Steer New hunters away from magnums?

When i talk with friends/family who are not hunters/shooters i always recommend a standard cartridge like 243, 270 win, 308 win, 30-06 for several reasons. 1. Recoil 2. Ammo availability 3. Cost of ammunition. They can get a lot more range time due to those 3 reasons and get efficient with their rifles thus giving them better chances in the field.
 
OP asked about "new hunters" - might even extend that to some "old hunters" - have seen some pretty horrible field demos with the "mangle-em's" - simply do not use them enough to be familiar with the scope, with the rifle - sometimes I think they are "half scared" of them, in "shock" at what a box of factory shells cost to buy. Largest that I have used was 338 Win Mag for elk - took two - thinking now - the same shots with a .243 and Partitions would have had same result. Was worried about grizzly when packing out moose meat in Western Alberta, so that trip I carried a 9.3x62. Probably would do so again, but that choice is not about a "hunting" cartridge choice. Took many dozens deer in Saskatchewan with 308 Win and 7x57, and at least one with 30-06. Have been there when several taken with .243 Win. Am awaiting a little .243 Win to show up for myself - that will likely do it for anything that I need to be doing these days - deer, black bear, coyotes, etc.

Maybe a good test - was not uncommon to go to range with tray of 50 or 100 cartridges with 308, 7x57 or 243 - was able to get a fair bit of trigger time - kids, especially liked the clay pigeons on the 100 yard backstop. If you can not see yourself doing that - due to time, cost or whatever, how do you intend to get good?? Is the best time for the scope to die, the rings to get loose, firing pin tip to chip, and so on. And, I guess, to find out whether or not you can hit a 4" clay pigeon from off-hand, at 100 yards, with your rifle.
 
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rommelrommel said:
I would pay more attention to recoil energy. Around 20 Ft lbs most new shooters find the recoil obnoxious.
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Around 15 ft-lb of recoil energy for the vast majority of hunters - new or old. If you can, try to get a copy of The Accurate Rifle Magazine, March 2003, Recoil and Accuracy, by Bob Jourdan.

Now, how and where you can get that very specific copy of The Accurate Magazine ? I bloody well don't know ! I only have a photocopy of the article by Bob Jourdan. Very good !
 
"New hunters" sometimes are not new shooters. Proper technique will also negate a lot of the harmful recoil. I came into hunting after years of shooting and was pretty surprised that the average hunter just can't shoot worth a sh!t.
 
vpsalin said:
Should we be steering New hunters away from magnums: 270wsm, 7mmRM, 300 MAGs...? I'm thinking that magnums are nothing to fear even for new shooters with good recoil pads. Long-term they might appreciate the magnums' extra potential. Do such calibers really get in the way of a new shooter's progression? I used to think so but not anymore. Magnums don't kick as bad as begginers imagine in my book...you can also load them light 130gr .270, 140gr .284, 150gr .308
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I can say that magnums can be modified by having a muzzle-brake installed to prevent a flinch, in the field and on the range. However, ear protection should also be practiced. Otherwise, shooting and hunting with a standard cartridge has much less effect with flinching, loud rifle reports, and in return, increased marksmanship and confidence...............take your pick.
 
ALBERTA BOY said:
It has been my experience in life that the more experienced someone gets, the less likely they are to shoot “magnum” calibers.
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Correct, but there becomes a point where a non magnum is not suited to do the work required on an animal at the given range. Everyone's personal choice as far as what they consider ethical based on not only their ability, but also their chosen hardware to get the job done is different.
 
Djb1 said:
"... the average hunter just can't shoot worth a sh!t.
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Unfortunately, you are right. Just offer them to shoot four inch clay targets off hand at 100 yards/meters and you will see the vast majority of them (95% at least) fall by the wayside. With standard calibers. Don't even think about "magnum" calibers (.300 Magnum and up).

Most hunters CANNOT handle the recoil of the old .30-06 Springfield in a 9 pounds scoped rifle but they don't know it - and they don't want to know it neither !
 
Djb1 said:
"New hunters" sometimes are not new shooters. Proper technique will also negate a lot of the harmful recoil. I came into hunting after years of shooting and was pretty surprised that the average hunter just can't shoot worth a sh!t.
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Shot placement and accuracy must come first. If you can do that with a large magnum or a standard Fudd gun depends on the individual, but I'll bet starting with something more manageable and shooting it lots is the best way to go. I started with a .303, like many of us did, and it took a while to be comfortable with.
 
Snowy Owl said:
Unfortunately, you are right. Just offer them to shoot four inch clay targets off hand at 100 yards/meters and you will see the vast majority of them (95% at least) fall by the wayside. With standard calibers. Don't even think about "magnum" calibers (.300 Magnum and up).
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An off hand test only exhibits ones proficiency with that type of shooting. With conventional open sights, lots of seasoned hunters and shooters will fail at such a task. A scope will help some, but at 100yds away I will use a natural rest or other shooting position that is more stable. If the animal is already spooked and running. I won't be shooting off hand at that range
 
Hugh Mann said:
Love the Picard face-palm. But to reply to your statement, longer than some, but not as long as most, couple years shy of three decades.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking magnums, there's a reason they've been so popular for so long, but to each their own and all that. :D
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Yep, fair enough. ;) The ever expanding marketing hype over the many years of rifle & ammo production be reasons for loads that promise the moon, but
end up being seldom used by many. I've had many magnum chambered rifles over me existence, but I've always loaded them down to get the results
I wanted at the distances I shot 'em at in hunting or target work.

