Saturno_v,
What I don't think you're considering objectively is:
- Brown Bears skewed this question. I'm sure you've heard the expression 'Big Five', and have some familiarity with hunting is Africa. I would consider a costal brown bear dangerous game. Personally, I'd consider a Kodiak more dangerously capable than a lion. In Africa, most countries have a MINIMUM cartridge bore/caliber requirement of .375. (Some specifically have exceptions listed for 9.3x62.)
- I think everbody would consider .30-06 a fine rifle/hunting cartridge 'for all North American game, with the exception of great bears. (If it wasn't a 'Rifle' Forum, a 12 Ga. shotgun would probably be the most flexible tool, with a caveat on range.) If the question was posed that way, personally, I'd have chosen .270 Win, for IME, it handles light bullets better, as a rule, than the '06.
- Many, and I for one, simply consider various cartridge offerings, different tools for different jobs. Given the context that we get to pick, based on personal preference, we're more inclined to choose cartridges with chamberings not necessarily in our gunsafes. (Although I do have a CZ550 FS in 9.3x62, my reccomendation, in my gunsafe.)
- Tales of 06'(s) taking brown bears are commonplace. Jack Oconnor even took a brownie with a .270. That doesn't make it ideal.
- Considering an '06 a DGR is a little on the optimistic side. Would you consider standard DGR chamberings (like the .458 Win Mag, the .416, the Lott, and the Nitro Express cartridges) UNSUITED to DGR?
- We've all heard/saw folks that had too much gun for them to shoot. That doesn't preclude the fact that others have no issue with it. .30-06 is probably a cartridge EVERYBODY can shoot without flinching, which is a plus for it. That doesn't mean the other tools/options should be eliminated from consideration.
- Dangerous game cartridges DO have advantages over an '06. Would you deny that, for example, a .375 H&H loaded with solids (as DGRs are in Africa) would be more likely to: fulfill a bear hunting goal of breaking both of a bears shoulders...or...be less likely to be deflected on their path to vitals by hitting bone?
- Where is the rule that a bit more power is a bad thing? (I guess that could come from the poll, but assuming great bears were the question.) Note that you claimed my perspective was overkill, but I had merely chosen two cartridges that I can create from your .30-06 brass: .35 Whelen or 9.3x62. Not much more recoil, significantly more power. I'm basically just necking-up your brass to .35 or .366.)
Chris S. of Juneau, AK
Date posted: 8/23/2003
This bullet is truly a heavy weight performer king when it come to 30 cal. bullets. I took a nice 7 1/2 ft brown bear with this bullet in 30-06 (2550 fps) that was causing trouble around are camp near Yakutat, AK. the fall of 2001. Shot was taken at 40 yards broadside chest through the right shoulder. Dropped the bear in his tracks. The Nosler 220 Partition drove a ping pong ball size hole through the bear that exit through the shoulder. Impressive! And accurate! It is my go bullet when my shots will be less then 200 yards in the 30-06.
With respect to that Midway review as anything telling: Consider the points above, and that it was a small brown bear shot from an ideal angle. Coastal brownies can get 10ft or greater.
Perhaps I'm smitten with what I read, beyond Midways' site. For another perspective read: 'The Last Ivory Hunter' by Capstick, which is a true story of Walter Wally Johnson. True: it's not about hunting great bears, but goes beyond hunting elephants, and has a lot of good stories about what can go wrong hunting dangerous game. (There was a good story in there, as well, about a lady hunting Cape Buffalo, and lion, with a 7x57, pretty much making your point that a lesser cartridge can work. I don't think you'd read this an conclude it is ideal though.) Another good read would be 'Safari' by Capstick, that specifically has a chapter on DGR(s), and conclusions by the author, based on his experience.
Overall, this thread, solicited choices in tools. You pick yours, we'll pick ours.
