|
[ Return to Contents
| Post a Reply
| Post a new message
]
Big & little cal.
Posted by Brian Richardson on Mar 06 2006
There has been quite a bit of conversing as of late on the hunting and shooting forums as to the suitability of larger magnum rifles like .375 Magnums on Alaska’s big game in contrast to fielding lesser powered rifles chambered for the likes of .270 and around that power range of which the merits are marginal (for Alaska).
I say this to the pea shooter gathering of would-be brown bear hunters that will often go afield tho’ well intentioned on hunting more general thin skinned game while also within the same locality of larger Grizz/Brown bear… and the potential unprepared meeting.
This is not aimed at handing down tradition of the first rifle for an enthusiastic young hunter &/or target shooter that will have supervision and be practicing. This is also not intended toward the folks in the know that perceive & agree to the risks of going possibly under-gunned in Brown Bear country (knowingly) or to sway them to change their patterns. What I am targeting is presenting indispensable truths and dispelling folklore.
Any number of us on here that has been involved or interested in the hunting sports can and will feed you their own version of a dude who done it all on deer w/ no more than a .22 lr or shot Brown Bear, Moose and Bison w/ .223 & 6mms. Likewise we ourselves either experienced or have heard accounts of a truly good hunters that are accomplished shots or really lucky somebody yet less conscientious shooter coming up w/ the goods. There all sorts of guns, calibers, cartridges and loadings to “suit” whomever requirements. The “obsession” (to use your remark) is as multi-facetted or featured as your vehicle of choice surrounded by all the rest of the drivers on the road. So I really would not take a stab at answering an obsession unless it was put into perspective… like on the road above you’re not going to haul a full-sized camper or a load of gravel in a Subaru… Hence guns for Alaska like the .375 H&H when weighed alongside a .270 WIN. for suchlike validation and intention does not come down to an obsession --- it comes down to an educated choice, various analysis, individual preference, and nothing more.
The food for thought process that must be mulled over more, and I hope this will answer your question is:
1. Shot placement is very important --- yes --- but hitting isn’t everything! To endorse this by itself by means of less than suitable firearms for large heavy game calibers (Moose & Brown Bear primarily) to again use the car and driver analogy... is like driving without insurance. As a group --- inexperienced hunters do not need a bunch of bright ideas pooled w/ regularly lower skill levels running around wounding game or mistakenly sweet-talked into less than appropriate set-ups for pursuing larger potentially dangerous game.
2. If you are just talking the gun, I do not really give much backing to the “I can shoot better with lighter caliber stuff” ---- Particularly hunting class guns at normal hunting distances!!! Also completely depends on the application and entire setup. Now for the enthusiastic young hunter in this case… the rifle has to be fitting 4 sure or at least close and manageable. You still need to address the gun, the cartridges/loads and the enthusiastic young hunter’s limitations – no mater what! For example: managed recoil in the .270 WIN is juvenile indeed. It is not designed to pursue heavy game with or be all that devastating at longer distances. It is pretty darn accurate and will group at 100, yet it’s seriously intended to go to the range with and punch paper or shoot deer close up.
3. So what is wrong w/ the .270 WIN? Nothing at all! However, you’d be hard pressed to ever know it due to the ongoing solution to nonexistent problems in the multitude of calibers and cartridges that effectively run the similar intention. I’d more than likely go .30-’06 over the .270 WIN on your enthusiastic young hunter’s first gun… .30-’06 based on the managed recoil loads you seem to be gravitating towards and more versatility here in Alaska from Accelerators to light magnum loads.
4. So what does the Big Magnum do better? More like what the majority of magnum class do better? Simple… More downrange energy that translates into more game anchoring potential - further down range.
I think we are also (literally) seeing a gravitation toward more magnum class stuff in every caliber due to advanced enhancements in optics and their coatings, proprietary premium loadings, and gun manufacturers guaranteeing accuracy of <MOA or better. Just my perspective tho’
Brian Richardson
http://www.northernrim.com
Previous: 270 AkHunter45 Mar 06 2006
Next: Calibers, short and sweet Michael Strahan Mar 05 2006
 Message Thread:
|
