Wide Heavy Bullets Best? Vote Here
Wide, heavy bullets. Are they better at anchoring game than lighter, faster bullets? We want to know and you can help us find out. Give us your opinion based on your hunting experiences.
Hunters have been debating the terminal efficacy of large caliber, wide, heavy bullets at relatively modest velocities versus narrower, lighter bullets at higher velocities for more than 100 years. Big bores versus small bores. Hydrostatic shock (read about it here) versus momentum and penetration (read about it here.) It’s the old O’Connor versus Keith argument. Surely, by now, the court must be ready to hand down a majority opinion.
Your Opinion on Wide, Heavy Bullets Is As Valuable As Anyone's
Since you are a hunter, you are a qualified judge. Your opinion counts as much as anyone else’s, so please cast your vote in the COMMENTS section at the end of this short article. You may simply write Wide and Heavy or Light and Fast. Or you may elaborate by including anecdotes or explaining why you believe what you believe. Here's your chance to educate the rest of us!
Photo shows big, heavy bullets atop 45-70 and 450 Marlin cartridges flanking a light, spire point, fast bullet atop a 30-06.
Don’t go off half cocked, either. Think about it and consider what you’ve observed over the years, both from your own hunts and your friends' hunts. Take shot placement into account, too. Regardless caliber and velocity, a spine/brain hit results in a much different reaction and result than a paunch hit.
Think Before You Shoot Wide Heavy Bullets (In Your Voting)
Think 45-70 Govt. versus 257 Weatherby. Think Sierra's 220-grain Round Nose at 2,500 fps versus Nosler's 150-grain AccuBond spire point at 3,000 fps in the 30-06. Wide, heavy bullets at modest velocity or smaller caliber, lighter bullets at higher velocity? What has worked better for you? What would you choose if the chips were down and you had to put venison over the fire? Yes, you can include in your deliberations each cartridge/bullet's ability to reach out and get that game. Surely much of the appeal in a lighter, faster bullet is its ability to more easily reach a distant target. And, surely, much of the appeal in a wide, heavy bullet is it’s ability to make a bigger hole or reach vials from a poorer angle. Which do you prefer?
There is no right or wrong answer. We just want to understand what the majority believes. Ifthere even is a majority. Are you on the “fast and furious” bandwagon or the “super heavyweight knockout puncher” bandwagon?
Please comment below. Once your votes are in, I'll write another blog elaborating the results -- and maybe throw in my own opinion.The author has hunted around the world and seen the effects of light, fast bullets as well as slower, heavier bullets on dozens of species including the biggest wild cattle, bears, and pachyderms.
