Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Deer and Magnums, Why??

Again, I'm not flaming anyone. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I just don't understand why anyone uses a .30 Mag or larger to hunt deer. I'm not talking about where your hunting deer plus somthing larger, just deer. I often hunt with a 30-06, and in my mind it's probably too much. No flames now <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />capt david <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The answer is quite simple. Because they want to!

Some guys like a big gun and the deer will not be any more or less dead than one killed with something smaller. Might be practicing with it for an upcoming hunt for something larger. I have hunted deer with a 338 for that very reason. Great way to practice for a moose or elk hunt. You know how the rifle feels as you carry it though the woods and how your going to handle it when there is hair in the scope. Lots of reasons to do it and none against that I can see.

Having said that, I hunt deer with a 6mm, 260 and 30.06. The 30.06 is probably overkill (if there is such a thing) but it is such a great feeling rifle to carry, I hate leaving it home. JMHO TM

I personally don't see the need to use a .308" caliber of any chambering for deer hunting.People do so because they want to,not because there is any need to.

Why Not !!



They work so darn well I don't see the problem, there is absolutely no proof magnums can't kill deer.



Jus' kidding around there Capt'n, yeah I hear ya, I've taken a bit of deer (and moose) in late 80's with a 30-'06 and never had any problems, come to think of it I bagged my best Sitka buck with the '06, all the mags I own now haven't been able to produce a bigger buck..



Personally I think the 25-'06 is the perfect deer cartridge, IMO

... I would prefer that for deer over any 30 mag, unfortunately in my deer territory the requirements run in favor of the Coke bottle cases..

In my opinion based on my limited experience, theories, conjecture, and an idle mind drifting off in the the realm of my personal BS.... the quest for magnum cartridge chambered rifles is somewhat like the same idea that has caused the Nosler BT bullets and ones like them to be born. Many want a faster kill. Me, I bought a .243 to get the same result. The end answer I found is dead is dead. But I still have my 30-06 and now thanks to my son a 7-08 too. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Now the new thing is the reduced recoil ammo. Gee, getting beaten by a hard kicking firearm isn't enjoyable. We'll reduce the recoil by using less powder and a lighter bullet that expands easier and we'll kill the deer faster with less pain to us. I think we should have a new cartridge family. I know, lets remove the rim from the 30-30 case, shorten the neck and use bullet diameters from 6mm to .30 cal. to choose from in a special length receiver. Hunters will swoon over them, gun magazines will have a rain forrest cut to publish gun rags about them, and the gun makers will profit from them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Could be we just like them or are hedging any and all bets of a future elk hunt too. 300WM is just perfect for me. VERY accurate and capapble for anything. Never said the 06 wasn't tho and I have hunted with that a bit too.

I have no problem with people being overgunned, its undergunned that scares me.

Again that then opens up the "can't shoot them as well, bullet placement blah blah blah" can. Its really a moot point with me - never thought too much as to why a guy uses what he does just can he kill game with is cleanly and if the conditions are bad for his particular combo is he wise enough to hold off on the shot? Just my .02

Here's one very good reason - practice!!

That's the same I sometimes hunt prairie dogs and coyotes with my 7mm Mag elk load.

Now Cap, we all know that you can kill deer dead with a 30-30 or 243 or heck, even a 22 if legal and you are mind to.
But when you shoot that deer with a magnum you kill them deader than dead. I am talking graveyard dead here.
As a matter of fact if you slip up and happen to miss with a magnum then the sonic boom of the bullet going by will just naturally kill that old deer deader than charity in a cat house.
That is why them magnums is used. You want to kill them so dead that they die retroactively. Dead before you shoot at them so to speak. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />


BCR

I select a magnum when I know the ranges might be long. The higher velocity gives a flatter trajectory and more downrange punch. Might be only a slight edge but it could be make the difference between a tagging a big buck or ......................

For close in woods hunting, the std cartridges work fine.

MtnHtr

I shoot a magnum when hunting big mule deer where the shots might be on the far side. I also like it because when I misjudge or just screw up the shot and hit it somewhere other than where I expected (like blowing off a front leg), that deer won't be on its feet long. If you shoot one in the leg with a .243 all you'll do is break the leg. If it's a non-typical 40"er, leaving for the next county I want all the fire power I can get!

