Bigger is better theory or truth?

[MZmoose]

With deer the 243 with fast opening bullets will drop deer quickly inside of 200 yds. In my experience it's less effective beyond that and I would bet my paycheck the 30\06 would be more effective. But deer really aren't that tough. If we're talking elk or moose I'll take the 06 every time.

 

[Raudy707]

Yes bigger is always better. Elmer Keith was right. Any bullet with a larger diameter and comes in contact with more tissue has more lethality. Ask any doctor and check any medical documentation on gunshot wounds. 22 caliber wounds are generally survivable wounds but 44 and 45 caliber wounds usually end in death. The doctors can't stop all the bleeding and the tissue damaged is too extensive. Also the whole idea of one hole being better than two is complete nonsense. Ask an army field medic which is more detrimental to human life...one hole and a lodged bullet or a pass thru with 2 bleeding wounds and complete tissue damage throughout a body. Come on people, its common sense. Shock and energy are expelled the second it contacts your skin. If it passes thru your chest and out your back, your dead. As is any animal. Look it up. Talk to a medical examiner, armed servicemen medic or physics major. Bigger calibers with more mass will always be more lethal, cause more havoc and wreck more tissue than a smaller one. That's why they shot Buffalo with 500 grain bullets traveling 1300 fps into near extinction not small fast little bullets. Simple physics.

 

[CNY Yote Hunter]

Just out of curiosity on the 2 holes better than 1, coyote hunters have long said if you want to save a pelt and are using a large caliber for game gun such as a 6mm, you use a target round or a heavy round that doesnt expand but just punches one hole in and one hole out. May have to follow the blood trail to recover the animal more times than not though. So given a large caliber bullet doesnt have the neccessary resistance to expand properly does not work as effectively as a smaller caliber. So to big is not as good in my opinion. Given military usage why does every grunt complain about having to use excessive rounds to drop the target rather than 1 round. Same theory, fmj do not expand, do they kill yes but is there a better, faster option, in my eyes yes and I was talking about game not humans

 

[robert l]

Decided to go for a walk with my son today for a squirel hunt. I relearned a lesson I had taught myself long ago. My son was using his .22lr and I brought a 17 hornet. He had hit 3 squirrels right where he should have and all 3 were drt so to speak. 17 hornet is 3 times what a 22lr is, faster speed, more kinetic energy, heavier projectile.... on and on. I hit 2 squirrels right where I should have and they both were able to make it up a tree before expiring and falling out. So my lesson I learned when I was younger hit me hard again, first deer rifle was a tikka t3 in 30-06, shooting 150 grain factory hornady ammo. I shot a lot of deer with that gun and not 1 of them ever drt. They all managed to leave a nice blood trail, some 30 yards, some made it over 100 yards. This stayed true with heavier ammo as well, went up to 165's then 180's, same results. Did the caliber do the job, yup everytime but was it the best option, not in my eyes.
My next gun was a 243, shooting 95 grain hornady factory ammo sst. I never had a deer move after a good hit. That being said if I hit a little farther back then intended I still had a dead deer but it was a lot like the 30-06 results, run and then drop. Next gun was a 7mm08, better results then the 30-06 and the 243 for the most part, just found the 7mm08 is more forgiving if you dont hit exactly where you intended to but as far as the drt is concerned the 243 still takes the cake. So my conclusion is the right round is crucial for the cleanest kill which to me means its over as fast as possible. A round that transfers 100 percent of its energy does not punch through but stays in the animal and if placed correctly has better results imo. Why do most hunters say bigger is better when my field results and studies have proved the exact opposite? Anyone else have some food for thought on this?

Because this is long range hunting.And alot of us hunt out to a 1.000 yards. So not bringing you down in any way.Thats not what im trying to do. But when you here that saying its coming from long range hunters most of the time. It takes along time to learn to shoot long range so we are proud of what we do.

 

[robert l]

Generally true and I do love all of a deer, but there have been a few times hunting near thick cut-overs and in small dries surrounded by swampy tickets, running 50 or more yards could mean a lost animal or a incredibly difficult retrieval at best.

I live in florida and there are alot of swamps here. So a bigger bullet cuts though the thickets where a smaller caliber you can not shoot.

 

[CNY Yote Hunter]

Because this is long range hunting.And alot of us hunt out to a 1.000 yards. So not bringing you down in any way.Thats not what im trying to do. But when you here that saying its coming from long range hunters most of the time. It takes along time to learn to shoot long range so we are proud of what we do.

Not sure where I said it's coming from long range hunters? I mentioned it comes from hunters in general, no real particular groups at all... I've been shooting long range for almost 25 years now and still make mistakes on a regular basis so not sure what you mean

 

[robert l]

Not sure where I said it's coming from long range hunters? I mentioned it comes from hunters in general, no real particular groups at all... I've been shooting long range for almost 25 years now and still make mistakes on a regular basis so not sure what you mean

I guess i misunderstood your comment. I was referring to this forum.Not in general.My mistake.

 

[robert l]

Not sure where I said it's coming from long range hunters? I mentioned it comes from hunters in general, no real particular groups at all... I've been shooting long range for almost 25 years now and still make mistakes on a regular basis so not sure what you mean

you should read it again because i never said that you said any thing.so please do not put words in my mouth.

 

[CNY Yote Hunter]

you should read it again because i never said that you said any thing.so please do not put words in my mouth.

Was not trying to, I was confused by the comment is all.

 

[Aoudad shooter1975]

I have found traveling to 4 continents, and hunting various game animals...bigger diameter and good bullet sectional density and penetration win the day--not DRT...which is nice but not required.

Many moons ago I was hunting with a good friend on our ranch near San Angelo Texas. He was using a 22-250 ..we saw a very nice buck at the edge of a wheat field. Ricky shot that buck and he dropped like a sack of potatoes...as we approached the buck he regained his feet and moved like the wind the longer he was on his feet...Ricky used a neck shot where he felt confident...and placed the bullet where he wanted it...I have shot many deer with a 22 cal and had good results...but I have only lost one deer with a "over 25 cal" rifle....and that was about bullet I was using...if I had a choice to hunt any place any where not knowing the terrain...I'd usually pack a 7mm and above...I had a custom 358 Winchester I was in love with for awhile..it was a custom built on a Sako 591...accurate and with a 225 grain bullet I could not find much it would not kill inside 350 yards...