Big Magnums - Marketing genius?

[huntnphool]

My favorite hunting rifle is a Ruger M77 7MM, not specifically for its "magnum" status but because of its ballistics. I use the 140gr. Nosler Partition and with hand loads its about the flattest shooting rifle I have found.

[GEARHEAD]

I understand the wantingness to go for the big magnums, even though i believe they are not necessary. i shoot a 7mm-08. it has taken 10 deer, four of them over 300 yards, longest was 456 yards, dropped right there. the 7mag has me beat by only 8%. but this 7-08 has the energy to take a deer at 600 yards with half the recoil, (and elk at 350),but who wants to shoot that far anyways, atleast one shouldn't in my opinionated opinion.
an African hunter named Bell,(who i think shot the most Elephant), shot the majority of his Elephant in the head with a 7x57, given the bullets of the day and being a little bit slower than my tiny 7-08, i think thats saying something.
i did however fall for the magnum thing, as i replaced my trusty 06 with a 300wsm. i wanted that short action in a very handy and light rifle i built. i do however plan on loading it to my 06 specs.

[jdb]

Magnums are for men.

men with small wieners

[MAVsled]

over the last 40+ years, I have taken many deer and a good number of bull elk.

My first deer & spike bull elk were with a family heirloom, originally 32-40 cal<or something like that> model 94 winchester converted back in the early 1950's to a 32 winchester special. One shot dropped both animals in their tracks and both were under 100 yards.
25-06 weatherby vanguard did the trick on deer for one season.
My model 100 semi auto .308 winchester was with me for many seasons b4 being retired to the gun vault.
An old style Win featherweight 30-06 was a fine caliber for both deer and elk while in my late 20's/early 30's age range.

but for eastern WA muley and all my elk hunting, you would have to pry my 300 win mag from my dead, cold fingers before I use any other rifle/caliber now. Like Jeremiah Johnson did to Hatchet Jack in the movie  

It is still about shot placement and how much caliber you can shoot accurately, and I don't mean only using bipods or a rest, geez. I took several bull elk on out of state trips in the past...and none on private ranches as I frown upon that. Backwoods wilderness guided or public land DIY is the best, if you are physically able!
In 3 outfitter's elk camps, discussion always occurred around the evening fire about best caliber. What I gathered from several outfitter's opinions versus client Dr's, Lawyers and such; a guy with a 270 was frowned upon, even if he could shoot that caliber accurately. Worse was a guy with a big magnum who couldn't shoot it! Many times I heard around the camp fires of how the guy with the big magnum missed, or the follow up shots needed from a 270. I'm sure the first one couldn't shoot worth a can of beans and the latter didn't get good shot placement.

Funny, those outfitters-guides could always determine which client could hunt-shoot from those who couldn't. I guess the pre-hunt, check the sights shoot (bench rest check and off hand shots) clued them in.
4 bull elk from those trips , all taken with the 300 mag and 3 were one shot kills. The 4th was hit twice, that big bodied 5x6 was on the run at 150 yards with a purpose and that purpose was to get the heck out of there; first shot placed in the heart-lung area but guide said shoot again so I did. After 2nd shot, bull went 80 yards downhill and piled up. Both shots placed in the pocket behind the front shoulder within 4" apart, resulting in a fist sized exit hole.
Man, what a tough bull that one was.

[TeacherMan]

I like big guns what can I say. I also like big trucks, big deer, big beers, almost anything big, I think its part of being an American  . I have killed more deer with my 243 than any of my guns but its like driving a Prius, it works but do you feel like you have the power, no you feel like you are going to roll backwards down every hill you try to climb. My biggest magnum is my 338 ultra, WAY more than I will ever need, the ammo is ridiculous, and that is how I like it 

[Hacksaw]

For some reason Teacherman, the first line of your post made a possible Sir Mix Alot remix start ringing in my ears - "I like big guns and I cannot lie ........"

[catwithboost]

That was good

[WAPITIHUNTER]

For some reason Teacherman, the first line of your post made a possible Sir Mix Alot remix start ringing in my ears - "I like big guns and I cannot lie ........"

  ...................  

[280ackley]

For some reason Teacherman, the first line of your post made a possible Sir Mix Alot remix start ringing in my ears - "I like big guns and I cannot lie ........"

Good one.   

[addicted]

For some reason Teacherman, the first line of your post made a possible Sir Mix Alot remix start ringing in my ears - "I like big guns and I cannot lie ........"

when is the music video going to come out for that one. i hear it has some pretty sweet scope bite.

[dbllunger]

WE NEED THEM AND MORE LIKE THEM AND MORE SMALLER ONES AND SOME IN BETWEEN!!

[CSOUTFITTERS]

You guys all have good arguments why not to use Magnums or the quote (penis extention) ultra mag.  You are probably thinking; great the new guy is going to stirr the pot.   I have most of the calibers you referenced but when i wanted a deer gun i went with the rem .300 ultra mag only because it drops the least at long distances.  Ammo is expensive but when you look at how much a total hunting trip costs or taking an animal $2.50 a round  doesn't bother me.   

Now here is the deal.  Do i think my ultra mag is better than other calibers.  NO, only because Ive seen more nice bucks killed with a inexpensive 30-06 or a .270.  I helped an ol timer kill a monster buck at 438 yds (about a 1/4 mile) and he was using an old savage rifle with a dented simmons scope($300 setup).  He center punched it twice and i thought wow, i guess i dont need a $1500 or a $2500 setup to kill a trophy.  Just goes to show that a good rest, skill and knowing your rifle goes alot farther than inexperience and good gear; Some trophy hunting mags would say otherwise.   

Great to be a part of hunting-washington.  Ive always been a long time reader.  And no im not an Outfitter, my other name BOWHUNTWA would not register

[Bofire]

 :)The term Magnum has no definition. I think more Magnums are sold at store counters with store counter ballistics than anything else, or maybe Bar room ballistics. Get your reloading manuals (several) and factory manuals with published stats. and compare to some chrono work. Study the figures fairly, not comparing the very slowest to the very fastest, average the published numbers and compare(the publishers lie any how)
You will find many Magnums do not perform as well as non-magnums, You will find many Magnums  that perfrom very slightly better than non, and a very few Magnums that really bring anything to the table. The big Magnums 375 and larger, dont need the name, they have big bullets.
Some of the biggest "Bar room" ballistics I hear seem to center around Weatherbys and then the Magnums at or under .33 caliber. I may have heard more claims about 7mmRem than any other magnum. Study the numbers for your self, but study to learn, not to prove your point.  
Carl
ps: Bell mostly used lung shots and waited to "hear them fall".

[Hacksaw]

Come on Bofire, you mean I won't be able to tell the 1.6 inch difference in drop at 400yds between my .280 and my a 7mm Rem Mag. What if I am try to hit one in the eyeball.

[big_bucks]

I was looking at a couple of reloading books awhile back, and noticed most of the popular calibers didn't have a huge difference in performance on average.  That was part of what spurred the post.