The pursuit of Ideal

[Jeff H]

IIRC, this is a cast bullet forum. Can't believe how many members use jacketed bullets for hunting. Haven't loaded a jacketed round in over twenty-five years. I take most of my deer with archery tackle. Next would be muzzle loaders using RB. Occasionally, one with a carbine or pistol with cast.

I don't have a 450BM, but a 45 caliber cast bullet is going to make a significant hole, very reliably, whether at ten yards or two hundred, st 1800 fps or 900 fps. I'm surprised I don't read more about people loading these with cast. Why else shoot a 45 other than to take advantage of the large diameter? Copper jackets and plastic tips sell ammo though.

Not picking on anyone's choice of caliber/cartridge. Just thinking in terms of going BIGGER specifically to get away from the need for extra speed needed to make expanding bullets of smaller bores do the job.

 

[MW65]

starting hunting in highschool with a remington 870 and a b square side saddle mount. Thing was crap, gave me a bad case of flinch since then. ...

Have a Yugo 24/47... i have to hold the butt plate away from my shoulder with an air gap. Yeah, recoils like the hind leg of a goat that doesnt want to get milked.

...

Have my own .308 ruger american. It shoots, it works deer. Hate the federal solid copper ammunition. Havent got a deer with any other ammunition in it. Have a case of PPU milspec it shoots poa/poi at 100 yards. Aint changing a thing.

...
Its just that with all the "searching" people have forced on me, by association, the ideal cartridge has actually been the 30-30 with 150 grain bullet. Yet for myself, the unholy issue is that due to a previous arm injury, a lever action is a no go for me...

Sounds like you have had a hunting journey... I'm more of a bird hunter, but have chased after hogs, deer, and elk.

I haven't heard of an air gap working for any firearm... so it doesn't surprise me that the mauser was unpleasant.

It does sound like the ruger american is your winner. Doesn't matter what others suggest.... find what works for you and stick with it.

An rcbs 30-180fp coming out of a savage 99, or rem788, is something that would work for me. Or it could be a cast 265gr out of a 444marlin. My hunting grounds could be deer within a dozen yards, or 100ish yards out near a cut. Or elk busting thru timber like an NFL linebacker thru a bunch of 8 year olds.

Everybody's hunting grounds is different, and typical distance varies. In my Oregonian coast range, everything is super thick, and a long barrel simply doesn't work. In the cascades, things open up a bit, and you have to be ready for some 100-200yard shots.

 

[fiver]

i get some of everything if i choose to do so.
it isn't uncommon for me to have both the 45 Colt carbine and my 25/30-06 in the Truck, and use them both on the same day.
nothing with 4 legs is gonna argue or wander off after taking 250grs behind the shoulder.

 

[Monochrome]

Sounds like you have had a hunting journey... I'm more of a bird hunter, but have chased after hogs, deer, and elk.

I haven't heard of an air gap working for any firearm... so it doesn't surprise me that the mauser was unpleasant.

It does sound like the ruger american is your winner. Doesn't matter what others suggest.... find what works for you and stick with it.

An rcbs 30-180fp coming out of a savage 99, or rem788, is something that would work for me. Or it could be a cast 265gr out of a 444marlin. My hunting grounds could be deer within a dozen yards, or 100ish yards out near a cut. Or elk busting thru timber like an NFL linebacker thru a bunch of 8 year olds.

Everybody's hunting grounds is different, and typical distance varies. In my Oregonian coast range, everything is super thick, and a long barrel simply doesn't work. In the cascades, things open up a bit, and you have to be ready for some 100-200yard shots.

https://oregontrailbullets.com/xcart/30-cal-170g-rnfp-gc-310-100-coun.html

thats the only cast ive shot in my .308. To make it actually chamber when loaded into a cartridge, i have t seat the bullet so that the case mouth is crimped right on the front of the front band. Other wise it wont chamber. And at the same time, the cartridge is "feed one at a time by hand, wont feed through the magazine"