"Bought a rifle for the wife and kids"

[Kurt505]

I see this posted often, and have even done it myself. "Bought a 243/7mm-08/260rem for my wife/kid. Have no problem sending them out afield after deer, elk, moose, bear, but for some reason I need a 300wby mag to kill a 250lb deer!

If a 243/7mm-08/260 is good enough for a less expirienced hunter, and presumably not as good of a shot, then why isn't it suitable for the more expirienced, more accurate shooter? Is it a man thing? "If it don't bite when it kicks, it's not big enough for a man"?

I've had a pile of magnums, some in ultralight rifles, and they were no more effective on game than my 308's, 280's, or even my sons 243. I can see if a guy was a host on "the best of the west" or something, where you're shooting (at) elk at 1200yds on a regular basis, but for my personal style of hunting, where a 500yd shot is considered stretching it out, I've come to the conclusion that maybe a 308 based case is big enough, with a 1906 base case being as big as a guy will ever need.

So, I bought my wife a 25-06 and my kid a 270, this year I'm going to use a 260 or 7mm-08.

[fish_e_o]

i built a lightweight 6.5x47 for this year

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by fish_e_o

i built a lightweight 6.5x47 for this year

That's another nice little cartridge I wouldn't mind owning one day.

[leo]

I think it's more a case of starting out younger and smaller shooters with a cartridge and gun combo that doesn't affect their shooting ability due to recoil, no different than wearing ear plugs to cut down on boom flinch. Bad shooting form and habits can really demoralize a shooter as well as make them miss or wound critters. Absolutely these smaller, non magnum cartridges will suffice for most of North American hunting situations. Saying that I'm also of the opinion that you can't over kill an animal. There's no such thing as too dead in my opinion. I use larger rifles than my wife or daughter because the recoil doesn't bother me and because I can. I use enough gun for every circumstance and will continue to until my health or body tells me to put the big boomers away and use a lesser cartridge. Also of note however, one of, if not the most vicious kicking rifle I ever owned was a Winchester model 88 in 308. If you weren't paying attention you were paying a trip to the Dr. for stitches. Scope bite extraordinaire! A proper fitting gun for the individual shooter is very important.

[rembo]

[couleefolk]

I think from what is being said, that if the shooter can still get their game with the lesser powered firearm, they at that point are actually a better hunter because they have had to really hunt their game, opposed to someone that has found it 1000 yards away and can just shoot it. You have to give archers a lot of respect for getting their game with limited shooting distance. Always the other side of the coin to look at.

[oldgutpile]

Originally Posted by leo

I think it's more a case of starting out younger and smaller shooters with a cartridge and gun combo that doesn't affect their shooting ability due to recoil, no different than wearing ear plugs to cut down on boom flinch. Bad shooting form and habits can really demoralize a shooter as well as make them miss or wound critters. Absolutely these smaller, non magnum cartridges will suffice for most of North American hunting situations. Saying that I'm also of the opinion that you can't over kill an animal. There's no such thing as too dead in my opinion. I use larger rifles than my wife or daughter because the recoil doesn't bother me and because I can. I use enough gun for every circumstance and will continue to until my health or body tells me to put the big boomers away and use a lesser cartridge. Also of note however, one of, if not the most vicious kicking rifle I ever owned was a Winchester model 88 in 308. If you weren't paying attention you were paying a trip to the Dr. for stitches. Scope bite extraordinaire! A proper fitting gun for the individual shooter is very important.

^^this x 2

I like my .358 norma. Heck, I've even packed a .375 for deer. No such thing as too dead, and with a heavy well-constructed bullet, LESS meat damage.
I dont expect I will start my grandkids out with either of these guns though!

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by leo

Also of note however, one of, if not the most vicious kicking rifle I ever owned was a Winchester model 88 in 308. If you weren't paying attention you were paying a trip to the Dr. for stitches. Scope bite extraordinaire! A proper fitting gun for the individual shooter is very important.

Funny you say that, I have a model 88 in 308 but I'm not sure if it kicks as much as my model 70 Featherweight in 308.

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

If a 243/7mm-08/260 is good enough for a less expirienced hunter, and presumably not as good of a shot, then why isn't it suitable for the more expirienced, more accurate shooter? Is it a man thing? "If it don't bite when it kicks, it's not big enough for a man"?

I think you nailed it in your question/statement.

[1899b]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

If a 243/7mm-08/260 is good enough for a less expirienced hunter, and presumably not as good of a shot, then why isn't it suitable for the more expirienced, more accurate shooter? Is it a man thing? "If it don't bite when it kicks, it's not big enough for a man"?



