Magnum obsession seems real

[Willybuck]

Hmm! Good discussion. After a couple years of training and completing the NRA rifle and marksmanship program I was 14 and old enough in 1962 to buy my first deer license. The NRA training was my mother's requirement for me to hunt. Good rule mom. I borrowed my uncles 30-30 Marlin lever action and harvested my first buck on my grandparents 80 acres. Followed up the next year with another buck with my grandmothers 30-30 Winchester 94. Both bucks took multiple shots with the 170 grain round nose bullets and some tracking to find. My dad told me to buy a 300 Savage as he had herd this would knock a deer right down. I found a very used model 99 Savage take down in 300 Savage with an old Bushnell 3x scope and bought it for $99 including a case and 2 boxes of 180 grain pointed soft points. Harvested my buck that year and dad was right as it knocked the deer right down and he stayed down. After using that Savage to harvest several deer I got the itch to hunt out west in the Rockies and bought a 30-06. Harvested my first mule deer with that rifle with a 250 yard cross canyon shot. The hunters out west recommended I try a 270 Winchester for my next hunt. I bought a 270 Winchester and hunted deer, elk and bears with it over the next 20 years. Great caliber but the 130 grain cup and core bullets then available left something to be desired in terms of weight retention and penetration depth. I shot that 270 in steel silhouette competitions and did very well and learned to shoot out to 500 meters. Shot the throat right out of that 270 with 3100 FPS loads. I got the 300 Weatherby from my uncle when he was older and did not hunt any longer. I loaded the then available 165 and 180 grain cup and core bullets as fast as I possible. Harvested everything including deer, elk and bears with great authority. Switched to the all copper Barnes bullets in the 300 Weatherby in 2001 and have been very happy with those. I found a lighter weight all copper bullet performs very well with great penetration and weight retention.

 

[lightshooter]

Many magnums are magnums in name only, several cartridges achieve "magnum" performance without the "moniker"! It's only a word....choose what you like! memtb

I might be wrong here, or don't know this for sure, but what I thought what makes a cartridge a "MAGNUM" is the .545" bolt face, or anything bigger than the .473" "standard" .308 bolt face.

 

[azarcher10x]

I thought that long range "hunting" Bullets were relatively thinned jacketed designed to expand at reduced velocities. Perhaps the bullet would "fragment" at close range, limiting adequate penetration.....even in that situation, it should have killed a deer!

We've been using the same brand bullet for many years, only changing them as they improved with technology and using calibers and bullets that many believe "will not" work on " smaller" big game. Thus far, with 25+ years of use.....they've always given adequate expansion!
memtb

Depends on the bullet design of course. The issue arises when shot at smaller, thin skinned game at short distance. With a conventional soft point bullet, you can pretty much pick a particular weight for the game in question, and be fine. Typically, from a .30 cal, a 180 for elk or large deer. Years ago, I settled on 165 gr. for my 30-06. I've taken many deer and elk with it. When I went to the "Magnum", I stuck with the 165 gr., only i shoot exclusively Barnes TTSX. They have also worked on everything I've shot. The last deer I took was a Coues whitetail at 95 yes. with the 300 RUM. The shot was center, right behind the shoulder, with a 1" diameter exit. The last elk was 600 yds., with the same results. The only difference is, I wouldn't have taken the shot at 600 yds. with the '06!

 

[Gone Ballistic]

It is based on several things if, you are intending to shoot a shot that makes a clean kill of the animal, at the distance you are shooting. The higher the G-rating is based on the aerodynamics, speed and weight of the bullet. Couple that with the kinetic energy at the distance of target. This is based on speed and weight. With all of these things factored together it determines the distance one can make a clean kill. If you decide that you want to make kill shots of distance exceeding 500 yards then, you should have a faster speed load with the highest ballistics possible for your load. Magnum loads pack the maximum amount of speed of the bullet.

 

[Timbersquatch]

I'm dont own any magnums; I have always had an admiration for the 6.5mm calibers like the 6.5 prc, 6.5-06, 6.5×284, 6.5-300 etc, and the ole .270. My opinion is those bullets are pound for pound the best performing rounds. Granted at very long distances they do fall a little short on energy; but I dont find it coincidental that Best of the West uses a 6.5×284 for most of their long range kills. I think for a guy like me that doesnt like recoil, those rounds are sufficient for taking long shots. But just like any other big game caliber, the focus should always be on a precision shot for a quick kill; magnum or not.

