Suggestions for a "big and slow" caliber?

Do you have a performance standard in mind for your reason to go to a medium bore? For example, I don't have a 270 but I do have a 7x57 which I don't think is an adequate shoulder buster on heavy game at 200 meters? Or even my 300 WM. Small bores have a tendency to pierce rather than smash through heavy bone.

Maybe he wants to do the sensible thing and do a double lung shot?..... not all of us are into smashed shoulders and bloodshot meat.....
 
But that's how I get my 1 shot DRT kills with a medium bore is with shoulder shots on heavy game - as an objective. A lung shot is usually eventually fatal with small bores and likely quicker with medium bores. I have gotten 1 shot DRT kills with lung shots on heavy game using a high speed 40+ caliber however.
 
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More I think of this, the more a good old .30-06 with either 200 partitions or perhaps a more modern 180grain loading might fill the bill if purposely avoiding magnums. I still prefer my 9.3x62 but those 200 grain partitions from a warm ‘06 load will penetrate and smash though pretty much any thin skinned game, from any angle appropriate to hunting, and can be delivered from a nice handling rifle. Heck, even a 8x57 in a Husky/FN ‘98 with heavier loads could be considered. The advantage of the 06 is that good factory loads can be found if you aren’t into reloading or just need to buy in various locations. So, .30-06, 8x57, and 9.3x62 are my suggestions based on your requirements. Launch your choice from a FN/Husky ‘98, Win model 70, or Montana rifle, use great optics, and keep your skinning knife sharp.
 
But that's how I get my 1 shot DRT kills with a medium bore with shoulder shots on heavy game - as an objective. A lung shot is usually eventually fatal with small bores and likely quicker with medium bores. I have gotten 1 shot DRT kills with lung shots on heavy game using a high speed 40+ caliber however.

Must we continue this DRT nonsense?
A lung shot is not likely fatal. Put a decent bullet from a decent rifle into the lungs of any critter out there, you got yourself a dead animal.
Go back to talking up the 45/70 as a long range rig.
 
While a 40cal or bigger would be dandy, I'm not a huge fan of the lower recoil options (eg 444 marlin) due to the sectional density of the light for caliber bullets. I haven't shot anything bigger than a 300win mag (unless you count my 5lb single shot 12ga w/ 1.25oz slugs @ 1550fps) so I don't want to step up to a 458 WM or 416 rem mag ect. At this time. I'd like to get there one day, but we'll be taking this one step at a time.

While a 35cal isn't a big bore per say, it's a fair bit bigger than the 270win I typically hunt with, and I feel like something like 358win or 9.3x62 would give me some experience with the wounding capabilities of mid speed medium bore rifles so I can make my own judgement as to how I like their effectiveness vs my current go to rifle, the 270.



You just might find that the mild mediums don't really work any better than what you've already got at close range and fall on their butt at longer range.
 
The last thing I want (for this particular objective) is a 300wm. I want something in a bigger caliber first and foremost. Ideally I also want a gun that's lighter than my 270 as well, but that objective has some flexibility depending on the caliber I end up with. A 358 win fits the bill perfectly, and I just got dies for cheap, so I'm currently leaning that direction. When I actually have cash in hand, it very well might come down to what I find for good price at the time. The 358cal has my attention because of the ability to use pistol bullets for plinking/beginner loads though.

Hey mate, I have used both the 270 win and the 35 whelen for a number of years on our deer down here and they both are great for their own situation..
EG- I used the 270 for the Fallow deer (whitetail sized) at all ranges from 15meters to 400m, all Rounder..
The 35 Whelen was Closer range scrub gun for the Sambar Deer (every bit elk sized/tuffer), even though it isn't a 'brush bucker' I felt confident with a RN, putting the smack down on Deer animals to 200meters.

I then used premium projectiles in the 270 to shoot these Same Big Deer out to 400meters, but I am not really a candidate for TTSX on my wage ;)

My 35 Whelens downfall was the weight of rifle for Backpacking, So went an bought what I call a "36 Whelen" AKA the 9.3x62 in a Tikka T3........ light and big and slow and heavy...

