High Plains
Member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2021
- Messages
- 238
Thought the qualities of an Excel spreadsheet bar chart I was able to see the weight range of useable weight / cartridge and the actual range of weights I use. This covered from 204 Ruger to 40-65 Winchester. What it showed was a gap of coverage from 200 to 270 grains. What does it mean for hunting capabilities? I don’t think it means squat.
Varmints /pests can be taken without “too much gun” with 204 Ruger (including a 22 Long) to 243 Win. Deer or antelope fit into the 243 Win to the 300 Weatherby (11 total rifles) and finally there are two rifles in the 36-40 caliber arena. I’ll save those for big big animals. There is a ton of redundancy in capabilities if you’re looking at bullet weights but weights alone don’t tell the story. Effective range of use, rifle weight and setup, and nostalgia play into it. (The peep sight on my M-1 Garand is not so simple to use when deer are mostly hidden in a milo field. I still love that rifle. The 40-65 Win weight is about 17 pounds.)
IF a I hunt elk I can use a 200 grain Swift A-Frame for a bolt action 30/06 Springfield or a 300 Weatherby. I don’t need a 338 for elk, so a heavy for caliber bullet with heavy construction works fine and saves the cost of another rifle.........even though a bigger rifle is sometimes part of the answer.
Varmints /pests can be taken without “too much gun” with 204 Ruger (including a 22 Long) to 243 Win. Deer or antelope fit into the 243 Win to the 300 Weatherby (11 total rifles) and finally there are two rifles in the 36-40 caliber arena. I’ll save those for big big animals. There is a ton of redundancy in capabilities if you’re looking at bullet weights but weights alone don’t tell the story. Effective range of use, rifle weight and setup, and nostalgia play into it. (The peep sight on my M-1 Garand is not so simple to use when deer are mostly hidden in a milo field. I still love that rifle. The 40-65 Win weight is about 17 pounds.)
IF a I hunt elk I can use a 200 grain Swift A-Frame for a bolt action 30/06 Springfield or a 300 Weatherby. I don’t need a 338 for elk, so a heavy for caliber bullet with heavy construction works fine and saves the cost of another rifle.........even though a bigger rifle is sometimes part of the answer.
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