Cartridges you just hate

[akrifleman]

The differences I have experienced on whitetails says that the 30’s perform way better as far as putting them down. Your mileage may vary but I have never seen a 270 drop anything larger than a squirrel without a spine hit.

Not super scientific but it’s 100’s of deer.

Well, science is observation of data points, so 100s isn't insignificant statistical sample size.

Usually the guy with the 270 has 130s and the 06 guy is running 180s. When they are both running 150s... but, even then.

I'd wager with that many deer, you can shoot. Forensics is pretty clear that bullet placement and construction trumps everything else. My hunch is you have confidence and you shoot the 06 well. Of the 270 shooters I know (personally, not trying to offend all the readers here), only one shoots well. Most the other solid hunter/shooters I know moved on to something else. Which is why I also believe the guys here who have great luck with the Swede, 7x57, 7mm-08, 308, et al

But, I claim 338s and up are a new weight class, so I'm equally convinced it matters there. I'll go and ponder my own hypocrisy. Like you said... YMMV.

 

[BGGMKLR]

7mm Weatherly and 300 Rem Ultramag.
Spike

 

[Milan]

Well, science is observation of data points, so 100s isn't insignificant statistical sample size.

Usually the guy with the 270 has 130s and the 06 guy is running 180s. When they are both running 150s... but, even then.

I'd wager with that many deer, you can shoot. Forensics is pretty clear that bullet placement and construction trumps everything else. My hunch is you have confidence and you shoot the 06 well. Of the 270 shooters I know (personally, not trying to offend all the readers here), only one shoots well. Most the other solid hunter/shooters I know moved on to something else. Which is why I also believe the guys here who have great luck with the Swede, 7x57, 7mm-08, 308, et al

But, I claim 338s and up are a new weight class, so I'm equally convinced it matters there. I'll go and ponder my own hypocrisy. Like you said... YMMV.

I do not have hundred's of deer dead but on the few I shot, I observed the following:

1. 7x57 hits much harder than the cartridge would suggest, even with only 139/140gr bullets
2. 30-06 hits harder yet with 150/165 grainers and makes bigger and deeper wounds/holes
3. 300 WM hits harder still with 180 grainers and just as hard with same at long distances
4. 338 hits harder than anything else I have shot (I never killed anything with .375 H&H, .416 Rigby or .458 Lott)
5. 9.3x62 hits even harder on denser animals but on deer does not seem to hit hard as it mostly goes through. But, it kills just as well as the .338 or better when it hits something stiffer like bones.

In the end, dead is dead and is deader better? Just more meat damage sometimes depending on the shot. But I agree on the .338 and up being another class. Coincidentally 1 of the whitetails I shot with the .338 also did not appear to be hit, just like with the 9.3x62. I was using Winchester's Fail Safe ammo at the time (all copper bullets) and it just zipped through the heart. Deer did not react, did not make a step and then keeled over dead after few seconds.

 

[MS 9x56]

I do not have hundred's of deer dead but on the few I shot, I observed the following:

1. 7x57 hits much harder than the cartridge would suggest, even with only 139/140gr bullets
2. 30-06 hits harder yet with 150/165 grainers and makes bigger and deeper wounds/holes
3. 300 WM hits harder still with 180 grainers and just as hard with same at long distances
4. 338 hits harder than anything else I have shot (I never killed anything with .375 H&H, .416 Rigby or .458 Lott)
5. 9.3x62 hits even harder on denser animals but on deer does not seem to hit hard as it mostly goes through. But, it kills just as well as the .338 or better when it hits something stiffer like bones.

In the end, dead is dead and is deader better? Just more meat damage sometimes depending on the shot. But I agree on the .338 and up being another class. Coincidentally 1 of the whitetails I shot with the .338 also did not appear to be hit, just like with the 9.3x62. I was using Winchester's Fail Safe ammo at the time (all copper bullets) and it just zipped through the heart. Deer did not react, did not make a step and then keeled over dead after few seconds.

The beauty of the 7x57 and 9.3x62 is the limited meat destruction.

 

[ftrovato]

I do not have hundred's of deer dead but on the few I shot, I observed the following:

1. 7x57 hits much harder than the cartridge would suggest, even with only 139/140gr bullets
2. 30-06 hits harder yet with 150/165 grainers and makes bigger and deeper wounds/holes
3. 300 WM hits harder still with 180 grainers and just as hard with same at long distances
4. 338 hits harder than anything else I have shot (I never killed anything with .375 H&H, .416 Rigby or .458 Lott)
5. 9.3x62 hits even harder on denser animals but on deer does not seem to hit hard as it mostly goes through. But, it kills just as well as the .338 or better when it hits something stiffer like bones.

In the end, dead is dead and is deader better? Just more meat damage sometimes depending on the shot. But I agree on the .338 and up being another class. Coincidentally 1 of the whitetails I shot with the .338 also did not appear to be hit, just like with the 9.3x62. I was using Winchester's Fail Safe ammo at the time (all copper bullets) and it just zipped through the heart. Deer did not react, did not make a step and then keeled over dead after few seconds.

Milan,
I don't have 100s of deer in the books but I do have upward to a 100 taken.

I have done it with everything from 22LR to 416 Rigby.

I find that the the 338 bullets are the sweet spot in terms of overwhelming animals up to 600-700 lbs.

I have experience with .338 bullets from 160 to 225 grains and will be trying 275 Swifts on my next African safari. 340 WM is my go to cartridge since I reload.

I agree with your assessments and enjoy talking to your pointes endlessly!

 

[Creigh]

The differences I have experienced on whitetails says that the 30’s perform way better as far as putting them down. Your mileage may vary but I have never seen a 270 drop anything larger than a squirrel without a spine hit.

Not super scientific but it’s 100’s of deer.

Herein lies the difference. We have a lot of game that is accessible to a 243. My hunting bud hunter did 20 years with a model 70 243. He would would laugh at this thread. I think the biggest he took was wildebeest but that was a chance meet in the bush and a great shot behind the ear.
Do American go from whitetail down to gopher? What's between those two?

I used to say I would never hunt outside of 400 yards but we have springbok in the Free State who are you coming in very flat terrain. If be tempted to take the 300 even though a lot of what I have will do the job.

 

[Milan]

The beauty of the 7x57 and 9.3x62 is the limited meat destruction.

Due to slower bullet speeds no doubt. Mind you the 139 SST is going at 2830 or so...

 

[Milan]

Milan,
I don't have 100s of deer in the books but I do have upward to a 100 taken.

I have done it with everything from 22LR to 416 Rigby.

I find that the the 338 bullets are the sweet spot in terms of overwhelming animals up to 600-700 lbs.

I have experience with .338 bullets from 160 to 225 grains and will be trying 275 Swifts on my next African safari. 340 WM is my go to cartridge since I reload.

I agree with your assessments and enjoy talking to your pointes endlessly!

Thank you. I like discussing anything gun, cartridge or hunt related. Anytime. I like to learn from experiences of others as well as my own. Love discussing the differences and the similarities.