What is YOUR Small Caliber on Big Game Experience?

[TxhunterPRC]

Young Cow I shot this past season with a 22 creed and 77 TMK’s. Looked like she was quartering away more than she actually was so I hit her slightly further back than I wanted. 2 shots in the same spot. She was on her feet for no more than 15 seconds and made it about 10 yards. The lungs were pretty much non-existent. Neither bullet made it to the opposite rib cage. This is my main rifle I hunt with on my property in Texas. I would not hesitate to shoot anything with it. Main reason I don’t take it to the mountains is the wind performance.

Muzzle Velocity: 3250
Impact Velocity: ~2950
130 yards

 

[waspocrew]

I don't have as impressive of a resume with smaller cartridges on game as many here do, but overall, my experience has been favorable. I'd hunt with 22 Creed, 6 Creed, etc without hesitation.

22-250 AI with 88 ELDM:
- Mule deer buck at 315

22 Creedmoor with 88 ELDM:
- Doe antelope at 430

22 Creedmoor with 77 TMK:
- Doe whitetail at 405 yards

 

[Mtndawger]

This bull went all of 20 yds after my wife got 2 good shots in it w her .257 weatherby mag.. I think it was w 120gr nosler partitions, at 310 yds, and both bullets were found against the back skin. Not sure if that qualifies for small caliber or not.

View attachment 1083755

That’s what I’m wondering about. Smaller caliber with a partition or similar. Looks like It did the job no problem.

 

[omicron1792]

That’s what I’m wondering about. Smaller caliber with a partition or similar. Looks like It did the job no problem.

Partition is a good bullet.

What would your reasoning behind not using the tmk be? Lots and lots of data behind them.

 

[Pharmseller]

This bull went all of 20 yds after my wife got 2 good shots in it w her .257 weatherby mag.. I think it was w 120gr nosler partitions, at 310 yds, and both bullets were found against the back skin. Not sure if that qualifies for small caliber or not.

View attachment 1083755

With all due respect, yer wife ain’t bad lookin’.

 

[Mtndawger]

Partition is a good bullet.

What would your reasoning behind not using the tmk be? Lots and lots of data behind them.

TMK is a devastating bullet it seems. Which makes it as likely as not to destroy a lot of muscle tissue. Which I am not in favor of. But they die quickly. I also have concerns of vaporized lead in my food. Partition seems like a happy medium. This year I’m shooting lehighs and Hammers in my son’s creed and my prc. 120-130 gr. Fragmenting high shock impacts from monos seems like a happy medium as well. I’ve got a 6creed I’m working toward using on elk as well.

 

[mt terry d]

Sounds like an issue with using the wrong bullet.

see post # 128

 

[Chris in TN]

TMK is a devastating bullet it seems. Which makes it as likely as not to destroy a lot of muscle tissue. Which I am not in favor of. But they die quickly. I also have concerns of vaporized lead in my food. Partition seems like a happy medium. This year I’m shooting lehighs and Hammers in my son’s creed and my prc. 120-130 gr. Fragmenting high shock impacts from monos seems like a happy medium as well. I’ve got a 6creed I’m working toward using on elk as well.

A TMK broadsided through the lungs isn’t going to destroy much muscle.

Now, to be fair, your point about lead fragments is valid. I think the risks are easily mitigated but they do exist.

 

[doc holiday13]

The crux of this thread is that some people can shoot and some cannot. But just being able to shoot doesn't mean you can kill deer. Shot placement is key. Once you start to learn where the "bang flop" switch is, you can kill with just about any caliber. I think there are a few factors that need to be considered when we have these conversation

Bullet diameter
bullet type
shot placement
velocity on impact

You need to consider all 4 factors to determine how quickly an animal will fall when shot. I do truly believe that a bigger caliber will afford a bigger margin of error in shot placement when using same bullet type. That said, bigger caliber is not an excuse to take a bad shot. Bad shot =/= sub optimal shot those.

 

[JayF]

233 and 6MM Rem are what i would consider most of my experience with small caliber for WT. However, if you consider 25 cal small caliber, you can double that number. 260 Rem would add quite a few more.

 

[mt terry d]

I do truly believe that a bigger caliber will afford a bigger margin of error in shot placement when using same bullet type.

Just going from my own personal experience killing elk and deer with 300 Win Mag/7mmWbyMag vs 223 w/77TMK, my increased accuracy of shot placement with the 223 far outweighs any increased "margin of error" possibly afforded by the magnums.
But that's just me. I know some people can shoot the big magnums very well. I cannot.
I would not classify myself as a "good" shooter.
But I'd bet I'm a better than average shooter among hunters; which is definitely a very low bar.

That said, bigger caliber is not an excuse to take a bad shot. Bad shot =/= sub optimal shot those.

Absolutely