Posted: 12/18/2009 3:26:07 PM EDT
So I'm totally ignorant on the subject, forgive me here, but I'm curious to know why some big game takes such a big round to drop. Yeah, that sounds stupid, but let me rephrase. I've overheard people say things like, .308/30-06/7mm is big enough for any animal in North America. Elk are pretty big, as are bison. Moose are bigger! Bears! Elephants aside, how much bigger is a cape buffalo (or other African animals) that it would need something like 575 H&H? I'm not trying to start any debates here, I'm just genuinely curious having never done any hunting (hope to change that soon). Thanks guys 
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Most anything in North America can be killed with a .22lr. However, whereas the object with self-dfense shootings is to stop an aggressor, the object in hunting is to cleanly and rapidly kill the animal, in such a fashion as to make it easy to recover - this means either putting it down instantly, or ensuring a nice heavy blood-trail to track. As such, most people will use a caliber that's a bit excessive for hunting big game. I've shot plenty of deer with a bow and arrow, seen them shot with big magnums up to .338 Winchester, and most everything else in between. Honestly, a well-hit animal doesn't take much 'killing'. However, it's nce to have a bit of extra in case of marginal shots.
YMMV, and you have no idea what a complex subject you're just hit on. |
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I think it is the fact that Lions, Cape Buffalo, Rhinos, etc will attack if injured and see no other way out. Much like a Mama moose. I wouldn't want to hunt a female moose with a "barely big enough" caliber. Especially if she had calves(although I assume the seasons fall where she shouldn't have calves if you are hunting the cows).
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