86er wrote:I am gathering some information to make comparisons and conclusions in conjunction with my 1000 Tags Filled data booklet. If you have ever shot a big game animal with a cartridge or muzzleloader tool and either never found it or found it at such a later time that it was completely ruined please respond with: animal - cartridge - any component or ballistic info.
[snip]
Whitetail deer - 30/30 Win - 160 gr Hornday LeverEvolution
Whitetail deer - 30/30 Win - 160 gr Hornady LeverEvolution
Feral Hog - 30/30 Win - 170 gr Speer Hot Core (2170 fps).
Thanks!
Joe,
In looking over the data contained in your book, it seems to me that the
range at which the game was shot is a critical factor in gauging its effectiveness, owing to the way it penetrates and/or expands with the remaining energy from whatever range the animal is hit.
I was surprised at a few calibers, overall, when I ran some numbers from your stats.
For instance, the .270 Winchester (which I have always considered one of the best wide range American game calibers, a la Jack O'Connor's writings) and the data for .25-06 really disappointed me.
The 35 Remington stats were limited for the game I am interested in, but it appears that it looks to be a better game getter for what we have around here, within its range, than the far more popular (in these parts) 30-30. However, the numbers don't show it because of a 100 yard traveler that skewed the 6 other entries for Hog, White Tail and Mule Deer.
The .308 underwhelmed me as a deer and hog round; at least with the choices made by the many shooters represented in these stats - compare its effectiveness with the 30-30 for one shot stops.
And the 7mm-08 looks like a terrific game round.
I realize that the following averages take in a wide variety of game, bullet weights, and distances at which the game was harvested (or lost). One can only assume that at least some degree of common sense must be used in selecting the appropriate range and game for each caliber shown; and this particular data was taken from your guided hunts. In the one or two instances that the game was "Unrecovered," I ascribed a 100 yard distance traveled for that data.
The ideal, of course, is Zero yards traveled after your quarry has been hit. Here are some examples from your book, ALL game shot at - Caliber / AVERAGE distance traveled (Yds) after being shot -
12 Ga. Slug / 28.75
20 Ga. Slug / 15
223 Rem / 47.25
25-06 / 62.62
270 Win / 50.24
30-06 / 48.55
30-30 / 47.61
308 Win / 61.27
35 Rem / 29.83
7mm Rem Mag / 33.11
More relevant to my game of interest - Hog, White Tail Deer, Mule Deer
Caliber / Avg Yds Traveled / Avg Range Shot
12 Ga. Slug / 15 / 50
20 Ga. Slug / 8.34 / 66.67
223 Rem / 53.63 / 91.82
25-06 / 67.91 / 114.33
270 Win / 76.07 / 106.14
30-06 / 53.15 / 100.91
30-30 / 52.63 / 80.40
308 Win / 64.85 / 88
- - (Surprise. Stats show lots of 100 yd shots, but same with 30-30!)
35 Rem / 43.57 / 96.43
- - (Skewed? - there was one of 7 that ran 100 yds)
45-70 / 7.5 / 80.63
7mm Rem Mag / 28.21 / 118.93
7mm-08 / 27.89 / 90.79
Since we are talking about CALIBERS and not individual bullets and their configurations, I recognize that certain observations are quite general, and that one really great bullet that is always adequately placed usually results in a totally successful shot. Nevertheless, given the whole gamut of data, one can see why the .30-30
in general is such a good choice for harvesting deer sized animals at 100 yards or a little less, especially with its light recoil and weight. I am even more impressed with its .35 caliber levergun cousin. But if you are experienced with the heavier push on your shoulder, ya gotta love the "dead right now" .45-70 in a good levergun at 50-100 yard ranges! Note that in these deer and hog stats, the average distance that the game was shot rarely exceeds 100 yards; a range quite comfortable to the levergun calibers.