Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Small Better Than Big ???

I don't know if 35 Whelen is small or big, I call it a medium bore.
Anyhow I bought it for use as an elk, bear, moose and deer rifle.
So far it has never let me down on anything I have shot to include woodchuck, porcupines, and coyotes. (I'm still trying to get an elk and a moose)
I honestly don't think I need anything else except a 22 rimfire, to practice with and maybe a few prairie dog rifles.
Anyhow I say mediums rock! I wouldn't mind a .338 Federal for my next rifle if I needed another one.
whelennut

I agree, I was thinking more along the lines of in front of the ribs.

Kettle? Thinking it's more to do with idiocy.

Tough to fix stupid, ignorant one can work with though.

If it ain't broke don't fix it is such a STUPID cliche.

yup ... just as stupid as those who tell someone else not to worry about their problems because there's always someone out there with worse problems than yours. If that were the case, then there would only be about one person on the planet at any given moment with something "legitimate" to worry about ...

I might try the same thing with my 257 Roberts.

Wondering if that would also be a fur friendly bullet for yotes?

Web,

My description needs improvement. I guess I should have said in the neck next to the "lower shoulder". He was below me, but looking up. The shot was actually in the neck where it meets the chest.

battue-- A photo is worth a 1000 words. Very Very nice Buck. Web

Yes it is hard to fix stupid but it, like sarcastic and rude, can sometimes be covered up by keeping your mouth shut when you really don't have anything to say.

................The "SAME" animal shot in the "SAME" place, can react differently when the exact same bullet at the same velocity is used.

With that said and imho, how fast an animal drops, or how many yards afterwards it runs before dropping, will depend on how extensive the internal damage is.

How extensive the internal damage is, will depend on what any given bullet does after impact and what it does proceeding through the animal.

A larger bore with more bullet penetration, doesn`t always mean a faster drop. On hogs for example, I`ve seen the internal damage that a 225 gr bullet can do from a 375 and then compared that damage to say the 30 cal 168-175 gr VLDs. Guess what! There is more internal damage using the VLDs. Does that mean that a big hog cannot be dropped instantly with a 375? Nope, not at all!

But the one thing I believe to be quite evident is this; the more extensive internal damage that is done to the vitals, the faster the game will drop "a greater" percentage of the time.

A reasonable and proper bore diameter should be used for the game hunted, but for the most part, it is all in the type of bullet used.

Outside a direct hit to the CNS nothing is 100% predictable.
Even that has it's possibilities for a not so quick result.

..............You`re right. But! What one can do though, is play for the higher percentages in achieving more DRT possibilities.

One thing that can never be measured or predicted is each individual deer's will to live. That in it's self will determine how far it runs more than anything (besides a CNS hit). I live in KS and I have seen big deer fall and small does run when hit with the same medicine. Flame suit on.

Yes Sir!
That's why practicing placement is the critical first step.
If one can not place "big" then "small-er" appears be the better choice.
Placing "big" just might improve the odds considerably.
"Big" is pretty subjective to the individual shooter too.

Why not try to increase the odds in your favor by using the most you can handle?
If a .223 is the most a person can handle then so be it.
Bring your flashlight!
whelennut

I killed a nice Doe on Nov 19th using my 1917 Savage model 1899 in 22 Hi Power. .227" 70 grain Hornady at 2800 ft/sec. Hit her behind the right shoulder exited in front of the left shoulder at the base of the neck. She was knocked down with the impact, she kicked wildley for a few seconds, and then got up and pogo sticked jumped two or three times and fell over dead. I have also had quick kills with my 250-3000 Savage. Some of my longest tracks have been with my 308 Mauser shooting 180 grain slugs and hitting deer through the lungs or heart. I always shoot behind the front leg or at the base of the neck depending on cover and angle of the shot. Neck shots can be tricky since you need to hit the spine and a quick head move as you squeeze the trigger can result in either a missed or wounded deer.

I don't see that that is really required in any situation other than life and death encounters with dangerous game or combat.

I can say that one's being able to "handle" one rifle or chambering does not automatically result in one's being able to "handle" something "smaller."
Just too many variables.

Maybe finding what brings CONFIDENCE with trustworthy results is best.
That can be VERY subjective.