I am a guest hunter in a trophy planned lease so I have to be sure that I do not shoot a button buck, mistaking it for a doe. I can shoot cull bucks (OLD 8-point, and OLD spikes). Those restrictions limit me to being sure before shooting. Since that is difficult to be sure of beyond 200yds I will lay my 338 EDGE aside this year and hunt with my 358 Winchester. It pushes a 200g Sierra RN to 2650fps. It is most desirable that the deer drops where hit because the brush /cactus makes it very difficult to follow a blood trail. I like the 308 and 30-06 families of cartridges as brass is plentiful and easy. Cartridges between the 35 Whelen/358Winchester and the 25-06 or 243 give lots of low cost options and great performance. I am an old guy who likes the old ones... Bigger is better. Beyond 300 yds? be a better hunter: get closer
I was not sure about this site, as "Long Range" Hunting, is not an F Class competition. So the ranges boasted were beyond ethical ranges, except for paper Elk. But this single post/response, made me join again. So has no one heard of Flatline Bullets, or Alco Bullets? Making the 30-06, a 2,000 Yard laser, but expensive. Why bother with a 308/7.62x51 in a Bolt Action Platform, over say the 260 Remington? Great Semi Auto cartridge, and intermediate Military round. And if you hunt, and cannot get within 200 yards(obviously not mountainous terrain we do not have here, in Florida/South Eastern United States), you need to hunt and stalk far more. Or hire a guide. The group size of a rifle, doesn't blow my skirt up, over hitting each distance, one shot, in the dead center. I shoot for "Cold Bore" point of impact, at every range I can practice. Instead of going too deep with load developing(which is what I would love to do more, if more time existed). But I was taught, to shoot one shot, and wait 45 minutes before the next. So few do this, but spend just a day with your rifle, like this, and you will know it more intimately. I am only 34, without the experience of 40 plus years, of hand loads and the high tech gear, now used. So since (The Man, Myth and Legend, {Billy Dixon mentionable of course}) Carlos Hathcock, used a 30-06 in combat, and to win the Wimbledon, 1,000 yard Service Rifle record, like anything else, it is the person behind the trigger. Most cannot shoot the capability of a quality Factor Rifle(yes even many PRS shooters), so I quit building custom firearms, for those outside the family. Thank you gentlemen for adding me to this Forum. I don't do paper punching like most here. If I cannot drop a deer at least, with a round, then I have no use for it, as a hunter. I can load 125gr to 220 grains, with the 06. So what could be more, "general purpose"in a long Action? And Mr. Will Grey, you mirror my Dad and I, in philosophy and real world application, as lifetime hunters (and we competition shot, every weekend we were not hunting. But only Sporting Clays, and Skeet, with Shotguns, not Rifles. Just to illustrate my background). And my lighter Rifle, is a 243 win. So the new options are interesting and outstanding, so far. But they just cannot touch the 30 caliber, bigger weight, not "Ballistic Tipped", 30-06 bullets(In my, and other shooters experience, here at Sea Level). Cordially and Sincerely, Tom-Florida
