If you handload, is there such a thing as an "overkill" round?

[Jason_W]

While I enjoy shooting shotguns far more than centerfire rifles, there are some hunting situations where a rifle simply works better.

With that in mind, and as part of an ongoing effort to build an efficient gun collection that covers all hunting niches with as few firearms as possible, I'm considering investing in a singe medium and big game rifle capable of taking all North American game at reasonable distances. Should the opportunities present themselves, I'd like to be covered for everything from western elk hunting and Alaska moose hunting to close range deer hunting.

Even though such rounds seem on the surface to be "overkill" for most of what I would be hunting, if I'm going to have one rifle for medium and large game, I'm increasingly eying the powerful medium bore rounds like .338 win mag, the 9.3x62mm, and some of the .375s. I'm shying away from the .30 cal rounds as handling components for them seem to get hit hard and fast by panics, while medium bore stuff sticks around a little longer.

I'm thinking that since I handload, I could load such beasts down to comfortable levels for deer hunting and load back up for tougher game. Any flaws in my logic?

 

[matrem]

There's nothing on this continent I'd feel undergunned for with a .338 Win or .375 H&H.
Overkill? Nah...
A .375 270 grain loaded down to about 2000 fps isn't any more overkill than a .50 ml with 150 grains of powder and a saboted bullet.

 

[Trent]

300 Win Mag!

A colleague of mine in Ohio took a deer at 40 yards with one last week (they were hunting in PA).

And it's also good for long range.

210-220 Grain bullets were still very much available during the panic. I had no problem whatsoever buying projectiles for my rifle this year, even at the height of the panic and run on components early this year.

 

[jmr40]

The larger calibers will certainly work, but there is no reason to go bigger than 270, 308 or 30-06. One of the 7mm or 300 mags will do the same at slightly longer ranges.

You have to consider what you will hunt the majority of the time, which is deer. A 243 is about perfect for deer, and could be pressed into duty for anything short of large bear. The calibers larger than .30 offer a slight advantage on the largest game, but are far more than necessary for deer. It is like choosing a 1 ton dually diesel truck as a daily driver just in case you might have to tow something some day. A 1/2 ton or even compact truck will tow more than most people will ever need.

There's nothing on this continent I'd feel undergunned for with a .338 Win or .375 H&H.

True, but I'd say the same about 30-06 or one of the 300 mags. The 338 offers no real step up in performance. The 375 does, but is simply not needed. Yes it can be downloaded, but you still have a much larger, heavier rifle to lug around. That weight is nice when shooting full power loads, but not when climbing 10,000' mountains looking for elk.

Todays better bullets have made the need for heavy large calibers all but obsolete for North American game.

I'm shying away from the .30 cal rounds as handling components for them seem to get hit hard and fast by panics, while medium bore stuff sticks around a little longer.

In 40+ years of shooing I've seen panics happen twice. I wouldn't make my decisions based on this, you may never see this happen again in your life. And if you do all panics have a beginning and an end. Popular stuff is the 1st to go, but the 1st back on the shelves. Less common stuff is the last to sell out, but the last to come back at the end. All the major ammo, bullet, and powder companies have suspended production of less common stuff and are concentrating on the common calibers, bullets and powders. The less common stuff may take years to get back to normal. Keep a good supply on hand and you don't have to worry about shortages.

I'm a huge fan of any of the common calibers. Pick one, it doesn't matter much which, a 7-08, 308, 7X57, 270, 280, 30-06, or any of the 7mm or 300 magnums would be more than adequate for any animal on the planet except about 3-4. None of which are on this continent. I don't see anything between these rounds and 375 mag as a significant step up, and would go straight to a 375 if a 30-06 or 300 mag wasn't enough.

If you are truly concerned about shortages there was always a supply of 7mm and 270 cal bullets. They are common enough that they will be back on the shelves ASAP if another panic ever hits.

 

[ngnrd]

The larger calibers will certainly work, but there is no reason to go bigger than 270, 308 ...

With all due respect, and bearing in mind that I live in Alaska, and regularly hunt with a 270, your statement has nothing to do with whether or not there is a point at which a given caliber/cartridge would be considered to be overkill.

For the record, there are definitely reasons to go bigger than the calibers you listed.

 

[243winxb]

Seen 375 H&H use for Woodchucks. All purpose catridge.

 

[eldon519]

I have a .35 Whelen that I like. It might not have as flat of a trajectory as you might like but it is solid to 300 yds without much holdover. You can load SP 158 gr or more durable HP 180 gr bullets meant for .357 magnum/maximum and get good results on smaller game or close deer with reduced loads. Can also mimic .35 Remington loads which are popular for black bear and deer in thickets.

