What magnum do you suggest for a teen?

[RadSav]

Manufacturer is a bit optimistic with their numbers.  While the tip may split at 1,800 it doesn't often exceed bore diameter at such speeds.  Bigger diameter bullets like those of the 338 and 375 seem to be better at low velocities.  But none should be considered highly effective at velocities less than 2,200. 

My Dall sheep I killed with my bow was shot earlier that day with a Barnes TTSX at 425 yards from a 7 RemMag.  diaphram, lungs and bullet was just under the hide behind the far shoulder.  Didn't seem all that much worse for wear.  Though I rushed the stalk, got busted and would have never gotten him had he not been hurting.

I've seen similar issues in California when guys have used .270 cal Barnes for exotic goat and sheep.  Those certainly aren't the solid beef sticks a large muledeer or elk is, but it does challenge the manufacturers claim of minimum useful velocity. The more solidly built hogs I've seen taken at closer ranges where velocities have been (I'm guessing) around 2,600 to 2,400 fps were a different story.  The Barnes simply hammered the bageeses out of them! 

Bearpaw Jr. has a video on the Bearpaw Outfitters website where she shoots a moose with the 257 Wby and Barnes bullets at reasonably long range.  He pounds him with a few shots, but you can tell he is pretty much toast after the first shot!  I'd guess impact velocity was near 2,400   Cool video.  If you haven't seen it yet it's worth checking out.

[wildweeds]

It's not labled as a magnum but I'd say 26 Nosler would be worth a try.

[RadSav]

It's not labled as a magnum but I'd say 26 Nosler would be worth a try.

I have not seen any 26 Nosler factory ammo yet.  Anyone know what that stuff is going for yet?  Anyone shot the gun?

[huntnphool]

It's not labled as a magnum but I'd say 26 Nosler would be worth a try.

I have not seen any 26 Nosler factory ammo yet.  Anyone know what that stuff is going for yet?  Anyone shot the gun?

 Jerry has one, maybe he has shot it by now.

[snowpack]

I'd go with a .416 Barrett.  You're young enough to haul that around without much pain.

[wildweeds]

Not sure about any availability but the early reviews I read about it's ballistics and range really sparked my interest,especially the 1250 ft lbs of smack down at 800 yards.

It's not labled as a magnum but I'd say 26 Nosler would be worth a try.

I have not seen any 26 Nosler factory ammo yet.  Anyone know what that stuff is going for yet?  Anyone shot the gun?

[yorketransport]

It's not labled as a magnum but I'd say 26 Nosler would be worth a try.

I haven't played with the 26 Nosler, but the 6.5 Badger that I've been playing with is a ton of fun. The Badger is like a 26 Nosler +P.

For all of you guys offering "reasonable" advice, you're ruining this game for all of us! The goal here is to help boost the economy by convincing him to buy something new.

Andrew

[WoodlandShooter]

Not sure about any availability but the early reviews I read about it's ballistics and range really sparked my interest,especially the 1250 ft lbs of smack down at 800 yards.

It's not labled as a magnum but I'd say 26 Nosler would be worth a try.

I have not seen any 26 Nosler factory ammo yet.  Anyone know what that stuff is going for yet?  Anyone shot the gun?

hmmm well, according to my dope, a 150NABLR at 2900 MV carries exactly 1242 Foot Pounds at 800 yards. I am using a slightly Modified Pesja Excell Spreadsheet

oh and with a 200 yard zero, it has dropped 133.8 inches, or 23.25 MOA (standard atmospheric conditions)

2.6 MOA for a 5 MPH wind at full value

it looks like a 270 Winny could do exactly what he wants.

[WoodlandShooter]

Just thinin pout loud here.

I live on the wet side of the state, most of my hunting is actually done with my 12 gauge, and my last deer was shot under 75 yards with a 3" mag slug.

The woods are so stinking thick, that my 270 is almost worthless especially when it gets foggy. at that point I may drop to my 6.8 SPC AR-15, or if I walk over into the BattleGround unit, I will just grab the shotgun.

