Caribou

[pacecars]

A friend has proposed a Caribou hunt in Alaska next year and my first thought is what handgun to take as my primary weapon? Any of you ever shoot a Caribou with a handgun? Suitable guns in inventory (at the moment anyway) give me a few choices. I have a T/C Contender in either .375 JDJ or .250 Savage, an EABCO BF in 6.5 BRM or the FA 83 in .454 Casull. All are scoped and I believe with the right bullet and knowing my yardage limits would work on a Caribou unless of course I am totally wrong on what it takes to down one. I will take my .500 Linebaugh also just because it deserves to go to Alaska at least once even if I don’t see a bear. I have added a poll just because I have always wanted to use the feature😎

[bula]

I've never been, know what y'all know. Shots may be long. Don't hear, or read much on the Caribou, per hunting. Anyone got some live weights to share ?

[bushog]

First caribou I shot you could have killed by throwing a rock, second was 350 yards the very next day.

Just like everything else…just depends…be prepared…..

[brant]

I would personally have a revolver and a scoped contender. No doubt there will be long shots, but people still hunt them successfully with homemade trad equipment as well so it is possible to get close.

[bigbrowndog]

Of your given choices 454 and 375jdj then 250sav. If a good 115/120gr. bullet can be stabilized.

Trapr

[edk]

While it is possible to get close some of it depends on the specifics of your hunt. I was prepared for 250yds and was able to get within 150. The hunt was in Canada so a rifle was used but a 270 Win was plenty. The locals mostly used .303 Brit and 30-30.

So ranges could be a little long for a 454 as primary. The 375 could be more than needed but what is too dead? The 250 could be a little light if the animal ran big and the range tended toward longer however patience and circumstances allowing a better stalk could overcome that. Not familiar with the 6.5 BRM but a quick read of the EABCO description sounds good.

[Ken O'Neill]

My Caribou gun is a 12-1/2" barrel .375 JDJ Contender. 270 Hornadys. I see no need for anything else.

[bearskinner]

I agree with Ken. I’ve only been on 8 fly out drop hunts for Caribou. I used a 35Rem on the first, then around 1970 heard of this place called SSK and their hand cannons. I picked up a 375JDJ and used it exclusively on the next 7 caribou hunts. It has the reach you need and power in case you need to fend off a Grizz.

[sixshot]

Take both, the distance can vary a lot, I've shot them at 40 yds & 300 yds.

Dick

[rickiesrevenge]

Anything will kill one. They are soft critters in my experience. My 12 year old son killed a young bull this winter with a 223. First shot was all it needed. Took one step, put its head down, and I told Kyle to shoot him again. Tipped right over. I've never had one go more than 30-40 yards. I've shot them with an xp-100 in 284 and a 7mm Dakota.