I’ve been talking to an outfitter about a combo moose and mountain caribou hunt lately, when the other night our conversation turned to guns. He asked what rifle I would use, if I decide to do the hunt. I told him I don’t own but 3 rifles and I have a Remington CDL in 35 whelen that I like a lot and have used on a few hunts. I then asked him what was the normal shot distances and what he recommend. He said if a guy could shoot it he liked a 300win, that the normal shots were 200 yard or less but from time to time you’d see the bull of your dreams at 300 to 400 yards without being able to get closer. That although he liked the whelen, he felt the 300win was better suited for the game and area he hunted.

So what do you think? On one hand I sure do like my whelen but I’ve also run the numbers and know the 300win with a 180gr TSX will shoot flatter and carry more energy farther than my whelen shooting 225gr TSXs. I’ve never seen this outfitters area or hunted moose so I’m sure he knows more than I do about either. But the kill zone on a caribou, I’m guessing, is 10†or so and on a moose is around 12â€. Using an 8†kill zone the point blank range on my whelen is 280 yards, with about 2000 ft. pounds of energy.

On the other hand I’m not opposed to buying a CDL in 300win, other than I don’t like the 26†barrel. Again using a 8†kill zone the 300win with 180gr TSX point blank range is 332 yards, with about 2300 ft. pounds of energy. Hmmm… I guess I could have the barrel cut back to 24â€. Then again I sure do like my whelen.

Confidence in your rifle will easily overcome a 50yd point blank. So if it 30 yds farther put the crosshairs on the top of his shoulder and don't worry about it. I've seen many hunters bring "too much gun" because the guide or a friend said you must have so&so.

If you like your Whelen and can shoot where you aim that is 90% of it. Do a little 300 yd practice with it.

If you want a new rifle there is nothing wrong with the 300 either.

As much as I like the 35 Whelen, and as much as I hate to say it, the 300 Win Mag is probably better for what you're describing; the long shots in particular. If you had a spare $300-$400 extra bucks, I'd buy one and never look back. Cut the barrel back if you wish, but I think you'd come out ahead with the 300 Winnie.

As a thought, if your hunt is planned for after Christmas, put a little cash aside and go gun shopping after the holidays. I have seen some ridiculous deals on used firearms after the Christmas bills come due. Or, look for a good deal on a Rem 700 or Howa/Weatherby right now.

That's an easy one, go with the 300 Win. Mag.....

AD

quote:

Originally posted by allen day:
That's an easy one, go with the 300 Win. Mag.....

AD

Agreed

Mark,

Seems that you've been hunting a fair bit out of town. I like the 35 Whelen, but I agree with Allen. The 300 Win Mag is a much better choice on every point I can think of. Plus you'll use in other places.

I've hunted Alaska 4 times, and can testify to the shots getting long at times. A 300 Win Mag is a perfect choice and I can perfectly understand the guides point of view.

Where are you hunting.Most Moose Ive seen shot
were at max 100 yards.Usually between 50 to 75.
East Coast (Maine)

It is not very often an outfitter or guide will tell you to bring too much gun. Most times it's the other way around. You won't notice recoil difference and you will like the confidence the flatter shooting 300 gives you. Where I live most moose are killed with 303, 30-30 or 8x57 milsurps, but I still carry a 358STA. You never know when the extra power will be wanted, but if you ain't got it you can't use it. Just my opinion though,Mark

Before you make up your mind, you might want to find out what the .300 Win does in the shorter barrel you'd like. It probably won't lose much velocity by cutting the barrel a couple of inches, but it sure isn't going to add any.

It may be that after you run some "real" numbers, you'll find the trajectory difference is worth knowing about. And, if you don't have the time to really get an automatic instinct for the .300 Win drop, maybe you might want to consider taping a little drop chart to the side of the stock...a chart based on actual shooting at targets up to 400 real yards using the specific rifle you are taking.

Good luck. Some guys like elk hunting, some like lions, some like various pachyderms. Me, I think moose hunting is the most fun there is in life, even better than sex. (I can hunt moose for two or three weeks without stopping.......)

I have and use a .300 Win. Mag. and a Whelen and have killed deer and elk with both of these rounds. In my judgment, they are both equally effective rounds for the hunting conditions that I normally encounter. If I was going on the hunt that you described, I would probably take my .300, but then again I could take my Whelen and not feel the least bit naked. CP.

two things hit my head. #1 it really isn't unusual to take a 400 yd poke at a good mt. caribou. the whelen just isn't much of a 400 yd poker. #2 - if the airline looses your ammo where are you going to get whelen ammo?? go with the 300

quote:

Originally posted by mark65x55:
I’ve been talking to an outfitter about a combo moose and mountain caribou hunt lately, when the other night our conversation turned to guns. ....<snip>... I told him I don’t own but 3 rifles and I have a Remington CDL in 35 whelen that I like a lot and have used on a few hunts. ....<snip>...

On the other hand I’m not opposed to buying a CDL in 300win, other than I don’t like the 26†barrel. ....<snip>...

mark65x55,

I take it that you don't currently own a .300 mag. You mention that you own 3 rifles one of which is the CDL in .35 Whelen. Just curious: What are your other two rifles chambered for? (If you don't mind me asking.) I'm just wondering if you already have something that would work for this hunt.