If I was hunting the dry side, then I may look at a longer shot than 100 yards for actual hunting

[KFhunter]

Just thinin pout loud here.

I live on the wet side of the state, most of my hunting is actually done with my 12 gauge, and my last deer was shot under 75 yards with a 3" mag slug.

The woods are so stinking thick, that my 270 is almost worthless especially when it gets foggy. at that point I may drop to my 6.8 SPC AR-15, or if I walk over into the BattleGround unit, I will just grab the shotgun.

If I was hunting the dry side, then I may look at a longer shot than 100 yards for actual hunting

99% of my WT deer were shot under 100 yards

[jasnt]

Just thinin pout loud here.

I live on the wet side of the state, most of my hunting is actually done with my 12 gauge, and my last deer was shot under 75 yards with a 3" mag slug.

The woods are so stinking thick, that my 270 is almost worthless especially when it gets foggy. at that point I may drop to my 6.8 SPC AR-15, or if I walk over into the BattleGround unit, I will just grab the shotgun.

If I was hunting the dry side, then I may look at a longer shot than 100 yards for actual hunting

99% of my WT deer were shot under 100 yards

Same here. I just like shooting long range. Now my bear grounds is another story 400-600 yards is the norm

[snowpack]

Just thinin pout loud here.

I live on the wet side of the state, most of my hunting is actually done with my 12 gauge, and my last deer was shot under 75 yards with a 3" mag slug.

The woods are so stinking thick, that my 270 is almost worthless especially when it gets foggy. at that point I may drop to my 6.8 SPC AR-15, or if I walk over into the BattleGround unit, I will just grab the shotgun.

If I was hunting the dry side, then I may look at a longer shot than 100 yards for actual hunting

99% of my WT deer were shot under 100 yards

If I thought I'd never see an animal beyond 100 yards again, I'd be carrying the old .45-70 or .30-30 Win.  But when I do carry something like that...it doesn't fail--I come across a big meadow/avalanche chute/slide/river bar/canyon/clearcut and some animal is out strutting around 300 yds without a care.

[Bofire]

  The other thing about a flat shooter and good scope for the west side is you can have a 100 yard shot but it is at a small part of the animal or thru a small hole in the brush, in bad light, rain and crap.
Carl

[bearpaw]

My wtb:300 rum topic seemed to spark a lot of conversations and opinions. So let's continue it here boys! To answer questions I am:6'1 195 lbs , almost 18, varsity football player. Proficient marksmen. I already have 3 270's and am looking for more power & powder . Tell me what you think about me getting a magnum rifle, and what it should be  .

Since you've got three 270's and no magnum sell a 270 and buy your magnum rifle. If you get the right make it will be guaranteed 1moa or less accuracy out of the box. If you get a Wthby Vanguard II then it will only cost you a few more dollars than you will get for the 270. 

The actual differences between most magnums is pretty minimal, if you are buying loaded ammunition then stick to what's the most affordable to shoot. The more you shoot that gun the better you will shoot it. As I mentioned before, if you buy loaded ammunition I'd get a 7mm Rem or 300 Win Mag since ammo is very affordable for either. I would get that caliber in the Vanguard II for an excellent affordable choice with guaranteed .99 or better moa accuracy. You might want to learn to reload then you can afford to shoot any of the new exotic magnums because cartridge cost will then be a minimal factor.   

FYI: http://www.weatherby.com/vanguardseries2/
7mm Rem. Mag. $489...24"...7 1/4 lbs...blued
.300 Win. Mag. $489...24"...7 1/4 lbs...blued
7mm Rem. Mag...$689...24"...7 1/4 lbs...stainless
.300 Win. Mag...$689...24"...7 1/4 lbs...stainless

I've always been told that 1000 ft/lbs is preferable for clean kills on elk/ bear size game, 700 for deer and 250 for coyote. I've always used that as a guide for range limits,also my ability to keep it under moa.