But with a 7mm-08 which I'm grabbing A lot, I never ventured far with the 9.3 and 250grs for 300meters... instead I'm looking at selling the 9.3 and putting time back onto the Whelen for Slow and Heavy, scoped option.


You mean you eat gophers? :p

The OP is interested in medium/heavy bore rifles. That's what this thread is about.

They're great! as You know the Woodleighs in 225/250 or 310 gr will take Anything down.
 
.350 Remington Magnum.

I like the 35's. I have a 35 Rem, and a 350 RM. They seem to work well with cast. They are great with jacketed, the 350 is a bit of a brute with full power loads.

You may want to consider the 416 Rem Mag, fantastic with cast, never tried it with jacketed. 350 gr cast bullet @ 1800 fps is a decent load.
 
If only some ballistic genius could make 30-06 bullets fly at .270 velocity they would surpass the .270 in every way and reduce the mild mediums to nostalgic short range curiousitys from the beginning of the last century.:)

It would need a catchy name though. I vote for calling it the .300 Magnificent but Winchester says that's too long to fit on the case head.
 
If only some ballistic genius could make 30-06 bullets fly at .270 velocity they would surpass the .270 in every way and reduce the mild mediums to nostalgic short range curiousitys from the beginning of the last century.:)

It would need a catchy name though. I vote for calling it the .300 Magnificent but Winchester says that's too long to fit on the case head.

When "slow" is actually a criteria, you can unabashedly embrace medium bores... try it... it is a tremendous relief.
 
If only some ballistic genius could make 30-06 bullets fly at .270 velocity they would surpass the .270 in every way and reduce the mild mediums to nostalgic short range curiousitys from the beginning of the last century.:)

It would need a catchy name though. I vote for calling it the .300 Magnificent but Winchester says that's too long to fit on the case head.

Isn't that called a .300 H&H?
 
"Slow" should be quantified. I'll start a poll.

Here's a decent result of a couple of whacks from 510 gr. cast .458 in a Quackenbush air gun at 700 fps. on a nice sized bison. I reckon that quantifies the slow side of the equation rather well for hefty critters in close. (As long as they ain't charging that is.);)

http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/
 
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While a 40cal or bigger would be dandy, I'm not a huge fan of the lower recoil options (eg 444 marlin) due to the sectional density of the light for caliber bullets. I haven't shot anything bigger than a 300win mag (unless you count my 5lb single shot 12ga w/ 1.25oz slugs @ 1550fps) so I don't want to step up to a 458 WM or 416 rem mag ect. At this time. I'd like to get there one day, but we'll be taking this one step at a time.

While a 35cal isn't a big bore per say, it's a fair bit bigger than the 270win I typically hunt with, and I feel like something like 358win or 9.3x62 would give me some experience with the wounding capabilities of mid speed medium bore rifles so I can make my own judgement as to how I like their effectiveness vs my current go to rifle, the 270.

In 2017 (soon 2018) your .270 outclasses a .358 Win in every way. I would take a .270 with good bullets grizzly hunting before I would pick a .358 Win. The 9.3x62 offers a step up at regular hunting distances but a .300 magnum with heavy bullets will operate similarly and extend the range, but you don't want a .300.

Frankly, when people tell me they want more than the 270/3006/7RM class of hunting cartridges, I think they should jump right past all the "heavy by convenience" bullet/cartridge combos like the 35 Whelen, 358 etc and get into a .375 Ruger. It's the best .375 hunting cartridge ever developed. Trajectory is similar to your .270 and it offers a true upgrade at short and longer ranges.
 
When "slow" is actually a criteria, you can unabashedly embrace medium bores... try it... it is a tremendous relief.


Been there, done that. I can put up with big, heavy and slow about at the point of thick skinned game being the intended quarry and ranges will be comparatively close or nothing. Big, lighter and slow makes for a reasonably effective muzzle loader. I'll take medium and moving (375 H&H or Weatherby) as a compromise for doing it all. Mild and medium does nothing for me that smaller and faster doesn't handle at least as well but usually better for general purpose.
 
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