i went to the range today just to double check my 260 and make sure i'm good to go for opening deer season tomorrow. the range was packed with guys doing the same thing as me. there was one young man there (i'd say about 20-25) that had obviously just bought a brand new rifle and had never fired it before. he mounted the scope there at the range and put his target up at 25 yards. he had a friend along that wasn't shooting at all. the guy bought a remington in 375 ultra magnum! i overheard him constantly bragging about how big his bullets where and how fast they where and how he could kill a deer a mile away with it. i walked over to have a look and asked him what he bought that rifle for and he said for deer!! i mentioned it may be a bit big for deer. he asked what i was shooting and i said a 260 remington. he didn't know what that was so i showed him a shell and of course it looked tiny compared to his 375 ultra. he laughed at me and said something to the effect that i better be right next to the deer if i was going to kill it with a tiny bullet like that. i didn't say anything after that. i sat down and watched him as he was going to take his first shot. i don't think he had the butt in the right spot cause when he pulled the trigger the damn thing nearly flew out of his hands and it scared the crap out of him. i tried really hard not to laugh my butt off and i had to turn away. at this time some of the guys where in the club house to warm up and some other guys where standing around looking in his direction cause it made one hell of a noise. so i walk on over to him and ask if he hit the paper. he didn't but that could be cause of the way he mounted his scope. i told him that the gun would be really loud in the field when he won't be wearing ear muffs. he said it wouldn't be to loud at all (gotta love the know-it-all's) then he took his muffs off and got ready to shoot. the sucker pulled the trigger and droped the gun. this time i did laught at him altho i maybe shouldn't have. i don't think he heard me anyways. his ears must have been ringing. he packed up and left. i bet you guys that his gun will be for sale on tuesday in one of the stores around here. just shows ya what happens to magnum crazy city slickers

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Good story.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms... who's bringing the chips?

The 375ultra is a fine gun for africa but how did he decide it would be necessary for deer?It really makes me wonder what goes on in peoples heads to even consider this cartridge especially for deer.

I believe its a matter of genetic selection. As hunters, we have killed off all the &quot;soft&quot; deer over the years, and now the gene pool is made up of deer which are much tougher and require alot more killing than ever before. If you arent producing at least 3400 ft lbs at the muzzle you have a slim chance of killing a modern deer. I'm thinking of having a 50 bmg necked down to 338 so I can drive a 250 grain bullet at 6000 fps. I bet I would kill a boone and crocket with that! heh heh. The recoil and muzzle blast probably wouldnt be too bad either, do you think?

Well I think what prompts people to buy these big magnums is they are thinking that someday they might want to hunt something bigger. Like overnight the ice age could return and we could be over run with mammoths. Maybe even the dinosaurs will come back. I bet you guys wouldn't be poo-pooing the big mags so hard then<img src=icon_smile_clown.gif border=0 align=middle>. Seriously I think there are alot of misguided new shooters gettinf swept up into the biggest is bestest attitude. Rifle won't do you much good if you are scared to shoot it.

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I shoot a 7rum and will shoot it against anyone. I do however shoot animals other than deer such as elk and muleys. I get irritated at some of the other hunters around me who say that it is overkill, last I checked a deer or any animal for that matter can't be overkilled. I shoot very well out to 500 yds and yes I do make those shots quite often. I don't recommend anyone starting out with a magnum. I think everyone should start out with a 410 or 30/30 like I did but thats just my opinion. I guess everyone has different opinions on what they like, if you can't handle a magnum then stick with the smaller calibers, that just leaves more ammo for me!

I shoot magnums - don't have any bones to pick about it. Just bought a 06 to go with my 6mm, 300 savage, 270, 280 etc..so shoot &quot;standard&quot; rounds too. Your right.. too many put too much behind the 'magnum' and that guy was obvously a neofite!!!

On the other hand...consider some of the more realistic uses though -

One gun for all North American Game - ok - the 375 was way out of line! Unless Griz is on your list..but...Dead is dead for the deer. Is a 150gr slug from a 300 win mag the same size as one from a 06? Ok...with a little more poop!

Broadside shots - might ruin an extra rib but gets the job done and if you have a bad day and aren't rock solid or something (where you shouldn't have taken the shot)... but none the less, your shot is high or low a brisket shot or worse... which one is more likely to put that deer down. Velocity kills.

Ever hunt right next to private property, the Canadian border or in heavy cover in a heavily hunted area. Yes, bullet placement is A#1 but some would rather error with the buck in hand.

For those who are capable (not me) of a long range game shot,, eg 400 or 500 yards - what's a 06 drop? Roughly 50&quot;@500? If you can handle the recoil on a magnum is it easier to estimate 39 or 40&quot; vs the 50+? How's your range estimation anyway. Don't some magnums produce longer PBRs?

I know the object is to get closer, but they all didn't get huge standing under a tree-stand.

This guy was extreme but if a guy can handle a magnum and is looking for a multi-purpose gun, long range target, hunting including elk, moose, griz... and doesn't mind paying twice the ammo cost, I say let them do it.

I won't be the one to buy his mistake, but sure would have been nice to get him shooting the right gun - whatever that is. No?