Hey Gatehouse, your facts on Elmer's second safari are off. He did encounter trouble with his .338KT bullets. But finished his safari off shooting everyting including plains game with his .500 Boswell double. Elmer was by all counts an exceptional shot and spent a lot of time with his rifles and knew them well. I doubt most of us would come close to his feats with the .500 Boswell double. Do you know we have at least one member that was a friend of Elmer's? We have some interesting guys here, too bad he didn't tell more stories. Elmer claims to have finished the safari with the .500 anyway. He gave up on the 06 early when it failed for him on some elk and went back to his big Sharps single shot buffalo rifle for many years. At least this is how he talks of it in his letters to Fowler and his autobiography as well as Gun Notes 2. Keith would not have gone to the 06 regardless, his thoughts on that round were very negative.
I don't see how anyone can measure the exact amount of penetration needed to expend everything in any animal. More than required is not wasted, but a margin of insurance and sure in reason. If the bullet stops it has used all it's energy but a little more has still imparted the same amount plus whatever the extra is, and if it didn't come out, there is no margin of error. The exit wound is nice too if there is any tracking to be done.
I don't think it's fair to say Bigbore fans are stuck in the 60s. When something works stay with it. New bullets are great, but they apply equally well to new big bullets. The popularity now of the .45/70 is great. It's nice to have this renewed interest in big bores, it makes the components and so on much easier to access.
I don't think anyone denies the effectivness of new premium bullets, they are working great. The same is being done in large bullets too and they also have their time and place. That is why they are made, just like the heavier varieties of premium bullets, there is a market and need so therefore a desire for them. If they didn't sell they wouldn't be made. They wouldn
t be bought at those prices if guys didn't have a use or need for them.
There are lots of stories that can be found to support any theory you have here. One shot kills and losses with any bullet. Fit the bullet to the game and cartridge and it should work. I've tried many rounds and will try many more. So far I prefer big bores partly out of the interest I have in them and partly for experience. I also own and use many smaller guns, 2x.25/06, many .308s, 06s, a K-Hornet, .30 rem. And have owned and used many others in any caliber you can come up with including several .300 mags. My choice for heavy game is big bores but caribou, deer and so on, I will use lighter guns on again. I have never shot an elk but hope too before too long. I think a .35 Whelan sounds just about right for them and most anything.
I don't see how anyone can measure the exact amount of penetration needed to expend everything in any animal. More than required is not wasted, but a margin of insurance and sure in reason. If the bullet stops it has used all it's energy but a little more has still imparted the same amount plus whatever the extra is, and if it didn't come out, there is no margin of error. The exit wound is nice too if there is any tracking to be done.
I don't think it's fair to say Bigbore fans are stuck in the 60s. When something works stay with it. New bullets are great, but they apply equally well to new big bullets. The popularity now of the .45/70 is great. It's nice to have this renewed interest in big bores, it makes the components and so on much easier to access.
I don't think anyone denies the effectivness of new premium bullets, they are working great. The same is being done in large bullets too and they also have their time and place. That is why they are made, just like the heavier varieties of premium bullets, there is a market and need so therefore a desire for them. If they didn't sell they wouldn't be made. They wouldn
t be bought at those prices if guys didn't have a use or need for them.
There are lots of stories that can be found to support any theory you have here. One shot kills and losses with any bullet. Fit the bullet to the game and cartridge and it should work. I've tried many rounds and will try many more. So far I prefer big bores partly out of the interest I have in them and partly for experience. I also own and use many smaller guns, 2x.25/06, many .308s, 06s, a K-Hornet, .30 rem. And have owned and used many others in any caliber you can come up with including several .300 mags. My choice for heavy game is big bores but caribou, deer and so on, I will use lighter guns on again. I have never shot an elk but hope too before too long. I think a .35 Whelan sounds just about right for them and most anything.
