Do you really need a magnum
- Thread starter Isobar1999
- Start date
I think it's one of the truisms of this hobby that "Do I really need a magnum?" or "Is a 30/06 enough gun for a grizzly?" can -- and always will -- generate endless screens of posted responses faster than just about any other question a person can ask. It's been this way since hunting forms started showing up on the Internet ... and yes, I'm now that old 
Shoemaker had it right when he wrote that anyone thinking the 30/06 wasn't enough gun was actually admitting to being a poor shot. Like everyone else, I've used a ton of different rifles and bullets over the years, but will readily confess to killing more game with a 30/06 than with anything else -- and I've yet to come across a situation where the rifle was inadequate for the task. By personal choice, I won't shoot a large animal past 450 yards, and have only ever come within 20 yards of that limit. Others may be comfortable taking longer shots -- and their choice in rifle can and should reflect that. But within my self-imposed limit, I've never wished I was shooting something bigger or faster. The end result has been consistent quick kills on moose out to 400 yards, deer and elk out to 350, bears (all colours except white) to 150, and a host of African game (including several eland and three large cats) at ranges from 15 to 350 yards -- and a total body count well into 3 figures. There are plenty of guys with far more experience than I've managed and their opinions may be quite different. But based on what I've experienced myself, it's enough of a track record for me to have rightly concluded years ago that a 30/06 or ballistically similar cartridge is perfectly able to deliver everything I need it to do, and with panache at that. And yes, that includes bears, whether defensively or on purpose.
At times I almost wonder what all the fuss was screwing around with all those other cartridges. It was fun, and there was a good deal of learning I suppose, and it was all part of owning and using a great variety of rifles. But at the end of the day, the combination of rifle, cartridge and bullet adds up to what is really just a tool ... a means to an end. There's no magic in this, just some basic physics. And when I squeeze the trigger and launch a 168 grain TSX bullet at whatever I'm hunting, the outcome is a forgone conclusion every time, so long as I do my part in the equation and apply the appropriate amount of marksmanship. That really is, and always has been, the only variable that really matters: the loose nut behind the trigger.
That's my 2 cents at least -- which may be all it's worth
Shoemaker had it right when he wrote that anyone thinking the 30/06 wasn't enough gun was actually admitting to being a poor shot. Like everyone else, I've used a ton of different rifles and bullets over the years, but will readily confess to killing more game with a 30/06 than with anything else -- and I've yet to come across a situation where the rifle was inadequate for the task. By personal choice, I won't shoot a large animal past 450 yards, and have only ever come within 20 yards of that limit. Others may be comfortable taking longer shots -- and their choice in rifle can and should reflect that. But within my self-imposed limit, I've never wished I was shooting something bigger or faster. The end result has been consistent quick kills on moose out to 400 yards, deer and elk out to 350, bears (all colours except white) to 150, and a host of African game (including several eland and three large cats) at ranges from 15 to 350 yards -- and a total body count well into 3 figures. There are plenty of guys with far more experience than I've managed and their opinions may be quite different. But based on what I've experienced myself, it's enough of a track record for me to have rightly concluded years ago that a 30/06 or ballistically similar cartridge is perfectly able to deliver everything I need it to do, and with panache at that. And yes, that includes bears, whether defensively or on purpose.
At times I almost wonder what all the fuss was screwing around with all those other cartridges. It was fun, and there was a good deal of learning I suppose, and it was all part of owning and using a great variety of rifles. But at the end of the day, the combination of rifle, cartridge and bullet adds up to what is really just a tool ... a means to an end. There's no magic in this, just some basic physics. And when I squeeze the trigger and launch a 168 grain TSX bullet at whatever I'm hunting, the outcome is a forgone conclusion every time, so long as I do my part in the equation and apply the appropriate amount of marksmanship. That really is, and always has been, the only variable that really matters: the loose nut behind the trigger.
That's my 2 cents at least -- which may be all it's worth
BeaverMeat
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nanaimo, B.C.
I think it's one of the truisms of this hobby that "Do I really need a magnum?" or "Is a 30/06 enough gun for a grizzly?" can -- and always will -- generate endless screens of posted responses faster than just about any other question a person can ask. It's been this way since hunting forms started showing up on the Internet ... and yes, I'm now that old
Shoemaker had it right when he wrote that anyone thinking the 30/06 wasn't enough gun was actually admitting to being a poor shot. Like everyone else, I've used a ton of different rifles and bullets over the years, but will readily confess to killing more game with a 30/06 than with anything else -- and I've yet to come across a situation where the rifle was inadequate for the task. By personal choice, I won't shoot a large animal past 450 yards, and have only ever come within 20 yards of that limit. Others may be comfortable taking longer shots -- and their choice in rifle can and should reflect that. But within my self-imposed limit, I've never wished I was shooting something bigger or faster. The end result has been consistent quick kills on moose out to 400 yards, deer and elk out to 350, bears (all colours except white) to 150, and a host of African game (including several eland and three large cats) at ranges from 15 to 350 yards -- and a total body count well into 3 figures. There are plenty of guys with far more experience than I've managed and their opinions may be quite different. But based on what I've experienced myself, it's enough of a track record for me to have rightly concluded years ago that a 30/06 or ballistically similar cartridge is perfectly able to deliver everything I need it to do, and with panache at that. And yes, that includes bears, whether defensively or on purpose.
At times I almost wonder what all the fuss was screwing around with all those other cartridges. It was fun, and there was a good deal of learning I suppose, and it was all part of owning and using a great variety of rifles. But at the end of the day, the combination of rifle, cartridge and bullet adds up to what is really just a tool ... a means to an end. There's no magic in this, just some basic physics. And when I squeeze the trigger and launch a 168 grain TSX bullet at whatever I'm hunting, the outcome is a forgone conclusion every time, so long as I do my part in the equation and apply the appropriate amount of marksmanship. That really is, and always has been, the only variable that really matters: the loose nut behind the trigger.