Just curious...
-Bob F.

4t1mag, I'm looking at a hunt in British Columbia.

Bob, No I don't have a 300win. never owned one. I have had a 300 H&H and a 300wsm. I have a 270win and a 22rf.

The 270 has been used to take moose and is definately up to taking carabou. It sounds to me that you really like your Whelen. I say take your Whelen and be willing to accept that it will not shoot as far as a 300 Win Mag. But that may be OK. It really depends on what you want out of the hunt.

I took a Mauser K98 chambered in 7mm-08 Antelope hunting in 2004. Now the 7-08 is not what most would consider the ultimate Antelope round. The outfitter told me that I might have to shoot 400+ yards to get my animal. I wanted to use my Beautiful custom mauser my wife bought me so, I simply responded that I would either try to get closer, look for a different animal, or be content to let him go if it came to that. The outfitter was happy with that answer. I spent a lot of time at the range shooting at 200 and 300 yards using a Harris Bipod just in case. On the hunt I first spotted my Goat at well over 600 yards off. There was no way I could approach him where he was. So I watched him. Shortly he started to move off and my guide and I were able to work our way around to him. I finally pulled the trigger on him at 170 yards.

Yes, I practiced for some long shots but I was also willing to pass on an animal if I needed to. I actually did pass on several, some because I could not get within a range at which I felt comfortable shooting. Yes, you may have to pass on your dream bull if you take the Whelen. But then again there is no guarantee that you will not have to pass with the 300 WM either. Ultimately what you want out of the hunt is very personnal and only you can make the choice.

quote:

Originally posted by mark65x55:
4t1mag, I'm looking at a hunt in British Columbia.

Bob, No I don't have a 300win. never owned one. I have had a 300 H&H and a 300wsm. I have a 270win and a 22rf.

A 270 with 150 gr premium bullets ain't no slouch on moose at any reasonable range including 400 yds if you can make the shot. I like the 300 Win and would take it over a 270 but I wouldn't buy a new rifle for that reason alone.

Take your whelen,It's a very rare thing if you can't close to with in 250yds of a mountain caribou,and that range as well for moose.Out to 250yds the whelen is a stomper.If you want alittle more range out of your whelen,load up a 225gr x bullet or partition at 2700fps which isn't difficult out of the CDL with a 24" tube.That load will reach 300 yds with the same drop as the 30/06 with a 180gr.

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
#2 - if the airline looses your ammo where are you going to get whelen ammo?? go with the 300

So far I haven't had that problem, knock on wood, and I've taken the whelen from Alabama to the Arctic I guess if that was a problem I'd borrow a rifle, it wouldn't be the end of the trip.

If you aren't sure, error on the side of more guns!

Stick with your Whelen. I too have a Rem. CDL in 35 Whelen, and while there is nothing wrong with a 300 Win. Mag., why buy another gun that isn't going to kill any better than what you already have?

The Whelen can shoot flat too, loaded with 180's and whatnot. 3000 fps is right on par with a 300 Mag. Even with heavier 225 gr. loads, if you sight in 3" high at 100 yards, you'll have your 325 yd point blank range.

Now if you really just want a new gun, go for the 300, but if I were you I'd stick with what I have. Take care.

In my younger days I took two deer with a 35 Whelen at 325 yards. About a minute apart and both were moving. And I did it with a peep sight. If your Whelen is scoped and with proper loads, 300 yards should be no problem.

Barstooler

In the cdl with the 24" barrel you can toss the 225gr x bullet or nosler out at 2700fps and that will reach 300yds with authority.It should be easy to get with in 250yds of a mtn caribou or moose.Mtn caribou are mostly hunted above tree line or in buck brush areas,both are easy area's to stock in with more cover than one would expect

Can you ups or mail ammo ahead of time for your hunt? This would insure that your ammo was on sight before you left. If your gun gets lost, you would still need to borrow a gun for the hunt. I don't know if you can send loaded ammo like this, but it would solve the ammo problem. I like the getting closer to game type of hunting. For me, long range snipeing type of hunting just is not my way of doing it. I can shoot paper at long range and that is great fun, but for me, too much can go wrong at long distance for me to do it and enjoy it. Some really like this type of hunting, and that is great. I have been doing most of my deer hunting with handguns and bows in the last few years, I just like it. The whelen is a great large game hunting choice, and if you like it and want to take it, you should. For most of your hunting needs a good bullet choice in your 270 will give you all of the range of the 300, and with good bullet selection, you are not going to be giving up much untill the game gets very big. But then yoiu have the whelen for that.

I always try to take 2 rifles on any far away trip. The exception being a true back pack hunt.
I would not be afraid to take either the 270 or the 35 Whelen on a moose, caribou hunt. If I could not take the both I would lean toward the 35 Whelen.
Again the 300 Mag is about perfect for such a hunt.

However, I killed both of my Caribou [Alaska} with my 450/400 3 1/4" double rifle, iron sights, 400 gr. Woodleigh Softs.

Long shots at moose aren't terribly unusual in my experience. I would take the gun that can make the shot. 270s didn't use to be legal in Quebec for moose, but I haven't checked lately. (since I got a 338 in 1978)