I am currently hunting whitetail with a .243 and would feel confident on using it on any whitetail, pronghorn, mule deer, really any deer size animal. I have a .270 but want a 30-06 for being able to shoot bigger pills over the .270 140gr or 150gr bullets. Just my personal preference but I honestly think the .243 is the perfect size cartridge for ranges most of us averages hunters shoot (400 yards or under) and think the .243 is over looked. I have never seen the need for magnum calibers because I never reach out that far to use the capabilities of a magnum caliber.

Bullets placed in the correct spot mean much more than headstamps.

It really depends on what I'm hunting. 270 is what I use most for deer, antelope and some black bear hunts. I plan on trying a 243 that I bought for my wife for at least deer or more if possible. 338WM is what I always use for elk and moose and would use if I ever go on a brown bear hunt. So I guess I like both.

I honestly wonder why people feel the need for Magnum cartridges for Elk and Moose. I've taken several of both with .30-06 and the little ole 30-30, .444, MLer, 7mm.08 (Elk not Moose, I aint stupid) and have never felt the need to have a magnum cartridge. Have I used them? Yep, .300 WM has taken a few for me but I really just didn't NEED the extra range it afforded. .30-06 will do the same job out to 400 yards that a .300 WM will and do it with less recoil and cost. Less recoil and cost= more range time to get really good with what you are shooting. THAT my friends is the most important thing there is. PLACEMENT. Cal, you could use just a .338-06 and have the same results out to 350 yards as that .338WM will. You don't shoot past that often if I recall correctly. And Brownies aren't bullet proof folks and they are just as easily downed as an Elk. Good bullet combined with good placement= dead Brownie. If you are carrying something for defense against a Brown and not hunting it, then a good 12 gauge with slug,00buck,slug,00buck,slug loaded up in the magazine is about as good a defense as one could have. I carry a 4 inch .500 S&W but I don't recommend that to most. I have vast amounts of practice with handguns and can hit that "bouncing tennis ball" sized target under pressure.

Magnum cartridges don't make up for poor target placement no matter what the manufacturers and "professionals" say. And they won't make up for range time to make you a long range shooter either.

The Eskimo Aleuts kill polar bears with a 22LR !

Do you mean to say that's all YOU need ?!?!

Be my guest..........................

Before switching to muzzleloaders, all I used was a 30-30 lever gun with open sights.

The fun is getting close enough so the 30-30 is a humane kill on an elk.

If someone feels a need for a magnum that's their choice, but I don't think it's necessary.

What caliber is your ML ?

Is that larger than a .30-30 or a 7MM RM ??


Here is a .50 cal that shoots out to 500 yards........................

http://www.gunwerks.com/Shooting-Systems/muzzleLoader

Muzzleloader is a round ball shooter most of the time for me. So, I like the .54 cal. Still pretty weak compared to the 30-30.

I just bought an older Marlin 30-30 to use hunting. I feel a little safer with a backup shot for bear since i'm an old fart who hunts alone, and we can't use bait, or dogs. On the ground face to face is fun stuff.

I'll use it for deer and elk too. Use a peep sight, and keep shots under 75yds.

For $5750 that thing better jump up and go hunting by it's damn self! After taxes and stuff around 6k is just stupidity looking for a home! Especially when you can get a swing lock for half that and more than likely a better rifle! 6k for a muzzleloader? Ri-dic-u-lous!!!!

I thought you liked LR hunting ??

Each to their own (better rifle ?)- right ?!1?

If a .50 cal can't kill'em you better get yourself a mechanical broad-head............ that should make for a big wound channel !!!

Those are non- magnums .................... Arn't they ??