Originally Posted by
Ridge Runner
I keep reading that its marginal, or marginal at best, horsehockey! compare it to a 30-30 with a 150 gr bullet, it makes 580 ft/lbs of energy at 300 yards(federal 64 gr. power shock factory load) compared to the 30-30's 652 ft/lbs (federal 150 gr power shock factory load) is the 30-30 also marginal? the rifle that's killed more deer than any other made since 1892 when it was first produced?
I'm going with its adequate at least, it shoots flatter than the 30-30, drifts less and has almost as much energy with less recoil. the main difference is a smaller bullet hole which really makes no difference if you put the bullet where it needs to be. These days when I hunt deer with a 223, I use plain vanilla 55 gr soft points, wait for the onside leg to go foreward and hold on the crease behind the leg, there is a 50-60 yard death dash and they pile up in a heap, not unlike the results I get with any other non-magnum centerfire up to 30 cal.
those who have never put the little cartridge through its paces really just don't know.
RR
And really RR, who in the hell takes a 30/30 out to 300 yards? Noone with any sense! Since it is a cartridge designed for lever guns and for 200 yards max. You are trying to compare apples to watermelons there. And you also made my point for me in your shooting script as well. You wait for a shot that AVOIDS shoulder because you KNOW that that cartridge isn't up to snuff. I don't think I nor anyone else on here said it wouldn't kill a deer. We are all saying it is not a cartridge for an inexperienced shooter that doesn't have the patience or the experience to wait for that tiny shot window that a more seasoned hunter (that knows he is using a weak cartridge) will wait for.