It’s a false narrative that that the stereotypical western hunter starts out with a large caliber, skipping over smaller cartridges. As soon as kids are old enough to shoot accurately they’ve shot a 243 at varmints then deer and antelope. The number of 243’s out west is gigantic - kids and new shooters probably take more game with it than any other. Most move up to a larger gun, but that doesn’t put us into a vacuum without any contact with reality. Larger to some is 25-06, or a 270, 6.5 of some kind, 7mm or 30. The world where we only own and shoot a single big belted magnum doesn’t exist.
Part of the issue is the culture, and doesn’t directly go to your more nuanced arguments. You are a different target than the majority of hunters.
Individuals may make the decision for smaller than magnum but bigger than .243, and they realize it works just fine. And, for the most part they work, if the shooter actually practices and does more than shoot paper plates to zero.
Remember, part of Form’s rant includes those who don’t shoot enough and they suck. Anyone who honestly gives an appraisal of the typical public range hunter has to agree, lol.
Of course, all the calibers you name are great, but they are still not .223 for moose…
Tell anyone who except small caliber aficionados that you are using a .243, and the comment 9 times out of 10 will be that’s not an elk cartridge. Don’t tell them you are shooting a “thin match bullet”.
And, on the other hand, read and listen to the industry. The common wisdom pushes men into big caliber and magnums, for the insurance when the bull is hard hard quartering and you have to punch through paunch with Barnes LRX and Triple shock.
Smaller calibers are tolerated/sold for kids and women, but are unacceptable as soon as you are big enough to handle the recoil because you need the power for big game.
I listen to Spommer and JVA for the entertainment value, and it is prevalent. Heck, listen to JVB talk with Seth from Hornady who killed tons of African animals with the .22 creed and .22 ARC on a trip.
It is illogical for JVB to make his arguments only two podcast later and name Form, but have treated Seth with kid gloves, except he has a vested interest in agreeing with whatever an industry insider says.
In Africa. all the animals died, some DRT. No real tracking and out to 500. Many with ELDx which are a hybrid match/interlock type bullet. They even froth about a close shot at high velocity that did not exit because if fragmented.
But, at the end of the episode JVB has to explain how the .223 bullet is just too small for big game.
