[matt47]

Is it just me, or does anyone else here prefer the moderate velocity rifle rounds that have a history compared to the high-powered high-velocity cartridges?

I really have never seen the point in shooting a bullet much past 2700 fps, and 2400 fps is plenty in my opinion. I think that is why I like the .303 so much, it shoots a nice 180 grain round at little more than 2400 fps, a nice moderate velocity and that 180 gr bullet has killed everything I've shot with it...The only magnums I like are the .357, .44 and .22. I tend to agree with some of those African hunters that if the 7x57 and .303 brit kill well enough at reasonable velocities there is no need for anything more powerful.

Something about a somewhat slower bullet than 3000+ fps appeals to me more as well..Plus I suppose I am sentimental towards the older cartridges...they are more fun to shoot as well the way I see it. I also think that at one point getting a rifle round to go 2400 fps was considered "magnum" performance in it's day, and it's good enough for me...Whenever I have considered getting a .308 or a 7mm-08 or something that goes beyond 2700 fps I always think about how much more I like the slower .303 brit and 7x57 in comparison for lots of reasons...

 

[jodum]

I used to have magnumitus when I was young but as I got older, I started to appreciate the medium velocity cartridges. I even load my 338 Win mag down below what is considered MAGNUM levels. More accuracy, and less recoil. What more could an old guy want. (besides a young girl friend and she would probably be to fast for me also)

 

[broom_jm]

I enjoy shooting guns, period. I enjoy the nostalgia of the older guns, like the 44/40, yet appreciate the raw speed of the hot 22 centerfire cartridges, like the 22/250. I have been encouraged by the release of "moderate" rounds, in recent years, such as both Marlin Express offerings and the new Remington 30 AR. Substantial chunks of copper and lead, at modest velocities, have been killing stuff dead for almost a century now and I don't think the game animals are toughening up nearly as much as the gun writers would have us believe.

When it comes to rifles, I understand the value of a muzzle velocity in the 3000fps range. However, a 300 Win Mag is a 308 Winchester, is a 300 Savage, once the distance traveled by the bullet is far enough. That sounds confusing, but what I mean is if you hunt where your shots are sometimes WAAAAY out there, starting with more means you may wind up with something that matches the older, more sedate rounds we all grew up with. Then again, the 30 Newton was pushing 180gr bullets at "magnum" speeds nearly 100 years ago!

So, I don't mind a rifle that pushes a bullet at 3000fps or more, but what really befuddles my admittedly simple mind lately is the number of incredibly powerful handguns on the market...and how well they sell! The 454 Casull has been around a while, but the 460 S&W, 500 S&W, 475 Linebaugh, 50 Alaskan, 50 AE, etc. are all about 50% more powerful than the 44 Magnum...which is a LOT of gun, already! I like shooting 44Mag, where some guys really don't, but having tried a 500 S&W, I will politely decline, if offered another chance to shoot one. All of those rounds have more powder capacity than many perfectly adequate RIFLE cartridges, and should probably be chambered in long guns. Heck, the 460 S&W, when fired from a T/C Encore action, is still more recoil than I care for!

 

[EWestbrook]

I too enjoy the .303 British. I believe Ruger to be offering one in their No. 1 rifle which I know will be most excellent. The fine old 30-30 has also been a favorite of mine for years. I have one in a bolt action rifle that's just too sweet not to shoot.

Much like broom_jm I also enjoy the hot 22's and some more powerful rifles. My Model 70 .270 has became my favorite hunting rifle in the last few years.

Shooting is very enjoyable, and I'm glad to have the many different rifles to enjoy.

 

[gunchamp]

Probably not just you. As for me, I collect big bores. The bigger the better. I do enjoy all guns and own many small caliber cartridges though. There is just something right about watching my rcbs dispenser drop 85 grains of powder!

 

[magnumitis]

"Have" .....yes.

"Appreciate" .....yes.

"Prefer" ......no.

 

[MontyF]

I just like to shoot. The beating of the heavy magnums has lost it's appeal for me. Still like the way the smaller bullets at higher velocities kill. The parting line for me is when bloodshot meat is beyond use other than for dog food.

 

[ribbonstone2]

Yes.

Have owned "magnums" but have a different philosophy about the big cases...will use them to toss heavier bullets to "normal" speeds.

 

[tpv]

Same for me,
If I can kill a 150 lb hog at 200 yards with a 223, why do I need a Swift.
If my 243,260, 257 Bob, 6.5x55 will kill deer at 200 yds, why do I need a Short Mag.
Even my 270 and 280, are loaded down to about 2850-2900fps. for best accuracy. For me, bullet performance is more consistant, and groups get tiny.
There is way too much said and printed about faster being better. Let the young turks shoot the mags.
I don't hunt dangerous game, occasionally, I run into a crazed armidillo drunk from eating fire ants, or a group of scared pigs running toward me instead of away, but overall, its pretty tame where I hunt.
I had one of the first 300 short mags. It was accurate, pretty, and killed very well but truth be told, who would want to be slugged in the arm shot after shot when a gently nudge is all it takes.
I had a hunter last year come out and shoot a doe at 100 yards with his 7 mm mag. He then went on about the virtues of the 7 mag on game.
No sense argueing!

