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All Around Best Deer & Elk Cartridge & Rifle
Hi there I am looking for some advice. After several years I just gave my 7mm Browning A-Bolt to my son-in-law. Now I am looking for a new rifle and not sure what I should get. I really loved how true the 7mm shot however, because it was a magnum round it tended to bruise a lot of meat. I am looking for something that give me a cleaner kill but still be effective at 500 and 600 yards. Any suggestions?
Replies
"Magnum" has little/nothing to do with the amount of bruised meat you see....it's more about the bullet you're using and how it behaves...
Welcome hey.
.338 WM
On that note, what Jayhawker said about trying different bullets to reduce meat damage is also true. I was getting significant meat damage with my 7mm-08 using 140 gr. Nosler AccuBonds at just over 2,750 fps. It turns out that their lead core is particularly soft and prone to opening pretty violently, apparently causing the problem. I moved to a Barnes TTSX in that same gun, shooting at a pedestrian 2,700 fps with a 140 gr. bullet, and got far less damage.
Welcome.
I have to echo CPJ's comments. I don't think the bullet or chambering you use matters that much if it hits a meaty part of the animal, such as the shoulders or hind quarters. Hitting those parts of the animal are going to result in meat damage. Anything in the rib cage, though, should put one down and minimize meat damage. There's other "sweet spots", such as the head or neck, but I don't typically try for them unless I'm confident I can make the shot.
I've used a 7 mag for both deer and elk with good results. I've used other chamberings, too. I've even used different bullets loaded for the same rifle depending on what I'm hunting. All things considered, though, it's all about shot placement in my opinion.
I also limit myself to 300 yards or perhaps a tad longer. 500-600 yards is way out of comfort zone.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
N454casull
I think we're talking two different things. My post was referring to meat damage, which I think is all about shot placement. Actually, I think it's all about shot placement. I poor hit with the right bullet at the appropriate velocity is still not going to result in a clean kill.
For elk, I do prefer the better constructed bullets for elk size animals. Sometimes you just don't make the perfect shot or have the opportunity, and need a bullet that's constructed to hold together if it has to go through bone.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Meat damage though, like already said, is more of a choice in bullet construction and bullet placement.