Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

With the hunting seasons about done for this year, I was thinking tonight about past hunts and the guns I have used. Although shot placement accounts for most instant kills, some guns have done it more that others for me. How about you? I think its about a tossup between my 6.5x55 with 140 Grain Hornady inter locks and my 308's. For all big game animals of all sizes, these two rifles have furnished the more instant kills than any others. This would include my 30-06 and a basket full of Magnum rifles. Why would this be? I think I shoot those rifles better than others and both calibers are very dependable and I have confidence in them. This to me makes a rifle much better than it might show on paper and charts. Plus both rifles fire bullets that will penetrate to the vitals of most any game animal. I quess to me that makes them the best gun for the job.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

Im going to have to say my ol trusty 12 guage using WOLF slugs, so far im 5 for 5 for dropping them in their tracks. Its a winchester 1300 pump, and man do i love that gun.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

Your best drop them in their tracks gun?

I would say it would be your weapon your holding when your standing over the dead animal that you just killed!:D

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

I'm thinkin' the 25mm chain gun mouted on a Bradley outa fit that descrtiption. That projectiles from the 30mm Vulcan on the wart hog don't expand fast enough. :D

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

My choice is my Weatherby Mark V .340 Wby. Mag. with a 250 gr. Barnes XFB traveling at 3062 f/s 5204 ft/lb. :D:D Good luck.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

I used to quide a hunter every year that carried a 340 Weatherby rifle. He usually did pretty well with it.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

For deer I use my .243 and for elk my 30-06. I've never had an animal run more than 70 feet. I've used a shotgun for shorter shots, but I'm happy with my results for the longer ones.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

One time i was carrying a 340 Wby. with factory loaded Wby. ammo. (250 grain Noslers) I snuck up to about 35 years away from a moose, and fired a round into the only "really clear" shot i had, the chest! The moose just started to move off as i racked the bolt back, just to have it come out of the gun and it and my hand flew out into the air!!! BROKEN BOLT STOP!!! Damn!!!

I wasn't a "happy camper" as i fumbled around getting the bolt back in the rifle to take a second shot!!!!!!!!

The moose tasted good, but it sure didn't drop in it's tracks!! The Mark V didn't impress me much either!! The next 340 Wby. i built, was on a 700 Rem. action!!

I had a friend who was hunting in the mountains. He opened the bolt of his Wby. to be safe while he was climbing. (dumb!!) Anyway, later on when he got through the bad spot, he went to close his bolt, and NO BOLT!!! He never did find it either!!

Drilling Man

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

The one that I had was a lemon from the word go. I know most people have had good luck with them. Mine had the best looking stock that I had ever seen. However thats where it ended.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

i just got a .338 win mag. Can't wait to shoot it and see how it takes down some of the those big game animals.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

My all-time fav is my Model 70 .338 win mag with 210 gr. Nosler Part.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

....at band camp.... :D

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

ive said it before and ill say it again a good ol .303 birtich:D

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

The 303 is a mighty fine old cartridge. We bought our Canadian guide a new 308 but he still uses the old Brit instead.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

DM:

I think I have heard you tell that story before. :( I wish you better luck in the future.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

Ok, So is it the gun/caliber or is it the shot??? I've used three diff. ones

I killed my first elk witha 30.06 180gr Part..She did a complete 5yrd circle and dropped. Shot placement was perfect.

My next Elk I used my trusty ol' 06 but with a 165 gr corlokt....Same result.

The next...54 cal side lock.....Same result.

Last rifle season I used my new Savage .300short w/ 180 AccuBonds. That bull did not take one step. But again shot placement could not have been any better.
I've taken 4 elk and 1 deer in my short 4 big game seasons and they all basicly dropped within a couple of yrds. ( Ilove that smiley!!!!)

So MY favorite one is the one that works!!!!! Practice,Practice, Practice!!!!!!!!

GLOB

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

Its the Gun, the bullet and the shot placement for sure. It just seems that over the years, all other things being equal, some rifles just do it better for me.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

I have two new favorite guns.
25-06 &
375-Remington Ultra Mag.
I have shot one coyote with the 375-R.U.M. He dropped in his tracks.:D

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

Wolf killer

I have two new favorite guns.
25-06 &
375-Remington Ultra Mag.
I have shot one coyote with the 375-R.U.M. He dropped in his tracks.

Too bad it wasn't a wolf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![:o]

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

I have less than one month to wait. The fed's gave ranchers in Idaho & Montana the green light to kill wolves. I will do my part to educate problem wolves.;)

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

Looks like I will become a Rancher for a few days.:D

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

I think my truck does pretty good...lol. I just got a new Omega, cant wait to put a shockwave through a deer!

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

&8 Jeep Wagoneer drops them quick but its expensive to reload.:D

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

My Weatherby 7 mm rem mag drops em fast!

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

One of the few calibers that I have not tried. I almost bought the 700 classic when they chambered it a few years back.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

Not to rain on your parade, but I don't think any caliber is the "magic load". Shot placement is what it's all about. We can all brag about how our .416 anchored that monstorous buck where he stood, but a little .22 rimfire would have done the same thing, with careful shot placement. Once you figure that out, every gun you hunt with is a "magic, drop them in their tracks gun"!!!!!!

My latest magic gun: 7mm RUM pushing a 139gr Hornady SST Interbond @ 3600 fps

Know your enemy.;)

Big E

Rusty Axe Camp

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

I figured the shot placement thing out about 48 years ago. The fact remains that for me, a few different rifles have always done it a bit better or a bit more consistant. I have taken deer elk moose and bear with about every gun that legal in our state and many other states and countries. I am only talking about my expierence in the field and wondered what others have expierenced. Only a few of the instant kills or drop them in their tracks shots have been made with any of my many magnum rifles.Always with calibers of moderate velocity. As I said in the start, maybe I shoot these guns better.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

I've always been of the opinion that shot placement is the main factor determining whether or not an animal drops in it's tracks or runs a short distance...

