1stmarine
Member
here some additional thoughts...
IMHO, for many people there is a huge advantage to having a popular round that perhaps they also enjoy in the AR or some other popular firearm.
The problem comes when we expect them to do something that is not really possible but as soon as one knows the limitations of the round there
are plenty of formulas to extend the range and/or killing potential possibly tailored to the specific game animal in question.
Both the 6.8 and 6.5 Grendel are good hunting rounds with TTSX bullets and within moderate ranges. 2800-2900 fps is possible with careful reloading
and not too bad on the brass that is pretty strong. the 6.8spcii in the AR is also very hard to overlook. The 7.62x39 can also be explored with either
heavier softer bullets or lighter solids.
IMO we should not generalize because only the hunter/shooter knows what is really needed and what is an acceptable compromise between reach,
power and/or more complications or costs. With ballistics, there is always a trade-off of some sort.
There are many wildcats that are also very attractive due to being simple especially those that do not require cutting, forming, fireforming, neck turning,
frequent annealing, etc.. and that might be simple and affordable in nature.
In terms of the solid bullets I have to say that more times than not it is ok to trade off a bit of grain and sectional density in exchange for speed. Actually
a lower sectional density might translate into a more effective terminal effect but of course one has to be smart about the game in question and match
bullets to animal type and body weight and be reasonable in expectations. Like @horsey300 explained a soft skin small white tail is not that hard to kill
and kill well, but if we switch to a running wild Bore even in the same weight range that is a complete different ball game.
When evaluating options we should consider everything. In the bolt action we do not have the type of limitations we might find in other platforms so we
might also take advantage of that. Did you ever wonder why the 243 is so popular when people can virtually achieve the same with the 6mm BR and
less powder and heat? Aside from technicalities and other considerations I think the marketing, over the shelf ammo and rifle choices have a huge
impact on what becomes more popular. People see less popular cartriges as more specialized, more expensive, when in fact when you start reloading
that might not be the case but we also know many people do not care about cartrige development and ballistics analysis too much.
Many reloaders want to find a couple or three accurate loads for different uses and stick to them for hunting or target or whatever they need.
I love the BRX and dasher line of cartriges but I undersand that is not something is going to be popular with many specially because one can take a 6BR
and simply neck it up or down the same thing as the 6.8 or grendel and have a few very good and very simple variants if that is desired. Possibly not
the best performers in that class but they will be good enough and simplicity will attract more people to the cats.
At least this has been my experience, simple cats attract more people.
We know how complicated some cats can get right? (I have been there lol) ..and after all is said and done we might find out there is an eaiser more suitable
alternative that does the same or even more, even a reload on a popular commercial cartridge.
IMHO, for many people there is a huge advantage to having a popular round that perhaps they also enjoy in the AR or some other popular firearm.
The problem comes when we expect them to do something that is not really possible but as soon as one knows the limitations of the round there
are plenty of formulas to extend the range and/or killing potential possibly tailored to the specific game animal in question.
Both the 6.8 and 6.5 Grendel are good hunting rounds with TTSX bullets and within moderate ranges. 2800-2900 fps is possible with careful reloading
and not too bad on the brass that is pretty strong. the 6.8spcii in the AR is also very hard to overlook. The 7.62x39 can also be explored with either
heavier softer bullets or lighter solids.
IMO we should not generalize because only the hunter/shooter knows what is really needed and what is an acceptable compromise between reach,
power and/or more complications or costs. With ballistics, there is always a trade-off of some sort.
There are many wildcats that are also very attractive due to being simple especially those that do not require cutting, forming, fireforming, neck turning,
frequent annealing, etc.. and that might be simple and affordable in nature.
In terms of the solid bullets I have to say that more times than not it is ok to trade off a bit of grain and sectional density in exchange for speed. Actually
a lower sectional density might translate into a more effective terminal effect but of course one has to be smart about the game in question and match
bullets to animal type and body weight and be reasonable in expectations. Like @horsey300 explained a soft skin small white tail is not that hard to kill
and kill well, but if we switch to a running wild Bore even in the same weight range that is a complete different ball game.
When evaluating options we should consider everything. In the bolt action we do not have the type of limitations we might find in other platforms so we
might also take advantage of that. Did you ever wonder why the 243 is so popular when people can virtually achieve the same with the 6mm BR and
less powder and heat? Aside from technicalities and other considerations I think the marketing, over the shelf ammo and rifle choices have a huge
impact on what becomes more popular. People see less popular cartriges as more specialized, more expensive, when in fact when you start reloading
that might not be the case but we also know many people do not care about cartrige development and ballistics analysis too much.
Many reloaders want to find a couple or three accurate loads for different uses and stick to them for hunting or target or whatever they need.
I love the BRX and dasher line of cartriges but I undersand that is not something is going to be popular with many specially because one can take a 6BR
and simply neck it up or down the same thing as the 6.8 or grendel and have a few very good and very simple variants if that is desired. Possibly not
the best performers in that class but they will be good enough and simplicity will attract more people to the cats.
At least this has been my experience, simple cats attract more people.
We know how complicated some cats can get right? (I have been there lol) ..and after all is said and done we might find out there is an eaiser more suitable
alternative that does the same or even more, even a reload on a popular commercial cartridge.