What is with these big calibres?

Wow, people that know what "hunting" is! I might be small minded, but I disagree that sitting up a tree all day, or driving 200 miles of back roads in a truck looking for something to shoot or "kill" is hunting. To me hunting is the search, pursuit, and stalk of game. I applaud those that actually hunt their prey. I am not saying the use of stands or vehicles is wrong, immoral, or any less effective, I just have this idea that hunting is the actual "hunt" or search for something.

I might not have worded this correctly to get my point across, both because I am not a writer, and I am currently on my iPhone, which is a PITA to proofread from.


To me, the small spike buck, or doe, is much more rewarding and a trophy when "hunted" and shot with a Win 94, than a B&C buck shot from 600 yards away after driving to within 338 LM range.

This is all just my personal preference and opinion, and should be taken as such.
 
captonion said:
I was saving my money for an Africa hunt, when my gunsmith talked me out of going with your very argument..He, who had gone a dozen or so times with a group of friends, said it was not at all a challenging hunt...He said he went more for the pleasure of being with friends than he did the hunt, and advised me that my money would be better spent on a horseback Elk hunt.
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Wow! A dozen or so trips, just for deer-camp-style camaraderie...probably $2000-$3000 per trip for airfare...add another $400-$1000+ per day for daily fees...plus trophy fees for anything shot, starting at maybe $300 and up to several thou per animal...plus tips and gratuities...plus miscellaneous taxes, surcharges, gun fees, etc...holy crap!

Captonion, I hope your gunsmith does outstanding work on your guns...'cause I think he may be overcharging his customers!:)
 
jjohnwm said:
Captonion, I hope your gunsmith does outstanding work on your guns...'cause I think he may be overcharging his customers!:)
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He was a very good smith(retired now)...As a boy he started out sweeping floors for Mauser Jagdwaffen,before being hired, to move on to Sauer.....

I seen a customer pick up a rifle that he just had built, that had the nicest wood/checkering I had ever seen (made from scratch by this smith), and had spectacular metal engraving for over $20,000...Was also there when a doctor came in to get his safari rifle restocked (crack) for a quote of $3,000..
 
Track;

Nothing personal at all, persueing a trophy whitetail is certainly a worthy cause and a high degree of difficulty. Africa is not every man's dream hunt, but don't think there aren't just as wiley critters over there. The plains game is less difficult but as mentioned, to get true trophy quality animals, it's not a lot different than whitetail. I've hunted whitetail where I've seen 200 in a day, several in the 140+ class and many in the 120-140 class and ZERO in the 160-170 class. You could equate plains game similarly, it's just you have 10-20 species inhabiting the same eco system so more oportunities. If you went there with the goal of just taking one animal, whatever your choice is, that would equate to a 170-175 Whitetail in size and quality of trophy, you would hunt as long and as hard as you would for the same whitetail.
Regardless you missed out big time just in not seeing Africa, and I would highly recommend going even if not to hunt. Interesting sights and cultures, it is a beautiful continent, from the mouth of the Nile and Sahara desert through eqitorial Congo and down to Capetown. It is awe inspiring, at least to me. Just veiwing the quantity and diversity of the game is awe inspiring, and to think it is just a shadow of what it was 100 or 150 years ago, boggles the mind. The culture and antiquities in North Africa is just as awe inspiring, and the Pyramids have to be seen for oneself to really grasp the enormity of it all.
Anyway, I could go on for hours about the other aspects of Africa above and beyond the hunting. But again that's just me, She truly has captured my heart for many reasons.
Good luck on your whitetail hunts, a truly worthy adversary, indeed.

Douglas
 
Hunting is defined differently by many people. I prefer to stalk whitetails aand black bears on foot. Bow and rifle. I've never been to africa yet but I do know any night I can walk across the field behind my house and shoot a 10point buck with a bow as he walks the ditchbank which he does everynight just before dark. That to me is a fish in a barrel even though I could be on foot on his level and take him with a bow. Yet he lives and I drive 45 mins away to a different wmu to hunt knowing my buck tag is good for the area I live in. As much as I'd love his rack on my wall. I have never hunted this buck. Last year I let him go and took a smaller 7point. I like to see this buck and the feeling of just knowing he's out there makes not hunting him worth it
 
^^ this!!