Its the Alberta way. .338 Win mags and 38" tires with 6" lifts cuz nothing else is good enough. Overkill to the max.....

[getatmewolf]

Its the Alberta way. .338 Win mags and 38" tires with 6" lifts cuz nothing else is good enough. Overkill to the max.....[/QUOTE]


Hahahahaha, unreal, that's a pretty big paintbrush you have there. I have owned A LOT of calibers big and small, its just fun, if you like it then shoot it. My trials with different cartridges have me currently shooting a 280 and 257wby and the wife and kid shooting a 260. I fall into the "cant be overkilled" crowd but wont judge someone for shooting within their means whether that involves recoil or cost.

[Kurt505]

I don't mind having more gun than I need, I like shooting a lot. I've had a pile of magnums, I sold my last one last year and at this point and time I just don't see me buying one in the near future. I grew up with a gun in my hand, 1899b and I even got hauled home by the cops when we were about 12 for Hunting grouse at the golf course where we grew up.

Recently I've been on an ultralight kick, packing around an ultralight reminds me of when I was a kid packing around my pellet gun or my 22. So for that reason I'm building my next rifle with a short action. I'll have a handy little rifle that weighs in around 5lbs, something I don't need a sling for that I can pack in my hand all day long. Maybe 260, maybe 7mm-08, maybe even 284win. It's going to be my grown up pellet gun.

[JD848]

You made a great choice ,when my wife starting hunting with me 30 years ago I already had a 6.5x55 plus a 270 ,but she really like the 6.5 so I bought another so when we were out we both had the same ammo because she was afraid to mix things up when in a hurry,she got her bull tag and on her first hunt shot a nice bull in 15 minutes and looked at me and said what are you doing up here for 3 weeks at a time.I still and always will like my magnums,just like them and when I am zeroed in on my game zero recoil is never felt,plus after I am sighted in I never go near a bench ,still practice but in positions I will more than likely kill from,wish you and your family the best of success with your new guns and I am sure it will be great.

[1899b]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

I don't mind having more gun than I need, I like shooting a lot. I've had a pile of magnums, I sold my last one last year and at this point and time I just don't see me buying one in the near future. I grew up with a gun in my hand, 1899b and I even got hauled home by the cops when we were about 12 for Hunting grouse at the golf course where we grew up.

Recently I've been on an ultralight kick, packing around an ultralight reminds me of when I was a kid packing around my pellet gun or my 22. So for that reason I'm building my next rifle with a short action. I'll have a handy little rifle that weighs in around 5lbs, something I don't need a sling for that I can pack in my hand all day long. Maybe 260, maybe 7mm-08, maybe even 284win. It's going to be my grown up pellet gun.

Yes, i can attest that it was either a gun or a fishing rod as Kurt505's 3rd arm most of the time...

[covey ridge]

I have no argument with one should use as much gun as one can handle. I agree with leo that one can not over kill.

Is the size of the gun a man thing? Maybe not! It might be a Bubba thing?

I have sold firearms off and on since I retired 20 years ago. I have often been asked for advice by men who are buying a firearm for their lady or children.

My wife/son/daughter is getting into hunting! Can you help me finds something that she can handle?

or

I shoot a 30-378 myself and would not shoot anything smaller but when my girl friend tried it knocked her on her.................... what da ya got that's good for women and kids. By the way did I tell ya that I shoot a 30-378?

or

I have been hunting for x years with a 270. Do you a think a 270 would be OK for my wife/son/daughter?

[jayquiver]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

I see this posted often, and have even done it myself. "Bought a 243/7mm-08/260rem for my wife/kid. Have no problem sending them out afield after deer, elk, moose, bear, but for some reason I need a 300wby mag to kill a 250lb deer!

If a 243/7mm-08/260 is good enough for a less expirienced hunter, and presumably not as good of a shot, then why isn't it suitable for the more expirienced, more accurate shooter? Is it a man thing? "If it don't bite when it kicks, it's not big enough for a man"?

I've had a pile of magnums, some in ultralight rifles, and they were no more effective on game than my 308's, 280's, or even my sons 243. I can see if a guy was a host on "the best of the west" or something, where you're shooting (at) elk at 1200yds on a regular basis, but for my personal style of hunting, where a 500yd shot is considered stretching it out, I've come to the conclusion that maybe a 308 based case is big enough, with a 1906 base case being as big as a guy will ever need.

So, I bought my wife a 25-06 and my kid a 270, this year I'm going to use a 260 or 7mm-08.

Your brand new 280ai is going to get lonely this year...so sad.

[Diesel_wiesel]