RE: Are bigger cartridges really better?
 

When you actually get your money together,
and actually go on your grizzly hunt,
let us know what rifle you actually took.

RE: Are bigger cartridges really better?
 

a .30-06 will take ANYTHING on this earth with no trouble. President Roosevelt, when he was alive, shot bull elephants with a .30-06. last time i checked elephants were slightly larger than any north american game animal.

RE: Are bigger cartridges really better?
 

In my opinion, I would go with the largest cartridge you can shoot and still be comfortable and accurate. If you can handle a .375 then use it. If not then go with a smaller cartridge.

RE: Are bigger cartridges really better?
 

Uuuummmmmmmmm........I see what you're trying to say there but you're not comparing apples to apples. An arrow and a bullet kill in different manners so you can't bring a bow and arrow to a gun fight.

Arrows kill by hemorrhaging and bullets kill by trama. (Although granted they do sometimeskill by hemorrhaging if the trama doesn't work) But just not the same. I certainly would not agree that because an arrow is effective that any old rifle cartridge will do.

RE: Are bigger cartridges really better?
 

I agree when an arrow enters an animals body it usually cuts a wound channel at least 1 inch in diameter. Where as a small caliber bullet may leave a wound channel 1/2 in diameter but relies on the destructive force of the bullets velocity and extreme energy delivery to kill an animal.

So can you kill a large animal with a small caliber weapon? Yes. Can a larger caliber weapon kill more "efficiently"? Yes. If you don't believe me go out and shoot two 90 lbs. does, one with a .223 one with a 50 bmg and compare the two. Both just as dead as the other but the one shot with the 50 was killed more "efficiently" though not for the table.

RE: Are bigger cartridges really better?
 

...for me I'd rather drive a 455 TransAmthan a boltswagon. There aint no substitute for cubic inches, horsepower, or grains of powder.

RE: Are bigger cartridges really better?
 

EKM; If you are directing your response towards me.....then I have taken several with my 30-06.

rather be huntin; Perhaps I overstated my philosophy a little, but I still think it is a valid point. If you can get a rifle to penetrate deep enough to the vitals or through the animal it will get the job done, and for the most part that does not require a magnum. Again though, if you or anyone else wants to shoota magnum what do I care.

ruger m77.270; I'm not sure Ientirely agree with your killing more efficiently philosophy unless you takeit to an extreme.For instance, while I have never shot a deer with a .223, I have taken several with a .243, and a 30-06. The farthest any have gone with either caliber is 20 yards. Most with both calibers have dropped where they are at. Undoubtedly the 30-06 has more power, but I don't think it killed any of those deer any more efficiently than the .243.

silvertip; .......1955 Crown Victoria bored to 510 pushing 780hp without nitrous.

RE: Are bigger cartridges really better?
 

Yeah...I think the difference here would be he isn't talking about shooting a 90lb deer. If it's all the same to you fellars, I wouldn't want my back up pardner to be carring his Matthews with some sick slick tricks either, no matter how ultimately deadly that combo may be.
Dead is dead, ok. And if hunting an animal capable of killing me, I am sure my family would take solace in the fact that the grizz that killed me died soon after due to my having placed my .223 bullet in the proper place.

Just for my own use, I would go big. Unlike most that post on this site, I am not Dirty Harry/John Wayne and my ability to always place the bullet exactly where it needs to be can be compromised by a multitude of factors, not the least of which is finding myself on the receiving end of BEAR CHARGE. The elements, lack of a bench or sand bags, exertion....all play in to the "field conditions" shot.
No, I wish I was immune to all these things like so many here are, but alas, I am just a nerve addled, mere mortal,hunter trying to harvest an animal and doing my best not to be harvested.
Hope my betters out there will allow me my compensation and not think to little of me? I have no desire to hunt grizz, but if I did, my decision would be whether to take my 338RUM or get something bigger!!!!

RE: Are bigger cartridges really better?
 

An Alaskan guide named Shoemaker uses an '06 with 200 or 220 gr. bullets on the big bears. He says it works as well as anything.

RE: Are bigger cartridges really better?
 

Did you just make that up? Mr. Shoemaker uses the screename "458WIN" for a reason.

http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/article.cfm?tocid=1043&magid=75