Peterson 's Hunting - Small caliber article

[Aussie Dan]

Trying to understand your logic, a 25-06 shooting a 128-135 grain bullet would be inadequate for elk but a 270 with a 130-150 grain bullet is fine. How does .02” and at most 15 more grains change the equation for you?

Its the same kind of "logic" which suggests that a 243 is a great starter "do it all" cartridge for kids and women, but once someone is bigger and ostensibly stronger and supposedly more able to handle recoil, then suddenly the 243 becomes anaemic and doesn't have sufficient "wallop" and "knock down power"

That one always make me giggle

 

[Big_wals]

Its the same kind of "logic" which suggests that a 243 is a great starter "do it all" cartridge for kids and women, but once someone is bigger and ostensibly stronger and supposedly more able to handle recoil, then suddenly the 243 becomes anaemic and doesn't have sufficient "wallop" and "knock down power"

That one always make me giggle

That’s what got me started down the small caliber rabbit hole. I read two articles several months apart, by the same author no less, one recommending a minimum 150 grain 30 cal for elk and the other saying .243 was just fine for a kids “starter” elk gun. Made me realize how very little actual info there is in hunting magazines these days. Most articles are either a story for entertainment, or written to play into the main audience’s bias. Because that’s what sells.

 

[huntnful]

I just like the idea of shooting the heaviest for caliber frangible bullet, at the fastest speeds you personally can; while giving up no detrimental amount of precision or ability to spot hits and make follow ups. There’s no downsides to it.

So it’s dependent on the shooter, the possible field positions, the rifle weight and the muzzle device.

Definitely no one size fits all, and there doesn’t need to be.

 

[Tom-D]

Shot and seen shot heaps of big mud caked boars with literal 40 grain varmint bullets. The concept of a heavy for cal bullet not penetrating enough to hit vitals is crazy to me.
Still yet to see a crater on a shoulder from a bullet blowing up on impact but i have seen hunting bullets pencil through with no damage

 

[Forkasauras]

That’s what got me started down the small caliber rabbit hole. I read two articles several months apart, by the same author no less, one recommending a minimum 150 grain 30 cal for elk and the other saying .243 was just fine for a kids “starter” elk gun. Made me realize how very little actual info there is in hunting magazines these days. Most articles are either a story for entertainment, or written to play into the main audience’s bias. Because that’s what sells.

I was in the same boat. My opinion was informed by gun writers....opinions. Facts and evidence were lacking and it turns out all that garbage about bullet failure and penetration are just marketing by bullet companies.

It all came down to one question I could not answer. Having shot dozens of whitetail with a 140gr ballistic tip from a 7-08, and seeing both shoulder sustain massive meat damage despite intentionally not shooting them in the shoulder, I asked why wouldn't that same bullet make the same wound on an elk. When you realize they aren't 3 feet thick with 10 inch thick shoulders, there is nothing to support the belief it would be inadequate.