What is YOUR Small Caliber on Big Game Experience?

[wind gypsy]

Let me get your thread started off with a post that shouldn’t slam it into a pissing match.

I’ll tell you a story from growing up in the NW corner of MT. The Kootenai is known (used to be known anyway) for big bull moose. Small calibers, and I mean tiny calibers, have been used on bull moose in Libby for decades. When some would draw a moose, they’d ask, “is 7mag big enough, is 300WM big enough, 338?…”. Well, we had an old timer in town that had killed (and helped lucky folks when they’d draw kill) many, many large bull moose… with a BB gun. You heard it. F-ck .223!… a BB gun.

I know. You don’t believe it. Well here’s how old Billy Bob Boothman did it. It was a combination of hunting skill and stalking, observing the animal’s behavior, and then taking the shot at the perfect time.

At that time, moose around Libby spent a lot of time feeding in ponds. You could routinely find them. Billy Bob would wait until the bull had his entire head under water feeding, then he’d shoot him. He’d shoot him right square in the nuts with the BB gun. The bull would obviously, “Snfff!!” and snort up so much water into his airway… that he’d drown. Dead bull. Zero meat loss. All with a f-cking BB gun.
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I know enough people from Libby that its hard to tell if you're joking or if that is an actual Libby story.

 

[Crawl79]

I do some hunting in Mexico, normally keep a large caliber rifle in the truck as well as something small caliber for varmints. Wouldn't recommend it but have dropped a few whitetails with the 204 ruger and a 40grain bullet. Normally smallest that I have used and would recommend would be 22-250. That 204 ruger has head/neck shot a pile of big hogs and dropped them.

 

[deerhunter628]

Is 6.5 cm considered a small caliber for this survey?

 

[5811]

Is 6.5 cm considered a small caliber for this survey?

My intent was 6mm and below.

Thanks!

 

[rclouse79]

I have reviewed the small caliber information and am drinking the Kool-Aid! My 270 is in the process of being re-barreled to a suppressed 25-06, and I will be building a suppressed 223 for my kid.

 

[Oldffemt]

My boys and I have shot a pile of white tails and a few antelope with a 223. Never had a bad experience but I started using match bullets long ago. I’ve since moved up to a 6.5 Grendel, for my elk rifle because CO frowns upon 223. Haven’t had an opportunity with the 6.5 yet. I also shoot a 300wsm if I expect shots over 400 yards. I don’t really discriminate and don’t care what others use, I just like to go hunting. Probably going back to archery gear for the next few years so my youngest can get some experience.