 

[MikeG]

My Roberts taught me that sometimes, less is more. It's got a lot of critters to its credit over the years.

Think I'll take it out over the weekend and see if any hogs or coyotes are foolish enough to venture out....

 

[kdub]

Yup - the 6.5x55 reigns supreme!!

 

[Tang]

Moderate velocity ? Now where is the fun in that ? It's the same with cars. Hardly no one wants a "moderatly" fast car. They want the fastest car on the block. Same with guns. Heck, my wife hunts with a 7mm Rem Mag, and I sure can't be upscaled by her can I ?

I've said this a lot around here, but the 7mm-08 Remington is my favorite, non-magnum cartridge. I think for the case size, and the bullet selection, topped off by the great lightweight rifles (mainly Ruger ), it's about as perfect a-fit one can get

I'm already missing my .300 Ultra Mag, and I've always wanted a .338-378 Wby Mag, so I guess you can see which side of the fence I stand on

Cheers !

 

[dmsbandit]

I don't even own a magnum rifle, and have never felt under gunned when using my "medium" velocity cartridges. granted, I hunt deer and most are under 250yds, but out to 400yds any of the standards will work. They are much lighter on the wallet and the shoulder and don't wear out your welcome when near houses or farms.

 

[Savage99]

To each his own on this. If you practice with a reasonable cartridge it will go well.

As for myself I like all the choices. Long ago I chose a .358W. for woods hunting deer and a chance at black bear. I chose it not because it made 'moderate' velocity but because it was the most powerful gun I could find that was a Featherweight. I also thought, at the time, that such big bullets were good in the brush.

I have a full range of hunting calibers from the Swift to the .22 for pests, the .264 through 300 HH for game and a couple of .375's for that old African dream.

 

[big dan]

i like 'em all... i do tend to shoot the moderate cartridges most and as much as i dislike the thought of only having one rifle i could happily hunt the rest of my life with the 'ol swede and i'd be perfectly content but it's fun to try different rifles and cartridges... i just recently picked up a 338 RUM bbl. on gunbroker for my 700, i'll set it up as a switch barrel and have a minimal amount of $ invested in it and yet i'll get the pleasure of experimenting with a new cartridge.

 

[slim 60]

47 i totally agree.. i could use light magnum in my 06 but don t see the need for it..2700 in a 180 grn will go out as far as this shooter can hit what im shootin at anyway..slim
heck im proud of being able to hit a 6 inch target at 450 yrds..
it took a lot o work to gain that ability ..now im working on learning wind doping..the way its looking,, thats gonna take way more time than i got left here on this earth..but you never know..slim

 

[Tang]

47 i totally agree.. i could use light magnum in my 06 but don t see the need for it..2700 in a 180 grn will go out as far as this shooter can hit what im shootin at anyway..slim
heck im proud of being able to hit a 6 inch target at 450 yrds..
it took a lot o work to gain that ability ..now im working on learning wind doping..the way its looking,, thats gonna take way more time than i got left here on this earth..but you never know..slim

Here ya go Slim, just for you buddy http://www.longrangehunting.com/articles/wind-doping-basics-1.php

 

[Tebsinar]

I hunt Texas deer with my 375 H&H. Don't expect any will charge me and put me in danger, so I download to around 1700 fps. Very pleasant and plenty sufficient for the critters I am after.
Bob Nisbet

 

[leverite]

All's good, but for me the big bruisers are more fun to shoot. I'd rather blow up a milk jug full of water w/ a 350 Rem mag than a 356 Win. Better yet...a 375 Ruger.

I've heard it said that for any given cartridge, accuracy tends to increase with velocity...as long as you're not overloading it. Of course, acceptable accuracy for hunting is really not an issue w/ most cartidges regardless of the powder charge. Any thoughts on that?

 

[broom_jm]

I've heard it said that for any given cartridge, accuracy tends to increase with velocity...as long as you're not overloading it. Of course, acceptable accuracy for hunting is really not an issue w/ most cartidges regardless of the powder charge. Any thoughts on that?

I have not heard that said, although most cartridges give better accuracy with a high load density. That does not necessarily mean greater velocity than another powder might be capable of creating.

What is absolutely true, without question, is that greater recoil has ruined many shooters. The only way to get more velocity out of a given bullet is to drive it with greater pressure, which will create more recoil...all other things being equal. I'd rather see a guy shoot a 356 Winchester well, because he does not fear it, than to watch my buddy flinch every time he touches off his 300 Win Mag.

If you can shoot both equally well, that doesn't guarantee the faster bullet is going to kill better, only that it will have a flatter trajectory and more energy. When you consider that the 30/30 and 44/40 Winchester cartridges have probably killed more deer than just about all other cartridges combined, it's really hard to argue that faster is better, at least where deer-hunting is concerned. In more cases than we might even realize, particularly with cup n' core bullets, slowing a projectile down a few hundred fps could improve its terminal performance considerably.

When you consider there is only one degree of dead, and that most shots come well within the maximum PBR of milder cartridges, magnums or even rounds like my favorite, the 270 Winchester, are probably not really called for, a great deal of the time. However, I like knowing when 200 yards turns into 250 or 300, I can still take a good steady rest and hit what I'm aiming at, way out there.