Magnums for big game? Who cares! I have owned a 300 Win. Mag. for 20 years and hunted with it for only one year, the first. Kicks like a horse. Primarily I use a 30-06, used it in Colorado this year for mule deer. Haven't been elk hunting yet, but plan to in 2004.

It all comes down to bullet placement. I grew up here in Georgia where we didn't have a deer season in the county where I live until 1969. Our big game was wild hogs. I've killed hundreds over the years, and most of those was killed with a 22 Long Rifle. When I got my first 22 Win. Mag. I thought I was in mag heaven, and that Mag was in a Ruger Single Six. Did I mention, I was close, sometimes within 10 feet, hunting skill, shot placement, etc., are all important. I have had friends that never hunted wild hogs show up with all sorts of guns and calibers and they couldn't believe I was using a 22 Mag.

So I don't care what you use, but use it well, know your limitations, and you will succeed.

dog1