Nothing wrong with playin' with the magnums of any persuasion if one be a reloader. Just dial 'em to yer liking.
 
SHELL SHUCKER said:
Yep, fair enough. ;) The ever expanding marketing hype over the many years of rifle & ammo production be reasons for loads that promise the moon, but
end up being seldom used by many. I've had many magnum chambered rifles over me existence, but I've always loaded them down to get the results
I wanted at the distances I shot 'em at in hunting or target work.

Nothing wrong with playin' with the magnums of any persuasion if one be a reloader. Just dial 'em to yer liking.
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;) Bingo :).
 
I've been shooting for 8-10 years now and I don't notice much difference between .308 recoil or 7mmRM recoil. I find that hard to believe that that comes down to experience. I think it has more to do with the actual calibers having similar likeness in physical recoil, although many beginners shy away from the common magnums, I'm starting to think that it's mostly unjustified.

I'd personally tell a new hunter If the rifle you want is in wsm, 7mmRM or .300 go ahead and buy it. Buy a good pad and practice some. You won't flinch with 5-6 shot practice sessions.
 
vpsalin said:
I've been shooting for 8-10 years now and I don't notice much difference between .308 recoil or 7mmRM recoil. I find that hard to believe that that comes down to experience. I think it has more to do with the actual calibers having similar likeness in physical recoil, although many beginners shy away from the common magnums, I'm starting to think that it's mostly unjustified.

I'd personally tell a new hunter If the rifle you want is in wsm, 7mmRM or .300 go ahead and buy it. Buy a good pad and practice some. You won't flinch with 5-6 shot practice sessions.
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You're not seeing a big difference in those two rounds because there isn't much difference. Especially if the 7 mag is slightly heavier.
 
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Snowdingo said:
A new hunter should equip themselves with a rifle that is comfortable for them to blast 20 shots off at a range session, and not develop a flinch. They'll have fun, build confidence, and develop their ability to put the shot where it needs to go.

If they can do that with a magnum, then no problem.
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I would think if my #2 son was able to kill a mature bison at 20 yards with an arrow from a 65 pound pull bow, a .308 Winchester should be able to drop one.
 
Best thing for a new shooter is great hearing protection. Plugs under the muffs.
I find most new people entisapate the noise the most.

Recoil is a lot to do with how the rifle fits you and how ridigid you brace your self.
My 375 ruger was the gun that really showed me that.
Let-R-buck. Let your body move with the recoil.

You hold it ridged and are tense you’re gonna feel all of it.

One guy I still hate is a Xbolt in 300wm.
That’s a jumpy SOB when you let one fly.
 
Each person has a recoil tolerance level that needs to be evaluated. Fit is important. Rifle weight will have its influence.
And as stated above, use plugs and muffs, as people flinch or are effected as much by the report as they are by the recoil.
Start them off with lighter cartridges and develop good shooting practices.
Then let them try larger cartridges and calibers and let them tell you what feels comfortable to them.
Load the rifle for them and watch their performance when pulling the trigger...with the odd time where there is no cartridge in the chamber...you will immediately see if they are flinching and know if they are being honest about how they are handling the recoil.
If they can handle a magnum, you will know and be in a better position to advise them of their current limits in handling recoil.
This can be re-evaluated over time, and if comfortable, they can advance to larger magnums as their proficiency and recoil tolerance improves.
 
BlackRam said:
Each person has a recoil tolerance level that needs to be evaluated. Fit is important. Rifle weight will have its influence.
And as stated above, use plugs and muffs, as people flinch or are effected as much by the report as they are by the recoil.
Start them off with lighter cartridges and develop good shooting practices.
Then let them try larger cartridges and calibers and let them tell you what feels comfortable to them.
Load the rifle for them and watch their performance when pulling the trigger...with the odd time where there is no cartridge in the chamber...you will immediately see if they are flinching and know if they are being honest about how they are handling the recoil.
If they can handle a magnum, you will know and be in a better position to advise them of their current limits in handling recoil.
This can be re-evaluated over time, and if comfortable, they can advance to larger magnums as their proficiency and recoil tolerance improves.
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I bolded an absolute great piece of advice. Have done that several times with a partner - each of us for the other guy - do not know if cartridge is up the spout or not when firing at target. Neither of us believed that we flinched. BS'd about it. But, not fooling yourself when you see the cross hairs move on the target and the rifle goes "click" instead of "boom". You saw that. Can talk all you want, but you know that you flinched. Seems to matter to know for sure for some people - others more concerned whether somebody else noticed...
 
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