Poll on your comfort level
A topic started by nemesisenforcer got me to thinking. I will apologize in advance for the length of this post, but I want to provide some background for you. I grew up, in the 50s, hunting the mountains of the West. My father carried a M94 30-30. He did not know that he needed more gun. He did not. I have witnessed his successes at ranges from 50-300 yds on targets ranging from hawks & jackrabbits to those weighing 2000 lbs. He seldom took more than one shot at a target. My first "big rifle" was also a M94.
Later (about 12 yrs ago) I got into contenders. I have shot and hunted with many of the factory calibers and plenty of wildcats. From a 14" bbl most of the better hunting rounds have a muzzle velocity of 2200-2400 fps. I have taken game and witnessed successful shots out to 300 yds with them. (IMHO A 300 yd shot is a long one and should be restricted to those who are well acquainted with their round and their weapon) 300 yds is my self imposed maximum range with a rifle or a contender.
Many good hunting rounds do not fit the description of "modern effective calibers." They do not have belts on their cases nor letters in their names. By today's standards they are likely considered mild or weak. Maybe because I not as young as I once was, the older ones are the ones that appeal to me.
With that background, now the three questions. You may simply answer yes or no to the first two.
#1. Would you be comfortable in your "big game" hunting next year using a round with muzzle velocity less than 2600 fps?
#2. Do you have a self-imposed maximum range to which you limit yourself if the animal is not wounded?
#3. What is your current favorite hunting caliber?
Later (about 12 yrs ago) I got into contenders. I have shot and hunted with many of the factory calibers and plenty of wildcats. From a 14" bbl most of the better hunting rounds have a muzzle velocity of 2200-2400 fps. I have taken game and witnessed successful shots out to 300 yds with them. (IMHO A 300 yd shot is a long one and should be restricted to those who are well acquainted with their round and their weapon) 300 yds is my self imposed maximum range with a rifle or a contender.
Many good hunting rounds do not fit the description of "modern effective calibers." They do not have belts on their cases nor letters in their names. By today's standards they are likely considered mild or weak. Maybe because I not as young as I once was, the older ones are the ones that appeal to me.
With that background, now the three questions. You may simply answer yes or no to the first two.
#1. Would you be comfortable in your "big game" hunting next year using a round with muzzle velocity less than 2600 fps?
#2. Do you have a self-imposed maximum range to which you limit yourself if the animal is not wounded?
#3. What is your current favorite hunting caliber?
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quote:quote:
Originally posted by Jon0322
Yes
Yes
45-70
I read a very interesting article recently, that talked about how a .458 caliber bullet moving at 1500 FPS(45-70) will out-penetrate a .458 bullet moving 2100 FPS(.458 Winchester). They claim that a bullet loses penetration capabilities after 1300 FPS. It is a very interesting read and here is the link below.
http://www.garrettcartridges.com/penetration.asp
Jon
I have not had a chance to check out your link, but I think that would only be possible due to the characteristics of the bullet in question...
Yes ECC, I believe you are correct. I read the article again and they are talking about a "solid" bullet. And because its moving slower, it mushrooms less and therefore creates less surface area and is able to maintain velocity. That is what I get out of it anyway. Still a rather intersting read that I thought pertained to this topic well.
Jon0 -
Jon -- I missed the info in that release that suggested that the bullets being discussed expanded. Since I interpreted that the discussion involved only solids, I presume there was no expansion. The author stated that the decreased penetration from the faster projectiles was not well understood. I thought --- Thus, physics really does not seem to explain it. Did I miss something???? 0 -
No wtroper, that is just what I was getting out of it. I am not real familiar with solid bullets, but I guess I was always under the impression that they mushroomed slightly as well? I guess that it is just one of them "turtoise and the hair" type things.
Jon0 -
Jon -- OK by me. BTW -- thanks for the link. 0 -
quote:Jon -- OK by me. BTW -- thanks for the link.
No problem.
Jon0 -
1. Yes
2. Never "had" to shoot over 100 yards.
3. 30.06 One of the most versatile rounds there is.
From a sabot 55 grain pill running at 4200 fps, to a 220 grain running at 2410 fps.
There is a reason the 30.06 has been around for more than 100 years.
(as of last year)
A little history.....
quote:Designed with a view to replacing the Krag rifle and its .30-40 round after the Spanish-American War, this cartridge actually began as the .30-03, with a 220-grain bullet loaded to a velocity of 2300 feet per second. New developments in European small arms and ballistics, however, quickly convinced the U.S. military's ordnance experts to go to a lighter, faster bullet, loaded into a slightly shorter cartridge casing. The new round was accordingly tweaked, and the result was the .30 caliber U.S. cartridge of 1906, hence the designation of ".30-06." It had been designed for the Springfield bolt-action military rifle of 1903 (thus, the "30-03" designation for its original cartridge), and the new load was officially known thereafter as the .30-06 Springfield.0 -
Yes
Yes
30-30 or .2700 -
yes
yes..depenging on the rest and other conditions 25-400 yd
.284 Win (k98 sporterized in late 50's early 60's and done VERY well)0 -
#1: Yes
#2: If it is moving i try to keep my shots within 300 yards. If it is standing still on a calm day, I can reach out to 500 yards. Most of the time i am bowhunting, So my shots are normaly within 25 yards.
#3: 243, 25-06, 6mm, And the list goes on.[;)]0 -
yes
yes
and my deer gun is an open site 30-06
BUT im looking for a 38-55 single shot to replace the '06 as my deer rifle!0 -
I started this topic early this morning. Really appreciate all the responses. Thanks again. 0 -
Number one yes, nunber two two hundred yards, a kill shoot or a miss,number three 3006. 0 -
1. Yes
2. Yes ... depends how far my vehicle is [}:)].
3. .300 Win Mag0 -
wtroper- I really like what you have had to say. And as most who "know" me here know that I am not a hunter (mostly because of time restrictions). That said I do own lots of guns, and I am an avid reloader.
1. I would choose a caliber slower than 2600fps, I have been on boar hunts in the California hills with a .44 Magnum with success, as you probably know the .44 magnum won't do half of 2,600FPS. (Yes someone out there is going to put up there buddies numbers at 1500fps, but I wouldn't dare load one that hot). For 50 years the .44 magnum has been carried as a defensive weapon against dangerous game, and has stood the test of time.
2. I absolutely limit myself, when deer or elk hunting in the Northwest (where I am originally from) the woods are too thick to expect to shoot much more than a 100 yard shot. If an animal is out of range all you have to do is wait a little longer, and another will be by shortly.
3. I think that depending on the job, 30-06 is good for, and can be loaded for most game in the U.S., If bigger was desired .300Win Mag, and if a little smaller was desired .270.
My personal favorite would be .257 Weatherby. Like you, I'm comfortable with what I grew up with and I see little need for the latest and greatest.0 -
Dave
Interesting that you hunt with 44. Even though in the past I hunted with many different rifles, the last few years I have limited myself to using a FA 41 mag revolver. I load it to about 1575 and limit myself to no more than 125 yds. Have a safe full of revolvers and rifles but seem to pick up one of the FA (I have 2) when it is time to hunt.0
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