I get the fascination with high BC heavy bullets for long range shooting. I get the attraction of smaller cartridges with less recoil. What I don’t get is when a guy uses a rifle for hunting, hunts an area where shots are under 500 yards and sometimes well under that, he feels the need to go to a smaller bore for less recoil and still wants high BC bullets. What is wrong with a .308 with a 130 or even 110 TTSX, or a 125 NBT or Accubond? The larger bore gets more velocity for the weight of the bullet, and thus should shoot flatter and hit harder inside 4-500 yards. Recoil is reduced, trajectory is flattened, and energy is increased.
So why sell a 308 to get a 243 or similar? Why not simply load lightweight bullets in the 308 and roll on? Asking this mostly out of simple curiosity after hearing guys at the LGS trading into smaller bore rifles to get higher BC and less recoil, here where a shot over 300 yards is a rarity. Is there.a good reason for this, or is it just loonyism?
There is not a good explanation other than it’s something “new”. The same reason some folks cheat on their spouses when they have someone at home that fulfills every need, want and desire. It’s new. Nothing wrong with the old 308,30-06 270 or 280. In a strong bolt they just get better with new powders and bullets. I like some of the new cartridges and appreciate the designs and the thought behind them. It makes sense. But, keep in mind that it takes thousands of years for animals to evolve and show any appreciable evolutionary changes. I have yet to see any game animal grow a Kevlar vest and make themselves bullet proof.
