The Bob Hagel quote!!!

[Alibiiv]

"You should "not" use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong."
Bob Hagel!!!!
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I just posted this thread for all of those out there who will preach, "They ain't hard to kill" folks selling a smaller cartridge than ought to be used to take an animal ethically. I had never read or have seen this quote until membtb posted it in another thread. This guy "HAGEL" knew a thing or two about hunting. My reply to, "They ain't hard to kill" is they may not be hard to kill, but...killing and retrieving are another thing. I have read shot placement, shot placement shot placement. Absolutely correct, however where we intend to put that bullet and what happens between when the trigger is pulled and where it is intended to go is not always in a sterile environment. I believe this is a great quote and something that we all ought to consider and adhere to when we decide upon a particular cartridge for hunting a particular game.

 

[Seabeeken]

And then there's the issue of using a bullet that's tough enough at short range and still expands at longer ranges.
Bob Hagel knew what he was doing. Enjoyed his writings. Also Finn Aagard

 

[MachV]

There ain't a gun big enough when everything goes wrong!

 

[Mikecr]

I suppose it depends on your hunting.
For me: there is no ballistic attribute more powerful than accuracy.

 

[Alibiiv]

And then there's the issue of using a bullet that's tough enough at short range and still expands at longer ranges.
Bob Hagel knew what he was doing. Enjoyed his writings. Also Finn Aagard

I will check Aagard out

 

[brewster29]

I had the privilege of speaking with Bob Hagel on the phone in the late1980's regarding an issue I had with a 338 cal 210 partition only penetrating about 8" into a nice 5x5 whitetail. Bob was a gentleman to speak with, and a wealth of knowledge. He asked that I send him the bullet and he would pass it on to the good folks at Nosler. He followed up with a nice letter, which I still have and treasure.
It turned out the front part of the jacket was too soft and the bullet over expanded- as Bob put it: like trying to drive a washer in flat wise.

I had previously had very good results with the 250 gr partition bullets. I had read Bob's book(s) a few years earlier and based on his experiences on elk I built a 340 Weatherby on a lefty REM 700 action. It became my main hunting rifle for nearly thirty years. In my part of the world ( SE British Columbia) we have to hunt hard for our bulls, in steep rough terrain or thick brush. It's best to anchor them, a short run can make recovery much more difficult. And we sometimes have to deal with grizzlies…

That 340 is mostly retired now (me too!), my main carry now is a NULA 24 in 280 REM. I used that 340 to take twenty something bulls, including several spectacular kills from bad angles, shots that I would not have tried with a lesser cartridge. It would drive the 250's through about 5 feet of elk or moose.

In my opinion Bob's books should be on the reading list for all people who call themselves big game hunters.

 

[WA Coyote]

One of the dumber quotes I've heard…

If it were applicable, it would also apply to archery equipment.

 

[Rick Richard]

One of the dumber quotes I've heard…

If it were applicable, it would also apply to archery equipment.

Meaning what? You make a statement like this and you know somebody is going to ask . lol.

 

[dogz]

I will check Aagard out

Finn was as good as it gets

I was fortunate to know Bob, had many a conversation with him at his place in Idaho.

For me I place, Finn, Hagel, Barsness, Seyfried and Bowman right up there at the top of the best writers.

I ran hard for 2 decades with a 340 Wby built off a 700 and one off a 70. As well I've been running a 7 Mashburn Super for over 3 decades as a result of my time with Bob Hagel. I still use the Mashburn a ton load for my get it done at any range (that I'll shoot at) gun. I sold my last 340 this spring as I can do all I want via my Mashburn and 338/06.

 

[WA Coyote]

Meaning what? You make a statement like this and you know somebody is going to ask . lol.

Pretty self-explanatory…

What kind of bow would you need to shoot, for it to kill critters "when everything goes wrong"?

If the answer is: "there isn't one" (which we all know is the correct answer), then that answer also applies to every other projectile you'd send at a critter.

Or….

It requires a weapon so enormous, that the whole argument becomes invalid.

 

[Rick Richard]

Pretty self-explanatory…

What kind of bow would you need to shoot, for it to kill critters "when everything goes wrong"?

If the answer is: "there isn't one" (which we all know is the correct answer), then that answer also applies to every other projectile you'd send at a critter.

Or….

It requires a weapon so enormous, that the whole argument becomes invalid.

How about enough poundage shooting heavy arrows that can break or penetrate heavy bones…that is just one idea.

 

[WA Coyote]

How about enough poundage shooting heavy arrows that can break or penetrate heavy bones…that is just one idea.

A bow that could do that to elk bones… would be unshootable…. which is exactly my point.

You NEVER have "enough bow" to make up for when everything goes wrong.

No cartridge, or bow, can span the gap between between most people's ears.

 

[stazmania]

We should all drive armored cars in case we get in an accident

 

[memtb]

A bow that could do that to elk bones… would be unshootable…. which is exactly my point.

You NEVER have "enough bow" to make up for when everything goes wrong.

No cartridge, or bow, can span the gap between between most people's ears.

I'm pretty darn certain that, a bow of around 100 pound draw, shooting heavy broad heads and heavy shafts will penetrate an elk or even moose shoulder at close range. Close range…..the concept of bow hunting! memtb