Hunting Cartridges - an excellent article

[REDGREEN]

Excellent article.

 

[truck driver]

Thanks for the article link Guy.
As a young hunter of about 12yrs old I wanted a used M70 in .308 but my father didn't like the caliber so I ended up with a 30-30 . My Dad had a pre war M70 30-06 which I just loved but kicked the snot out of me. I learned to handle recoil using an old single barrel 12ga that was my grandfather's by adding a slip on pad and reloading light loads for it. Dad bought me a 12ga 3" mag pump so I wouldn't blow the old single barrel up with loading heavy shells since I was starting to experiment with reloading.
As I got older the love for the 30-06 was too much and had to have one since it seemed so magical and killed everything Dad shot at with one shot. I finally found one I could afford, a used Remington M725. Killed my first buck with it and many more. I actually shot that rifle so much I wore the throat out and had it rebarrled but for another caliber I was fastenated with, 257 Roberts. It also accounted for numerous deer and varmints but missed my 30-06. Ruger was building some great looking rifles and I had to have one so I picked one up in my favorite caliber. After some bedding work it became my favorite rifle and has killed more deer than I can remember since I used it for crop damage work.
I had a 300bee but didn't like the felt recoil and couldn't shoot it for extended range sessions so I sold it. To be honest the 35 Whelen AI is all I want as far as recoil.

 

[zacii]

Nicely written article. I'm a bit bummed, though. I wanted a 338 RUM :/ Oh well, can't afford one anyway.

What's funny is that for every article like this, there's another saying the opposite.

What JD338 said is the bottom line, though. Doesn't matter what you shoot if you don't hit what you're aiming at.

 

[Guy Miner]

What JD338 said is the bottom line, though. Doesn't matter what you shoot if you don't hit what you're aiming at.

Yes, and that's pretty much Ross's point too. And mine...

BTW - I do try to weigh my sources. Ross is one of those guys who has done an incredible amount of shooting, high-level shooting, and also a LOT of hunting. Yeah, he's qualified to comment.

Cracked me up when he admitted that he'd designed the predecessors to the .300 RUM and .338 RUM! I'd forgotten that!

Truck Driver - great story about your personal hunting rifles. I suspect most of us have got great stories about our own personal hunting rifles, mostly good I hope.

And - yeah - I don't give enough written credit to the "premium" bullets avail now, for making all of our cartridges work better... But I think our presence here on Nosler's forum is pretty much a tacit admission that we like GOOD BULLETS!

Good hunting all!

Guy

 

[sask boy]

Well as usual I came to the table a little late :wink:. Thank you Guy for that article I really enjoyed the read, there is not much one can add to what has already been said . I have shot the 270win for over 40 years and never had something get away on me :wink:. I wish I had a nickel for every 270win bullet I have shot practicing, I could likely order another RMR.
It truly is about practise and shot placement.
The only thumper I have now is the 35 Whelen :mrgreen: but that is more on the animal than on my shoulder

Blessings,
Dan

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I saw one of those Jack O'Connor Limited Edition Model 70 Featherweights on display a few months ago. My wife would have shot me for paying the price they wanted but never have I wanted a particular .270 more in my life!!!

I am a .30-06 man but must concede to the .270 in the trajectory and recoil departments...

Dale

 

[SJB358]

Great article. I've always enjoyed Seyfrieds articles.

 

[Bruce Mc]

Dale, I know it won't make you feel any better, but that Jack O'Connor Tribute rifle is a really sweeeeeet shooter. Even with the checkered steel butt plate the design of the stock makes it very pleasant to shoot. You really should scratch that itch.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Bruce -

What loads are you shooting in the JOC M70?

I would really like to get one of those some day!

Dale

 

[Bruce Mc]

130 Partition, 57gr IMR-4451, Winchester Case, Federal 210 Primer, 3.340 OAL. Chrono'd at 3124fps and groups around 1/2". 59grs of IMR-7828ssc slings the 150 Partition at 2989 fps and groups a tad over 1/2". I've also tried the 160 Partition but I've not found the right combination yet. I think both of those loads fall into what Ross was talking about in his article.

 

[SJB358]

Those are a couple really good loads Bruce. I'd be very happy to do a bunch of hunting with them.

 

[jimbires]

good article , I enjoyed it . the newer bullets and powders available today , will make a smaller cartridge a serious and efficient hunter . while being shoulder friendly too .

 

[gerry]

I would be happy to run either of those loads especially your 150's. Nice to see IMR 4451 is doing great in the 270 with your 130's, IMR has a winner there.

 

[SJB358]

Jim/Gerry, couldn't agree more. We are in the golden age.

I'm still not giving up my Mashburn though :lol:

 

[gerry]

You don't have to, at least not yet :lol:

 

[SJB358]

Good point. At this point the Mashburn is the little gun amongst the herd.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Thanks for the load data Bruce. Literally if we weren't moving right now I would be on that.

I have wanted a nice .270 for years. I believe that this may be the happy medium for the "one gun man."

I like my .30-06 but .270s are sure nicer on the shoulder.

Dale

 

[EOD Diver]

Guy,
Thanks for posting! That article has to be one of my favorites and I've read it on several occasions to my wife and children. It's no coincidence that the .270 Win is recommended by legends like O'Connor, Seyfried, Prothero, and Van Zwoll. Heck, even Elmer Keith disciple David Petzal recommends it, albeit begrudgingly. I'm afraid that it looks like the secret is out; place a good bullet where it counts from something you're comfortable and confident shooting.

Take Care,

Joe

 

[SJB358]

You aren't kidding Joe. Seems like the grand old 270 still works well.