 

[RCMSTER]

375h&h

IS ALWAYS THE RIGHT ANSWER!!!

JUST CHANGE BULLET!

LOL

Or a 375 ruger. Basically, one and the same. BTW, just got in from shooting my 375 about 5 minutes ago. Finally got my hands on some Norma 203B, so I loaded up 3 rounds with 68.0 grains, (mild load @2600ish fps), and with a 16 mph crosswind, 3 shots into an even 1 inch. Good enough. Tomorrow, I'll do it again for verification, or whether I am just lucky.

 

[montana west]

the 6/5 credless is just a 6.5/;300 savage with a lot gun writer hype and behind the 260 remington . and light years behind the 6.5/284. If you want a long range hunting rifle it has to be one that has some recoil.. iIssac Newton action and reaction are the way life is and also applies to rifles . a 22/250 with a 6.5 bullet just won't get it done.

 

[Lenny Foffa]

This is a really great thread!!! I think it shows that NEED has very little to do with why we buy good looking rifles in various calibers, and we all manage to take game and love most of our guns. The "Only 06 " guys seem to see very little need for big magnums, ( "all you Need is an 06 and well placed shot" ) that's often true, but that does not mean you MUST ONLY shoot elk ,or Bear ,with an 06. If you feel like also owning a big 30 Mag; or 338 Mag ; or the classic 375 H and H , who is to say you cannot or should not? Who would dare to say , they don't work on Big Game ?? The pride and the pleasure of owning a fine , ( elegant ) really accurate rifle , is a great thing. Taking Game with that rifle adds to that pleasure. No matter Magnum / Ackley Improved/ or Standard caliber. Its all about having fun enjoying our hobby. So many great calibers to choose from . The old time tested classics, and new 6.5 Creedmore /PRC/284!!! Enjoy all your rifles , shoot as much as you can, find that magic handload , and don't forget its supposed to be fun!!!!! Enjoy your Trophies gentlemen !!

 

[gator378]

I've hunted in a few states. Never used a magnum other than a .257Wby and that was only on paper.
I mainly hunt with a 6.5 Creedmoor and rarely exceed 350y on game. Most shots here in SC are under 150.
Now, it seems like every time a cartridge discussion comes up, 7mm or greater mags are the go to.
I know that some folks on here feel that velocity and mass will always trump a well placed shot and we are called Long Range Hunting, but at what point is a magnum necessary?
I guess what I'm asking is at what point did you decide a magnum was the best all around cartridge for you?

In the nature of full disclosure, I also currently own a 6.5PRC, had a 6.5x284, 257WBY and a 300WM(never fired ). The PRC's performance(a hunter) reminds me most of my 6.5x284, which was an F Classer.

I'm also considering having a new WSM built. So there's that.

I **** good with my 44 mag and shoot the 300 Weatherby as often as possible. Already wore one out and on my second one. Next caliber under consideration is 416 Mag. At least in tanks heavy and fast wins. I just like mags they are so fun to shoot even though I have 3 308s in military form. I have some 50 cal under my belt. If I get an opportunity I will do it again.

 

[gator378]

This is a really great thread!!! I think it shows that NEED has very little to do with why we buy good looking rifles in various calibers, and we all manage to take game and love most of our guns. The "Only 06 " guys seem to see very little need for big magnums, ( "all you Need is an 06 and well placed shot" ) that's often true, but that does not mean you MUST ONLY shoot elk ,or Bear ,with an 06. If you feel like also owning a big 30 Mag; or 338 Mag ; or the classic 375 H and H , who is to say you cannot or should not? Who would dare to say , they don't work on Big Game ?? The pride and the pleasure of owning a fine , ( elegant ) really accurate rifle , is a great thing. Taking Game with that rifle adds to that pleasure. No matter Magnum / Ackley Improved/ or Standard caliber. Its all about having fun enjoying our hobby. So many great calibers to choose from . The old time tested classics, and new 6.5 Creedmore /PRC/284!!! Enjoy all your rifles , shoot as much as you can, find that magic handload , and don't forget its supposed to be fun!!!!! Enjoy your Trophies gentlemen !!

so many calibers so little time

 

[8x68s]

About 11 years ago, anticipating a hunt for grizzly, and another for cape buff, I bought my first 375 H&H, as that seemed an appropriate cartridge, without being too ridiculous for black bear or elk. This one is a Ruger Number One.

