Why does everyone need a magnum caliber?

[BLACKFINTURKEY]

Seems like everyone one I know or hunt with thinks they need a magnum to kill a white tail, when did this become such a thing?

Most of the people I know get a large magnum then put the lightest projectiles offered in it. My opinion is to shoot a heavy projectiles out of any cartridge you use as long as you can get the desired velocity.

I’m a short action guy and I normally use the least amount of gun that I need to ethically kill with. Most kills are with .260/.308/6.5grendel/223.

Just a conversation starter...

[Bucknaked]

Why do you say that they Think they need a magnum? Have you ever thought of 1 caliber for everything especially in this day and time? I neck and head them and I shoot them with either my 7mm-08 or my favorite- 300 win Mag! Why, because that’s what I like to shoot! I put them away this year and went back to my bow!

[okrattler]

I think the bullet has a lot more to do with it than the cartridge. You can kill more than a coyote with a .223 if you use the right bullet.

[westtexducks]

Speed kills. To hell with heavy bullets. A fast semi frangible bullet is where it is at on medium sized game.

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[mpotts]

Been Killing them for years with .243,6mm,250ack,257ack. and.308 also have shot a bunch with 22-250.

[RichExotics10]

If they had a shotgun that would shoot 4in shells...I would buy one lol.


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[Hart8]

Originally Posted by westtexducks

Speed kills. To hell with heavy bullets. A fast semi frangible bullet is where it is at on medium sized game.

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This.

[SmTx]

Guns are expensive. Get the magnum, grunt like Tim the Tool-man Taylor, and go kill everything you want across the state and US.

[BLACKFINTURKEY]

What I’m saying is there a ton of hunters that think you simply cannot kill a deer or cannot kill on ethically without a magnum.

Most hunters also believe you can’t shoot past 300-400 yards without a magnum either!

[Dale Moser]

I don’t feel like I NEED one…but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the hell out of shooting deer/pigs/antelope/aoudad with my .264 Mag. I love that rifle.

Plowing 180gr .300 Weatherbys into nilgai is pretty satisfying as well.

Magnums are just cooler….but I love my little .257 Rob too.


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[BLACKFINTURKEY]

Originally Posted by Dale Moser

I don’t feel like I NEED one…but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the hell out of shooting deer/pigs/antelope/aoudad with my .264 Mag. I love that rifle.

Plowing 180gr .300 Weatherbys into nilgai is pretty satisfying as well.

Magnums are just cooler….but I love my little .257 Rob too.


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I’m all for having them.

I’m talking about people who act like animals are bullet proof and wont die when shot with a 243 or similar.

[Fargus]

Originally Posted by westtexducks

Speed kills. To hell with heavy bullets. A fast semi frangible bullet is where it is at on medium sized game.

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That is an interesting statement, considering the early model ballistic silver tips and accubombs both got a bad rap for coming apart. Now we are saying that is a desirable characteristic?

[Darton]

Originally Posted by Dale Moser

I don’t feel like I NEED one…but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the hell out of shooting deer/pigs/antelope/aoudad with my .264 Mag. I love that rifle.

Plowing 180gr .300 Weatherbys into nilgai is pretty satisfying as well.

Magnums are just cooler….but I love my little .257 Rob too.


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3 of the favorites in my safe for sure

[Shane]

I don't feel like I need my magnum calibers. I also don't feel like I need to explain to anyone else why I like 'em.

[Buff]

I may have killed a train car load of them with a 22LR when I was a kid some 50 years ago.
Punch them in the lungs with about anything and they are done

[westtexducks]

Originally Posted by Fargus

That is an interesting statement, considering the early model ballistic silver tips and accubombs both got a bad rap for coming apart. Now we are saying that is a desirable characteristic?

Yep. I want it hot and fast and just deep enough to trash all lungs and heart.

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[Mexico]

My 25-06 seems to be killing everything I aim it at. But yes I know guys, especially STx/ Mexico guys who say you better shoot them with a cannon. I just don't see it that way.

[kwarw]

Originally Posted by BLACKFINTURKEY

Seems like everyone one I know or hunt with thinks they need a magnum to kill a white tail, when did this become such a thing?

Most of the people I know get a large magnum then put the lightest projectiles offered in it. My opinion is to shoot a heavy projectiles out of any cartridge you use as long as you can get the desired velocity.

I’m a short action guy and I normally use the least amount of gun that I need to ethically kill with. Most kills are with .260/.308/6.5grendel/223.

Just a conversation starter...

My 0.02 is this. since the 1850's they have been reinventing the wheel. If one gun did it all the manufactures would go broke. You could kill every animal on the planet with like 3 different ones.AKA .22 rimfire 7x57 mauser 30-30 winchester. Would I want to take on a charging cape buffalo with a .22 NO. I'll choose a 416 Rigby thank you.

