Do bigger calibres drop them faster?

Chuck

Chuck

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I'm sure everyone would agree that there isn't much that can't be done with good shot placement and well constructed bullets. However, to what degree to people think that bigger calibres put animals on the ground quicker than smaller ones? Truthfully I don't do enough big game hunting to have a well experienced opinion on the issue; some prejudices maybe, but not enough experience.

No doubt, my current "go to gun", a Remington 700 .35 Whelen is a bigger hammer than the 7x57 Ruger 77 I was shooting ten years ago. I'm also sure that the7x57 will kill anything that I will ever shoot with the Whelen. Part of my reasoning with going for a larger calibre was that I want shorter trailing of animals with better blood trails. Assuming equally good shooting and good bullets in both how much is this achieved by using a bigger, more powerful round?

Chuck
 
I dunno I've had some of my best bang wops with my 25'06. The largest cal I ever hunted game with was a 300Win Mag, and it hit pretty good but I cant say the kills were any more spectacular, or smashing than all the other lesser calibers I've taken game with. Those bing, 284Win, 30'06, 308Win, 270Win, and a hopped up 6mm wildcat of a buddies(70gr@ 4000fps)
 
I personally believe that your .35 Whelen will ground a moose faster that a .243, or a .338 Win. Mag will down a elk faster that a .270, all things being equal (shot placement, bullet constuction, distance, etc.)
I also advocate that on deer specifically, cartridge size has little bearing on how fast they die. Over time I have seen, or shot deer with cartridges from .22 LR (native fella) to .338 Win Mag. The longest I've seen a deer run (that was properly hit) was with a 300 Win. Mag, with 165gr Hornady, at 30yds. He ran 100yds into bush with a blood trail like a slip and slide. The only DRT's I've had that weren't spine or head shots were with a .270 WCF(130gr Hornady), .243 WCF (85gr Sierra), and twice with a .338 Win.Mag. (210gr TSX). All of these animals were shot right above the shoulder knuckle. Hence I believe that DRT's have more to do with bullet placement, and construction, than caliber.
But common sense also plays a role here in the case of, which barrel will lose its water first, the one with the 3/8 hole drilled in it. or the one with a 12ga slug through both sides?
 
I believe a bigger caliber/heavier bullet will put down game faster when you ask a bullet to do the unusual, like break heavy bone, or hit the mark on a quartering away shot, or other shot requiring lots of penetration. Other than that, the diameter ensures a better blood trail, even if the bullet fails to expand.
 
I would say that a big hole is better than a small one... and a properly constructed bullet is better than one that is poorly designed for the game and circumstance.
Shot placement should go without saying.
 
Lefty #### said:
I dunno I've had some of my best bang wops with my 25'06.
Click to expand...


This is my first year with a 25-06 and had five out of six bang flops.One went about fifteen yards.(all lung shots)
For the past 10yrs or more I have been using a 280 for everything and have taken dozens of deer with it.The deer if not shoulder hits usually go 20 to 50yds.
Not sure why the 25-06 deer anchored the way they did but I was pretty impressed.
 
Bullet construction is very important.

I have shot 3 deer with 250 gr. Rem factory .35whelen. I believe the slugs went through those deer and expended lots of energy into the trees and ground beyond. The deer did not drop fast. I have shot many deer with 140 gr. factory .264 win. mag. that dropped on the spot.

Robin in Rocky
 
My last 3 deer dropped where they were. 2 spine shots and one neck shot. I was using a 30-06 and any calibre that would be considered sufficient would probably have done the same. There is a lot to be said for shot placement.
 
If the animal is in a relaxed state (oblivious to your presence), chances are, they will drop immediately after the shot. An alert animal (ready to run) generally will make some distance even after a well placed shot in the 10ring. (neck/spine/head shots not withstanding).
 
One of the deer that I dropped was running flat out. It was a flukey shot, but it just piled up. Better a clean kill than a dirty miss. I have shot a few running away and I always opted for the head shot instead of the 'Texas Heart Shot'.
 
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