I have a few nice mature whitetails behind my house every day, including a BEAUTIFUL 6x6 with G2's that must be 14" long. However shooting such a creature over a pile of corn while in my pajamas just doesn't seem right IMHO. I don't think he will get any bigger though, this is the 4th year he has been coming to the field, and hasn't gained much since last year. He will probably start to lose mass from now on.

I would rather head out far from people and sneak up on ANY deer than take the one that is starting to feel like an old friend.
 
Unlike a large number of people, North American big game animals have been able to grow thicker skins in the last 60 years.
That is why the bigger heavier calibres are needed to bring them down. If you don't own the latest Remchestbergning Ultra Short Fat magnum,
you won't stand a chance of bringing down that White Tail.
 
lol. I hunt of foot. I do it because i enjoy being in the woods. The extra pleasure of putting meat on the table is a bonus. I would love to hunt around the world but here in N.B there is lots to hunt to keep me interested. This morning I spent 4 hours walking in the woods looking for some rabbits with out a dog( my ibizan hound is afraid of guns) and i came home empty handed. I guess this is how the settlers did it 150 years ago. Each to thier own and i wish everyone here good luck on the hunt.

cheers
angry.
 
mmattockx said:
I heard they have kevlar in those thicker skins, so they have become bullet proof as well.


Mark
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Damn straight, and if you ain't using a .375 with 350 gn VLD bullets @ 4000 fps they're just gonna shrug it off and run off and feed somewhere else. It's happened to me several times. (or maybe I just missed,....... no that's not possible) :rolleyes::p
 
Don't have anything to add to this thread excpet for the fact that i did enjoy reading it! O too always wondered about the magnum appeal.... have shot an '06 for going on 40 years, but a couple of years ago I picked up a couple of .300's and a couple of .338's. Still grab the 06 when heading hunting, but like to play with the others!
 
I don't mind the magnums, especially the smaller ones. I'm finally getting a 375 H&H for hunting larger bears. I plan on hunting grizzly or brown bear in my life and want to practice with the rifle well beforehand. I'm sure my 338 WM would suffice but you always NEED something bigger. I also have hunted with a bear guide and when it's dark out and a black bear is wounded I don't think I would want to take any chances. Will I ever get something bigger, maybe but the 375 is tops on my list for now. Technically the 45-70 is larger but I digress.
 
Your .338 is probably an ideal grizzly/brown bear gun. I don't think there's any NEED for a .375 in N. America, unless you're a bear guide, or live in polar bear country, but if you just WANT one, that's another story.
 
There are very good reasons for the popularity of 45-70, 450 Marlin and the influence of the wildcats 450 Alaskan & the 458x2inch American.
Even with side effects in the USA Armalite carbine market, with the relatively newer chambering of 458 SOCOM.

These cartridges fulfill a North American niche market.
 
I think a hard-kicking big bore like a 458 or 404 can be very therapeutic.
Taking one out to the range can help get ones mind off health issues... like for instance prostate cancer....
 
Kevan said:
I think a hard-kicking big bore like a 458 or 404 can be very therapeutic.
Taking one out to the range can help get ones mind off health issues... like for instance prostate cancer....
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:eek:Hey big guy, REALLY sorry to hear that!! Will be thinking of you and keeping the fingers crossed. Hang in there with positive thoughts. I'm sure all will turn out fine.

That's one of the uses I have for my .458WM, therapy. ;)Anti-flinch therapy. At the range punching paper with either handgun or rifle, when I can call myself definately flinching, I roar a few full house loads;)

Model70Winchester458WM.jpg


through my instrument of therapy:p. Usually after that the recoil of anything else I happen to have out shooting seems like childs play:p.

Again, I'll have you in my thoughts, hang in there.
:cheers:
Johnn
 
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