Now it's fixing to get good cause where gonna here about the 8x57 mauser is better,etc. Look at what they used to kill elephants in Africa in the early 1900's.

Then comes the ballistic experts that will argue speed over mass. I'm in this group cause I like to use my 55 grain 22-250 going around 3900 FPS and can hit a soda can at 400 yards.

On the other side of the coin I don't leave the house without my 45 that shoots a slow dumb bullet.Go figure.

[RedBear78]

I’ve always used 243,30/30 and recently 308.Imfind they are easier and cheaper to shoot.I have a few friends that get buck fever really bad and are horrible shots so they got magnums to be more forgiving on lethality.Funny it really hasn’t helped the big bullets just seem to zip through the guts faster,and now they flinch more when shooting.I’ve never owned a magnum but I did borrow a 257 mag on a hunt last year.Wow that thing shoots a 100 grain bullet super fast and straight a long way.I may pick one up if I find a deal on one.

[Hunterdan]

Been shooting a 6mm for years. Always drops them.

[TP3]

Smells like magnum envy in here.

[kwarw]

You can pick ANY caliber and it just a reinvention of that caliber.Take the 22-250 for example.It was a wildcat cartridge for years.They took a 250Savage case,necked it down to take a .224 bullet and pushed it to 4,000 fps! It is a laser beam and back in the day it was it. can it be improved on? Who knows you could go on and on about that one and the 220 swift guy will come in and swear it's better.
Dude it's gun marketing. PERIOD.
I hate recoil in a rifle and have a 742 Remington 30-06 that I have not shot in 19 years because of recoil. as far as I am concerned take what works for YOU.

A simple 270 would have been better than the 30-30 example earlier.Or 30-06. There is no need for a magnum in my opinion, however I have a partner that insets on his 7 MM mag! go figure. A big buck her weighs out at 195 dressed!

[RMW]

If you hunt where there is really thick brush like south Texas you might want atleast a 7mag so they don’t go more than 50ft. A lot of times the small caliber they run 50-200 yds and you might not find them or have a hell of a time trying especially at night. I likem laying in the sendero especially if I’m wearing my crocs. Lol

[Fargus]

Originally Posted by westtexducks

Yep. I want it hot and fast and just deep enough to trash all lungs and heart.

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Honestly, that wasn't directed at you despite quoting your post. I know for the longest time those ballistic silver tips got bad press because they wouldn't hold together, but now bullets are built just so they will break apart (i.e. Berger's).

[kwarw]

Originally Posted by Dale Moser

I don’t feel like I NEED one…but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the hell out of shooting deer/pigs/antelope/aoudad with my .264 Mag. I love that rifle.

Plowing 180gr .300 Weatherbys into nilgai is pretty satisfying as well.

Magnums are just cooler….but I love my little .257 Rob too.


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There is the perfect example of the laser beam I refer to. The .264 win is flat as a pancake to around 250 yards.Packs a whallop (not sure that's a word,rather a result) It works!! I grew up killing groundhogs in KY prepping for Viet Nam.we didn't shoot one under 300 yards for sport. Nam ended before I got old enough to go. Thank the lord/ I learned speed kills

Now come on with the 45-70 group LOL you guys have a say here TOO LOL I love this place.

[Dale Moser]

Originally Posted by kwarw

There is the perfect example of the laser beam I refer to. The .264 win is flat as a pancake to around 250 yards.Packs a whallop (not sure that's a word,rather a result) It works!! I grew up killing groundhogs in KY prepping for Viet Nam.we didn't shoot one under 300 yards for sport. Nam ended before I got old enough to go. Thank the lord/ I learned speed kills

Now come on with the 45-70 group LOL you guys have a say here TOO LOL I love this place.

I went pig hunting last year because I was at deer camp by myself, and didn’t plan to shoot a deer so I took the .444 Marlin because I love that rifle too! Had 11 doe come out, and one was a real *******…she kept running the others off, laying them ears back, didn’t appear to have a fawn with her. I poked the rifle out the window “to look”, and she went to blowing and stomping…. I had to track that hussie 90 yards after she took a 240gr soft point through both lungs. Apparently 100lb doe isn’t always stout enough to make that bullet expand much, looked like a piece of 3/8” rebar went through her.

I got a laugh out of it.


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[Casey]

Originally Posted by RMW

If you hunt where there is really thick brush like south Texas you might want atleast a 7mag so they don’t go more than 50ft. A lot of times the small caliber they run 50-200 yds and you might not find them or have a hell of a time trying especially at night. I likem laying in the sendero especially if I’m wearing my crocs. Lol

Several years ago I asked Quattro Hindes, while he was tracking a bow shot deer, what caliber does he get called to track the most with his dogs. He said 7mm Mag without hesitation.

