A Caliber You Would Not Use
07-25-2010, 05:27 AM
#31
Spike
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Posts: 8
smallest caliber
exactly. Its all on the person's preference. Example, I use about a 40-60 year old Winchester 30-30. I love it and because of the year it was made the shells fly out of the top. The only way to mount a scope is to take the shell of the gun apart. So it has taught me to be a really good shot with open sights and now I dont even use a scope. Most people prefer using a scope but to me just seems eh, but again its preference.
07-25-2010, 06:16 AM
#32
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Southeast Missouri
Posts: 2,178
I wouldn't hunt with anything smaller than a .243,I have shot several nice Bucks and Doe's with my Browning .243 so I know that good shot placement makes a big difference in getting a Deer....now on the larger calibers I think that a 300 win or Win mag is over-kill in my opinion and I wouldn't use the Ballistic-tip bullets on a Deer but know several that have!I also hunt with a 30-06,a .270 WSM and plan on getting a new Savage in a 7mm-08 caliber.
07-25-2010, 09:47 AM
#33
Fork Horn
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 226
Its all about shot placement for me. wouldn't go lower than .243 though. In some counties here in Virginia buckshot is all you can use so keep it under 40 yards. About 5 years ago I saw a 300 RUM and had to have it. Don't know why but I did. I finally had a chance to use it 2 years ago in August hunting on a damage permit. I shot 5 does and not one took a step after being hit. I took one shot that I would never would otherwise and shot one of them as she was walking away from me straight up the arse and she never took a step. I'm a big believer in this caliber now.
07-25-2010, 11:39 AM
#34
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ponce de Leon Florida USA
Posts: 10,079
I was watching one of Outdoor Channel shows the other day where they were hunting cape buffalo. One of the pro hunters was talking about the success they were having with a .270 shooting cape buffalo. Probably wouldn't be my choice, but shows how powerful these calibers are.
07-25-2010, 06:10 PM
#35
Fork Horn
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Lancaster co. PA
Posts: 277
I was watching one of Outdoor Channel shows the other day where they were hunting cape buffalo. One of the pro hunters was talking about the success they were having with a .270 shooting cape buffalo. Probably wouldn't be my choice, but shows how powerful these calibers are.
Where is that legal? All the African countries I know of have a .375 caliber minimum for Cape Buff only exception is the 9.3mm's are allowed in Zim.
07-25-2010, 06:37 PM
#36
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,679
On deer I wouldn't use anything smaller than a .22 caliber center fire. Main reason is that they don't make (as far as i know) proper bullets in sub .22 caliber cartridges.
I have used my .338RUM with 250 grain A-frames to take a couple of deer here in Florida. Massive trauma inside the deer with very minimal meat damage.
Ive heard so many stories of faliures over the years, from various calibers, then find out later in the conversation, the hunter was using something like a 180gr A-frame style bullet in a 300mag.
It probably just zipped right through the 90lb deer without veering or expanding, making a little hole. A 150gr cheapo Core-lokt would've dropped the deer.
It probably just zipped right through the 90lb deer without veering or expanding, making a little hole. A 150gr cheapo Core-lokt would've dropped the deer.
07-25-2010, 11:45 PM
#37
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 131
Only whitetail hunt I have got to go on so far was an eastern oregon hunt. The tag was for a either muley or whitetail. Knowing how big mulies can get I packed my 300 win mag. Shot a smaller whitetail because I had never killed one and was running out of time. 300 win mag will work on everything. But I would never go 22 caliber or smaller.