A hit, or often a NEAR MISS on the central nervous system or shoulders will nearly always drop the animal in it's tracks... With a shot that hits the lungs or heart without hitting or coming very close to the shoulders or spine and the animal will nearly always run a short ways, regardless of what you hit it with... Despite many tales to the contrary, heart or lung shot animals seldom run more than 100 yards, and many don't make it 50 yards...

Jack OConnor said it best.." If you hit 'em WRONG, it doesn't much matter WHAT you hit 'em with....If you hit 'em RIGHT it matters even LESS.."...

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

James - Sorry if I sounded like I was arguing with you, that is not my intent. I totally agree that certain rifles seem to have the quality of being "that" rifle..... But in my humble opinion, the shot placement and choosing the right bullet/load has a big impact on making that rifle/load the "right" one. But if you have hunted for as long as I think, you knew a "poll" type question like which is the best gun would cause some debate:D

But......If I had one rifle/load to pick, for the areas I hunt and distance I shoot, it would be my 30-06 with 150gr Nosler Ballistic Tips. It has that certain Hammer of Thor effect on whitetails;).

Erik

Rusty Axe Camp

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

The 30-06 certainly does the job. And of course you are right that shot placement is the key. I think I shoot the 308 and 6.5 better than other calibers therefore good shot placement. Sometimes though it seems that my knocker down calibers perform better than they should. This would hold true in spades for the 6.5x55. Its one over achiever. It has neither high velocity or great bullet weight but for dacades its been taking deer, elk. moose and more. It does it without awful muzzle blast and without recoil.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

My "drop 'em in their tracks" gun: Ruger 77RLS carbine, 358Win., using 200gr. Win. factory loads. Scope = Leupold 1-4x.

JamesB
I might have to give a 6.5x55 a try. Winchester came out this year with the Mod.70 Featherweight with walnut stock and stainless action/barrel - very nice I think. I'm trying to decide, if I get one, will it be in 270Win. or the Swede.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

Delete

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

Then whey don't you hunt with your .22 rimfire?

Rusty this isn't to argue with you as much as it is that I just have to respond to this with some disagreement. I will never believe in a million years that shot placement is everything. It is one aspect that is important mind you, but there is more to taking an animal down and I'll tell you why I believe that. Let's just look at blazingly obvious facts first.

1. They make different calibers, cartridges, and loads for a reason. That reason is that all rifles, bullets, and powders are NOT created equal when it comes to your intended target!!

2. Hunting is much more than bench shooting. You WILL NOT put that bullet in the 10 ring every time. Don't try it, can't be done. Remember hunting is shooting offhand, shooting from a rocky hillside, rain, snow, wind, ranging errors, uphill slopes, downhill slopes, quartering to, quartering away, buck fever, and a million other things I haven't mentioned. Not to mention elk are just plain tough as hell and they can run a mile after they're already dead. Some rifles handle those scenarios better than others when you're shot placement is not perfect.

No I'm sorry but shot placement is indeed important. BUT...it's not everything and all cartridges are NOT created equal.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

I have shot deer with a 22, and had them drop where they stood. I have shot deer with a 300 WBY and had them run over 75 yards, with no heart left. Does this mean the 22 is a better deer hunting round? No, it was the shot placement.

"You WILL NOT put that bullet in the 10 ring every time. Don't try it, can't be done." (rather_be_huntin)

Don't try it? Is this a serious post? I am the farthest from a PETA person anyone can imagine, but we, as hunters, owe it to the critters we hunt to at least try to be accurate.

Erik

Rusty Axe Camp

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

The 6.5x55 is very close to the 270. On paper the 270 would seem to hold an adge but out in the field the swede can hold it own. A good gun writer once summed up the old swede like this. It shoots as flat as the 270, hits like the 7 Mag and recoils like a 243. That does sum it up well. While I do not believe in strecthing the range on shot at big game, I have dropped a few critters at 300 + yards with the 6.5x55. To make matters better, my swedish mauser is the most accurate rifle that I currently own. With the 140 grain Hornady it will group 5/8 inch at 100 yards every time I go out. I just have an old world class Tasco fixed power 4X scope on it. Its been on there for about 15 years now.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

When I first read this thread, I immediately thought of the 6.5 Swede. It is mentioned more in these discussions than any other caliber. Even in the Nosler Reloading Manual, they say how it "just works". I am currently building a mauser in 6.5 Swede.

Erik

Rusty Axe Camp

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

i thought that i'd responded to this before but coundn't see it. mine is my Remington Sendero in the 300 Ultra Mag. I have others but this is my new favorite. before i would've said the 300 WinMag. but i love my Ultra mag.

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Rusty. I think you will love the Swede. I have three. All Military models. One is completely sporterized with a timney trigger. One is done the same except that it still has the military stock. The last is still 100 percent Military with bayonet, flash guard and sling.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

It's just an expression. Of course you shoot for the vitals everytime. But 100% accuracy is not possible. Just trying to kick the ball around bud, no need to get your skirt wadded up. Again shot placement is important but it's not EVERYTHING. There will be a times when you're not dead on and see what I'm talking about. But I will say deer hunting with a .22 is just plain irresponsible.

RE: Your best drop them in their tracks gun?
 

.338 Win Mag!! Love that gun......225 grain knock em dead!