Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Answer me this.

It is just a cartridge.

Nobody is forcing you to shoot a magnum anything.

90+% of the time I shoot a .308 for deer and elk.

The rest I normally use a .300WM (for elk). The environmental conditions and distances (like when ranges exceed 600+) usually are the determining factors.

What other people think, and recoil formulas, is never a factor.

Shoot what you want. Nobody cares.

If all I had was my 6mm Remington, I don't think it would slow me down much.

You did well on both counts.

Getting older has moved me away from most magnums. I don't like the recoil, and it causes me some physical damage now. Weight is also a bigger factor, and lighter guns keep me hunting longer; we do a lot of walking, and much of that is vertical. A Kimber MT 257 Roberts will be my go-to for my NV deer, but I'll lug my MT in 325WSM for my Montana deer and elk hunts this season. It hammered the two elk and two mulies I shot with it. I look at it as a "moderate-magnum".

Some guys drive vettes, some drive priuses. Both get you to the bar. The vette might get u home with the blonde.
The mag rifle adds a level of confidence just like the vette does.

I know guys who gain zero confidence by using a "magnum" but who experience great confidence because they have made themselves excellent riflemen. Maybe I need to get a Corvette - no - wait - I have an old one.

Since you have a corvette you could compensate by shooting a .270. 😉

I'd agree that a dragster is not an efficient way to get through a quarter mile. But it's a kick in the ass and the quickest way to get there. To each his own. Within calibers, there are few cartridges that will outrun my Weatherby's.

I'm not sure that magnums are as big of a deal as they used to be post laser rangefinders. Where I hunt a 100 yard shot for deer or black bear is a long one, most are shot at about half that. My favorite deer rifles are a Remington Classic in 7x57mm left to by my favorite Uncle and my first deer rife a Marlin 336 30-30 when I'm walking a lot. My son has been killing deer with a .223 and 55 grain Barnes ttsx since he was nine.

Haha not from dudes on the internet, that's for sure. Nobody on the internet can handle recoil so, you know. Small hands too, nimble and good for typing but boy do they shake with a 'magnum' in 'em. (man, there's all kinds of puns in there )

And thanks, it's one of my favorite rifles

The firearms that others own and use are none of your business so you are not required to 'understand' them.


I personally enjoy using 7mm on running rabbits, loads of fun.

You completely missed the point of the whole post. It's not an argument about what is more fun to one person over another. If someone enjoys shooting or killing stuff more with a magnum have at it. Why would I even consider I should have an opinion on that? None of that was even in the thought process.

It's instead a debate on physics and about the supposed superiority of a magnum by some in all manner of hunting. The comment on the Jim Shockey show was a perfect example.....and guys I run into toting magnums in the deer woods is another.

I would argue that under 250 yds the magnums can offer a disadvantage. Both in needless recoil to accomplish the job at hand, and in finding out there are limits to the stress a particular bullet that is otherwise completely adequate, can endure when taking a shot up close and personal. I know guys that HATE one particular bullet or another, will never use them again because of complete failure........but of course the problem wasn't they were launching a relatively low sectional density bullet like a 30 cal 150 grain at blistering speeds. But their magnums are still better.

No, you have missed the point, which is stop being a judgemental prick and leave other peoples choices alone.

Gooney, I would do well to keep that law in the back of my head regarding all sorts of things I work at not at all related to firearms.

Good grief man, have a cup of coffee. It's a debate about guns, learning, ballistics,etc, on a HUNTING forum. I learned some things and seen some good points made. And would get along just fine with several that are obvious magnum fans. If you don't want to participate, then dont.

Sigh...you just don't understand.

3006/100 yard zero MV 2700 fps:

Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yd) (in) (MOA) (in) (MOA) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (MOA)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 *** 2706.2 2.424 2926.5 0.000 0.0 ***
100 -0.0 -0.0 0.7 0.7 2525.0 2.262 2547.8 0.115 20.2 19.3
200 -4.0 -1.9 2.8 1.4 2351.1 2.106 2208.8 0.238 41.9 20.0
300 -14.2 -4.5 6.6 2.1 2183.9 1.956 1905.9 0.370 65.2 20.7
400 -31.8 -7.6 12.2 2.9 2023.6 1.813 1636.4 0.513 90.3 21.6

300 Weatherby, 3250 fps same zero:

Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yd) (in) (MOA) (in) (MOA) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (MOA)
0 -1.5 *** 0.0 *** 3257.0 2.917 4239.1 0.000 0.0 ***
100 -0.0 -0.0 0.5 0.5 3051.8 2.733 3721.7 0.095 16.7 16.0
200 -2.2 -1.1 2.2 1.1 2856.0 2.558 3259.6 0.197 34.6 16.5
300 -8.7 -2.8 5.1 1.6 2668.8 2.390 2846.1 0.305 53.8 17.1
400 -20.1 -4.8 9.4 2.2 2489.1 2.230 2475.9 0.422 74.2 17.7

I feel the same way about smokeless powder guns.

IMHO, it is likely that on ALL continents more and bigger 'game' has been taken with cartridges that, by todays 'standards', would be referred to as pedestrian, than with the Magnum stable of cartridges............

doesn't change anything, but it just is............... IMHO

You can easily put it in an equation.

For example, 270 Win + 10 grains +100 fps = 7mm Rem mag

Now, is the price of 10 grains of bullet weight and 100 fps additional weight worth wearing pink underwear?

ShadeTree - now you went and did it - you attracted a guy (the guy?) who does not address the topic at hand but who will tell you what is and is not your business, what or what not you are required to understand, and will judge you as a "judgemental (sic) prick". Seemingly he thinks he knows you well, but did you have to bring him into this?

JS, I think you're over-understanding the post.