The Magnum Ego'$

stanway

stanway

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Agassiz, BC
I read this post earlier this evening from one of the Western Canadian forums. I found it to be interesting and insightful and thought it should be shared here. The author has given me permission to copy it here for others to enjoy.

These last cartridge threads got me thinking. Isn't it funny how some smart marketing people cash in on the male ego. They play us like fiddles. I bet they are a bunch of bright girls and are laughing their heads off. My respect!
The word "Magnum" reminds me of a PI with a red Ferrari that always wins and gets all the chicks. The "RAM" the "TOUGH", if it helps to fluff someone's feathers just a bit more and gets him closer to be Arnold, Clint or Rambo, he feels good. Heck with a MAG on his shoulder and a RAM out on the road he is untouchable. It is kind of funny up to the part where we teach our young once "these are important priorities"!
Are they really? Is appearance to once pears that important, that it becomes the meaning of life?

The problem I have experienced with this trend as far as hunting is concerned, is that ethics got thrown out the window. With that I mean for example that many people shoot way to far because the print on the package tells them the bullet flies that far straight. It isn't telling them that it is unethical to take these high risk shots at living creatures. It isn't telling them that if the bullet hits a piece of grass that is will explode or just not reach it's target and possibly wound an animal. It isn't telling them to practice regularly to be able to shoot ok in hunting conditions. And we, me included in part, are buying in to this "I AM" for any price and are teaching the next generation that same thing. So now they start to live by that. They apply it to the rest of life and will learn only the hard way that this will get them in to trouble everywhere. "I dare you" is all it takes and they drive drunk. "You can't make that shot" and we try for sure.

I fired people because of that. I had clients on a "time out" and many years ago I had one actually flown out of camp. The male ego is a powerful thing. It potentially could harm hunting to a point where we can't defend some of the anti's arguments, because they are right at times. Some of these unethical occurrences shouldn't happened and they should not be tolerated by the rest or we will be called all the same.

There are many young hunters on this site. Lets teach them about ethics, shot placement, what kind of shots to take and when it is better to let it walk. What to do when the animal runs off after the shot and a little less about the "not so truthful hunting stories" that they then try to live up to and perhaps resort to unethical practices because of pear pressure.

- Mooseman(BC)
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In principal, I agree. Most hunters can't shoot worth beans in the field. Being able to secure nice tight groups at the range is only part of the picture.

Most hunters are not very good shots. They do not pracitce and they do not know much about ballisitics.

Just buying a 'magnum' short or otherwise, does not make them into long range shooters on game. Sadly all the hype makes some of the newbies think they are good to go on long range kills.
 
Sasquatch said:
In principal, I agree. Most hunters can't shoot worth beans in the field. Being able to secure nice tight groups at the range is only part of the picture.

Most hunters are not very good shots. They do not pracitce and they do not know much about ballisitics.

Just buying a 'magnum' short or otherwise, does not make them into long range shooters on game. Sadly all the hype makes some of the newbies think they are good to go on long range kills.
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I love the range a couple of days before "the season" opens. Swearing and getting super frustrated that the gun they put away after they shot it *last year* isn't grouping or whatever. Last fall I watching this guy almost #### because his marlin 30-30 wouldn't even hit paper. "It was dead on last year!" he said, red faced.

Most amusing! :D
 
Nine said:
I love the range a couple of days before "the season" opens. Swearing and getting super frustrated that the gun they put away after they shot it *last year* isn't grouping or whatever. Last fall I watching this guy almost #### because his marlin 30-30 wouldn't even hit paper. "It was dead on last year!" he said, red faced.

Most amusing! :D
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That is entertaining isn't it? I watched a guy and his two buddies 'sight in' a pump 30-06 with 3 boxes of ammo last fall. They were only there for about 1/2 hour and they were "ready to go". Yes they used all of the ammo. :rolleyes: I think they were more concerned about how much beer they were taking on the trip. :p
 
BIGREDD said:
That is the stupidest thing I have ever read.:rolleyes:
To equate owning Magnums with unethical behaviour and drunk driving is not only ridiculous but deceitful.:mad:
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I don't think he is "equating" rather stating a "mind set" that exists in our society today - which unfortunately 'spills over' into the hunting sports.

I am not trying to argue, it's just how I interpret his post. "Magnum" is just a word, which, to most of us who understand the ballistics of different cartridges, doesn't really mean anything. For example, 35 Whelen and the 350 Rem Mag: different cartridges, different names, but virtually the same ballistically. However, there are some people who will think the 350 is far superior in some way just because of the name (me included ;):p:D).
 
What a pile of BS, not worthy of a comment. Sounds like it was written by a sabre toothed Brit that lacks the beans to shoot anything bigger than a .22 then stands under the umbrella of embarasment spouting #### about equating size of a rifle to the size of your ####. Where's the B/C guys when ya need em?
 
Nine said:
I love the range a couple of days before "the season" opens. Swearing and getting super frustrated that the gun they put away after they shot it *last year* isn't grouping or whatever. Last fall I watching this guy almost #### because his marlin 30-30 wouldn't even hit paper. "It was dead on last year!" he said, red faced.

