Magnums Not Needed (Elk & Deer)

[PJgunner]

Razmuz said, "I don't care where you hunt or what you hunt magnums calibers are not needed. If you just use common sense you will figure out that about 50% of hunting stuff is not necessary."

I have to partially disagree with you. There's only been one time a magnum might have been better, IE, easier to make the shot at a long range deer, but I did make the shot with a .308.

However, the area where I hunt elk, a .300 Win. Mag. can come in mighty handy. In the area I prefer to hunt, mostly because I know it like the back of my hand, once the shooting starts on opening day, the elk head out into the middle of these humongous meadows where they can see a hunter coming from a very long way off. One of these meadows is at least two miles across and over five miles long. You definitely need something that will reach out and touch that elk. The good old 30-06 just won't cut it. I shoot a .300 Win. mag. with a 200 gr. Speer Hot-core laoded to a very hot 2950 FPS and I can hit the ram silhouettes fairly consistantly out there at 500 meters with that load from a decent sitting postion. The cow elk that I shot was laser measured at 530 yards, and I was behind the very last bit of cover available. The bullet hit about four inches below the spine, going through the top of the heart lung area and came out the other side with about a three inch exit wound. The cow elk was an immediate bang/flop. I probably could have made the shot with an 06, but it was a heck of a lot easier with the .300.

As far as the rest of your comments, I'll go along with you on them.
Paul B.