I was just reading some old posts and noticed a pattern. I will expand on this further in a moment. I want to preface what I'm getting ready to say by saying that I'm just as guilty as anyone. So before you get upset and think that I'm picking on anyone I'm stating that I'm not.
So heres what I noticed: There seems to be an abundance of threads that start out as a question about one certain caliber. Ie: Is my 270 enough gun to elk hunt with? etc. Then I notice that quite a few of us jump in and tell them that their gun isn't as good as our guns. ie. Your 270 isn't nearly as good as my 30-06 etc. Then someone will be reasonable and state that its enough with proper shot placement. etc.
This leads me to my hypothesis: I think when we talk about cartridges for other people, we are trying to justify our own decisions. Rather than making fair statements. I know that I have said to folks that my 280 rem is the best deer cartridge made. I've said that it is superior to the 270 win,& 30-06. Now this is most certainly my opinion but in no way a matter of fact. I think its easy to fall into the habit of running other calibers down to justify our choices rather than just admit that it is all a matter of choice.
When it all gets boiled down, most all centerfire rifles do the same thing. They propell a projectile at a target. Some are bigger, some are faster, some hit harder, some fly flatter. But heres the rub they all take proper bullet placement. To say that you can take less that ideal shots because you have a ultra mag is just unethical. It may or may not be fair to say that a larger caliber will drop game faster. But heres the rub, I've seen deer shot with a 300 win mag through the vitals that ran 100 yards or more. I've also deer shot with a 243 in the vitals that fell where they stood. Is that to say that one cal. is superior to the other? NO! They are both excellent rounds. They both do what they we're designed to do. Which would I or someone else prefer? I want both! I just might use them for different things. Then the question becomes; Which is best suited for your needs? Do the research and decide for yourself. If we get asked or opinions we should try to use facts rather than hyperbole.
