.284 (7mm) up to .308 is only a 0.024" increase in bullet diameter. Doesn't seem like much, yet shooting very similarly constructed bullets, Broz observed such a pronounced difference that the use of the 7mm was discontinued.
.308 up to .338 is another .030" increase in diameter.
The .338 is where I've observed a pretty notable difference in stopping power compared to the 7mms. I don't shoot 50-70 animals in a short period of time, so my personal experiences and the lessons learned came over decades rather than a single hunting season.
Not to say the 7mms won't kill an elk, moose, brown bear, or other large game animal. The difference is how emphatically they're killed. I grew up archery hunting and truthfully, I enjoy following up the trails of a mortally hit deer or other non-predatory large game animal. It was the normal consequence of archery hunting and hitting an animal with a broadhead. As much a part of the hunt as any other aspect, and typically the 2nd most exciting portion of my hunting experience.
I don't - on the other hand - particularly enjoy following up bears in the brush and finding them still alive in their death-beds. So although I currently own four rifles with .284" bores, and have another .284 Broughton blank on hand, these aren't the rifles I normally take when bear hunting. Sometimes I'll grab one for black bear.
Like most riflemen I know, I much prefer shooting a light kicking rifle compared to heavier recoiling rifles. I used to own a .222 Remington back in the early 70s. Accurate and fun to shoot. I'd like to use smaller caliber, lighter kicking rifles on large game for their reduced recoil. The biggest reason I don't is because of the ever-present bears wherever I hunt. I prefer the improved knockdown/disabling effects I've experienced from the larger caliber, heavier recoiling rifles to the extent I'll endure the additional recoil.
Just kidding........Rich
