Peterson 's Hunting - Small caliber article

[BuckSmasher]

Number one reason people fail to harvest elk on guided hunts is poor shooting. For everybody who cleanly misses, there is somebody else who shoots the elk in the guts. JVB is even advocating for that if 'you have enough gun'. Terrible advice. Majority of wound loss during rifle season is from big magnums. Mostly because that is what people use after being told so by gun writers romanticizing the western hunting experience and the mythical elk. Have him come back and talk about all the failures with big magnums and limited expansion bullets. Pot meet kettle.

Thats a bunch of guesswork with ZERO to back it up.

One thing I do think the smaller is better crowd on here has got right is bullet placement and practicing with your rifle. That we can agree on. They myth that anything bigger than a 223 hurts so bad that a grown healthy adult will shoot it inaccurately is just that, a myth.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I don't think anyone believes .05 diameter is a big deal, in fact, I don't think YOU think anyone else does either.

So a 25cm or a 6.5cm or .243 is an adequate elk round? Or it has to be 7mm or up?

 

[omicron1792]

This thread proves all the .223 is adequate crowd already knows that there position is indefensible. So they ad hominem and straw man while relying on their clique for support.

Has anyone even replied to you yet?

 

[BuckSmasher]

So a 25cm or a 6.5cm or .243 is an adequate elk round? Or it has to be 7mm or up?

Certainly heading in the right direction from a 223. Dependent upon bullet selection and the shooter, and what shots he/she is willing to pass up or take.

Philosophically, how small a rifle combo CAN kill an elk is the wrong question. How big a rifle can I shoot comfortably, carry easily, and be accurate with? That is a better question. Fine if that doesn't land you on a 338-378. But it won't land you on a .223 either.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Certainly heading in the right direction from a 223. Dependent upon bullet selection and the shooter, and what shots he/she is willing to pass up or take.

Philosophically, how small a rifle combo CAN kill an elk is the wrong question. How big a rifle can I shoot comfortably, carry easily, and be accurate with? That is a better question. Fine if that doesn't land you on a 338-378. But it won't land you on a .223 either.

I think we agree on a lot of that, I also think most folks don’t shoot enough and really over estimate the amount of recoil they can handle on a light hunting rifle in field conditions. Personally I like being able to spot my shots since I often rifle hunt alone so typically I land somewhere around quarter bore mas or minus

 

[Forkasauras]

Thats a bunch of guesswork with ZERO to back it up.

One thing I do think the smaller is better crowd on here has got right is bullet placement and practicing with your rifle. That we can agree on. They myth that anything bigger than a 223 hurts so bad that a grown healthy adult will shoot it inaccurately is just that, a myth.

From the outfitters mouth:

159. Yaak River Outfitters

Podcast Episode · Shoot2Hunt · March 24 · 1h 27m

podcasts.apple.com

And another:

121. Adventures with Cliff Gray

Podcast Episode · Shoot2Hunt · May 6, 2025 · 2h 19m

podcasts.apple.com

They myth that anything bigger than a 223 hurts so bad that a grown healthy adult will shoot it inaccurately is just that, a myth.

This is the worst possible understanding of arguement. It isn't bigger calibers hurt too much, it is you will shoot them less accurately and can't stay in the scope to spot inpacts.

 

[Forkasauras]

When you have to tell lies, you know you are wrong.

 

[Big_wals]

I liked the paragraph further in the article where he says that he passed on a bull late in the day because the bull likely had a full stomach, which would have prevented his bullet from reaching the vitals...some of these gun writers man.

Dude must have nerves of steel. When I get a bull in my crosshairs, the possible contents of its stomach is the furthest thing from my mind.

 

[Big_wals]

This is the crux of it, but not in the way I think you meant it. Some people refuse to believe that a well placed shot could fail.

Please explain how a well placed shot could fail. Obviously while within the specific bullets min/max velocity limitations.

 

[BuckSmasher]

This is the worst possible understanding of arguement. It isn't bigger calibers hurt too much, it is you will shoot them less accurately and can't stay in the scope to spot inpacts.

How? How are they less accurate? By what mechanism?

 

[BuckSmasher]

Please explain how a well placed shot could fail. Obviously while within the specific bullets min/max velocity limitations.

Bullet not penetrating.

 

[Spoonbill]

When you have to tell lies, you know you are wrong.
View attachment 1075067

You sure he is lying? He conclusively traced the bullet trajectory using the gutless method. His vast quantities of authority allow him to perform a necropsy by sight alone.

 

[LongWayAround]

"rut thickened hide"

Wtf kind of dinosaur elk has 8" of muscle under its scapula?!

The shit this guy writes...

 

[LongWayAround]

Maybe he traveled back to the ice age with a bandolier of .375 to take on such a forgotten beast.

 

[slatebuilder]

When you have to tell lies, you know you are wrong.
View attachment 1075067

I would like to borrow the ruler he measured that with……..I have something way more important to measure.

 

[Forkasauras]

How? How are they less accurate? By what mechanism?

Still not understand the argument. The shooter is less accurate not the rifle. Listen to the podcasts.

 

[Big_wals]

Bullet not penetrating.

How would it not penetrate? That isn’t answering the question.

 

[Forkasauras]

You sure he is lying? He conclusively traced the bullet trajectory using the gutless method. His vast quantities of authority allow him to perform a necropsy by sight alone.

I see your sarcasm, but 100%.

 

[Forkasauras]

Maybe he traveled back to the ice age with a bandolier of .375 to take on such a forgotten beast.

View attachment 1075103

Thick bones on the old ground sloth.

 

[BuckSmasher]

Still not understand the argument. The shooter is less accurate not the rifle. Listen to the podcasts.

Why? Is the shooter less accurate?