Most amusing! :D
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I hate the range just before hunting season.:mad: Our range doesn't have a range officer so too much stupid sh*t can go on there. The fall before last I was there plinking with a Martini .22 that I had just bought and these two idiots came in and started shooting a .338 Win mag, and a 300 Win mag, I know because I picked up their brass and threw it out after they left. Get this though, they're going to shoot with out ear protection, so I gave them a hard time about it as well as gave them some disposible ear plugs, I've always got a supply of them. They set up their targets and shoot, good for them, no biggy. Except for when they go to look at the target the .338 is left on the bench, POINTED IN MY DIRECTION. I frickin' lost it, the guy says "oh, sorry sir" and what does he do, he turns it and points it directly behind the firing line. It's that kind of crap that makes going to the range in the fall bad. I've never seen anybody do that at any other time, hunting season just seems to bring out a lot of reckless people. I'm a hunter myself, but I'd never hunt with guys like that unless I was wanting to get shot.
 
A few years ago I was shooting at the spruce grove range at the 100 meter target,another nice fellow was shooting at the same distance with his rifle.We had a few friendly chats,part of the reason I like going to the range.On one string of shots I looked up to see a guy downrange at the 50 meter target board setting up his target,I yelled at the guy beside me to stop shooting,he just went white.Neither of us could believe anyone could be so stupid.We tried to explain why he should not have done that,but he did not think it was a big deal as he could see we were shooting at different backstops.Well no way in hell I was going to check my target with him there,what if he thought it was ok to start shooting.Both of us left.
 
Having spent many days at the local range,I have seen many poor shooters,especially the week or two before the seasons open.Yes there were some poor shooters that were firing magnums.However the people that seem to show up least at the range,and that were the least fussy with their sight ins were shooting cartridges like the .303 british,30-30,270win,308win and 30-06.Their primary concern was to spend as little money as possible by shooting as few shots as possible.In almost all cases,their shooting reflected their lack of practise.Yet I have heard some of these same people speak of taking 300yard and 400 yards shots at game.
 
to each thier own i guess i know throughout the months of summer leading up to hunting season i usualy go through 6-10 boxes of ammo (cheap stuff) at the range just sighting in and testing my range limitations and when it comes to distance if i can get all my shots in a 3 inch group at 200 then when i am hunting i know i can do 50-100 safely and thats where i stay no tool or technology is going to be better then acctull range time
 
i know throughout the months of summer leading up to hunting season i usualy go through 6-10 boxes of ammo (cheap stuff) at the range just sighting in and testing my range limitations
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Can we assume that you have actually compared the point of impact and trajectory of these "cheap stuff" to the loads that you hunt with?I mean by actually firing both loads at various distances.
 
yorgi said:
I find that minimum caliber elitists vastly outnumber magnum egotists.
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open-sights said:
What a pile of BS, not worthy of a comment. Sounds like it was written by a sabre toothed Brit that lacks the beans to shoot anything bigger than a .22 then stands under the umbrella of embarasment spouting #### about equating size of a rifle to the size of your ####. Where's the B/C guys when ya need em?
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Two good quotes.

These "theories" about the supposed sense of superiority of guys with magnums always seem to come from guys with a greater sense of superiority, who will spout such things as "they only take eye shots with their 22 centrefire".
 
yorgi said:
I find that minimum caliber elitists vastly outnumber magnum egotists.
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I would not consider my limited experince in the field to be any kind of real good trend indicator. But I have seldom met hunters not having enough gun.
 
:D
stubblejumper said:
Having spent many days at the local range,I have seen many poor shooters,especially the week or two before the seasons open.Yes there were some poor shooters that were firing magnums.However the people that seem to show up least at the range,and that were the least fussy with their sight ins were shooting cartridges like the .303 british,30-30,270win,308win and 30-06.Their primary concern was to spend as little money as possible by shooting as few shots as possible.In almost all cases,their shooting reflected their lack of practise.Yet I have heard some of these same people speak of taking 300yard and 400 yards shots at game.
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I tend to find the same thing.

I spend a good part of every spring/summer att he range working on handloads, zeroing, practice etc.

Around hutning season a bunch of other guys show up, that i have not seen all year. It's pretty fun as I have doen most of my work and I ususally BS a bit and give them a hand.

Most of them are shooting 30-06's 270's 303, 30-30. A coupel of guys are shooting 300Weatherbys and #####ing when they get smoked in the eyebrow, but mostly the once a year range guys are shoting the 'regular' stuff.

Of course, all that practice doesnt' keep me from missing sometimes!;) :D
 
stubblejumper said:
Can we assume that you have actually compared the point of impact and trajectory of these "cheap stuff" to the loads that you hunt with?I mean by actually firing both loads at various distances.
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yes once i have found that the cheap stuff is hitting where i want it to at the higher ranges then i move to the expensive stuff at 50 and then 100 yrds to make sure that they are going to hit where i want them too
why wastes a whole box of 40$ ammo trying to get to a point when i can do it for 20$ and fire 4-5 rnds of the expensive stuff to reassure myself after and no i dont this a week before opening i usualy go out every other suday pending funds etc and check and re check and plink a whole lot of 22lr
 
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yes once i have found that the cheap stuff is hitting where i want it to at the higher ranges then i move to the expensive stuff at 50 and then 100 yrds to make sure that they are going to hit where i want them too
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From personal experience,I can assure you that just because two loads have a similar point of impact at 50 and 100 yards,does not mean that they have a similar point of impact at 300 yards.I am not suggesting that you practise with the premium loads,just that you compare both loads at least once, at all distances that you might possibly shoot.
 
Yea. Cheap ammo is cheap ammo. Each box can vary by 8 inches at 100 yds. I found this out while sighting in a buddies gun at the range. I believe they were federal something or other in a silver box. Absolute junk. Sight in your gun with premiums and leave the cheap #### for shooting cans or gophers.
 
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