Is There Ever a Time to Hunt with Magnum Calibers?

[freezerfull]

If you happen to have any pictures of this, please go ahead and post it in the "Bullet Failures" thread. I think this would be a very good one to discuss. I wonder if it had to do with the angle or deflection, or bullet coming apart, or what.

I wish I did. That was 2015 and photo documentation of anything scientific was far from my mind. When I peeled the front shoulder off there was bullet and bone fragments throughout the connective tissue and embedded in the rib meat beneath the impacted shoulder. I did not recover an intact base from either bullet and from the visible lung damage I assumed no substantial sized portions of the bullets entered the lung, just some bone and bullet fragments than pushed into the cavity.

 

[freezerfull]

"Hand down worst experience - 165 gr CT ballistic silver tip from a .30-06. Only shot one animal and swore off the entire CT/Nosler ballistic tip bullet line. MD buck at 175 yards, quartered slightly towards. Two shots into the shoulder, neither made more than a couple pock marks of shrapnel damage to the onside lung. It turned into a civil war volley at that point, 6 rounds total and finally put the cross hairs on his neck to end it. Never had a rodeo like that before or after."

I've shot 60ish deer with 150 gr NBT from a 300wsm and watched another 25ish shot with same bullet.
The NBT pentrated fine and wrecked them all.

I hear ya. I have a friend who shot quite a few deer with the CT BST and loved them. It was at his recommendation I loaded some up.

Im not sure what deer you are harvesting but I do think that can be a factor. Between a 125lb wt and a 225-250lb mule deer there is a substantial difference in distance between the hide at the shoulder and inside of the rib cage.

 

[KenLee]

I hear ya. I have a friend who shot quite a few deer with the CT BST and loved them. It was at his recommendation I loaded some up.

Im not sure what deer you are harvesting but I do think that can be a factor. Between a 125lb wt and a 225-250lb mule deer there is a substantial difference in distance between the hide at the shoulder and inside of the rib cage.

170-220 pound whitetail

 

[K9kodi]

I’ve experienced the same thing, but with my muzzleloader. I dropped more deer in their tracks with my 50cal and 44 cal handy sst in a sabot than those cva shockwaves. They leave almost zero for blood

 

[HandgunHTR]

A more appropriate comparison would be 6.5 Creedmoor vs. .223.

Why? Setting the minimum too low is just as big a mistake as setting the maximum too high. Accuracy is not the only factor in the equation.

It isn’t the only one, but it absolutely is the most important one by a wide margin.

 

[8mille]

Hey Rokslide,

I’ve been reading through the epic 500+ page thread on hunting large game with .224 caliber bullets, and I have to admit, it got me questioning everything I thought I knew about hunting calibers. You all have demonstrated time and again that with proper bullet construction (77 TMK, 80 and 88 ELDM) and sufficient velocity (1800 fps), small calibers are incredibly effective—even out to 800+ yards. I tested this myself during the '24 hunting season and had multiple successful kills and zero rodeos. My own experience and the consensus that bullet construction and terminal velocity matter more than raw energy, throws a wrench into the argument for heavy recoiling magnums.

Here’s my question: When, or is there ever, a time when a magnum caliber cartridge is advantageous for hunting?

If a .284 or .308 “heavy for caliber” bullet doesn’t carry velocity much farther than these high-BC .224s, and the energy carried by the larger bullet is deemed irrelevant, what purpose does the added recoil, weight, and reduced shooter accuracy of a magnum caliber really serve?

Is there EVER a specific situation—dense brush, dangerous game, or ELR hunting (although no better velocity than a 22CM and an 88 ELDM) —where the magnum still shines? Or is this a case where modern bullets and precision shooting have rendered magnums a relic of the past?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Magnums will be what they always have been. You get more energy further out.

 

[omicron1792]

Magnums will be what they always have been. You get more energy further out.

