Large caliber vs. small caliber debate

[Grundy53]

I see it with my own eyes regularly, and it’s in many of the stories told here and elsewhere.

I also see a lot of DRT small caliber kills. Perception does not equal reality. I still hunt with large calibers (mainly because I have so much money tied up with them andtheyare nice rifles) as well as small. Large calibers don't bother me. But I know I shoot better and practice more with small calibers. I've killed with both. I've seen deer and elk drop instantly with small calibers. I've seen deer and elk soak up .300 win mag rounds and take off. Caliber is a poor gauge for killing ability.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

 

[Billogna]

If you want to believe every animal just stands broadside for a shot, there’s nothing wrong buying into it - all those animals died just fine. If you think it’s an accurate depiction of animal reactions to a broad range of calibers and bullets, it’s not, and nothing I’ll say will change your mind.

The amount of internet distrust in actual hunting with anything larger than 25 cal is quite amazing. It’s too bad really. I suppose guys aren’t growing up in hunting families in hunting communities as often, and tags are harder to get, so more and more guys are forced to rely on internet hive knowledge, however biased it may be.

I wouldn’t expect anything else, carry on.

There is NO distrust for larger calibers. That's all in your head. Everyone here has agreed MULTIPLE times that they kill game just fine. The same exact system you use (side by side comparison) is used by someone else and his findings are actually much the same as your own. Dead critters on from all spectrums. Several with hard quartering angles to boot.

 

[hereinaz]

Because even a 270 does a better job of killing, at least when large groups of people are hunting the same camp, or even two buddies hunting together, and watching animals fall side by side, directly comparing animal reactions, year after year, decade after decade. It’s a really simple system.

The idea that performance on the animal is independent of the size of lead being thrown at it is silly.

Serious question. I am interested to know how many were match bullets of your sample?

 

[Choupique]

hesitation in any form of shooting is a lack of training.

Id contest that adequate training gives me the understanding that not "getting right" before shooting is going to affect my accuracy with the big gun more than the small gun.

 

[TaperPin]

There is NO distrust for larger calibers. That's all in your head. Everyone here has agreed MULTIPLE times that they kill game just fine. The same exact system you use (side by side comparison) is used by someone else and his findings are actually much the same as your own. Dead critters on from all spectrums. Several with hard quartering angles to boot.

I think you’re kidding yourself if you think for a minute the RS hive doesn’t see larger calibers as a big deception, something millions of people have bought into, and the hive is the only source of real knowledge. Lol

The narrative is always, bigger rifles may kill as good, but they are soooooo hard to shoot, nobody can hit anything - only small calibers are accurate. Lol

 

[mt100gr.]

Angles or just the animal reaction. Bigger rifles kill faster.

And there you go.....

 

[Marshfly]

The people I know that are tossing 243s at their kids for big game but shooting bigger cartridges themselves are all using pretty crappy bullets in those 243s. I'd bet the VAST majority of people across the country using 243s for their kids only are doing the same thing. And then they put artificial "200 yard" caps on the 243 when the cap should be on their crappy bullet choice.

This is a perfect example of omitted variable bias.

 

[Billogna]

The wisest thing anyone’s

I think you’re kidding yourself if you think for a minute the RS hive doesn’t see larger calibers as a big deception, something millions of people have bought into, and the hive is the only source of real knowledge. Lol

The narrative is always, bigger rifles may kill as good, but they are soooooo hard to shoot, nobody can hit anything - only small calibers are accurate. Lol

Why would I subject myself to more punishment for the SAME result?

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Small, moving targets. Yet still enough to get visual and audible confirmation of hits. Learning fundamentals of shooting and keeping target in the scope. Learning to judge animal distance travelled through the scope. Learning wind shooting and calling. Learning to move quickly from one target to the next without leaving the scope. Learning how to rack the bolt quickly while still on the scope….

There is no greater shooting training tool than going varmint hunting. Bring a few guns and have a day!!!

100%. That’s what I did with my boy before his first big game hunt. P-dogs with his AR and squirrels with his 10/22…

 

[jeffpenland123]

I say shoot what ur comfortable with shoot the yardage ur comfortable with. I like light triggers and heavy recoil but everboy is DIFFERENT, so shoot what u are comfortable with and go kill something.

 

[wind gypsy]

Id contest that adequate training gives me the understanding that not "getting right" before shooting is going to affect my accuracy with the big gun more than the small gun.

And possibly the skin on your nose or eyebrow. One might dare to say that makes them "more forgiving when it doesn't go as planned"

 

[TaperPin]

Serious question. I am interested to know how many were match bullets of your sample?

The vast majority of bullets fired out west in 243, 25-06 and 270 are lightly constructed factory bullets and peel apart and penetrate just like match bullets. Ballistic gel confirms that. Heck, back in the 1980’s Bob Milek was shooting elk in Wyoming with factory Corelocts in an 25-06 and his recovered bullets and descriptions match the kill threads here quite closely. The idea that lightly constructed bullets kill things isn’t new by any means.

I’d go so far as to say all hunters should start at 6mm and not move on from there unless they find the 6mm lacking, and many do.

 

[TaperPin]

I say shoot what ur comfortable with shoot the yardage ur comfortable with. I like light triggers and heavy recoil but everboy is DIFFERENT, so shoot what u are comfortable with and go kill something.

Yep, if someone is content with a smaller caliber there’s no reason to move up to something else.

 

[Drenalin]

 

[TaperPin]

The people I know that are tossing 243s at their kids for big game but shooting bigger cartridges themselves are all using pretty crappy bullets in those 243s. I'd bet the VAST majority of people across the country using 243s for their kids only are doing the same thing. And then they put artificial "200 yard" caps on the 243 when the cap should be on their crappy bullet choice.

This is a perfect example of omitted variable bias.

Our kids and wives kill things out to 450 yards with the 243 with everything from factory cup and core, Partitions, to Ballistic tips, to Interbonds. I think it’s a great round if the shots are broadside.

The bias against the 243 seems to be localized around your social circle.

 

[HuntHarder]

I wish I could lock my own thread. Lol. No regerts... except starting this thread.

 

[Choupique]

And possibly the skin on your nose or eyebrow

Nahhhhh. That'll never happen to me, but I do see how it could happen to a lesser man

Terminal performance wise, i do feel like i get better results on whitetails from the .338 than the 6.5. The big gun has a dial the damage feature to it. I can shoot them through the ribs and have a short blood and chunk trail that ray Charles could follow with zero meat loss, or i can shoot through both shoulders and get a bang-flop with some meat loss.

I can do it with the 6.5 too, but it doesn't make me giggle like doing it with the .338

So it might not actually be any better, but the big gun is more fun.

 

[TaperPin]

Why would I subject myself to more punishment for the SAME result?

If you are happy with the performance of what you have, there’s no reason to change. The folks that change and go bigger are only doing it because they believe the extra work and punishment are worth the squeeze.

 

[grizz19]

Come down to AZ! Sunny and 70 degrees most days this time of year. Lots of fun shooting spots! PM me.

What part of Az? I’ll be out in flagstaff after Christmas to pick up my bull.

 

[KenLee]

It aint just recoil. Muzzle blast has a negative effect on accuracy. Muzzle brakes are robbing peter to pay paul out in the field. just my 0.02

Most new shooters I work with cope with recoil better than muzzle blast concussion.