REM_7600

Agreed (believe it or not). I have only 2x surpassed 500yds (both times with a .338 Win Mag). In fact, under 150 or below is the norm.

Check out this .30-06 Creedmor (attached) Big Grin...

I have the 200's in hand already (my fake creedmor), for a long time I thought the 150 the cat's meow in the big gun. In the 7mm-08 I stand beside that load. A 30-06 is, in my opinion, too much cartridge for deer (having taken many with a bow; even a couple of elk with a broadhead)

REM7600

hardcastonly

yes the magazine articles seem to promote extreme long range and flat trajectory as the norm and try to push the idea that most game is shot at extreme range, this may be great for magazine, ammo, and rifle sales but it does not reflect reality in my experience,I've hunted several western states for mule deer and elk for almost 5 decades , I've practiced hitting small targets out at 500 plus yards frequently, but Id think my average mule deer and elk was clearly taken at under 200 yard and very very few over 350 yards.
not because I can,t shoot ,at those ranges accurately,
but because most large antlered elk and deer, tend too stay in the aspen and conifer so they are not readily visible, yeah youll see smaller bucks/bulls and does/cows wander out in meadows , but the game you want is seldom that stupid!

REM_7600

Oh, and the optimal for the little 7mm-08 is 140gr in my opinion. I use premium 120 bullets at high speeds. I have yet to recover one!

JoeA

I laughed when I saw this thread. Last evening, I noticed a similar lack, but with the .270 What gives?


Are we looking at a situation where the shelves with have stacks of the classics while the gun racks are full of newbies?

Irondog54

100% Create a void, and make the hunter think he or she has a need, and you have made a sale. I have yet to see an '06 bounce off of game animal yet, but if you can't say Creedmoor around the camp.... oh, and are you wearing last year's camo pattern??

hardcastonly

In my opinion, if you have years of success, using some favorite rifle and cartridge,
it makes no logical sense in my opinion to run out and purchase the latest firearm or cartridge being promoted.
if you've seen as much game dropped very effectively with a wide variety of rifles and calibers as I have over decades it becomes obvious that anything from a 257 roberts up to a 458 win gets the job done in experienced hands, its just not that hard to kill deer and elk, if you know the games anatomy, your rifles trajectory and if you can hit exactly where you want too.
theres little doubt that some choices have more power and longer range advantages over others , but that does not make a skilled and experienced rifleman less effective with his choice of rifle and cartridge if hes willing to work within the limitations his rifle/cartridge choice has.
personally I prefer a 340 wby with a 250 grain bullet or a 375 h&h with a 270 grain bullet,(decades of success, and no failures, make those personal favorites) but I would grab a 270 win with a premium 150 grain and have zero worries.
my late hunting partner RON,used a browning BLR in 358 win, and though I was insane, he referred to my rifles as "CANNONS" the odd thing was we both were regularly successful , beating the state 20% average hunter success in our group regularly.
one other rather successful member AL,has a 6.5mm Swedish mauser , its got a long successful record also and FRANK prefers a 308 win with 200 grain speer bullets
its not the rifle its the experience and the skill and tenacity of the guy holding that rifle that maters more.

REM_7600

Seems to me the ole '06 will do the job better at the distance (500) None (OK, not many) of us should be shooting beyond 400. Look at the charts and you'll understand why. It does seem all High Velocity cartridges share the same "beyond 4-500yd factor despite energy but at that far you'd better have your range dead on.

I guess my original post was that THEY (rifle manufacturers) aren't providing '06 in premium rifles (even .270 which I respect a lot, despite never having taken game with one)

Marketing Sales seems to be the answer coupled with You Tube posts, we're headed the way of the dinosaur.

.338 Win Mag, .30-06, .270. 7mm-08, .243, and some may disagree but the .300WSM are my choice calibers for decent sized game (let's say 200lbs up)

REM7600

REM_7600

Just saw the last HCO post...

personally I aim higher, I'm looking to break shoulders and drop em on impact. Yeah I lose a little meat, but I don't like tracking (and I've done my share between whitetails, bear and Moose). Don't get me wrong, heart shots work, that said I've seen game run up to 120 yards with that heart shot! Bowhunting, I agree almost 100%. They're going to run some distance.

REM7600

PS: 338-06 or .35 Whelen may be my next purchase!!

REM_7600

IronDog - I witnessed my Dad drop 3 on a 1200lb moose at 75 yards dead on between his eyes and they DID NOT penetrate (180 Core Lokts), #4 took care of things, just before he stood up and Dad made #5 at 15 feet.

I'm pretty sure his brain got rattled though! ;-)

REM7600

hardcastonly

I can,t remember any elk running more than a few dozen yards after being hit in those indicated locations,
(yes a bit higher bullet impact point,work's just as well, if the major arteries are destroyed)
but Id point out I have generally used a 340 wby or 375 H&H.
one reason I trust those rifles is I have never yet seen a good hit not get a very obvious reaction and quick results..
and I generally don't take shots over about 300 yards simply because I don,t shoot until,
I'M 99% certain of placing the shot exactly where intended
and that generally means a good solid seated position with a sling if the range is much over 80 yards,
(yes I've had tag soup some years rather than attempt a bad iffy shot)