Introduction
As the old saying goes; might makes right. Meaning that those with power can enforce their will. This doctrine has long been used when it comes to hunting cartridges. With hunting season right around the corner we figured it was worth the discussion to evaluate the premise. Does a magnum’s might make right when it comes to hunting? Does the heavy energy load of magnum cartridges make them the best choice for your hunt? Let’s get to the bottom of it.
What Makes a Magnum?
Magnum cartridges are simply larger than typical cartridges of comparable bore. For example, the 30-06 Springfield is a common 30-caliber cartridge. The 300 Winchester Magnum is a larger 30-caliber cartridge, with more powder capacity. This allows the 300 to push bullets much faster all else being equal.
The whole premise of magnum cartridges is to bring higher velocities and energy. When you shoot larger bullets and faster velocities the energy imposed on the target goes up. This can be very important when it comes to hunting animals, as energy is key to quickly incapacitating our prey.
Ballistic Performance
Another reason magnum cartridges are popular is because of their ballistic performance. The same attributes that make them effective for hunting, also make them effective for long-range shooting. Being able to shoot bigger bullets at faster velocities, or standard bullets at even faster velocities makes them a better choice for shooting further. Heavier bullets and faster bullets hold onto their energy longer, which pushes out the envelope of their effectiveness. You can imagine how this would be helpful to both a hunter, and a long-range shooter.
Newer and better bullets are constantly hitting the market, which is making the ballistic performance grow ever better. The 180 grain bullets your grandpa shot weren’t as efficient as the latest and greatest 180 grain bullets we have today. But does that matter for many of us?
Real World Applications
As I peruse hunting and shooting forums, social media groups, and even the slums of reddit, you can get an idea of most hunting practices. It seems that the majority of hunters typically engage big game like deer at distances between 50 and 400 yards when hunting with firearms. Obviously that depends greatly on location and the animal they are after.
If you are stalking a fifty-pound Roe deer on the green fields of Great Britain, you will probably use different tackle than a hog hunter in Georgia, or a Stone Sheep hunter in the Yukon. The size of your prey, and the environment you pursue them in has much to do with your cartridge selection.
Even large animals like a Rocky Mountain Elk are easily taken with short action cartridges like a .243 or a 30-30. So why do most people use heavy magnums for hunting them? Mainly because Rocky Mountain Elk live in places you don’t want to take your .243.
The Landscape
Western hunts often take place in big open country, where shots could be much further than average. Furthermore, a wounded animal might go for miles through the steepest miserable country you can imagine. So it makes sense to use a rifle with more power and heavy bullets. In many of these hunts, it is also important to drop the animal right where it stands to avoid strenuous extraction.
Conversely, if you are hunting one of the gulf states you probably aren’t going to be making many 400 yard shots. And your chances of finding an elk down there are likely limited to exotic ranches. Consideration to location could have a lot to do with whether or not you really need a magnum.
Biology
It is also very important to understand the body structure of the animals we intend to hunt. Some animals are tougher than others, and require a little more energy to quickly and cleanly put them down. Using an appropriately proportioned cartridge for the animal not only ensures a clean kill, but also reduces waste. I like to eat what I hunt, so blowing a deer in half with a super magnum is not on my list.
Using a magnum on a small animal particularly at short distance is likely to cause more damage than necessary. This could cause meat to be lost and discarded. Shooting a 90-grain bullet from a 6mm Creedmoor might be perfect for hunting a Pronghorn antelope inside 400 yards. You could use a 300 Winchester for the same job, but you might have a few pounds less to take home for the freezer.
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