I'm with these last two posts, you dont have to shoot any cartridge right at the point of busting the case every time. I think most of the hunting/shooting world is preoccupied by the ultra high velocity craze. This debate will go on forever, but extreme velocity is not the answer to everything. In my ignorant and backwards opinion, the biggest advantage to extreme velocities is less wind drift. Of course that doesnt become a problem until you get out past about 400 yards, which is beyond nearly everyone's effective range for deer shooting. The load I use for deer hunting is plodding along at a mere 2700 fps. I can make reliable hits in the kill zone out to around 400 yards provided I know the range, have a decent rest, and a deer that will stand still. In the past I also subscribed to the high velocity theory, but after years of trying to "ray-gun" deer to death at long range, I finally figured out that there are more important factors involved. I wouldnt trade my laser range finder for 600 more fps velocity. With a 200 yard zero, my 7x57 drops 10 inches at 300 yards, thats just 4 inches less than a 7 mag. From shooting positions encountered in the field while hunting, that is almost no difference to a deer hunter shooting at a live animal. The cross hair in a Leupold Vx III set on 10 power covers about that much (4"
at 300 yards. Knowing the range and having a good zero is more important to me than having a bullet flying at 4000 fps. Now, I'm not saying that magnums shouldnt be used, if you like that go ahead and enjoy it, just be realistic about the advantages of higher velocity. Its not really worth a whole heck of alot unless you are shooting at something farther than 400 yards away. And if you have a magnum rifle, you dont have to load it to the max either. Whatever you use, take the time to learn what it will and wont do. Spend some time shooting at the ranges you might encounter while hunting. Reading about it and doing it are two different things. Happy hunting.