Troll gonna troll

 

[JPW13]

Troll gonna troll

Here comes round 2

 

[JPW13]

Magnums will be what they always have been. You get more energy further out.

“Energy” you say? Tell me more…

 

[35WhelenAI]

Well, it does say he is an FNG. So maybe he's not been acclimated to things around here.

 

[QuickTrigger7]

All the time

 

[j3h8]

Magnums will be what they always have been. You get more energy further out.

256 win mag... Prove me wrong

 

[8mille]

Troll gonna troll

Not sure what you mean. I’ve been shooting for 50 years with a reasonably nice firearms collection. Reading what others post on forums with an occasional comment is not trolling . And if it is I could give a shit less. I don’t start threads and occasionally react to a comment . I continue to support a great sport by introducing, teaching kids and adults shooting sports and hunting. Here’s one for ya. I do it for other hunters and shooters to gain support of their sport. I really can’t be considered as any competitor to other hunters as I my primary focus is to get more people to like firearms and save the 2nd amendment and hunting. I’d say I’m the best friend to all of you that you didn’t know you have. I’m devoted to it because I’ve been doing it for decades now, and feel that my continued and devoted efforts to save your sport gives me the right to give an opinion . Just saying
By the way not all cartridges called magnums are actually magnums. Many firearms experts are not even sure how the word was affixed to guns. Some say they were supposed to increase performance for a particular caliber. Same as they claim was the idea to design WSM cartridges.
If I’m wrong- then I’m wrong. If I’m a troll than I’ll work on that. Whatever the hell a troll is . Happy and safe hunting. I suppose there are some that want to hear only from those at their level. Sorry, I’m only hear to save your sport and way of life; you’ll have to accept me wether you like it or not. Even if I don’t traipse around beautiful, majestic and tough traveling mountain ranges.

 

[Pzak]

This is a very interesting question that has been debated by the tactical / self defense handgun guys between the .45 with a slower 230 grain bullet vs. a lighter, faster 9mm bullet in the 115 to 147 grain weights. I have years of watching individuals who are both new shooters as well as seasoned, shoot the smaller caliber more effectively.

A lot has changed since the early 60's when both the 300WM and 7RM could be obtained by the masses, in bullet design and understanding of term ballistics. I own a 6.5 Creed, 6.5PRC, and a 7RM all the while knowing that a quality bullet from any of them will fold a deer at 600 yards when placed in the proper spot. I am a fan of shooting the gun that gives you the best chance at an effective first round hit, no matter the sport.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Not sure what you mean. I’ve been shooting for 50 years with a reasonably nice firearms collection. Reading what others post on forums with an occasional comment is not trolling . And if it is I could give a shit less. I don’t start threads and occasionally react to a comment . I continue to support a great sport by introducing, teaching kids and adults shooting sports and hunting. Here’s one for ya. I do it for other hunters and shooters to gain support of their sport. I really can’t be considered as any competitor to other hunters as I my primary focus is to get more people to like firearms and save the 2nd amendment and hunting. I’d say I’m the best friend to all of you that you didn’t know you have. I’m devoted to it because I’ve been doing it for decades now, and feel that my continued and devoted efforts to save your sport gives me the right to give an opinion . Just saying
By the way not all cartridges called magnums are actually magnums. Many firearms experts are not even sure how the word was affixed to guns. Some say they were supposed to increase performance for a particular caliber. Same as they claim was the idea to design WSM cartridges.
If I’m wrong- then I’m wrong. If I’m a troll than I’ll work on that. Whatever the hell a troll is . Happy and safe hunting. I suppose there are some that want to hear only from those at their level. Sorry, I’m only hear to save your sport and way of life; you’ll have to accept me wether you like it or not. Even if I don’t traipse around beautiful, majestic and tough traveling mountain ranges.

It’s just because you mentioned energy.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Troll gonna troll

He’s not wrong. Mags literally do just that. He didn’t say the energy would kill better…so what’s the problem and who’s trolling who?