Last winter I asked his father, Roy, while he was tracking a bow shot deer what caliber gets him the most business. He replied "it used to be the 7mm mag but now it's the 6.5 Creedmore."

I found that pretty interesting.

[RMW]

Originally Posted by Casey

Several years ago I asked Quattro Hindes, while he was tracking a bow shot deer, what caliber does he get called to track the most with his dogs. He said 7mm Mag without hesitation.

Last winter I asked his father, Roy, while he was tracking a bow shot deer what caliber gets him the most business. He replied "it used to be the 7mm mag but now it's the 6.5 Creedmore."

I found that pretty interesting.

Could it be that a lot of south Texas hunters use a 7mag now the 6.5 creed more is really popular? I think the 7 mag was the most popular round 20-30 years ago.

Just a thought

[Dale Moser]

Originally Posted by RMW

Could it be that a lot of south Texas hunters use a 7mag now the 6.5 creed more is really popular? I think the 7 mag was the most popular round 20-30 years ago.

Just a thought

I think they both instill “over confidence”, for different reasons. Either way, the cartridge is not to blame.

I despise the 30-30 to this day, though I’ve never owned one. Seemed like when I was a kid, every time we had to go track a deer after dinner, it was shot with a 30-30. Also not likely the cartridges fault….still hate to see one in camp.


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[Fargus]

Originally Posted by Casey

Several years ago I asked Quattro Hindes, while he was tracking a bow shot deer, what caliber does he get called to track the most with his dogs. He said 7mm Mag without hesitation.

Last winter I asked his father, Roy, while he was tracking a bow shot deer what caliber gets him the most business. He replied "it used to be the 7mm mag but now it's the 6.5 Creedmore."

I found that pretty interesting.

It is interesting you mention this, because the property owner where I hunt in Colorado states the same thing about the 7mm mag when it comes to killing elk.

[kwarw]

Don't you hate that.
I hate to tell this story on myself but I was harassed by a squirrel all day one day while sitting in a climber.It started about 10 minutes after sunup.He spotted something wrong and announced it to the world. I figure he'll go away and ignore.this guy keeps it up barking,ruining my hunt until 11:30. Climbing the tree next to me barking in my my face,etc.
At this point I'm Ill and hungry and the little fella is doing an up and down barking floor show on a downed oak(left to right and back) about 40 yards away.Back and forth like a shooting gallery!
He stopped I shot to get him out of the gene pool with my 30-06 figuring he would be minced meat! one little hole like I hit him with a 22.had him for dinner.
Our forefathers thought a 30-30 or a 250 savage was enough back in the day and it was!

[kwarw]

Originally Posted by Dale Moser

I think they both instill “over confidence”, for different reasons. Either way, the cartridge is not to blame.

I despise the 30-30 to this day, though I’ve never owned one. Seemed like when I was a kid, every time we had to go track a deer after dinner, it was shot with a 30-30. Also not likely the cartridges fault….still hate to see one in camp.


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I was typing while you posted.I bought a 30-30 in 1985 hearing all of the stuff and one day i put to the test and nailed a groundhog at 150 yards.Now I know that ain't no record but it far surpassed every thing I had HEARD about one.It was a Marlin 336.I regret that I don't still own it. It ALWAYS comes down to shot placement!! If you can hit a mini poodle at 150 you can take out the lungs of a deer.I ain't the gun it's the shooter at that point IMO

[fish4food]

In honor of you guys, I’ll do my best to kill a deer with my 30-30 and 7mm Rem Mag.

The others will more than likely be shot with a 22-250 in the neck.

[SwampBuck]

I’m a Long action fan rather than a short action.
I’ve had a couple of magnums, just didn’t shoot them enough to appreciate them I guess.
I did like the .264 Win mag.

25/06 and .280 are my go to sticks.

I definitely hear where you’re coming from though, one trip to the local academy or ammo place and you’ll surely hear someone praising their magnum rifle… or their 6.5 creedmoor

[kwarw]

Originally Posted by RMW

If you hunt where there is really thick brush like south Texas you might want atleast a 7mag so they don’t go more than 50ft. A lot of times the small caliber they run 50-200 yds and you might not find them or have a hell of a time trying especially at night. I likem laying in the sendero especially if I’m wearing my crocs. Lol

And if this is how YOU roll hit them in the neck breaking their spine! If you don't hit something it's like the squirrel I spoke of earlier! It don't matter how fast it went through. if your not a good shot takeout the shoulder ruining 30% of your meat

Like Mosley said a big hole through the lungs they will run.They don't know that they are dead YET! They will run.

[kwarw]

Originally Posted by SwampBuck

I’m a Long action fan rather than a short action.
I’ve had a couple of magnums, just didn’t shoot them enough to appreciate them I guess.
I did like the .264 Win mag.

