Do you need a magnum rifle?

[mkm]

I think hunting women and children is illegal in most parts of the country!

 

Just kidding pal!

 

Time for bed...

In what part is it not illegal?   

And, don't we spend most of our lives "hunting" women? 

[Timothy]

In what part is it not illegal?   

Newark, NJ...

 

[mkm]

Newark, NJ...

 

Learn something new every day.

[bodean87]

i personally dont care what others think I need to hunt with. Soemtimes I get the urge to use a 300 win mag with 110 v-max at around 3700 fps for coyotes. But then again the next day I might use a 223 for deer. just pick your flavor and hunt.

[CJS3]

I think magnums are overkill for most of North America. If I was hunting mountainous terran, with long range shots the norm, then I'd probably want one. But for the areas I hunt, 30-06 is more than enough.

If you got it, and you're happy with it, enough said.

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

My recommendation to people is handle guns, and find one that is comfortable.  Next is to shoot guns, and shoot the most powerful you can comfortably shoot.  

All of that said there are sizes, both large and small, that are the limits for game.  I know many people take a lot of deer with .22 centerfire.  However I wouldn't go below .270.  Heavier bullet is more what I'm looking at over diameter.  The other end of the spectrum is looking at a sub 100 yard shot with .30 caliber.  Do you really need a magnum?  And as you shorten the range will a magnum actually add speed that does not allow even the best bullet to expand and do its job?  For most game in the contiguous 48 I feel a .30-06 or .308 would be the best all around.  I have often wondered what would happen in our under 200 yard hunting if we could get a 180 grain .270    (Not having to having the last name Gresham and worrying about sponsor money I can ask stupid stuff like that)

[MAUSERMAN]

Myself, I've never had to use anything bigger than 8mm Mauser. 

[fightingquaker13]

Why 180 grain? I have yet to met a deer or hog that I couldn't drop in one shot from a .270 Ruger M77 with 130 grain Remington soft points, and the total is probably around thirty. That's not bragging on me as a marksman, as`I don't like to shoot over 100 yards for personal reasons (just what makes the game fun to me, you play it your way). Still the rifle and el cheapo cartridge works well. If elk were on the menu, I'd be right there with you with the 30-06 and 180 grains. Hell, the only reason I own a .270 rather than an '06 is because that's what the gun shop had in the day I chose to buy, and I didn't think there was anything in Texas it wouldn't kill.

Lets get back to the OP. Do you want a magnum for TACTICAL, not hunting purposes? Well, what is a magnum? Its basically a way to get more powder than normal behind a standard grade bullet be that 7mm, .38 (.357 mag), .44 (.44 mag), .30 (.300 win mag) etc. Why do you do that? You do it for greater velocity and more foot pounds delivered. But do you need it? Tactically, you are looking at taking down a 200 pound mammal inside of 500 yards unless you are playing in a whole different leauge (hell, playing a dfferent sport) than most of us. Surveys says no, you don't need one. Will .300 mag or 7mm mag work as a sniper weapon? Hell yes. Will you get the same results with less bang and recoil with .308 or .270, or .762x54? Pretty much. So unless you want to shoot far and flat, which means a small bullet and lots of powder, leave the mags alone. If you need this, the not so pacifist Quaker would suggest a 7mm mag, .300 Win mag and .338 Lapua in reverse order. Otherwise, I think my 130 grain .270s are enough to keep someone off the lawn and venison in the freezer.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

Never shot a .243 but according to NH game laws .223 is big enough for our 200 Lb white tails. And while I would not do it I know of several old time poachers that swore by 22LR.

BODEAN, you obviously made the same mistake I did and answered the title of the thread.
Listen to the podcast he linked. It's not about "Do people need magnum rifles", the point is" is it sensible to kill mosquito's with a cannon".

FQ, listen to the podcast before you start pontificating. He's talking about for hunting, Where did you wander off into all this tactical and gaming crap ?

[fightingquaker13]

Never shot a .243 but according to NH game laws .223 is big enough for our 200 Lb white tails. And while I would not do it I know of several old time poachers that swore by 22LR.

BODEAN, you obviously made the same mistake I did and answered the title of the thread.
Listen to the podcast he linked. It's not about "Do people need magnum rifles", the point is" is it sensible to kill mosquito's with a cannon".

FQ, listen to the podcast before you start pontificating.

I was listening to the OP. Reread FAs post. The podcast was spot on. FA saidf he wasn't a hunter and wanted advice for tactical stuff. I addressed the podcast and M58's very good points in thefirst part. The second was devoted to the OP. Do you need a magnum in tactical applications? My less than expert opnion is that inside of 500 yards the answer is no. No pontificating, just answering a question to the best of my ability.
FQ13