 

[gibble888]

+2 on the whelen...that should do it for your needs...especially if you reload...the 35 cal is overlooked starting with the 35 rem.

 

[gibble888]

Of course the pic of that bear makes me think about a bazooka!!

 

[witchhunter]

All this talk about the .375 Holland and Holland makes me want one even more. Not that I have ever needed something that big, but what does need have to do with getting a new gun? Maybe a little overkill for a prairie dog gun, but so are a lot of calibers I have used!

 

[DRYHUMOR]

I've had a few magnums through the years. 7mm Mag, 300 WM, 338 WM, 340 WM.

340 Weatherby Mag is just a hair on the overkill side on deer within 100 yds. It'll do the job though.

I've spoken to a few guys that have used a 375 HH on deer as well. Same story.

If you are good, and have an accurate rifle, neck shots are the ticket.

The only drawback to a big bore magnum, is to gain good skills in shooting it, you've got to shoot it. After 10-20 rounds it can get tiresome.

 

[matrem]

Regardless of post #2
The "biggest" rifle I currently own is a 7 Remmag, and yea, I'd hunt anything on this continent with that and not feel undergunned.

 

[clone]

Seems like the 45-70 would be the ticket. Can be handloaded from squirrel to african game loads. Could find powder, brass and bullets through out the panic.

 

[Saint Dennis]

There is a serious flaw in your logic sir. Rifles have a tendency to multiply. I had one when I was younger (a 30-30 my father gave me). Now I'm getting long in the tooth and I'm tripping over the dang things.

 

[IlikeSA]

I second the 45-70, especially since you reload.

 

[Trent]

Well, if you ever want to be sure.. REALLY REALLY sure, that no matter what beast you encounter you can take it down with one shot from whatever range you want...

There's no other way to go.

[YOUTUBE]Ro6TGFg6hzk[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Hardtarget]

Well....a .30-06 for rats at the dump would be a little overkill. Maybe.

I mean...I used .22 shorts when I was a kid.

But if you wanna...go ahead..

Mark

 

[627PCFan]

I download my 7 Mag rounds because Im only shootin deer.

 

[Art Eatman]

I figure that I'd be a candidate for a .375 were I going after one of the Big Bears. Otherwise, as a handloader, I'd feel quite content with my old '06.

00 Buck and five grains of pistol powder for squirrels. 80- to 110-grain for varmints. 150s for deer. 180s for bigger critters.

Sure, there's other cartridges which would work. but I worked pretty hard for a bunch of years to bring truth to the comment, "Anything inside of 500 yards belongs to me."

 

[sixgunner455]

Nothing wrong with a .375, and if you want to do the "one rifle, one world" thing, by all means, go for it.

I mostly hunt with a .243, a .50 muzzleloader, .22s, and a 20 guage shotgun. Haven't really needed anything bigger yet.

 

[eldon519]

.375s are usually big, heavy rifles for everyday use. If you think you need .375 capability all of the time, so be it, but if I only needed .375 power maybe 5-10% of the time, I know I'd be annoyed 90-95% of the time that I was carrying a 9-10lb rifle for no reason.

I agree with your premise that you can download most cartridges to a non-overkill level, but the rifle still might be overkill size and weight wise. Hell you could download a .458 Lott to .45 Colt ballistics, but that isn't going to make it feel like a nimble Winchester 92 in your hands.

 

[Don McDowell]

No such thing as overkill, or underkill, bullet placement will trump supposed power everytime.
3006 has yet to find anything it won't kill, but if a person wants to leave a big hole in something then it's time to start thinking in cartridges that start with the #4..

 

[Skylerbone]

From my limited experience with big game hunting, if you've got the fortitude to save for a big brown or moose in Alaska, then the extra coin on a purpose rifle will be peanuts. I'd not skimp on a trip like that any more than I would marry myself to a rifle that didn't suit my bread and butter hunting for the remaining time I've got. They make all them chamberings for someone's reasons, find the ones you really need.

 

[PJSprog]

I'll throw my hat in with those who espouse the notion that you can't go wrong with a .30-06. It can do all the things you want, and ammo is widely available ... at least on this continent.

And as to availability of loading components, don't make your decision based around any potential lack of availability during bad times. There's a fix for that; Don't wait until the bad times to try to stock up on them, do it during the good times. I still have piles of stuff for my .30-06 and 7x57. Get the caliber you really want, and plan accordingly.

 

[yzguy87]

This is a tad outside the box here but if I wanted one gun to kill everything on the north American continent I'd choose this:
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57751_757751_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y
I know this is the rifle forum but this thing is darn near it with that 14" barrel!
I've thought about getting one to have one gun that is capable of taking just about any game.