anyone else look over the cartridges list and realize that damn near anything in a center fire cartridge, used in the hands of a decent shot that knows the games anatomy will work, its simply getting into reasonable range and finding the game, not the limitations of the rifle being used thats critical to success. I'm certainly not suggesting some choices don,t have advantageous properties, in range and penetration or flat trajectory, only that its the hunters skill and experience, not the rifle selected, thats more critical. if guys are successful with a 44 mag, and other guys use a 375 H&H, or a 257 Roberts ,successfully obviously power and penetration and flat trajectory are not as super critical, as getting a shot at the vitals,within reasonable ranges your comfortable with, with a rifle your familiar with using
I was surprised at the 22 centerfires.
I hunt with a 338 RUM and I know its over powered, but I like it. My partner hunts with a 7mm RM. I shoot 210 grain, he shoots 160 grain. Ive seen 28 of 29 elk shot that we've taken together. He shot one when we were separated once. If the bullet is in the vitals, there is little difference in killing efficiency. The RUM does hit harder, and the animals often display a larger reaction to the shot. However, if that first shot is in the vitals, they don't go anywhere to speak of. Maybe a death dash down hill or something. If the first shot is in a bad spot, they require follow up shots. Doesn't matter which gun is used. We have been hunting elk in Colorado with over the counter bull tags and left over cow tags. So our bulls are rag horn 5points. I guess 3 year old bulls most of the time, so not huge elk. My brother hunts private property (for big $) in southern Colorado and his elk are in the 6-9 year old range and they are noticeably larger animals. He uses a 300 RUM. There is actually a sign hanging in the outfitter's lodge near the door that STRONGLY recommends 300 win mag as a minimum cartridge. I find that silly, but that is their point of view.
