you can afford a stone sheep hunt then don't scrimp on your rifle. Have a quality custom built to hedge you bet that its going to shoot.

 

[Pdvdh]

What in TH kind of "hunting guide" doesn't carry a defense rifle in bear country ?

How is he going to protect his clients ? So many here have commented to let the guide worry about the bears ..
Is he gonna "woah bear, woah bear" those beasts into submission ?

300 Win Mag & up, if a grown man can climb a mountain range to shoot a sheep then he should be physically capable of handling any magnum cartridge

I never met an Alaskan guide that wasn't packing a rifle. Or heard of one.

I try to not meet any guides. All they do is screw up my hunting. And pretend they own all of Alaska.

Guides not carrying rifles might be from California?

 

[Pdvdh]

A .223 will kill a sheep. But maybe not a grizzly before he kills you.

 

[Sealesniper]

I dont want to tell you what to bring, but I hear your concerens on the Grizz, distance from guide and having your wife with you. I have lots of wildcats, but my travel gun is a 300 WM. You can find ammo for it ANYWHERE. I would not risk the hunt, my wife or my life, on a small caliber in a not common round. With that said, a 6.5mm will kill a bear, but I dont knwo about a charging grizz in time. I would look 308 as they are everywhere as well, if I wanted a SA. I would build I light 300 WM, brake it, test it, and carry it on the hunt. Now to the good stuff. Please post a report and pictures when you are back. I hope you and your wife have a great hunt and a wonderful adventure.

 

[Old Rooster]

I have seen some amazing shots with a plain jane 30-06.Could also go with a 30-06 AI.
That way you could use 30 cal bullets for both your 300 win mag and 30-06.