ORIGINAL: HEAD0001
I would not have taken that shot with a lesser cartridge. No gut shots involved. But a tough shot that is fully capable of a humane kill with adequate firepower. That is why I cringe when I hear people call a 25-06 or a 243 as adequate elk medicine. I would never have taken that shot with a "Pea Shooter". Do you not agree?? However with the 340 Wby. Mag. there was no doubt of the outcome.
No, I am not saying the .243 or 25-06 are Elk cartridges!
A 30-06 with the right bullets might have done the same job.
Sorry, but I thought this was really more about Whitetail sized game. In which case, a magnum is NOT needed!
In reality, for deer the .243 or 25-06 will kill them just as dead as any magnum!
For Elk, a magnum is NOT overkill, but within limits, the .270, .308, .280 and 30-06 will easily do the job.
The only time that a magnum as large as the .300 Rem. or larger is really "needed," is when you are hunting something that might want to bite you, or stomp your arse into a mud hole!
Or..... at very long ranges!
Which to me, (ultra longrange shots)borders more on shooting skills than hunting skills! While I am not knocking shooting skills, shooting skills are very important! But, some of the same people that blast things like baiting and other hunting methods, don't mind stretching the ranges beyond say, 400 yards!
If a hunter has the skill to make such shots, my hats off to you!But when you exceed 400 yards or so, (I'veheard the braggers evenspeak of 8, 900 yard shots) you are not doing much more than the guy thats a mediocre shooter, that is willing to pay high dollarto hunt high fence!
I have absolutly nothing against using "magnums," butin MOST cases they ARE NOT necessary!
And lastly, I stand by what I've stated before; I have yet to see the shooter that can CONSISTANTLY shoot a mag, better than they can shoot a smaller caliber!