When the elephants fight it's the grass that get's trampled. Old Proverb from somewhere.
Speaking from the grass POV,
Size matters,
Terminal Velocity matters,
Construction matters,
Goals matters,
Specific experience matters,
Knowledge of anatomy, as well as some Physiology,
Shot placement,
I was reading bigngreen's experience shooting elk control in pivots. Take away was I don't need a better bullet I need me a pivot
Broz has carefully chronicled his experience with Berger's and Long Range Hunting. If I'm not misquoting him, he has been seeing enough difference in his situation that bigger does make a difference.gun)
RockyMtnMT, is on the quest for the one bullet that does it for everything, and he is in my mind making progress. I know he just purchased literally a ton plus of bullet material chasing low velocity openings.lightbulb
So where does it leave me in my current circumstances, this season? I haven't seen enough terminal experience (first hand) with Berger's or Hammer's to speak intelligently or with authority concerning that aspect of the game.
My season goals is to help 3 youngsters fill doe tags.
1) A 30-06 with 181 Hammer's
2) A .260 stuffed with 130 Berger AR Hybrids
3) A .338 Ultra with 180 Accubonds.
All three young men have different nature's, and abilities. The .338 is only coming out because of a blown ACL in last weeks football. So far the better shot of the 3, and he won't be getting off the ATV this year, he could need a little more range.
His younger brother will be planted, with limited walking (heart surgery at 5 days old), most likely to have that shot feeding in a field. Plus he's been banging steel with it, will use the .260.
The 180 Hammers go to the fellow most likely to go in after them, and have the least predictable shot.
Point being the devils in the details. I have great confidence that sending either young man to hunt with either of the 3 men mentioned, and be certain each would have a great outcome.