Are we splitting hairs over specific calibers??

Bullmark said:

Let's say we are working with a 124gr Hammer Hunter……and just pick 2 calibers that are in the same ballpark. If a load is developed generating 3200fps muzzle velo for both calibers, is there any real difference in the 2, provided the bc is equal ??

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If your asking about the same bullet leaving at the same velocity between two different calibers then no, there will be no different outcomes on the same target.

Sorry, but does the OP mean cartridge or caliber?

I have hunted plains game on several occasions in Africa. On some, I used a .308 Winchester. On others, a 280 AI. Both made clean kills at the ranges the animals were taken. Arguing which cartridge was better at killing those animals at those ranges is indeed splitting hairs.

But I have taken also a few of the larger animals with my .375 Ruger. While those animals were not any killed any deader, that cartridge does offer a much wider margin of error if the shot must be taken at difficult angles or if tracking a wounded animal would be unusually difficult or possibly dangerous. Choosing to shoot that cartridge in certain conditions is not, in my opinion, splitting hairs.

Define the parameters for the game you will be hunting and the conditions you will be hunting in. You will find a number of cartridges that will meet your requirements and choosing among them may well involve splitting hairs, but that's the beauty of having choices.

All else being equal... same caliber, same weight, same velocity, same twist rate.... no matter the cartridge propelling it, the result will be the same.

Q: Are we splitting hairs over specific calibers?

A: No!

If we grouped all the cartridges into suitable categories based on game (elk rifle, deer rifle etc.) then we are splitting hairs, they all do the same thing and do it well.

FireFlyFishing said:

Sorry, but does the OP mean cartridge or caliber?

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That crossed my mind, too. Often, others think they are the same.

- .24 Cal: 6 CM, .243 Win, .240 WBY
- .25 Cal: .25 CM, 25-06, .257 WBY
- .26 Cal: 6.5 CM, 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser, .264 WM
- .27 Cal: 6.8 RM SPC, 270 Win, 27 Nosler
- .28 Cal: 7MM-08, .280RM, 7MM RM
- .30 Cal: .308 Win, .30-06, .300 WM

Etc.

From my humble perch, I felt like the choices in 30 cal were just that, splitting hairs. Then I started reading and listening. I ended up realizing cartridges are like Bourbons, different strokes for different folks. Yeah, you'll get wasted, but "did you like it?" Do you like it real smooth or do you want that burn? And this is my observation as a newbie, by the way.

fguenther0925 said:

From my humble perch, I felt like the choices in 30 cal were just that, splitting hairs. Then I started reading and listening. I ended up realizing cartridges are like Bourbons, different strokes for different folks. Yeah, you'll get wasted, but "did you like it?" Do you like it real smooth or do you want that burn? And this is my observation as a newbie, by the way.

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Welcome to LRH, and enjoy!

If you like Bourbon (whiskeys and spirits), check out https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/its-a-whiskey-tasting-kinda-of-night.232254/