caribou hunting- need advice

[mimprevento]

May have an opportunity to hunt in Northern Quebec in early December. I will take Big Green- currently 50 k miles. I will driving from Southeastern Va and back. What is a good take list for the truck and what is a good . 308 load? I am proficient with my Iron Brigade Armory Rem 700 and it is used to shooting 168 or 175 grain HPBT match ammo. I would like to stick with this caliber. All input would be most appreciated.

 

[rowland]

I bagged my first couple of 'Bou with a . 308, good caliber for the job. Any good bonded core pointed soft point will do the trick, just make sure its fairly heavily constructed and stick it in the right spot. I use 180 gr Speer hot-cores, but lots of things will work. You really dont need to bother with the really premium stuff (Barnes-X, Nosler Partitions, etc. ) Those bullets tend to shoot through without doing as much damage inbetween. Caribou are tough, but they aint that tough! Good luck.



Isaac



PS. Dont forget to completely de-oil the gun, nothing more embaressing than a "click"

 

[Idaho CTD]

Swift Scirroco's shoot really well and performed really well for me on the caribou I shot this year. I used a 30-338 though.

 

[Rman]

I have to disagree with rowland on the quality bullets. We shot an an elk and deer this year with nosler partition's and my god do they do damage. I've been using them for years now, and they do a number internally. I shoot 7mm remington mag and i rarely have a rear exit, just a huge mass of destroyed organs.



I'm not a huge fan of . 308 because of the short neck, when you get into larger bullets it leaves less room for powder. . 308 is sufficient though, and using a good bullet that is well placed should definitly secure a kill. Good Luck, and post pics!!

 

[DaveN]

My experience with caribou are that when they are hit, either they don't know they are hit and keep walking, or they stand there. Dad and I took a trip to northern quebec a few years ago.



I shot my two with a . 243 at about 350 yards. Dad used a . 270. Had no issues whatsoever. They stopped walking, stood there for a few seconds, laid down and that was it. By time I walked up to them they were all done.



I'm sure if I had hit it in the rump I may have had some problems with the lighter rounds, but my personal opinion is that bullet caliber/load choice is second to proper shot placement.



As long as you're not using full metal jacket bullets, and using some sort if jacketed or expanding bullet, a properly placed shot will do the job with just about any caliber.



I know alot if guys like to use big heavy rounds, it's a matter of personal preference. I like the smaller calibers, they tend to shoot flatter and longer without having to compensate for drop. That way you're guaranteed that proper shot I was talking about.

 

[rowland]

I should probobly re-phrase my comment on the Noslers etc. They do work, no doubt about it. And if they work for your caliber/game combination thats great, if fact if I used a 7mm I would shoot that or something similer.



The problem I've seen several times in the past (with 30-06, . 338)is that on a less than than optimal shot (say, through the shoulder) on big game such as moose, the tip blows off in the bone and the rear portion then makes a very small hole through the lungs. Still kills it of course, but takes longer. This is honestly not a real issue for Quebec Caribou, especially with a . 308. We shoot alot of moose in our family though, so I have a warped view.



As for your truck, do you have a block heater installed? I don't know if you will have a place to plug in, but I imagine it gets cold there. It will also help to have a good arctic grade synthetic oil in the engine. Synthetic 5w-30 will do wonders at chillier temps.



Isaac