ORIGINAL: HEAD0001
I would use this to compare deer calibers.
Killing power is easy to compare. .458 will outkill a .308 which will outkill a .243. I think this is simple stuff. Bigger bullets. Bigger is better.
Well, that's just ludicrous, unless you tell us which cartridge you are using by way of the comparison. In your chart, the .308 diameter will include things like the .30-30 and the .30 M1 carbine rounds all the way up to the various .300 Magnums. You cannot with a straight face say that the .30 Carbine is a better250-400 yard round than the .243 Win, or the .243 WSM, the .25-06or the .257 Weatherby Magnum, etc., etc. He11, you can't even say it's a better 10 yard cartridge. For the .284, are you talking about the 7mm Rem Mag, the 7mm-08, the .280, the 7X57 Mauser?
As far as cost is concerned, you are right, that area is a little vague. However I believe in general-30 caliber ammo is cheaper.(30-30,30-06,30 carbine vs 25-06, 243 Winchester, 338 Winchester Magnum).
There you go, lumping .30-30 and .30 carbine against the .25-06 and .243. I'll guarantee the .25-06 and the .243 are better deer killers at ANY range than either of those cartridges. And, no the .30 caliber ammo isn't any cheaper than the .243's or .25-06's, at least not where I shop.
Do not say it looks biased without changing the score in a particular category. But in general I guess you are right. I truly do believe the .308 caliber is the best. Show me where I am wrong?
It's not really possible to argue unless you tell us what cartridges (not just caliber) that you are evaluating. The .30 Carbine round loses to virtually all other centerfire rifle cartridges in just about every category. Yet, because it's a .308, your chart would rate it ahead of the .243 Win, the .25-06, the .270, the 7mm-08, the 7mm Magnums, etc., etc., etc. Absolutely ridiculous!
Alot of hunters are trying to decide what cartridge to buy for their first deer rifle. IMO they should choose the caliber first, Then choose a cartridge in that caliber that suits them the best. If you are recoil sensitive then go with a 300 Savage or a 30-30. The 30-30 is a very effective round in a bolt action or an Encore. Let's keep our minds and opinions open.
Neither the .300 Savage nor the .30-30 will perform as well as many smaller caliber cartridges.
Z is right, I should have added BC and SD. The problem is that they are so close that I felt it did not merit addition. You could give the .284 a 10. The .308and .277 a 9. And all other calibers an 8. This score would not make a big difference for the average hunter. Tom.
But, even considering sectional density, that doesn't alter the wide variety of cartridge selections in each of the stated calibers. And, your "Drop them dead in their tracks" ratings are completely subjective. I've killed half of the deer I've shot with a .30-06 and the other half with a .243, and have noted NO difference whatsoever in how far the deer went after they were shot, yet you've got the .243 caliber rated 33% less.