You know, I spent the morning reading the "inferior round" post...... all 11 pages of it!! Honestly, I like the "which caliber" is better debate as much as the next guy, but honestly in 99% of all circumstances I don't think it matters as much (if any) as we talk about. Let's face it 99% of hunters are the once/twice/three times a year types. 99% of their shots from deer to elk to moose fall within the 250 yard mark (100-200 being the bulk). Now, I'd argue most of us on the board are avid shooters and pretty handy with a gun....... if I gave you all a 200 yard shot at a whitetail or mulie you can't convince me that there would be much difference (considering we made a good shot) between a 243, 25-06, 270, 30-06, 300 WSM, 338 winchester mag, 35 Whelen, or 350 Remington magnum! I'd take the bet everytime that most of you on the board would make that shot with any of the above or like calibers most of the time and that the deer would die within 50-75 yards of the hit. If we move up to elk, start with a 270 (I'd even go as low as the 25s) and I think the results would be the same!

So, while I enjoy the magnum vs. standard debate, the 30-06 vs. the 270 debate, etc. Let's be honest that pretty much any caliber you choose, practice with, and can shoot well will do the job.

Granted a 300 magnum at 400 yards will perform better than maybe a 300 Savage, but seriously how often do average hunters take a 400 yard shot in the field (better yet, how many should?).

The fella who started the other post was bent on saying there are so many worthless calibers that should be discontinued...... well heck then if I became supreme dictator of the world and said the only gun allowed to be used in deer up to moose was a 30-06 we'd all still be successful hunters, but what fun would that be????

I own three rifles.... a 260 Remington, a 30-06, and a 35 Whelen. I've shot deer, bear, caribou, elk, and hogs for about 25 years and I'm telling you within 250 yards the result on deer, bear, caribou, elk, and hogs is pretty similar with all three rounds...... there's a shot and there's an animal that goes down!

As far as shotguns, the fella was saying he sees no point in a 410, 28 guage, 16 guage, and a 10 guage. It's the same argument as with the 30-06, If I said we could only hunt with a 12 guage we'd all still be successful hunters, but what fun would that be! Plus, my 28 guage is simply fun to take rabbit hunting!

Let's be real....... all the WSMs may be ballistically superior to standard rounds, but so what???? The deer, bear, elk don't know the difference between a 300 WSM and a forty year old 30-06! Given the ballistic edge of the magnums vs the cost of ammo, I'd opt for the old standards everytime...... but that's just me! To each his own (which is what makes these boards fun), but let's just remember that in 99% of all situations it doesn't make much of a difference.

Please continue the debate.