If you’ve ever encountered a Sasquatch while walking through the woods, you know how terrifyingly gigantic these creatures are. Sometimes, standing 15 feet tall and well over 750lbs means
After a recent Bigfoot hunting trip, I realized my little 5.56 AR-15 probably wouldn’t stop a Sasquatch without perfect shot placement. So, I asked some buddies what they carried into Bigfoot territory and did some research to ensure they weren’t just pulling my leg.
Handgun Cartridges For Big Foot
Let’s begin with your sidearm. I don’t recommend coming face-to-face with a Chewbacca-like creature with only a handgun, but having a high-powered handgun cartridge as a backup doesn’t hurt.
10mm
The 10mm Auto might be a little stout for personal defense unless it’s against a grizzly bear or Sasquatch. What’s fantastic about the 10mm auto is the number of rounds a pistol magazine can hold. An extended mag holds about 22 rounds, but the average mag holds 16 rounds. While it doesn’t have the most stopping power of our handgun cartridges, you can get more rounds on target without reloading.
44 Magnum
On my Sasquatch hunting trip, I carried my Desert Eagle, chambered in .44 Mag, as a sidearm because the 44 Magnum has plenty of stopping power with about 950 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. It also holds 8+1 rounds, so I have a few more chances of quickly stopping a charging Bigfoot than I would carrying a revolver.
.500 S&W
You’re probably tougher than I am and can handle the recoil of the .500 S&W, which would stop any angry Sasquatch in its tracks. The biggest downfall is having to haul around a bulky revolver capable of only carrying five rounds in the cylinder.
Shotgun Gauges For Sasquatch Hunting
For those limited to only a shotgun by their state’s hunting regulations or extreme thrill seekers, a shotgun might be your preferred firearm. It’s not mine, as I want as much distance between Bigfoot and me as possible.
12 Gauge
The trusty 12 gauge 1-oz slug will stop these devious creatures with proper shot placement, but be ready for some follow-up shots when needed.
10 Gauge
If you want to knock Bigfoot backward as the slug makes impact, use a 1 ¾-oz 10 gauge slug, but brace yourself against a tree because you might also tumble backward when you pull the trigger.
Rifle Cartridges For Sasquatch
I recommend carrying a rifle as your primary Bigfoot-hunting firearm, but it needs to be chambered in one of the following cartridges.
30-06 Springfield
The 30-06 has proven to be a lethal hunting cartridge across North America for decades. While you’ll need to get a little closer than you might want, it has enough knockdown power to drop a Sasquatch, but it’s probably the smallest rifle cartridge I’d be comfortable carrying.
.375 Holland & Holland Magnum
The 375 H&H is a favorite among African dangerous game hunters, and its bullet weights range from 235 grains to 350 grains. However, it’s the smallest legal cartridge for hunting dangerous game animals. This could be because it was developed in 1912, and there have been tremendous strides in cartridge capabilities. Some loads have a comparable trajectory to the 30-06, so you won’t be making long-range shots with the .375 H&H, but it has a lot more stopping power than the 30-06.
.300 Winchester Magnum
Alright, let’s step up to the big boys. The 300 Win Mag is one of the best Sasquatch hunting cartridges around because it maintains enough energy at long distances, so you don’t have to try and sneak up on Bigfoot. If you see one on the ridge across the valley, you can rest assured you’ll have a cartridge capable of making the shot.
.338 Lapua Magnum
Speaking of long-distance hunting, the 338 Lapua is also worthy of consideration. It carries plenty of energy downrange and can harvest a Sasquatch from a mile away.
The main problem with these magnum calibers is lugging the cumbersome rifle around through the woods. If you stumble upon one at close range, getting a shot off and maneuvering in thick brush will be much more challenging. Plus, the recoil means your shoulder should be prepared to take a beating if you need to fire multiple rounds.
.50 Browning Machine Gun
The 50 BMG is for the times when you want to scare off every Bigfoot within hearing distance while sitting on your back porch drinking a cup of coffee. A 50 Browning round makes the 300 Win Mag look like a Nerf bullet, so you won’t have to worry about stopping power from over a mile away. However, your shoulder will probably need reset after firing a few rounds, so have a buddy on standby. If you just want to scare a Sasquatch to death, this is the platform you need.
Other Considerations
Sometimes, a rifle cartridge just isn’t enough bang for your buck. You just can’t risk Bigfoot getting back up and disappearing again.
RPG-7
The RPG-7 is an anti-armor weapon capable of stopping a tank, so if you ever run into an armored pack of Bigfoots, you’ll definitely want an RPG-7 within reach. The main problems you’ll run into are the minimal munitions you can carry, it’s a terrible choice for close-range hunting, especially in thick brush, and people won’t believe you finally got Bigfoot after you shoot it with an RPG.
50-170 WCF / 70-150 WCF
The 50-170 WCF and 70-150 WCF are short-lived cartridges designed by Winchester that are said to have had at least 700 to 900-grain bullets and were fired from a Winchester Model 1887. That giant projectile would have been more than enough to drop a Bigfoot, but I seriously doubt it had a flat trajectory.
Laser Blasters
I’ve seen many blasters drop a Wookiee, which looks awfully similar to a Sasquatch. I wouldn’t hesitate to carry a blaster on my next Bigfoot hunt, but I’d still prefer a rifle instead of a pistol.
Lightsaber
Your last option is to become a Jedi and hunt down the outlaw Sasquatches with your lightsaber. The close-quarters combat won’t be a problem for you since you’re a Jedi Master, but if you happen to find one lying around, I wouldn’t recommend using it on your first Sasquatch hunt.
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