Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters The Shrinking Big-Game Rifle

We are only tolerant of stupidity.

How else would I achieve this post count?




Dave

Did you ask him about how tough it was going from flint to percussion?

Or matchlock to flinter???

Spear to matchlock.

What was the gist of the article?

Shrinking as in smaller calibers, lighter rifles or both?

Both.

MD

Does your wife know?

It seems to me that women and kids have always been able to slay big game with smaller calibers and smaller rifles.

Looks like the men are finally catching up to the women and children...

Guys killing hogs with 223s now.

That was not sporting in 1976

Jim,

My wife has offended a few men over the years by pointing out exactly that--but only men who deserved to be offended.

I'll admit it. I shrank mine down a bit. Went backwards and a little oldschool though. You know they were making 11 oz scopes way back when, but this McMillan chit is the chit!!! :




Sorry for detouring the thread. I know you old fu cks like talking about your shriveled and shrinking junk...

The second deer I ever killed was shot with a .25-06. Despite being hit perfectly on a broadside shot, it ran zig-zagging 100 yards and left almost no blood trail, and it was not easy to find. The bullet had actually deflected off a rib and exited out the bottom of the doe's belly, a very strange wound.

After that point I moved up to the .270, and had nothing but bang-flops with it.

A few years later, I obtained a chronograph, and realized I'd been somewhat under-loading the .25-06. Also realized the 100gr Ballistic Tip was at the time considered a varmint bullet by Nosler. So those factors may have explained the funky wound.

Fast forward a few more years, I drop down to .223 and take a spike in good order, then take Dad's old .25-06 out, this time loaded smartly with a 110 Accubond, and get a good quick kill.



So yeah I've moved down in cartridges some, but I still think bigger holes are seldom a bad thing

I look forward to reading the article. I have been a skeptic about .22 cal bullets for deer sized animals. This said, I have never seen a deer shot with a .22 cal. There seem to be a bunch of folks with much more hunting experience than me stating that they work great. I have shot several deer that were quartering toward me. Does one pass on this shot with a .223 or similar loaded with appropriate bullets?

I don't think I'd use a .22 of any flavor for big deer, though I know people do it with good bullets. I used a 65 Sierra Gameking on the buck above; it broke the onside humerus bone, and separated core & jacket, but still killed well with the deer only going about 30 yards. I'd probably stick with either Barnes or Partitions in the future, for deer under 200 lbs.

Stand by, the villagers will be along shortly, festooned with pitchforks, torches and rope...

22 is too big.17 or 20 cal is plenty big for deer.

I have shot a lot of big game with .22 caliber rifles.. Ok when things are good, but I still feel like it is stunt shooting..

Meh.

Come to think of it, I did just buy a .375 H&H Whitworth, maybe I'll use it this year...

...or I could use a .218 Bee and really get some old fogeys distressed...

Actually, they would probably be armed with salad forks, wooden matches, and kite string.