Loosedhorse
member
.458 Lott was just right when I used it. It performed so well, in fact, I'm thinking of using it in other situations, when it would be considered more than needed by most hunters. You know, smaller dangerous game, say 800-1200 lb. 
do you own a overkill rifle?
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451 Detonics
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Not sure I understand "overkill" as I have never seen anything that was "overdead". I supposed some might consider my 450 Alaskan as a bit much for most game in the US except for big bears but it was mighty comforting in my hands when that huge bull busted out of the cane break at 20 yards intending to shove one of it's horns into me.
Smaug
Member
I'm proud to say that I don't.
I've got a 6mm Rem, for paper and maybe deer some day. I guess one could say 6mm (.243) is a bit of overkill for paper, but then anything but a pellet gun is, really.
Then, I've got 3 22LRs, which aren't really overkill for anything, except that I've got three of them. One is a single-shot heirloom piece. That doesn't count.
I bought a 77/22 because I wanted a repeater that could handle a scope and be very accurate yet also beautiful. Great paper puncher, I used it on a squirrel once, and it blew half his head off, so I guess a pellet rifle would have been OK there, but it wasn't gross overkill either.
I bought a Marlin 60 used last week. I missed the semi-auto 22 I used to have. This should be a great plinker. It isn't really overkill for anything.
I have a Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag. I intend to use this for targets, 3-gun competition, and maybe deer. I don't think it's overkill for any of those. I wouldn't take it squirrel hunting, I don't think.
I do have a Ruger Redhawk in 44 Mag that I intended to use as a deer gun. I use it now only as a target gun. But even that is not overkill, as I handload it pretty lightly. (185 gr. bullets, light charge of non-magnum powder) It feels like a 38. That's not a rifle though, my bad.
I've got a 6mm Rem, for paper and maybe deer some day. I guess one could say 6mm (.243) is a bit of overkill for paper, but then anything but a pellet gun is, really.
Then, I've got 3 22LRs, which aren't really overkill for anything, except that I've got three of them. One is a single-shot heirloom piece. That doesn't count.
I bought a 77/22 because I wanted a repeater that could handle a scope and be very accurate yet also beautiful. Great paper puncher, I used it on a squirrel once, and it blew half his head off, so I guess a pellet rifle would have been OK there, but it wasn't gross overkill either.I bought a Marlin 60 used last week. I missed the semi-auto 22 I used to have. This should be a great plinker. It isn't really overkill for anything.
I have a Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag. I intend to use this for targets, 3-gun competition, and maybe deer. I don't think it's overkill for any of those. I wouldn't take it squirrel hunting, I don't think.
I do have a Ruger Redhawk in 44 Mag that I intended to use as a deer gun. I use it now only as a target gun. But even that is not overkill, as I handload it pretty lightly. (185 gr. bullets, light charge of non-magnum powder) It feels like a 38. That's not a rifle though, my bad.
Big Bad Bob
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I have a .300 WSM that i use as my beanfield gun on Whitetail. Yea its a little much, but it shoots long and flat and hits like a Mack Truck at long range. All the deer I have killed with it have gone 2 feet, straight down.
dirtykid
Member
My Rem-700 .243 VTR,, for coyotes,, I WAS gonna save the pelts on the 2-that i shot with it but it's hard to sew-up a baseball-sized hole on the exit-wound,, and even harder to skin-em without tearing ,, I went back to using my .223 and that was BETTER,however since most shots have been presented to me within 75-yards i may try my .17HMR next year,,
BrocLuno
Member
30-06 on ground squirrels?
XxWINxX94
Member
Yup, .338 WIN Mag is the biggest I have and I sure don't need it for anything anywhere around here.
ZeroJunk
Member
How can you overkill something?
jimmyraythomason
Member
Using so much dynamite that you blow up the money along with the safe and train car is overkill(nod to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,1969).
bigalexe
Member
12 gauge shotgun on a rabbit... aimed at the body. My buddy did that due to poor instruction and decided it was best to just bury what was left.
scythefwd
Member
my -06 and my .308 would count. I hunt in woods where you cannot see 100 yards. Hell my favorite spot only has 30 yards of visibility, so my 20ga with slugs might be overkill.
Chief Engineer
Member
Ocasionally, I will take a 375 H&H Sako Carbine, with 235gr handloads, after whitetail. Can not think of a single sensible reason not to.
firearmnut
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I have 375 H&H and a 444 marlin for deer.
Is 338 Win or 375 H&H overkill? I'm not really sure there is a such a thing as "overkill", but there is occasionally such a thing as "not dead enough".
