The most efficient hunting cartridges

I always felt the best cartridge per caliber is the biggest one you can shoot comfortably and accurately. Especially if you trying to get one cartridge for everything hunting rifle.
You can always down load if needed, but you can't really upload very much.
 
North of 7 said:
Is it really worth it all things considered? Cost of brass/powder, belted cartridge, higher felt recoil. Seems like unless you are shooting further distances it's not worth it. I haven't loaded 300 win so I can't speak from personal experience.

North
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For me, absolutely. A 300 will do at 300 what a .308 will do at bayonet range. With the 180 grain example the wind drift is 2/3 less with the .300 and the drop is likewise about 2/3s. The 500 yard energy is half again as much. I'm aware that some people think that the recoil from a .300 is some sort of near death experience, but strangely nobody actually dies. Others will describe it as a nice little gun and notice that it can barely bounce on a sandbag. As for myself I've noticed that the wind doesn't care about recoil, the target doesn't care, the scoreboard doesn't care, and the animals don't care. After awhile I just concluded that if nothing else cared why should I?

I've got 4 .308s, but if it wasn't for target shooting I probably wouldn't have any. For one the rules require it or a .223. The .308 will eat a .223 alive in the wind, just like a .300 will do to a .308. The other is that I can shoot a .308 all day without wrecking it, but treated the same way my magnums would be toast in a weekend.

So anyway, 17 cents is a bargain.
 
Dogleg said:
For me, absolutely. A 300 will do at 300 what a .308 will do at bayonet range. With the 180 grain example the wind drift is 2/3 less with the .300 and the drop is likewise about 2/3s. The 500 yard energy is half again as much. I'm aware that some people think that the recoil from a .300 is some sort of near death experience, but strangely nobody actually dies. Others will describe it as a nice little gun and notice that it can barely bounce on a sandbag. As for myself I've noticed that the wind doesn't care about recoil, the target doesn't care, the scoreboard doesn't care, and the animals don't care. After awhile I just concluded that if nothing else cared why should I?

I've got 4 .308s, but if it wasn't for target shooting I probably wouldn't have any. For one the rules require it or a .223. The .308 will eat a .223 alive in the wind, just like a .300 will do to a .308. The other is that I can shoot a .308 all day without wrecking it, but treated the same way my magnums would be toast in a weekend.

So anyway, 17 cents is a bargain.
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Makes sense then. I don't have an issue with recoil, it was more of an issue reloading. Hesitant to get into reloading belted, as well as the components costing more initially. Guess 17 cents isn't so bad once you get started up. I might have to pick up some dies!

North
 
North of 7 said:
Makes sense then. I don't have an issue with recoil, it was more of an issue reloading. Hesitant to get into reloading belted, as well as the components costing more initially. Guess 17 cents isn't so bad once you get started up. I might have to pick up some dies!

North
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Best way to deal with the belt is to ignore it, and use cases from your own gun. That will take care of most of the potential problems, and if something does come up don't worry, we got your back brother.
 
Boomer said:
Since the same bullet can be used on any .30 caliber cartridge, the cost there is equal.
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Drive a bullet designed for .30-30 velocities into a close range target at .300 Win Mag velocity...

"Can" be used? Sure. "Should" be used? Hmmmmmm... I suppose if you down load the cartridge a lot.
 
flashman2 said:
Drive a bullet designed for .30-30 velocities into a close range target at .300 Win Mag velocity...

"Can" be used? Sure. "Should" be used? Hmmmmmm... I suppose if you down load the cartridge a lot.
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That depends on the nature of your target. Neither a coyote or an antelope would mind, but it would suck for use on a grizzly in the willows. On the other hand there is no reason why a heavy for caliber bonded bullet couldn't be used in a .308 or a .30/06, a .300 Savage or even a .30/30. A .300 magnum at full steam will eclipse the .308 and the '06 in both range and terminal performance, and with reduced loads will produce exactly the same performance as the .30/06, the .308, or the .30/30 even with cast bullet loads.
 
Dogleg said:
For me, absolutely. A 300 will do at 300 what a .308 will do at bayonet range. With the 180 grain example the wind drift is 2/3 less with the .300 and the drop is likewise about 2/3s. The 500 yard energy is half again as much. I'm aware that some people think that the recoil from a .300 is some sort of near death experience, but strangely nobody actually dies. Others will describe it as a nice little gun and notice that it can barely bounce on a sandbag. As for myself I've noticed that the wind doesn't care about recoil, the target doesn't care, the scoreboard doesn't care, and the animals don't care. After awhile I just concluded that if nothing else cared why should I?

