.243 vs 300 win mag

[Arkansas Paul]

+1 cooch. Just because something is possible, doesn't make it the correct choice. And contrary to what some would have you believe, everyone misses from time to time.

I get really tired of the Bell with the 7x57 for elephant argument too. So what? Is everyone supposed to throw away their magnums because someone somewhere uses something smaller? This is being said by someone who doesn't even own a magnum by the way. Yet.
Back to the original post, either is fine for whitetail. And I agree that no matter what caliber you're using, you have to be able to put the bullet where it'll do the most good.

 

[Tacbandit]

'nuff said.........

 

[H&Hhunter]

I am so very sick and tired of the Bell analogy. I wonder if my sig line might be a hint!!!

Here is the other one that I don't think I can stand even one more time. And this thread is dead center in the middle of it. A good shot with a (you name it pip squeak caliber) in the vitals is better than a poor shot in the (you name it big bore or magnum caliber) every time. (NO ****E SHERLOCK!)

When in reality a good shot with a (you name it big bore or magnum caliber) in the right place is even better than a good shot with a (you name it pip squeak caliber) in the vitals but at the end of the day it's all about the good shooting and very little to do with caliber. So learn how to shoot what you've got.

 

[a-sheepdog]

Its all about shot placement.

 

[Tang419]

I love and shoot big magnums. But shot placement is everything. A good 210gr VLD through atleast one shoulder, usually saves on tracking though. I have a .300 Win Mag, but my .300 RUM has quickly became my favortie.

 

[cooch]

"Its all about shot placement."

We wish that this were true.
But in the real world, it's a half-truth, and you know the old saying about that.

 

[moooose102]

it does not matter if you are shooting a 22 long rifle, or a 700 nitro express, if you can not put the bullet in the right place, you should not pull the trigger. if shot placement was equal, the 300 win mag si a far superior round. but, in the right circumstances, both will kill very effectivly. i own a 300 win mag, and the next rifle i buy will be a 243. you just have to match the tool to the job. a 243 is definitly very capable of taking deer, but not so much @ 300+ yards. then, the 300 win mag really shines.

 

[caribou]

Ok, Ok, its shot placement.

Thats it.

 

[cooch]

Yep.....

So it's perfectly OK to shoot elephants with .243s.

 

[Langlo]

I will claim that .222 is more than sufficient if the distance is under 300 meter. I respect all other legal choices, but handling recoil demands a lot of training. The heavier the recoil puts more psychological strain on the shooter and increases the chances for a bad shot placement. The heavier recoil would also have adverse effects on shot placement if you dont mount the rifle exactly the same way each time (differences in angles and muscle strain are added up and get clearer consequences with a heavy recoil). So repeatability is a factor that is also hard to handle for a weekend/hobby shooter. - Or, what do you think ?

Ps - the game I m talking of is deer, not elephants

 

[qajaq59]

A lot of this large/small caliber argument is because of where you live and hunt. In Maine's northern woods a 30-30 will get you plenty of deer. However, if I was hunting in Wyoming I think I'd lean toward the .300. But I'd still want a lot of practice regardless of which one I used. Missing doesn't work well with any caliber!!

 

[cooch]

Well thankyou for the compliment.

If shooting the "magnums" is so difficult, then consecutive groups like this at 105 yards must make me some kind of a hero.


</irony>
I doubt it.

Reality is that most of those who object to magnums have never bothered to learn how to deal with even modest recoil, and have permitted themselves to be psyched out by the mere name on the cartridge.

I have no tickets on myself as a gun guru, but I've coached a man who was flinching while shooting a .223, to the point where he was shooting a .300 for preference, because he enjoyed it so much.

Perceived recoil is roughly 50% mental, the balance being a combination of stock design, rifle weight, technique and a minority of real physical momentum of the fired rifle. IMHO, there is little excuse for claiming that such moderately recoiling cartridges as a .300Win produces intolerable recoil. I'd go further and argue that for most of us, if we do not take the small amount of time and effort required to gain confidence in a more effective calibre, then we probably don't deserve to go hunting.

That's hard talk, but isn't taking reasonable steps to ensure that they die quickly under less-than-ideal circumstances, a major part of showing the respect that we owe to the game?

If you don't know how to learn this, then by all means ask. There are plenty of hunters on THR who will share their experience.

Regards.... Peter

 

[Uncle Mike]

Oh my........!

Everybody knows, or I thought they did, that the mere sound of a so called 'magnum' going off is enough to decease a deer... you cannot kill deer with anything less than say, 225gr's. moving along at 3980FPS! lol hehehe

 

[Art Eatman]

Enough snark for one Christmas season.