Argument against small caliber? Blood trail/exit wounds?

[K9kodi]

Sure, bad shots happen. And they happen more often with a big cartridge that is less enjoyable to shoot and practice with. Less is sometimes more.

Well that’s all relative. I said that was my opinion and what worked for me. I enjoy the large calibers, I also enjoy shooting them. Large I mean 300wm and 338 win mag would be the larger ones. I don’t think I’d specify my 30-30s , 35 or 270 large. Not even sure I’d classify the 308 as one.

 

[Choupique]

already having a preconceived notion of the outcome

Based on using the same bullet in smaller calibers. Preconceived notions are also important and meaningful when they have the proper basis.

I also plan to cut a couple in halfand see if the construction varies any with caliber. Some bullets get more heavy duty as you go up in caliber. I believe sierra game kings are or were made that way.

 

[Jordan Smith]

Well that’s all relative. I said that was my opinion and what worked for me. I enjoy the large calibers, I also enjoy shooting them. Large I mean 300wm and 338 win mag would be the larger ones. I don’t think I’d specify my 30-30s , 35 or 270 large. Not even sure I’d classify the 308 as one.

It certainly is relative, with rifles and loads landing somewhere on the spectrum of recoil/noise/cost/etc.

Perhaps a good quantitative way to make the point is with round count. Higher reps tend to lead to better shot placement. How many rounds do you put through your big boomers each year compared to your small rifles?

 

[Formidilosus]

I agree, but I’ll take carnage over a loss of game or making suffering longer than it should be.

Heck ya. I want wounds like these when I make a bad shot- only big guns will do this.

 

[alexnelon]

Heck ya. I want wounds like these when I make a bad shot- only big guns will do this.

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How anyone can look at this and pretzel their mind to argue against it is beyond me.

 

[Ringbill27]

@huntsd Ok I’m a little late to this thread and I haven’t taken the time to go through the 3 pages of comments. But I have questions.

You had a pass through good with no or little blood trail. My question that comes from experience is how high was the entrance and exit hole on the animal?

I’ve had to track many whitetail with were shot high lung that left little blood. Most of these went farther then 50 yard. The ones that died quickly had chest cavities full of blood. I’ve alway figured they can leave a blood trail until they fill up enough to come out. High shots take time.