Well, I'm embarassed to admit this, but I hunt deer and hogs with a .44 Mag, Ruger 77/44. I know it's a bit much, but I get askeered out in the woods all alone. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> I wish I was brave enough to hunt with a 30-06. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

i tend to think dead is dead if you use a 375H&H or if you us a .243. Just depends on what is comfortable to me and or what the newest addition to the collection is. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Many here hunt more than just deer and, as a result, want/need �more� cartridge than what is just �sufficient� for deer. As a result, they buy the .300 magnums or larger with which they hope to hunt bear, moose or even elk one day.



I think that a .243 or even a center-fire .22 (with the �right� bullet) is probably �sufficient� for deer, but I doubt that many of us hunt deer with those smaller calibers because I believe most of us hope to hunt the �bigger stuff� one day and we want a caliber sufficiently powerful to be sure to make a humane kill on animals that are considerably larger than deer.



I like my .300 Savage just fine for deer, but� it�s probably �more cartridge� than I �need� for deer. Another post suggested a .25/06 as possibly a fine deer cartridge� and I certainly can�t disagree with that statement. I�d even include the .250 (aka �250/3000�) Savage or a .257 Roberts as fine deer cartridges.



However, I�d prefer something slightly larger� let�s say a .270 Winchester using 130 grain bullets or a 7mm Mauser (aka �7x57") or a.280 Remington using 139/140 grain bullets� all �handloaded� rounds, of course.



And so, as you can see� it�s a �wide-open� field of opinions as to what is a �sufficient� (or �best�) deer cartridge, but one thing is OBVIOUS� you don�t need a .300 magnum for deer, but then� that�s what makes for �hoss races�, doesn�t it? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />





Strength & Honor�



Ron T.

"deader than charity in a cat house." Man ,that's a good one! You got that copyrighted? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Nope, Dave, you can use it anytime you want. Just thought it was apt. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

BCR

as long as the cartridge will fill the bill of power and range for the intended target,,what I use is determined by one of two consideration points,,or both,,do i like the rifle and or the cartridge.I have chosen either rifle or cartridge in the past simply on these points,,,I have always been happy,,the only bad shootin'I have ever done was with a rifle or cart. or combination thereof,, that I didn't like,,it's all for fun and games anyway!!!!!!!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Actually, Dave, Remington tried that a long time ago with the .25 and .30 Remington. Didn't sell too well. The .35 Remington is still with us, though, probably because it kills them "deader" than the .25 and .30.

Size matters?

Why? 'Cause its America, land of the free. Reason there is so many different cartridges/bullets/guns/etc. is because we have 50 states and millions of deer hunters. We'd never agree 100% on everything. Does it take a mag to kill deer? I'm sure we all can agree that it doesn't. Does it make shots easier at long (I won't even post a yardage) ranges for people that takt the time to practice are proficient with them? Yes. However, you'll get guys like Mule Deer that'll come driven by in the reality truck and say something to the tune of a 270/30-06/whatever kills 'em out there at them long ranges just fine!

Carlos, I know but reinventing the wheel is the rage now! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Ill say it again. Little man syndrome <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> thats the reason i have my 270wsm, though it on the smaller side of the magnum cals its still mag.

othe then the wsm all my deer/elk rifles are standerd calibers on the 06 case.


"I have no problem with people being overgunned, its undergunned that scares me. "

i grabbed that line from teals reply, and i have to admit im kinda backwords thinking from that. and i do see his point.

alot of times i feel most hunters strolling hte woods with a rifle of any caliber in hand are over gunned doesnt matter if theyre shootin a 22/250 - 338 ultra maglum.

but that same hunter being over gunned with the 223 is more likely to shoot that rifle and shoot it enough to possibly get good with it. chances are most hunters will shoot that 338 at most 10 times a year. or maybe even have there buddie site it in and then that puts the amount of trigger time down to none with hair in the glass.

i used to work with the guy who had 338 in ruger ibeam stockd rifle. i went out with him one day to site rifles in, this was about a month before deer season. this is no new shooter by any means. i watched that rifle kick the livin dog [bleep] outa him whil he punched acouple decent groups on paper.

half his chest and shoulder had turned black and blue, and that when i vowed to never need anything like that. when he was doen he watched me easly pop some 257 bullets down range from my 25.06..

he finaly ended up squeezn a few down the 25/06 tube, and was smiley wide eyed . he didnt have a 25/06 for that hunting season but he did for the next. think he even took his last deer with it. and shot pretty decenmt bull that same year with the 338

he still uses the 338 elk hunting

anyways you see what im saying if you can take the punishement and shoot the rivl well then all the more power to you,


anyways

Evan