Ben Long
Well-known member
If I waved my magic wand and changed the caliber of every rifle used in elk hunting to a 30-06, all else remaining the same, the overall success rate of elk hunters would remain essentially unchanged. True of false?
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True. But why would a less massive bullet be traveling slower? Are you talking muzzle velocity or longer distance impact velocity? I understand what you are saying but the "bigger is better" vs. speed kills argument is not settled science.Force = Mass x Acceleration. A more massive bullet traveling at greater velocity will transfer more energy into what it strikes.
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True. But why would a less massive bullet be traveling slower? Are you talking muzzle velocity or longer distance impact velocity? I understand what you are saying but the "bigger is better" vs. speed kills argument is not settled science.
The OP question is interesting. It's got me wondering. If 30-06 is the middle what's the over under? Are more hunters shooting big magnums or are more guys shooting faster, smaller bullets?
Brutal reality… there are infinite factors that all have some level of affect. That’s why the machine can always sell us on the “newest greatest thing.”I think it would stay the same. There are other factors that influence success way more than the cartridge you are shooting.
I agree.There are so many variables to think about in this case.
That’s what it comes down to. Some people kill elk consistently, some don’t. I bet success rates wouldn’t change very much among the guys who do if you gave them .30-30s with iron sights.I’d guess it would stay about the same. Those that kill elk on the regular will kill elk with whatever you give them, within reason.
What if the cartridge was changed to an excellent long range cartridge, would success go up?Overall I think it would slightly go down. Though, I think if we broke the samples up by different hunting districts or states, in some I think it would go down a larger amount.
It’s possible I am overestimating the amount of folks who engage in “long range” shooting, but I believe the proportion of hunters who do, and to whom a 30-06 would be considered too much a lobbed balistically, increases annually.