I am just about at the end of my tour in the Magnum Nation.
(Back story)
When I started my foray into rifles and hunting it all started with a Model 721 .270. A few deer and some song dogs met there end with that rifle. It worked fine but I always had the desire to step up in ballistics and needed at least a .300 Winchester for the dreaded, barely stoppable, beasts I tracked in the field.
That invincible M70 .300 elevated my level in the animal kingdom. The dreaded beasts understood I was now a hunter to be reckoned with. The critters seemed to shy away a bit more and generally left the area I was in due to my appearance with a .300 magnum.
With the increase in animal toughness and size, a .338 Win magnum was the next logical step. A young cow elk (a foot soldier of the wapiti Forlorn Hope Brigade) dismissed my magnum atmosphere and attempted to charge my position in the woods. At 75 yards one power surge of magnum energy halted her assault and after a retreat of 30 yards she joined other past members of the Forlorn Hope.
As a result of the frontal assault I reevaluated my current situation and in order to better prepare myself for my next field expedition I raised the bar once again and combined forces with a .375 H&H M70.
In order to prepare this rifle and exude my increased magnum aura, a doe hunt was drawn, and set as the first field test. Im sure Im not the only one that feels this way but as far as deer go nothing requires more magnum power than an antlerless deer in eastern Oregon. Needless to say there is a lag in the animal world when you have a new rifle especially a magnum. The critters seem to feel braver and hang around a little longer than they should. The doe, that allowed me to get into range about 150yards, dismissed the .375 H&H magnum and succumbed rather spectacularly to 270 grains of lead and copper.
A 150yd shot in eastern Oregon could easily turn into 1000 yards. I pondered this situation and concluded that a 30-378 Weatherby should cover the distance dilemma. The first trial for this weapon would be mule deer in central Oregon. Of course there are a few trees but the ranges can be great and the 30-378 has that covered. As I glassed and scoured the landscape for a magnum worthy shot a little 4 point buck decided he could sneak past me at 79 yards. The magnum interrupted his escape even though he continued for another 100 yards on adrenalin.
Due to the Mule deer falling out of the magnum research spectrum next up would be a speed goat. Pronghorn hunting is always a long range affair so I could finally get the chance to let the 30-378 stretch its legs. Out on the open plains on the high desert my shot will be long something these magnums are made for, problem was the pronghorn felt my presence and tried to change the game. One was a little slow getting off the meadow and alerted me to the position of the herd. I never thought of hunting antelope in the trees but thats where they went. So when that little buck popped up at 49 yards next to a ponderosa pine the 30-378 stopped him from evolving into a timber goat.
Now in review of my magnum experiences most of my shots on game have been somewhat close range, which helped me identify the next revelation. I need to go bigger, more magnum. A nice little .416 Remington followed me home one day. I am now near the pinnacle of Magnum. One thing I didnt realize is that a .416 emits so much magnum aura the beasts leave the unit before you get there. So while under the stress of lugging around nearly half an inch of bore it dawned on me.
I dont need a MAGNUM to successfully harvest game in Oregon.
So Im back to a 308 win and a 338-06, bases covered.
(Why is that .338 Lapua looking at me?)
(Back story)
When I started my foray into rifles and hunting it all started with a Model 721 .270. A few deer and some song dogs met there end with that rifle. It worked fine but I always had the desire to step up in ballistics and needed at least a .300 Winchester for the dreaded, barely stoppable, beasts I tracked in the field.
That invincible M70 .300 elevated my level in the animal kingdom. The dreaded beasts understood I was now a hunter to be reckoned with. The critters seemed to shy away a bit more and generally left the area I was in due to my appearance with a .300 magnum.
With the increase in animal toughness and size, a .338 Win magnum was the next logical step. A young cow elk (a foot soldier of the wapiti Forlorn Hope Brigade) dismissed my magnum atmosphere and attempted to charge my position in the woods. At 75 yards one power surge of magnum energy halted her assault and after a retreat of 30 yards she joined other past members of the Forlorn Hope.
As a result of the frontal assault I reevaluated my current situation and in order to better prepare myself for my next field expedition I raised the bar once again and combined forces with a .375 H&H M70.
In order to prepare this rifle and exude my increased magnum aura, a doe hunt was drawn, and set as the first field test. Im sure Im not the only one that feels this way but as far as deer go nothing requires more magnum power than an antlerless deer in eastern Oregon. Needless to say there is a lag in the animal world when you have a new rifle especially a magnum. The critters seem to feel braver and hang around a little longer than they should. The doe, that allowed me to get into range about 150yards, dismissed the .375 H&H magnum and succumbed rather spectacularly to 270 grains of lead and copper.
A 150yd shot in eastern Oregon could easily turn into 1000 yards. I pondered this situation and concluded that a 30-378 Weatherby should cover the distance dilemma. The first trial for this weapon would be mule deer in central Oregon. Of course there are a few trees but the ranges can be great and the 30-378 has that covered. As I glassed and scoured the landscape for a magnum worthy shot a little 4 point buck decided he could sneak past me at 79 yards. The magnum interrupted his escape even though he continued for another 100 yards on adrenalin.
Due to the Mule deer falling out of the magnum research spectrum next up would be a speed goat. Pronghorn hunting is always a long range affair so I could finally get the chance to let the 30-378 stretch its legs. Out on the open plains on the high desert my shot will be long something these magnums are made for, problem was the pronghorn felt my presence and tried to change the game. One was a little slow getting off the meadow and alerted me to the position of the herd. I never thought of hunting antelope in the trees but thats where they went. So when that little buck popped up at 49 yards next to a ponderosa pine the 30-378 stopped him from evolving into a timber goat.
Now in review of my magnum experiences most of my shots on game have been somewhat close range, which helped me identify the next revelation. I need to go bigger, more magnum. A nice little .416 Remington followed me home one day. I am now near the pinnacle of Magnum. One thing I didnt realize is that a .416 emits so much magnum aura the beasts leave the unit before you get there. So while under the stress of lugging around nearly half an inch of bore it dawned on me.
I dont need a MAGNUM to successfully harvest game in Oregon.
So Im back to a 308 win and a 338-06, bases covered.
(Why is that .338 Lapua looking at me?)
