The baby boomer generation witnessed the birth of the "Magnum Era".  The new enlightened shooter determined that the old 22 Hornet, 222 Remington, 257 Roberts, 30-06 Springfield, 45-70 Springfield and 35 Whelen couldn't cut the mustard.  They heard stories about the 300 and 375 H&H Magnums but not many had seen the long action bolt guns needed to cycle these rounds. Boys dreamed of having one someday.  Most working men couldn't affort one. Then along came Roy Weatherby with his proprietory 270 Weatherby Mag plus a string of others later on (224, 257, 7MM, 300, 30-378, 340, 375, 378 and 460 WM's). Again only the well healed shooter could afford a Weatherby Deluxe rifle.  But then along came Winchester during the "boomers" formative years with the 300 Winchester Magnum, 264 Winchester Magnum and the 458 Winchester Magnums and later Remington with the 7MM Magnum. Now the average guy could afford a Model 70 Winchester or a Model 700 Remington.  Then came the Remington 6.5 MM and 350 Magnums for the short action crowd.  The race was on!  Since bigger was better, Remington brought out the 8MM Remington Magnum and then the Ultra Mags.  Salesmen needed new products so what next?  The "short magnums", of course!  Then the Winchester Super Short Magnums and then the Ruger compact Magnums.  Let's face it, we're a nation of magnum maniacs! 

 

 

BUT, some of the shooters grew older and wiser and found the big magnums do indeed get that bullet downrange faster and with some extra punch but not without a price. That price is excessive recoil and ear splitting blast, especially with the muzzle brakes added to attenuate the recoil.  Most big game guides cringe when they see the client with a muzzle brake on the end of his big magnum's barrel.  Not only were the new magnums loud and kicked more than the standard cartridges, don't forget ruined meat on game animals.  Take a look at a nice big eastern buck shot at 75 yards with a 300 or 7MM Magnum.  Then compare it to one shot with a 30-30 Winchester or a 7x57 Mauser.  You can see the difference in ruined meat. Also some of the new overbore magnums (spelled 257 Weatherby and 264 Winchester) were harder on barrels and accuracy soon diminished as more and more rounds went down the tube. 

 

Now don't get me wrong.  There is a place for magnum rifles, especially out west where the shots are really long.  But for most eastern and southern rifle hunting, Alaska big game hunting and most African plains game hunting you can get along with a lot less.

 

Some of my favorite cartridges are the ubiquitous 30-06 Springfield and 270 Winchester as well as the 6.5x55 Swede and 35 Whelen. The 280 Remington, 7MM-08 Remington and the 257 Roberts are also great cartridges. The 7MM-08 Remington is probably the best deer hunting round ever invented.  Moving up to bigger game like moose, elk and grizzly bear or larger African plains game like Kudu and Eland, cartridges like the 338-06, 35 Whelen and 9.3x62 Mauser can deliver the goods without the big bang and heavier recoil of a magnum round.  With the advent of the new Marlin 1895, the 45-70 Govt is seeing a comeback. Even with low velocity loads (1400 FPS/405 gr bullets) the 45-70 Govt is a hog thumper deluxe and won't detach your retinas when you pull the trigger!

 

Nowadays with the premium bullets from all of the bullet companies (and even some of the old lead/gilding metal jacketed like Interlock, Corelokt and Game Kings) there are fewer reasons to hunt some areas with a magnum.

 

Now before you send us an email and tell us we're idiots, remember there is a place for high velocity, flat shooting magnums.  But remember, most people have no business shooting over 250 yards in the first place and most eastern game is taken at less than 100 yards.

 

I am a little partial to the non-magnums although I do own several magnum rifles from 257 Weatherby to 458 Winchesters.  However, my latest rifle is a 9.3x62 Mauser built on a surplus 98 Mauser action with a 24" Douglas XX barrel stocked in a "wood" (yes, you heard it right, termite food of the walnut variety) stock.  At 2500 FPS with a 250 gr bullet or 2300 FPS with a 286 gr bullet, it is the ticket for nailing the big beastie, especially if going to Alaska.

 

Regardless of what you shoot, give us a call.  If you want a 6.5x55 Swede with a Barnes X bullet or a Nosler Partition, we can make it.  If you want that 300 Weatherby with a special bullet, give us a call.  If you want (and are legally able) to shoot deer with your 22-250 Remington or 220 Swift, call us and we will make you a cartridge with a suitable bullet. (Remember, don't shoot deer with varmint bullets-bad idea and not ethical).

 

If you want to see some ballistic comparisons of your favorite magnum vs a standard round, give us a call or an email and we will run some numbers for you.  YOU BE THE JUDGE. Its your ears, shoulder and wallet!

 

 

Posted May 27, 2010