Do you still hunt with larger cartridges?

[EastHumboldt]

Every once in awhile I get to missing the thump and flinch of my 30-06. It’s like an abused wife who misses her jailed husband. I’ve moved to 7-08 and .243, but seriously I won’t get rid of my 30-06. I would probably pull it out for a buffalo or nilgai hunt. Maybe moose.

 

[rickyw]

Built a 7-08 to use - my smallest yet. But I’ll also be using the 30-06 and 375 H&H. I enjoy them. I do have an itch for a 22 CM or 243 at times as well…and a custom 6.5 Swede would also be nice

 

[ihookem]

I went from a 30-06 when I was a kid, to a .270 Win. for 30 yrs. and the last 10 yrs. I use a .243 Win. for deer. I dont even think of the 270 Win. anymore. Might even start using my .223 Rem. for deer but the .223 Rem is a heavier gun so maybe not. One thing for sure,for 50 yrs. deer hunters used way more gun than we needed to.

 

[Chris in TN]

This year my kids have hunted with 5.56 and 6.5cm and two smokeless muzzleloaders loaded as lightly as I can reasonably get them to perform consistently.

I've done the same, plus have also hunted once with my 6.8spc. I've *shot* the 25-06 but haven't hunted with it. I haven't shot my .280ai since spring(?). Shot the 30-06 this morning with some reduced loads. Thinking about taking it to the woods just for old times' sake.

I honestly don't hate recoil on a casual every now and then basis, but I am coming to hate loud gunfire noises at any level. Suppress all the things. I am considering taking a carload of rifles to the local smith and having him chop/thread them all.

 

[Mammoth Steppe]

Yup, 338 WM, 375HH, 416 Rigby, 458 2M, 45-70 etc.

 

[Huntinmechanic]

I put together a 280AI in 2014 and used is for every hunt up until last year. Prior to the 280, I shot a 300RUM and a Remington 721 in 30.06.

I bought a Kimber Montana 30.06 in 2018, killed 4 animals that year, one shot DRT out to 408 yards. However, any shot after the first, vertical stringing was unacceptable. I ended up bedding the rifle, but there was zero improvement.

I ditched the pencil profile barrel and had pac-nor screw a 6.5x55se, #2 profile barrel onto it last year. It's a tack driver with minimal load development. I use it for everything smaller than elk. So far, so good. 127LRX @ 2800fps (iirc) has done the job out to 330 yards. My dad only shoots one rifle, a weatherby mark v in 30-378. He doesn't believe in small calibers!