I've listened to endless discussions on what might be the ideal rifle or cartridge, over at least 6 decades,
we all have our favorites and many of the guys I've hunted with.,
own a rather extensive collection of hunting rifles.
I recently had a couple of the local guys over as its deer hunting season,
and while we had a few beers, relaxed a bit, and reloaded a few cartridges,
the ever-popular subject of deer rifle cartridge selection came up.
now when I was much younger this held a great deal more of my attention,
but as I gained field experience,
I came to realize that the skill and experience of the hunter had a great deal more to do with a hunters success,
than the headstamp on the cartridge case, being used.
yes there are significant differences in effective range and penetration, etc,
but even a relatively weak cartridge like a 30/30 or 243 win will kill an elk or deer,
if the guy using it understands its range and similar limitations and can shoot it well.
Id have saved a wheelbarrow of cash ,
if Id stuck with just a couple of my favorite rifles.
I'd seen a 100 grain bullet from a 257 roberts, prove 100% lethal on a couple of large elk and I've used a 44 mag revolver to kill both deer and elk,
I've watched a couple guys, I hunt with, use surplus 6.5MM Swedish mausers with iron sights,
to kill mule deer out at 200-250 yards just as fast and effectively,
as some guy with a new commercial 7mm rem mag that cost at least 5 times as much money.
I've used a 340 wby or a 375 H&H rifle on many hunts,
and never found anything lacking in range, power accuracy or anything else.
If Id have just realized that , a bit faster,
I could have saved 5 decades of cash and practice using other rifles.
(but then I'd have missed a great deal of experience and maybe..dozens of "out state hunts.)
I've also used a 257 wby and a 358 win, a 338 win mag, and cast bullets in a 45/70,
and in florida a 44 mag carbine is quite commonly all you need.
the big secret? every choice worked if the guy using the rifle had some skill in its use,
and could hit where he intended to, consistently,
and understood the rifle and cartridges limitations.
so I,m sitting there and one guys suggesting that he really will be vastly better armed with a 6.5mm creedmore he sees advertised.
vs the 30/06 hes used with 100% success for decades makes zero sense to me,
especially when I know for a fact the guy rarely takes shots over 200 yards.
and in the 40 years I've known him, and if he can consistently shoot a 2" 100 yard group off the bench hes very happy!
no deer or hog hit in the identical place on their anatomy,
with either cartridge is likely to react much differently or run a significantly greater distance after being hit.
theres just not that much difference in lets say a 140 grain 6.5mm bullets impact
energy transfer or penetration,
and a typical 150 grain 30 caliber bullet moving a bit faster from a 30/06 on your typical deer.
I doubt he's spent more than a few dozen days at the local range,in the last 40 years,
so I asked him, what do you think that new 6.5mm will do for you that the current 30/06 won,t do,
other than the temporary pleasure of owning a new rifle,
and the fact that the rifle, scope and reloading dies etc.
will be costing you about $1.5-$2K or more
and take up a bit more space in your rifle safe??
now if you want a new toy thats fine,
but its unlikely to do much to increase your hunt success ratio,
Id point out that, realistically 95% of the hunting we do in florida is in thicker brush,
and 150 yards range would be an exceptionally long range shot.
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ge-and-rifle-combo-in-a-deer-elk-rifle.16611/
we all have our favorites and many of the guys I've hunted with.,
own a rather extensive collection of hunting rifles.
I recently had a couple of the local guys over as its deer hunting season,
and while we had a few beers, relaxed a bit, and reloaded a few cartridges,
the ever-popular subject of deer rifle cartridge selection came up.
now when I was much younger this held a great deal more of my attention,
but as I gained field experience,
I came to realize that the skill and experience of the hunter had a great deal more to do with a hunters success,
than the headstamp on the cartridge case, being used.
yes there are significant differences in effective range and penetration, etc,
but even a relatively weak cartridge like a 30/30 or 243 win will kill an elk or deer,
if the guy using it understands its range and similar limitations and can shoot it well.
Id have saved a wheelbarrow of cash ,
if Id stuck with just a couple of my favorite rifles.
I'd seen a 100 grain bullet from a 257 roberts, prove 100% lethal on a couple of large elk and I've used a 44 mag revolver to kill both deer and elk,
I've watched a couple guys, I hunt with, use surplus 6.5MM Swedish mausers with iron sights,
to kill mule deer out at 200-250 yards just as fast and effectively,
as some guy with a new commercial 7mm rem mag that cost at least 5 times as much money.
I've used a 340 wby or a 375 H&H rifle on many hunts,
and never found anything lacking in range, power accuracy or anything else.
If Id have just realized that , a bit faster,
I could have saved 5 decades of cash and practice using other rifles.
(but then I'd have missed a great deal of experience and maybe..dozens of "out state hunts.)
I've also used a 257 wby and a 358 win, a 338 win mag, and cast bullets in a 45/70,
and in florida a 44 mag carbine is quite commonly all you need.
the big secret? every choice worked if the guy using the rifle had some skill in its use,
and could hit where he intended to, consistently,
and understood the rifle and cartridges limitations.
so I,m sitting there and one guys suggesting that he really will be vastly better armed with a 6.5mm creedmore he sees advertised.
vs the 30/06 hes used with 100% success for decades makes zero sense to me,
especially when I know for a fact the guy rarely takes shots over 200 yards.
and in the 40 years I've known him, and if he can consistently shoot a 2" 100 yard group off the bench hes very happy!
no deer or hog hit in the identical place on their anatomy,
with either cartridge is likely to react much differently or run a significantly greater distance after being hit.
theres just not that much difference in lets say a 140 grain 6.5mm bullets impact
energy transfer or penetration,
and a typical 150 grain 30 caliber bullet moving a bit faster from a 30/06 on your typical deer.
I doubt he's spent more than a few dozen days at the local range,in the last 40 years,
so I asked him, what do you think that new 6.5mm will do for you that the current 30/06 won,t do,
other than the temporary pleasure of owning a new rifle,
and the fact that the rifle, scope and reloading dies etc.
will be costing you about $1.5-$2K or more
and take up a bit more space in your rifle safe??
now if you want a new toy thats fine,
but its unlikely to do much to increase your hunt success ratio,
Id point out that, realistically 95% of the hunting we do in florida is in thicker brush,
and 150 yards range would be an exceptionally long range shot.
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ge-and-rifle-combo-in-a-deer-elk-rifle.16611/
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