I've got 4 .308s, but if it wasn't for target shooting I probably wouldn't have any. For one the rules require it or a .223. The .308 will eat a .223 alive in the wind, just like a .300 will do to a .308. The other is that I can shoot a .308 all day without wrecking it, but treated the same way my magnums would be toast in a weekend.

So anyway, 17 cents is a bargain.
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The .308 will eat a .223 alive in the wind, don't think so, do math 308 Berger Jugg 185 gr G1 BC

0.552

223 rem 90 gr VLD Berger G1 BC

0.534
I use a Hoover bullet pointer maybe get to 560 BC ?
 
The most efficient hunting cartridges

30 br 115 gr 2131 fps 1159 fps energy at 300 yards lots to kill a deer sized animal.

When it costs 900.00 ++ to replace barrel on most guns
Think of this
30br is still very accurate with 7500 rounds down pipe, brass with right reamer been use 150 rounds case life. words from Rob Bibonnet bullets

And 30br is a accurate as any of above calibers mentioned. Check with JEC on site he has a couple 30br one a hunting rig that he shot a nice buck with at 250 yards ish
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Boomer said:
That depends on the nature of your target. Neither a coyote or an antelope would mind, but it would suck for use on a grizzly in the willows. On the other hand there is no reason why a heavy for caliber bonded bullet couldn't be used in a .308 or a .30/06, a .300 Savage or even a .30/30. A .300 magnum at full steam will eclipse the .308 and the '06 in both range and terminal performance, and with reduced loads will produce exactly the same performance as the .30/06, the .308, or the .30/30 even with cast bullet loads.
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Well based on the info from my ballistic app iSnipe a 308 shooting factory federal ammo with 180 NP’s @ 2570 FPS MV will still be traveling at 1830 FPS and 1340 ft/lbs @ 400 yards vs a 300 win mag at 2960 FPS MV is at 1930 FPS and 1490 ft/lbs @ 400 yards. 100 FPS and 150 ft/lbs difference @ 400 yards is hardly any advantage in performance (it gains you about 50 yards of extra range). Now a 300 Weatherby pulls ahead a bit more, 3080 FPS MV and 2250 FPS and 2025 ft/lbs @ 400 yards, now those kind of numbers allow you to reach out to around 650 yards, but most hunters can’t shoot beyond 400 yards.
 
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Twisted Sprocket said:
Well based on the info from my ballistic app iSnipe a 308 shooting factory federal ammo with 180 NP’s @ 2570 FPS MV will still be traveling at 1830 FPS and 1340 ft/lbs @ 400 yards vs a 300 win mag at 2960 FPS MV is at 1930 FPS and 1490 ft/lbs @ 400 yards. 100 FPS and 150 ft/lbs difference @ 400 yards is hardly any advantage in performance.
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I think the figures you quoted from iSnipe must be incorrect since I get 2200 fps at 400 yards for a 180 gr Partition Spitzer at 400, with elevation set a sea level and a temperature of 59F and humidity of 80%. If your .308 figures are correct, it gives the .300 a a 370 fps advantage at 400 yards which compares favorably with the 390 fps advantage it has at the muzzle.
 
Boomer said:
I think the figures you quoted from iSnipe must be incorrect since I get 2200 fps at 400 yards for a 180 gr Partition Spitzer at 400, with elevation set a sea level and a temperature of 59F and humidity of 80%. If your .308 figures are correct, it gives the .300 a a 370 fps advantage at 400 yards which compares favorably with the 390 fps advantage it has at the muzzle.
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Yes, I double checked and for some reason it was listing the B.C. differently for the same bullet, changed it to 180 federal TBT’s @ .5 B.C. it came to: 308: 2620 MV and 1960 @ 400. 300 WM: 2960 MV and 2250 @ 400 so yes about a 15% advantage from approximately 75% more powder and 100% more recoil
 
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I was hoping the thread subject would be a relationship of energy at say 100 yards, and 500 yards in contrast to burnt powder. Efficiency to felt recoil is so subjective, where as ft/lbs of energy per grain of powder is not.


Im actually quite surprised that the subject is based on felt recoil. Its like saying the fastest car is the one with the most comfortable seats or something.
 
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