How many have left the magnums behind for something smaller

[harv3589]

Just curious how many have left the magnums behind in favour of something smaller for their all round rifle?

[David Henry]

250-3000 Savage. seems to work for me and I am careful with the shots I take. D.H.

[58thecat]

6-284 as a wildcat but if I was to go to a newer fancy rig 7-08.....but the ol 303 is about as heavy a hitter I would need too....when was younger needed the magnum but realized it wasn't at all.....

[roper1]

From the time I was 15 to about 40, I shot an iron sights '06. Switched to a 300WM with a nice scope, be years if ever before I went back.

[elkhunter11]

I just went with a smaller magnum again. The 338×8mm, and the 300RUMs are gone, back to the 7mmstw.

[Dubious]

300wm and swapped to 25-06AI I prefer the 25 it’s still fast and they both do the trick on elk.

[Deer Hunter]

Bullets are really good now so I can run a lighter smaller caliber bullet faster and not have to deal with big cases and recoil.

[270person]

I'm going the opposite direction. Wont be long and I'll be whacking gophers with a .416 Rigby.

[Scottmisfits]

I went from 30-06, to 308, to 243, to 6.5, to 7mm. I really like the 308 and the 243. I have only gone after deer with them so far but haven't felt undergunned at all.
I only got the 7mm for the action with the idea to rebarrel it to 6.5PRC. But now, after reading about them, maybe not. I don't know yet as that will be a ways in the future anyway.

[kaleh01]

My two favourites are my 7-08, but my 338-06 is definitely worth a mention for an all around with the 185 ttsx.

[fordtruckin]

I just went from a 270WSM to a 308 does that count? I still use a 375h&h at work some times...

[Big Sky]

300 winmag is my all-rounder. Also like to hunt with a 270. Maybe put 20 rounds a year through them. Can't see me changing any time soon.

Have rifles chambered for smaller cartridges that I like to use at the range. Can load one round of a smaller cartridge for the price of one 30 caliber Partition. Makes for more economical practise. Makes for more practise.

[marky_mark]

Yep
Went down from a
338 rum to 338 lapua
300 wby to 300 win
26 nosler to 6.5x284
378wby to 416 Ruger

Mostly due to different lighter rifles

[shooter12]

Originally Posted by marky_mark

Yep
Went down from a
338 rum to 338 lapua
300 wby to 300 win
26 nosler to 6.5x284
378wby to 416 Ruger

Mostly due to different lighter rifles

X2

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by 270person

I'm going the opposite direction. Wont be long and I'll be whacking gophers with a .416 Rigby.

I know the velocity is a little slower, but a .50 round ball of lead is entertaining on gophers

[huntinstuff]

I only have one rifle

Its a 30-06

I shoot it well and will probably never buy another gun.

If I had no rifle, Id probably buy a 300win mag. ......my son has one and i like the ballistics of it

[Smokinyotes]

I really like packing my 6.5x55 or 257wby but if I’m planning on elk or moose I still take the 300wm.

[waldedw]

When I drop down from my 300 RUM it's usually to my 257 WM, however on occasion I pack my 270 and I have a 6.5 PRC on the way so if it gets here that will be carried for spring bear and probably in the fall also.

[fps plus]

240 wby mag

[heybert]

Shot a 7mm RM for years. Carried a 338 WM and 300 WM also. Now mostly carry my 338 Federal.

[catnthehat]

I never did shoot a " big " magnum for an around rifle ,it was a 6.5x300 WSM with 140 grain bullets ., and they were heavier rifles as well .
The vast majority of cartridges I have hunted with over the years were of the 308 Win class capacity or slightly smaller
Cat

[CNP]

+ no magnums. 7mm08 and 25.06 are my main shooters

[tod p]

It seems a natural progression. Start small in our youth. Go big when we're full of **** and vinegar. Then back off in our later years. And that's not necessarily based on an aversion to recoil. It's often a simple recognition of the efficiency of the smaller cartridges and a realization that they would have been perfectly adequate for the vast majority of the hunting we did throughout our lifetimes.

[Salavee]

Any and all SAAMI recognized cartridges that can claim the 30-06 case as a parent are plenty good enough for me. Ditched the powder hungry magnums years ago and don't miss them one little bit.

[bsmitty27]

Left a 7mm rem mag, for the euro 6.5's and 7's. Dont miss it.
If I need a rifle that allows me to shoot further, then I need to hunt better!

[Nyksta]

Originally Posted by bsmitty27

Left a 7mm rem mag, for the euro 6.5's and 7's. Dont miss it.
If I need a rifle that allows me to shoot further, then I need to hunt better!

exactly

[1100winger]

The 300 WM was my only rifle for 25 years - but having a gunsmith in the family sent me down a path of investigation. Still have the 300 and have a heavy 9.3 as well but more and more practice and hunting has been done with a 6.5 Swede, 7x57 AI, and a custom mauser 280. The 280 has been the most prolific game getter in the last 3-5 years. I think the biggest difference is the quality and selection of bullets available, there is a mono or bonded bullet available for every caliber. The terminal ballistics are quite different now hunting with a 160 RN for the 6.5 compared to a 140 solid. Once I dial in a handload for the 280 - the others will become range rats and gun safe queens. My benchmark is the 300 - it has been a one shot game getter and that's what I expect of the lighter rifles too.

[Stinky Coyote]

i did the cycle also, no magnums for awhile, no magnum rifle cartridges planned going forward, wouldn't rule out a .357 magnum in a carbine rifle though

[kingrat]

Did a cycle started with 270win, than 300 wthby,
338-378 wthby, now 300wsm and love my sons 270wsm.
And am starting to fall in love with the wife's 7mm-08.

[Dean2]

First big game rifle of my own was 300 WM, had about 6 that I sold once I got over 2500 rounds on them. When Remington brought out the BDL in LH I went to the 7 RM mag because it didn't come in 300 WM. Shot that quite a while then went to the 7 RUM. Owned everything from 460 Bee to 17 H as well but almost all of my hunting was with a Magnum of some sort, 300, 7, 375 were the main ones. I did use a 45-70 extensively for bear control and while not a true magnum it is by every measure except name. Except for the 257 Bee and 7 RUM all of those other magnums are actually quite efficient.

About 15 years ago I got a real lightweight NULA with a 21" barrel. I ordered it in 308 because there was no way I wanted to shoot a short barreled 300 or 7 mag. Kind of a waste to use a lot of powder and not enough barrel. I really like that gun and it gets used a lot because it is so light and handy with the short barrel. I still take the 257 Bee, and 7 RUM out on occasions where I won't be walking all that far and when their 26" barrel aren't a handicap.

To me I still see no real downside to the common magnums, especially if you hand load.