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I can see why the military chooses the cartridges they do. Cost, weight, weapon design, weapon cost, and somewhere way down the line...performance.
What I don't get is why hunters care what the military carries. In every martial bullet diameter, there is a civilian option that is more capable. I can see having some rifles and pistols that shoot common ammo like 9mm or 5.56, but those arent my hunting rifles.
When I choose a hunting cartridge, I will generally make it "mission specific". If shots are going to be 25 to 200 yards, I guess it doesn't matter if you choose Something like a 308. If its 200 to 400 yards or further, why not put more steam behind it?
Ammo is cheaper when you buy NATO stuff. Thats an argument I always hear. But, out of all the crap you buy for a hunt, the ammo is the cheapest! Why lob 175gr matchkings out of a 308 at mule deer accross a canyon (which I dont recommend, but everyone seems to hunt with target bullets these days) when you can use something that takes some of the guesswork out it?
The next thing I hear is "shot placement". I agree. If a 308 has two feet of drop at 400 yards with a 200 yard zero, you're gonna have to hold well over the back or rely on turrets or a BDC. Wouldnt it be easier to place shots by using a cartridge with a 1/3 less drop that lets you hold on hair or just a little daylight over the backline?
What I don't get is why hunters care what the military carries. In every martial bullet diameter, there is a civilian option that is more capable. I can see having some rifles and pistols that shoot common ammo like 9mm or 5.56, but those arent my hunting rifles.
When I choose a hunting cartridge, I will generally make it "mission specific". If shots are going to be 25 to 200 yards, I guess it doesn't matter if you choose Something like a 308. If its 200 to 400 yards or further, why not put more steam behind it?
Ammo is cheaper when you buy NATO stuff. Thats an argument I always hear. But, out of all the crap you buy for a hunt, the ammo is the cheapest! Why lob 175gr matchkings out of a 308 at mule deer accross a canyon (which I dont recommend, but everyone seems to hunt with target bullets these days) when you can use something that takes some of the guesswork out it?
The next thing I hear is "shot placement". I agree. If a 308 has two feet of drop at 400 yards with a 200 yard zero, you're gonna have to hold well over the back or rely on turrets or a BDC. Wouldnt it be easier to place shots by using a cartridge with a 1/3 less drop that lets you hold on hair or just a little daylight over the backline?
