{"id":1426,"date":"2023-12-23T19:45:29","date_gmt":"2023-12-23T19:45:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publiclandsjournal.com\/?p=1426"},"modified":"2023-12-23T19:45:30","modified_gmt":"2023-12-23T19:45:30","slug":"5-excellent-rifle-calibers-for-beginning-western-big-game-hunters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publiclandsjournal.com\/5-excellent-rifle-calibers-for-beginning-western-big-game-hunters\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Excellent Rifle Calibers for Beginning Western Big Game Hunters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Big game hunting in the western United States is characterized by expansive country with room to roam. The wide open landscapes, steep and rugged terrain, and deep canyons are often a stark contrast to hunting in other parts of the United States. The expansive nature of western landscapes requires rifles and cartridges that are up to the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You won’t find many hunters chasing after elk or mule deer with shotguns or straight-walled cartridges. Western terrain often requires longer shots, necessitating calibers with higher velocities and greater range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many suitable cartridges for hunting western big game, and every hunter will have opinions of their favorites. I’m not here to convince you to change your mind about what you like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, I’m talking to beginning hunters. If you’re new to hunting out west and aren’t sure where to start with rifles and calibers, hopefully, this will be a helpful resource. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are a few boxes that rifle calibers for beginner hunters should check. These will ensure you pick a caliber that will cover the hunting situations you want to try and the species you want to hunt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The caliber you select should be capable of taking multiple game species. You may start out hunting Coues Whitetails in Arizona or Pronghorn in Wyoming and later want to try an elk hunt in Colorado. Ideally, you’ll want to use the same rifle because you’re accustomed to shooting it and have confidence in its performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your proficiency with your rifle is much more important than the specific caliber you are shooting. Accuracy beats power every time. Proficiency comes with practice and experience. That means you’ll need to afford your rifle and the ammunition to shoot it regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While some newer calibers that are optimized for western hunting may seem appealing, the ammunition can be expensive and may be difficult to find. You don’t want to miss out on valuable practice because of an ammunition shortage, whether it’s caused by availability or affordability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I mentioned above, ammunition for some calibers is just harder to find than others. Starting with a popular caliber will ensure you can find ammunition easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re new to hunting (and shooting) you’ll also want a caliber that doesn’t have too much recoil and is easy to shoot. In fact, this is still something I consider when deciding on a caliber, even after hunting in the west for over 20 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What’s the point of having a rifle if you don’t enjoy shooting it or have trouble finding ammo to shoot?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before we start discussing specific calibers, let’s consider a few questions that will help determine the characteristics we are looking for in a rifle or cartridge. By thinking about the species we’ll pursue, the terrain we’ll hunt, and the distances we’ll shoot we can narrow down our search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A magnum cartridge is not required if you’re after deer, elk, pronghorn, and\/or black bear. If you want to start hunting moose, bison, and\/or grizzly bears, then you might want to start considering the larger magnum calibers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you trying to call moose in Alaska’s thick river bottoms? If so, you won’t need (be able to) to shoot more than 200-300 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you hunting pronghorn or mule deer on the eastern plains of Wyoming, Montana, or Colorado? If so, 400-yard shots might be the norm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do you sit in ambush positions waiting for an animal to pass by? In that case, you’ll have shorter-range shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do you spot-and-stalk rugged, open country? If so, you’ll probably have more difficulty getting close to animals. At the same time, you’ll also want a rifle that’s not too heavy so you can move quickly and cover difficult terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do you slowly still hunt through feeding or bedding areas? If this is your style, you can expect shorter shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n