Hunting & Fishing Experimenting w/ different calibers on deer (Graphic)

[RTH1800]

But there is such a thing as a budget and what I can afford.

The next level up would cost me $500-$1,000 more and not really give me that much more performance. The savage 110 is not a bad action, it has almost as much support as the Remington 700 and just about everyone makes pre fit barrels so it is a good platform to customize later.

The idea behind this is to find something affordable that has a good action and already has a decent barrel, not to do a ground up custom build. My intent is to do the entire build for around $1,000-$1,200, to include the chassis and possibly even the optic, but the whole thing, optic included needs to stay under $1,500 no matter what, that’s just the reality of my budget.

More like freedom of choice, not just forced to use whats available.

I don't think folks in other countries are forced to use a specific caliber. They are simply not inundated with BS advertising. They don't choose rifles with any more emotion than they do hammers or shovels. Just tools to do a job.

Choice is wonderful but we have so much disposable income in this country that we get a bit carried away. A well placed bullet kills. A poorly placed one may or may not. It is very, very simple. Animals don't read the headstamp, weigh the projectile, measure the shoulder angel or chronograph the impact velocity.

 

[jbuck88]

Maybe in some cases. In others we can select a bullet and speed we want to use.

The best hunters I know are 30-06 guys. Although one is modern and shooting a 7wsm.

I have a rifle for a few different situations and depending on what game I'm after. My favorite was my old 300h&h. Then went to 300wsm, which is almost identical ballistically.

As my arthritis in my shoulder is getting worse I'm gravitating to less recoil. It's limiting shots I'll take though.

 

[hlee]

Coke v Pepsi.
Chevy v Ford
Sports team affiliation
University affiliation
Family Dollar v Dollar General

Humans are genetically predisposed to form cliques and clans. It’s no wonder there’s so many ardent supporters for various cartridges and chambers.

260 Master race
“2 World Wars”
The whole 30-06 thread dumpster fire

And then you dump an Olympic pool’s worth of ink onto the whole mess.

Americans are spoiled for choice, but we wrap our identities around and in unimportant things.

 

[hlee]

300 h&h? This year, my deer rifle is a 12.5” 6.5 Grendel.

 

[jbuck88]

I loved my 300h&h, my 375h&h too. My middle boy hunts with a Grendel and works just fine.

 

[SCGunner84]

SC rutted up 8 pt, 103 gr eld x 6 creed. 18.5 inch suppressed

 

[Hecouldgoalltheway]

Hunters almost anywhere other than over on RS are the hunting equivalent of the guy at the local gunstore telling you .45 ACP will always be better than 9mm because it "stopped charging japs on Iwo Jima". That doesn't mean SnipersHide isn't great for general long range / precision rifle stuff. But there's a distinct lack of understanding regarding how bullet work / kill things.

Hey, I owe you an apology. I couldn't remember who I lambasted a few months back for suggesting smaller bullets/cartridges for big game than I ever would have attempted. You kept talking about the Rockslide forum, then i made my way over there and checked it out. Honestly, it was life changing. Then "Form" did a half dozen podcasts on "the hunt backcountry podcast", which further rattled my beliefs and sent me into even more research. No bullshit, I bought a lightweight 20" 6cm, and I took it bear bunting last week. I'm going to shoot everything with it until it fails me, if it ever does, which I doubt will ever happen. Anyways, my bad, and thank you for opening that door for me.

 

[hlee]

Hey, I owe you an apology. I couldn't remember who I lambasted a few months back for suggesting smaller bullets/cartridges for big game than I ever would have attempted. You kept talking about the Rockslide forum, then i made my way over there and checked it out. Honestly, it was life changing. Then "Form" did a half dozen podcasts on "the hunt backcountry podcast", which further rattled my beliefs and sent me into even more research. No bullshit, I bought a lightweight 20" 6cm, and I took it bear bunting last week. I'm going to shoot everything with it until it fails me, if it ever does, which I doubt will ever happen. Anyways, my bad, and thank you for opening that door for me.

So, how big was the bear?

 

[Hecouldgoalltheway]

So, how big was the bear?

Brother I wish I got one. I'm on my 7th year of that quest without success. I've been to wyoming twice for bears and still couldn't connect. I spend 2-4 weeks a year trying to spot and stalk a black bear. I've been close, but haven't been able to put it together yet..