Im sure rad will have a much better answer. But this is what I've used as guide lines for me

You also want the velocity to open the bullet.  I shoot TSX and they need 1,800 fps.

I think you need at least that much speed for the Barnes, for the larger calibers (338ish as an example) I think you need more speed to open a Barnes. As much as I like the TTSX for an all around hunting bullet I believe there are better bullets for extreme long range hunting. For long range a lot of guys seem to like the bergers. Honestly, there doesn't seem to be a perfect bullet for all ranges, I think a guy is best to have at least two types of bullets that shoot well in your gun.

The foot lb minimums mentioned are probably close as a good general rule of thumb. However, a gut shot bear/elk/moose with 1500+ lb energy may never be found whereas a spinal shot with half that energy will take down the same animal immediately which illustrates the importance of shot placement.

Manufacturer is a bit optimistic with their numbers.  While the tip may split at 1,800 it doesn't often exceed bore diameter at such speeds.  Bigger diameter bullets like those of the 338 and 375 seem to be better at low velocities.  But none should be considered highly effective at velocities less than 2,200. 

My Dall sheep I killed with my bow was shot earlier that day with a Barnes TTSX at 425 yards from a 7 RemMag.  diaphram, lungs and bullet was just under the hide behind the far shoulder.  Didn't seem all that much worse for wear.  Though I rushed the stalk, got busted and would have never gotten him had he not been hurting.

I've seen similar issues in California when guys have used .270 cal Barnes for exotic goat and sheep.  Those certainly aren't the solid beef sticks a large muledeer or elk is, but it does challenge the manufacturers claim of minimum useful velocity. The more solidly built hogs I've seen taken at closer ranges where velocities have been (I'm guessing) around 2,600 to 2,400 fps were a different story.  The Barnes simply hammered the bageeses out of them! 

Bearpaw Jr. has a video on the Bearpaw Outfitters website where she shoots a moose with the 257 Wby and Barnes bullets at reasonably long range.  He pounds him with a few shots, but you can tell he is pretty much toast after the first shot!  I'd guess impact velocity was near 2,400   Cool video.  If you haven't seen it yet it's worth checking out.

We've killed at least three moose with the 257 wtby, I've seen probably 10 bear killed all with one shot, and I killed my cow elk last winter one shot at over 500 yds with my 257. There is a reason it was Roy Weatherby's (the Wthby inventor) favorite cartridge. It's a blast shooting that caliber. (pun intended) But all preferences aside, for a guy shooting factory ammo, I still recommend a guy to buy the 7mm Rem or 300 WM so you can get cheaper ammo and shoot it often. Either of those guns will kill anything you need to kill in North America and will kill most of them at 500 yds or beyond.

It's not labled as a magnum but I'd say 26 Nosler would be worth a try.

I haven't played with the 26 Nosler, but the 6.5 Badger that I've been playing with is a ton of fun. The Badger is like a 26 Nosler +P.

For all of you guys offering "reasonable" advice, you're ruining this game for all of us! The goal here is to help boost the economy by convincing him to buy something new.

Andrew

   Extreme calibers are like a bad gambling addiction.
I thought strongly about getting a 26 Nosler but I reviewed the ballistics and cost then compared them to the 257 and to the 340 Wtby with a 160 gr TTSX at 3400-3500 fps and just could not justify spending what the 26 would cost. It's still tempting whenever I read about the 26 but I am trying to control my addiction. A 264 Win Mag is another excellent and much cheaper option than the 26 Nosler. But I have to admit, the 26 still has that fatal attraction! 

I should add something about cheap all around bullets:
I know they are not perfect but I have seen literally tons of game killed with Remington Coreloks at all types of ranges including a 30/06 on elk at 750ish yards.

[bearpaw]

I would also add that my particular 300 Wtby shoots Remington Coreloks better than any bullet I have found. I've tried reloading all types of bullets but the cheap WalMart 180 gr Remingtons work the best out of that gun so far.   

It's been shot a lot as I loan it more often than any other gun I've owned. One of these days I think I will put a new barrel on it!