do you own a overkill rifle?

[redman900]

I squirrel hunt with my Lar grizzly big bore .50 cal guess thats considered an overkill rifle. They go poof when i hit them

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

When I was in Cambodia in 2005 you could shoot a cow with an RPG for $200.00. Or chickens with a DShK for about the same. Not my cup of tea, but that's the most overkill I can think of.

 

[Still Shooting]

I have a .30 Remington Model 14 that was my Dad's, and his Dad's before him. I keep reading in reloading manuals and elsewhere that it is a "marginal cartridge for whitetail deer." Since it is just a rimless 30-30 cartridge, I have to wonder how that myth got started. I have another "marginal" cartridge, in an old .351WSL that was my other Graddad's deer rifle for many years. The old Remington 14 has been in the family since 1920; during the depression it provided venison to feed my Dad's family - 5 kids. It has never been fired at a deer without bringing home venison. My Dad came close to "breaking the chain" once - when caught by surprise, he took a first shot at an 8-pointer that didn't go down. It just stood there while he set up and took the second shot. Turns out he castrated the buck with his first one! That buck wanted to die! I have retired the Model 14 because I don't want to be the guy that ruins its record.

I hunt a .257 Roberts, and it has yet to fail on the first shot, both on NY whitetails, and a Montana antelope and muley. Other than the two rifles mentioned above, my biggest caliber is a 270 win. I do not feel undergunned. I want a gun I can carry all day, and still have steady aim for the shot. If it is not a "good" shot, I just don't take it.

 

[Captcurt]

OH Yeah!

I sold the best whitetail gun that I've ever owned, a Compact Ruger in 260 Rem. because I always grabbed my 300WSM when I went hunting. It is a 6 1/4 lb. Savage Ultralite with a 2X7 Leupold and will shoot sub-MOA. I don't need a 300 mag for whitetails but when I squeeze the trigger on the Savage I know exactly where the bullet is going.

 

[lencac]

Interarms 458 Win mag for P-dogs

 

[ChCx2744]

I've heard that .45-70 can drop a bull elephant in a single, well-placed shot. I'd consider that overkill for any North American creature, 2 or 4 legged.

 

[Maverick223]

I've heard that .45-70 can drop a bull elephant in a single, well-placed shot. I'd consider that overkill for any North American creature, 2 or 4 legged.

The .45-70Govt. can be, and often is, loaded with comparatively low powered loads (suitable for the Springfield M-1873 "Trapdoor"). This loading is still formidable, but not an "elephant cartridge" by any stretch. FWIW, I don't even consider the most stout .45-70 adequate for beasts like Elephant; sure it'll work (as will the 7x57mmMauser), but I want a good margin for error and guarantee that I can get the job done with expediency.

 

[Smith357]

My .54 caliber TC Scout with 120 grains of FFg pushing a 435 grain Maxi-Hunter at about 1450 fps with 2100 Ft. Lbs. of ME is far more gun than an Ohio whitetail needs. But it's light accurate and I like it.

 

[redneck2]

Actually, probably the best example of overkill is a 12 gauge sabot slug for deer. You're talking something with the ballistic equivalent of an elephant rifle for a 150# animal.

In the rifle world, I use a 7mm Rem Mag for prairie dogs, but it's for 800-1,000 yard shots. BC is something like .624 with Hornady 162 A-Max, so they fly flat and straight with nominal wind drift considering the range.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

got rid of them when I realized I didnt need one. most people that got 'em are flinching when the pull the trigger.

 

[dubbleA]

While I have a vast array of heavy hitters, 375's, 416's, 50 bmg's etc. my favorite squirrel rifle is a 338 Lapua, you can really "bark" em with it.

 

[Kachok]

I have owned a slew of magnums for deer hunting. Now I don't have any, the only thing that a 7mm rem mag will do that the 6.5x55 won't do is blow up a bunch of meat on close range shots. I will get another magnum, I always find some excuse to buy a larger gun but truth be told I know there is very little practical use for 4,000 ft lbs on deer sized anamals. A good 308, 30-06, 270, 6.5x55, or even the 7mm-08 will take any anamal you are likely to see at whatever range you spot them 99.9% or the time. Lets all remember that the World record wild hog (1100 lbs!) was bang flopped by a 7mm-08!!