That's my 2 cents at least -- which may be all it's worth
Good post... that's where I'm at. 30-06 is my go-to as it gets the job done and I can find ammo anywhere at any time. Same with .308. Still looking around for the right rifle in .270 so my collection of boring cartridges is complete.
They were having the same arguments in the hunting mags from the 50's on. And there is no real answer. Can you shoot it well? Will the projectiles do their job properly at the speeds they will be going when they encounter game? That's all you really need to know, everything else is mental masturbation. - dan
I think it's one of the truisms of this hobby that "Do I really need a magnum?" or "Is a 30/06 enough gun for a grizzly?" can -- and always will -- generate endless screens of posted responses faster than just about any other question a person can ask. It's been this way since hunting forms started showing up on the Internet ... and yes, I'm now that old
Shoemaker had it right when he wrote that anyone thinking the 30/06 wasn't enough gun was actually admitting to being a poor shot. Like everyone else, I've used a ton of different rifles and bullets over the years, but will readily confess to killing more game with a 30/06 than with anything else -- and I've yet to come across a situation where the rifle was inadequate for the task. By personal choice, I won't shoot a large animal past 450 yards, and have only ever come within 20 yards of that limit. Others may be comfortable taking longer shots -- and their choice in rifle can and should reflect that. But within my self-imposed limit, I've never wished I was shooting something bigger or faster. The end result has been consistent quick kills on moose out to 400 yards, deer and elk out to 350, bears (all colours except white) to 150, and a host of African game (including several eland and three large cats) at ranges from 15 to 350 yards -- and a total body count well into 3 figures. There are plenty of guys with far more experience than I've managed and their opinions may be quite different. But based on what I've experienced myself, it's enough of a track record for me to have rightly concluded years ago that a 30/06 or ballistically similar cartridge is perfectly able to deliver everything I need it to do, and with panache at that. And yes, that includes bears, whether defensively or on purpose.
At times I almost wonder what all the fuss was screwing around with all those other cartridges. It was fun, and there was a good deal of learning I suppose, and it was all part of owning and using a great variety of rifles. But at the end of the day, the combination of rifle, cartridge and bullet adds up to what is really just a tool ... a means to an end. There's no magic in this, just some basic physics. And when I squeeze the trigger and launch a 168 grain TSX bullet at whatever I'm hunting, the outcome is a forgone conclusion every time, so long as I do my part in the equation and apply the appropriate amount of marksmanship. That really is, and always has been, the only variable that really matters: the loose nut behind the trigger.
That's my 2 cents at least -- which may be all it's worth
Can’t agree more! I have 3 of them and they all got the job done on many moose and caribou! I bought a 9.3x62 cause I liked what I read about it and for bison up here it might be a bit better than 30-06! I also have a 7x57r as part of a combo gun just because I wanted a combo gun and couldn’t find one in 30-06 or 308! And then I came home from a visit out east with my dad’s old Mauser 98 in 8x57, that rifle will most likely be on my daughter, cause it is light and dandy!!
Depends on what your hunting and how good a shot you are. A 30-30 will kill most anything if you put the shot right exactly where you want (pretty unlikely unless you are 30-50 feet away). 45-70 pretty much take down anything, no matter where you shoot it. Big game - unless you want to play John Wayne, I'd take a magnum, biggest one you can handle. Handguns same thing..if we had carry in this country then a .22 might work but likely just make a really enraged psycho come at you harder and you would probably have to empty the clip then into the bad guy to kill em...44 mag, pretty much end of game ("it will blow your head clean off, do you feel lucky punk?"). Cops had to quit using em though cause it went through the bad guy, then 2-3 units in a nearby apartment block.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
That be true, along with the long distances many folks shoot at that be beyond their ability to accurately place a good shot on meat critters. Many factors
to consider in the shooting world.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
All 30-06 rifles are not created equally. Example I own a Voere Model 2185 made in Kufstein Austria with the normal sporter stock. It shoots Winchester Super X in 180 power point like a shotgun 100 yards.
Found out it has a match chamber(??)and a short throat that prefers bullets 168 boat tail or less in weight at Garand only speeds!?!?
I started calling it snake eyes because at 100 from a bench it would print 125 grain ballistic tips two inches high and about two inches apart.
A good friend suggested I try out the same weight bullet same powder but using Accubonds instead.
Viola! Three bullets in a tiny real grouping at 100.
Lots of work for a 30-06 that desires to be a 270.
I am not really complaining because it's a deer rifle.
Maybe in the Alps they use it for chamois only?
Anything bigger maybe they grab thier 8mms or 9.3s instead?
Trivia: it's a semi auto.
Found out it has a match chamber(??)and a short throat that prefers bullets 168 boat tail or less in weight at Garand only speeds!?!?
I started calling it snake eyes because at 100 from a bench it would print 125 grain ballistic tips two inches high and about two inches apart.
A good friend suggested I try out the same weight bullet same powder but using Accubonds instead.
Viola! Three bullets in a tiny real grouping at 100.
Lots of work for a 30-06 that desires to be a 270.
I am not really complaining because it's a deer rifle.
Maybe in the Alps they use it for chamois only?
Anything bigger maybe they grab thier 8mms or 9.3s instead?
Trivia: it's a semi auto.
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All my life i bought new calibers that i really never used, as a matter of fact 75% of my WT, bear and moose have fallen to either the 308 or the 44 mag. It's very cool to try other calibers and it's very reassuring to know that potent tools have proven to be very effective.
The movies aren't really a good source for actual firearms data. - dan
ah ah we should all use the best sniper the 458 win mag ...it was in a movie ...