Later, a second nice, used 375 Winchester Model 70 seemed to just throw itself at me, and I took it home too. Both have proven to be great rifles.

I shot a few black bear with the Number One. Unnecessarily powerful, but it worked fine.

Ended up taking the grizzly with my 30-06, and am pretty sure I'll never get around to the cape buff hunt... So, have two nice 375's that are more unnecessary now than they were when I got them.

I still like 'em though. Fun to handload, actually pretty pleasant to shoot. Don't need them, but I do like them.

Guy

that's a gorgeous stock on the Winnie! Is it a factory stock? also a big fan of #1's. I have had several and really enjoy the 9.3x74R that I have currently. thinking I should try and find a .404 Jeff though not many were made, just for fun, ya know!

 

[zb338]

I started out hunting with a .264 Win Mag. Back in the day good bullets weren't available like they
are today. The .264 was a great cartridge but the bad bullets did me in. So I sold the .264 and bought
a .338 Winchester. I don't consider that the .338 is a magnum just because it has a belt. It's not really
an over bore cartridge and it does a good job on big game. With the right stock the recoil is not bad.
I don't even have a recoil pad on my rifle.
Zeke

 

[greenejc]

I've hunted in a few states. Never used a magnum other than a .257Wby and that was only on paper.
I mainly hunt with a 6.5 Creedmoor and rarely exceed 350y on game. Most shots here in SC are under 150.
Now, it seems like every time a cartridge discussion comes up, 7mm or greater mags are the go to.
I know that some folks on here feel that velocity and mass will always trump a well placed shot and we are called Long Range Hunting, but at what point is a magnum necessary?
I guess what I'm asking is at what point did you decide a magnum was the best all around cartridge for you?

In the nature of full disclosure, I also currently own a 6.5PRC, had a 6.5x284, 257WBY and a 300WM(never fired ). The PRC's performance(a hunter) reminds me most of my 6.5x284, which was an F Classer.

I'm also considering having a new WSM built. So there's that.

A magnum, in my opinion, isn't required in most hunting. It may be required when shooting game at ranges past 500 yards. If it is, your 300 win mag will definitely do the job. I own and use two of them. For long range, penetration and diameter are important, though. A bullet(most bullets) doesn't expand reliably at velocities below about 1700 fps, so bullets that have smaller diameters tend to pencil through a game animal unless it hits a bone. Also, past about 600 yards, mass(not relative mass for caliber but over-all mass) becomes more important for penetration. That means heavy bullets that can be pushed fast enough to arrive at the animal with enough velocity to deform and create large wound channels. As to whether a magnum is necessary for long shots, I would not say. I know that I can make some pretty long effective shots with the 30-06 and Sierra 200 grain Gamekings, which leave my 30-06's at 2650fps or so, and my .35 Whelens are good 700 yard rifle with 225 gr gamekings, and a little farther using Speer 250 grain hotcors. Either bullet arrives at a target at distance and starts with a .358 cal. entrance hole, delivering more energy than the .357 magnum does at the muzzle. Your 300 win mag will shoot very accurately and have plenty of stuff left for shots past 700 yards, though, if you use a 180 grain or above bullet. Last Monday, I used my 26" barreled 300 to shoot through an 8 inch fence post(old post and not in use) at a lazed 480 yards. The bullets penetrated and my buddy found one afterward, which he dug up. By the way, the 300 win mag is capable of sub m.o.a. at about any distance if you feed it what it likes. But so are my 30-06's and my 35 Whelens.

 

[Rich Coyle]

Sometimes a Magnum is just needed. Years ago while hunting in NW Colorado, A hunting buddy hit a bull elk with his 270 that didn't go down. Before he was able to get a follow up shot in, the bull headed down a draw where my buddy no longer had line of sight. I however did, at about 125 yards, and held on his tail as he was going directly down and away from me. The 200 gr Nosler Partition semi-spitzer from my 300 Weatherby was later recovered just under his chest hide, having gone completely through him and into his chest cavity and anchoring him immediately. A wounded animal was thus recovered rather than possibly being lost to a grueling death. Only bad part was the total loss of the right tenderloin.

If I may help.... The great thing is we recovered an elk and were able to use 98% of the meat.