No, I'm not trolling for an argument, I just want to understand what the 300 Mag in any variety (H&H, Winchester, WSM, etc) is built for. Yeah, I know, elk and moose, but let's break that down a little first. It seems that there should be more to it than just "extra velocity means flatter shooting which means easier to hit at longer ranges." There should be a need for power also.
This kind of came to me recently when a THR member from Alaska gently took a couple of people to task for the opinions of the Lower 48 on what constitutes an adequate Alaska hunting round. He said most folks from Alaska use 30-06, 8mm, or even 30-30, and are generally happy with it. There are times, he concluded, that a .338 would be nice to have around big bears.
Chuckhawks.com attributes to Jack O'Connor the observation that a 180-grain 30-06 would go through both shoulders of a big bear and "kick up dust on the other side." So, I presume, a 300 Mag would kick up even more dust on the other side. Is there a point ot the size of the dust cloud? Maybe the higher velocity actually causes the bullet to expand more in the moose or big bear and thereby not exit? Does the 300 Mag mean extra killing power on game?
If the 300 Mags don't add anything or much to the killing power, what's the point in taking the extra hammering of the recoil?
That's my question: if a 30-06, say, can carry the load up to bears, and that's where you want a .338, what's the use of a 300 Maggie?
Jaywalker
This kind of came to me recently when a THR member from Alaska gently took a couple of people to task for the opinions of the Lower 48 on what constitutes an adequate Alaska hunting round. He said most folks from Alaska use 30-06, 8mm, or even 30-30, and are generally happy with it. There are times, he concluded, that a .338 would be nice to have around big bears.
Chuckhawks.com attributes to Jack O'Connor the observation that a 180-grain 30-06 would go through both shoulders of a big bear and "kick up dust on the other side." So, I presume, a 300 Mag would kick up even more dust on the other side. Is there a point ot the size of the dust cloud? Maybe the higher velocity actually causes the bullet to expand more in the moose or big bear and thereby not exit? Does the 300 Mag mean extra killing power on game?
If the 300 Mags don't add anything or much to the killing power, what's the point in taking the extra hammering of the recoil?
That's my question: if a 30-06, say, can carry the load up to bears, and that's where you want a .338, what's the use of a 300 Maggie?
Jaywalker