 

[NateVA]

Hey, I owe you an apology. I couldn't remember who I lambasted a few months back for suggesting smaller bullets/cartridges for big game than I ever would have attempted. You kept talking about the Rockslide forum, then i made my way over there and checked it out. Honestly, it was life changing. Then "Form" did a half dozen podcasts on "the hunt backcountry podcast", which further rattled my beliefs and sent me into even more research. No bullshit, I bought a lightweight 20" 6cm, and I took it bear bunting last week. I'm going to shoot everything with it until it fails me, if it ever does, which I doubt will ever happen. Anyways, my bad, and thank you for opening that door for me.

Glad you feel like it was worth your time to check it out. Part of the thing with Form is his tone in one on one interactions on RS ends up making people not want to acknowledge he's right even if he is. Despite that, the concentration on zero-retention for scopes and on how bullets actually kill things is extremely important. And luckily all of this stuff exists in the real world so we have real answers to these questions. It's not an unsolved mystery what your 6CM's bullet of choice will do when it finally hits a black bear as long as it's going above its minimum rated impact velocity.

6CM will do great for black bear. They're not hard to kill (pretty low impact resistance and thin skin) but guys tend to use way tougher bullets than they should because it's still a bear. Then because a Barnes TSX going 3000 fps out of a 338 Remchesterby Magnum zips right through one leaving a glorified arrow hole, those people will say you need a big bore to kill one.

 

[Hecouldgoalltheway]

Glad you feel like it was worth your time to check it out. Part of the thing with Form is his tone in one on one interactions on RS ends up making people not want to acknowledge he's right even if he is. Despite that, the concentration on zero-retention for scopes and on how bullets actually kill things is extremely important. And luckily all of this stuff exists in the real world so we have real answers to these questions. It's not an unsolved mystery what your 6CM's bullet of choice will do when it finally hits a black bear as long as it's going above its minimum rated impact velocity.

6CM will do great for black bear. They're not hard to kill (pretty low impact resistance and thin skin) but guys tend to use way tougher bullets than they should because it's still a bear. Then because a Barnes TSX going 3000 fps out of a 338 Remchesterby Magnum zips right through one leaving a glorified arrow hole, those people will say you need a big bore to kill one.

The evidence is clear if someone wants to read it. In all honesty, once you digest it and can manually dispel a lifetime of fudd lore, it's pretty intuitive. I was always the guy that felt like there was no such thing as overkill. If a little is good, a lot is gooder, but I've seen the error of my ways. Thanks

 

[wvfarrier]

My buddy killed this one in NC using a Winchester 1892 in 357 mag. I handloaded the round for him. It a 10% above max "book" charge of Lil Gun using a 200 grain Lehigh Defense Controlled Choas (meant for a 360 Buckmaster I think). The load chrono's 2340fps from his 20" barrel. No pressure signs but I did anneal the brass. It was around 65 yards I think.

 

[nockhunter]

My buddy killed this one in NC using a Winchester 1892 in 357 mag. I handloaded the round for him. It a 10% above max "book" charge of Lil Gun using a 200 grain Lehigh Defense Controlled Choas (meant for a 360 Buckmaster I think). The load chrono's 2340fps from his 20" barrel. No pressure signs but I did anneal the brass. It was around 65 yards I think.

Thats 35Rem ballistics, seems way high for 357Mag even in a rifle.

Mike

 

[hlee]

Thats 35Rem ballistics, seems way high for 357Mag even in a rifle.

Mike

Reason not to shoot anyone else’s reloads…

 

[cas6969]

No pressure signs

Yeah, no pressure testing equipment will tend to do that.

 

[hlee]

Yeah, no pressure testing equipment will tend to do that.

It has been posted elsewhere, many would be shocked at the actual pressure of their “safe loads…”

 

[Hecouldgoalltheway]

If I still have all of my teeth after shooting a 5 shot string, the pressure is safe.

 

[wvfarrier]

Yeah, no pressure testing equipment will tend to do that.

I have shot several dozen with zero issues. I am not advocating anyone use someone else's load data but we worked these up slowly. No sticky/stiff lever work so stretched casings or flattened primers. Good enough for me.