25/06 and .280 are my go to sticks.

I definitely hear where you’re coming from though, one trip to the local academy or ammo place and you’ll surely hear someone praising their magnum rifle… or their 6.5 creedmoor

One of the best calibers ever invented is the 6.5 SWEDE. 6.5 Creedmore is an answer to a problem that never existed for a hunting round. Now fo rlong range target yes.

The 280 was perhaps the best hunting caliber that ever was! or wasn't cause it didn't get the spotlight like the 270 and Jack O'Connor gun writers back in the 60'S.

And your other choice is another wildcat necked down 30-06 to .257 which is a laser beam death missile.I like the way you roll.

Not that anyone cares about my opinion and to answer the ops question.I don't think you NEED a magnum to kill a deer.Now if your gonna go downtown I usually carry my 357.

[Leverhunter]

After 48 years of hunting deer the only consistent caliber issue I hear is complaints about the 7mm magnum and I don’t understand it. My 7mm-08 never had one run past 40 yards. Farthest I’ve had one go was shot through both lungs with a 12ga slug and went about 100 yards to drop almost exactly where she was hit. The magnums are fun to shoot and definitely have there place. I just don’t want to get kicked that hard anymore.

[SwampBuck]

I wonder if a lot of the complaints that are generally heard pertaining to magnums comes from people using light for caliber ammo that’s not a properly constructed bullet or a shooter that’s not disciplined enough to handle shooting a harder kicking magnum resulting in poor shots.

Seems like these days alot of calibers are getting a bad rep because jo blow walks into the ammo place and grabs the latest and greatest advertised “target” bullet and not an actual hunting bullet not knowing any better and just falling for advertising.

[txpitdog]

I’ve had em run 100+ yds when shot with a 300win. Had a buck go 100+ on broken shoulders and no lungs from a 45-70. Never had that same tracking job with a 243. Never had ANY tracking job with a 44mag. Lost a good axis buck and a WT doe with my 30-06 because the **** bullet didn’t expand.

This year I’m hunting with a 257 Wby just cuz I want to. I’ll also take my 30-06, because that thing is just my go to regardless of fancy guns or magnums or big bores.


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[ElfEyes]

I started with a 243 and hunted with it until I was late twenties. Never lost a animal with it, hopefully this year my son gets his first kill with it. Then when I wanted to upgrade I bought a 30-06 because that's what's I remember my dad using. If I ever get to hunt Nilgai will be the only time I consider something bigger. Hell Keith Warren killed a doe with a 50 cal by just shooting near her head or that's what he said

[muzzlebrake]

Why does one buy magnum condoms?

[twosixteens]

Because non magnum condoms don’t fit

[H-D]

I got my first and only magnum calibered rifle a couple of years ago because Nilgai became an option where I hunted.

[RMW]

Originally Posted by kwarw

And if this is how YOU roll hit them in the neck breaking their spine! If you don't hit something it's like the squirrel I spoke of earlier! It don't matter how fast it went through. if your not a good shot takeout the shoulder ruining 30% of your meat

Like Mosley said a big hole through the lungs they will run.They don't know that they are dead YET! They will run.

I’ve killed 100s of deer and probably a 1000 hogs with different calibers and I can tell you a big magnum will take them down faster than a small caliber. Speed kills faster

[FVR JR]

Different strokes for different folks. Sure, they probably don't "need" a magnum but how much junk do we all have that isn't really necessary? It is kind of interesting watching the newly minted snipers try to tame the recoil on their new cannons though.

[Hogmauler]

I’m the 1930’s my dad killed deer with his .22 bolt action.

[Kong]

Ive killed deer with somewhere around 20 different calibers over the years but my all time favorite would probably be 30-378 with a 22 Hornet being the smallest and a 50 being the biggest on a whitetail and I always seem to enjoy the various reactions from the deer when they get hit with a certain type of round. As to why some of us shoot guns most would consider to big for a certain species then I’d have to simply say because we can and I do so without a care in the world of what anyone else things about it

[cva34]

Ya guys Know they actually kill animals with ARROWS!!!!!!!!

[trophy8]

Ya know there are people who hunt more than whitetails. And also shoot further than 100 yards lol.

[M16]

Originally Posted by cva34

Ya guys Know they actually kill animals with ARROWS!!!!!!!!

I do. But what you have to understand is that it's not the arrow but the Indian behind it.

Put nearly any bullet from any caliber in the right place and it will work. If you can't blame it on the caliber. Buy a magnum. Gut shoot another one. Blame the bullet. It blew up on the hide. Buy a premium bullet. Again blame the bullet. It penciled right thru. Make all the excuses you want but blame it on the poor shooting skills of the guy looking back at you in the mirror.