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

my 3 guns I take with me to the deer lease are my .308, a 6.5 x 55 and a 7mm-08and we got some really big hogs here.

 

[Kachok]

I will second that. I lived in TX for a decade, and they have some MONSTERS! Although the record was killed in SC if I remember correctly. We have some nice 600-700 lbs trophies here in Alabama as well. No need for an UBER CANNON, just a well placed shot with a conventional cup and core bullet with good SD will drop any of them with a quickness. My hunting buddie is always griping about his 300WIN MAG hurting him after just a few shots, I tell him to try my 6.5, but he swears that won't kill anything, funny we have never had to track aything I have shot EVER. I should make a caliber called the SuperMachoNemisis.378UberMagnumOfDOOM It would sell millions to guys like him. LOL

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

my favorite squirrel rifle is a 338 Lapua, you can really "bark" em with it.

I wonder how many old timers in here actually know what "Barking" is!!! Little history lesson, (Hint) something they used to do with Kentucky Rifles to lessen ruined meat when squirrel hunting.

 

[usmc1371]

Normaly shoot 300wm for deer and elk. Last year I droped two deer with my 375 hnh and while it may be more than needed it sure put a smile on my face. One buck at 10 yards with a nice head shot, found one horn. One doe at 314 with a neck shot, no saw was needed to remove her head. Where you hit an animal will matter alot more than what you hit it with, a 25-06 hitting a deer in the shoulder will ruin alot of meat. Keep it behind the shoulder and it makes almost no dif what you are shooting. I highly recomend you do NOT shoot a nice (ie trophy) buck in the head with a 375 HnH, even if you find both horns your taxidermist will likely tell you to get lost.


I think if you Don't bark a squirrel with a 338 lapua you will see an outstanding example of pink mist!

 

[doc2rn]

I ruined my deer season once with a .300 Mag. Made me so mad I sold it for half what it was worth. Now the only heavy hitter I have left in the safe is a Weatherby 30-06. And it takes second place to my Ruger 77/22 Mk II in .22 WMR.

 

[robertbartsc]

Winchester 70 in 338 Win mag. .....When new, I was in mid 30s and could not shoot more than 12 rounds at a time or so becasue of heavy recoil. Used it once for elk. ...now just a dust collector....

...hunting in NE does not require big guns since most shots are under 100 yards ....I use a 270, however, and even that is a big gun for NE deer in deep woods.

 

[Jefferson Herb]

If you like big bores/well.458,a 45-70 w/cast w/w slugs at 1300 will work for all gamg up to bad bear if you're not confident.Black bear is no problem,deer drop on spine shots,no blood shot but 1/2 in around hole.I like 7mm rem mag but head shots on deer,great for yotes using nbt's.I hav'nt killed anything yet w/.338rum,but with proper constructed bullets ie bonded core,should'nt ruin too much.Oh yeah,cant eat horns or head, good place for bullet.
Do I need these calibers? nope,could take care of most everything w/.22wmr if close and legal,.218 bee is good sub for neck/head on blacktail.Bullet placement and construction of same is important with precision accuracy. Bee uses 13.5 gr,.338 uses 85+, use only when necessary.

 

[walleyealx]

my grandpa uses a 338-378 and a 30-378 weatherby for deer. He's never had a deer he shot take a step.

i think he just uses them for deer to justify owning them, ol

 

[Smith357]

I wonder how many old timers in here actually know what "Barking" is!!!

I'm not all that old and I know what "Barking" is.

 

[Nomad44]

Hmm overkill, definition 'to kill something beyond dead'.

I own several overkill, but then I like things over 40 cal.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I wonder how many old timers in here actually know what "Barking" is!!!

I'm 57 and have known all of my hunting life what "barking" is but have never had need of using that particular shooting technique.

 

[Jefferson Herb]

I know as well,should any of us explain it to the rest?

 

[FlyinBryan]

not really.

highest powered rifle i own is an m1 garand in good ole 30-06.

(however, often times it is the most powerful rifle on the firing line, as most are shooting ar's and ak's)