I'm not "gunning" for grizzlies, but you could bump into one about anytime and anywhere now in this area. I carry for what I may run into, not what I'm looking for.
I'm not "gunning" for grizzlies, but you could bump into one about anytime and anywhere now in this area. I carry for what I may run into, not what I'm looking for.
dorfer21
Member
I use my 308 for p-dogs, is that overkill?
How about if the round travels 450m first?
How about if the round travels 450m first?
TheGewehrGuy
Member
I second the guy who said 6.5x55 and .375 HH.
For my CZ 550 in 6.5, I was getting about half inch groups at 100 yards, with the CZ 550 Safari in .375, most shots were touching minus one that was way out there. The .375 was with a 4-power straight tube Leupold.
But for nearly anything, 6.5x55 is neither overkill nor underpowered, but I wouldn't feel confident grizzly hunting with it in Alaska, so I would bring a .375 HH. Or better yet, if you are hunting in short range, then a .50 Beowulf in an AR would do good on deer, and probably with a few shots, enough confidence for bear. Thats what I would take hunting actually. Maybe bring a 6.5 Grendel upper for anything long range.
For my CZ 550 in 6.5, I was getting about half inch groups at 100 yards, with the CZ 550 Safari in .375, most shots were touching minus one that was way out there. The .375 was with a 4-power straight tube Leupold.
But for nearly anything, 6.5x55 is neither overkill nor underpowered, but I wouldn't feel confident grizzly hunting with it in Alaska, so I would bring a .375 HH. Or better yet, if you are hunting in short range, then a .50 Beowulf in an AR would do good on deer, and probably with a few shots, enough confidence for bear. Thats what I would take hunting actually. Maybe bring a 6.5 Grendel upper for anything long range.
1stmarine
Member
308Win
30.06
338 lapua.
There is no overkill rifle. There is a system for every purpose and the purpose starts with the bullet not with the rifle. What bullet we need and at what speed. That determines the casing and then the twist of rate, etc... and that might finally determine the rifle.
There are many popular rifles that fill many roles/purposes very well both in bolt or autoloading. like 30.06 and 308win all derived from military cases with their corresponding offspring in many other calibers.
Is it a winmag too much to hunt deer at 100yards? yes. Can I probably still use it effectively? yes with a mild reload but not the ideal for that purpose.
that would be a good one for large hard game at moderate to long range.
Cheers,
E.
30.06
338 lapua.
There is no overkill rifle. There is a system for every purpose and the purpose starts with the bullet not with the rifle. What bullet we need and at what speed. That determines the casing and then the twist of rate, etc... and that might finally determine the rifle.
There are many popular rifles that fill many roles/purposes very well both in bolt or autoloading. like 30.06 and 308win all derived from military cases with their corresponding offspring in many other calibers.
Is it a winmag too much to hunt deer at 100yards? yes. Can I probably still use it effectively? yes with a mild reload but not the ideal for that purpose.
that would be a good one for large hard game at moderate to long range.
Cheers,
E.
WardenWolf
member
How about a Mosin Nagant M91/30 loaded with 203 grain soft points? I can't really think of anything in North America that this wouldn't be a sledgehammer for.
Overkill, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
To some, all of my rifles would be overkill as the smallest caliber I hunt with is 40 and the largest is 50. My 405 WCF, 45-70s and 50-70 all do what I expect of them. Nothing on this continent I would not hunt with any of them. The 405 is a Winchester 1895, the -70s are rolling blocks or Trapdoors.
To some, all of my rifles would be overkill as the smallest caliber I hunt with is 40 and the largest is 50. My 405 WCF, 45-70s and 50-70 all do what I expect of them. Nothing on this continent I would not hunt with any of them. The 405 is a Winchester 1895, the -70s are rolling blocks or Trapdoors.
Tokarevsrule
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I use a mosin nagant to shoot coyotes that go after our chickens. I would say it is a little bit overkill.
TGReaper
Member
No,my .375 H&H chambered Winchester Super Express is perfect for all occasions. The idea is to load your ammunition to suit the job at hand.
As a plus the thing is deadly accurate with a wide variety of bullet weights and muzzle velocities.
TGR
As a plus the thing is deadly accurate with a wide variety of bullet weights and muzzle velocities.
TGR
I shoot a 300 wby mag in a stainless mk v, a marlin 45-70 loaded plus p, a savage 7mm mag, and a 45lc loaded to "ruger" specs.. I wouldn't get rid of anyone of them...I love my big rifles, but in all truth my 6.5 swede or my 243 would take about anything in north america, but sometimes it's just fun to put a hard hit on a critter! I usually just shoot the .243..it's sweet!
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