Knockdown Power

[Curmudgeon]

FYI

 

http://www.gundigest.com/article/truth-behind-knockdown-power

[Jeremy K]

My dad used to tell us as kids that the lack of knock down power excuse was only used by people who couldn't hit where they were aiming.

[Mr VJP]

A firearm is just a tool.  When the right tool is applied to the job, it will get it done, if the shooter is skilled in it's application.  

 

I believe the correct firearm for deer is one that has enough energy, behind a properly constructed bullet, but not so much recoil that it makes accuracy difficult. There are many that fit this description.

 

If you want knock down power, a 1955 Buick traveling at highway speed, will do it every time.

[gjs4]

Some due better than other but as stated it is the operator who matters most. Then again my savage ml w 300gr Barnes 458 or my 257 weatherby mag seem to hit whitetails ether hammer of Thor kind of force

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[eagle rider]

I have a friend who believes the bigger the better. He's a big 45/70 guy. His motto is why hit a deer with a fly swatter when you can drive a Buick into them instead. Interesting thought process. Then take a minute and think about how many Northeastern deer have been hung on poles using a 30/30 Win. Not exactly a powerhouse round by any measure but enough voodoo to take a deer. I am pretty much a 30-06 guy. I have yet to see a deer take a second step from any 'aught 6. If they do it's never more then one or two followed by a face plant. By no means a steam roller of a round but ample enough to do the job and just about anyone can deal with the recoil. Aside from that I know out west guys use a lot of 25-06 and the 270 variations with great results. I can't knock the 270. My first few deer were with shot with a 270 Win Browning A-Bolt that I still have an hunt with from time to time. I think upwards of a ton of energy with a quality bullet in the forward 1/3 of a deer and your gonna need your drag rope.

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[NFA-ADK]

Simply put all the deer I shot and did not recover where all from user error.  If I would have put the arrow or bullet in the right spot it would have worked.  .  Funny how I have missed easy shots with the bow and high powered 30-06, 308 and 30-30 yet for some reason the 44 Mag has yet to miss. 

 

Funny how I can easily put quarter sized holes with guns and shoot very well with the bow yet still manage to mess up shots.  Another reason we celebrate so much when everything actually does come together.

 

I guess I am the opposite of using knock down power because the arrows and 44 mag are not exactly in the knock down power range.  Many even consider the 30-30 underpowered yet with even a long bow most any game in NY can be taken.  Shot placement is key.

[Elmo]

I'm not knocking the 30-30 as I think it is a capable round but you can't bring up how many deer were taken in the past without almost bringing up the possibility of how many were lost and wounded. Hunting prior to the later parts of this century wasn't the most ethical.

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Edited August 17, 2015 by Elmo

[Jaeger]

As Finn Aagaard put it, the difference on plains game and not in theory of any cartridge from 7x57 through the big medium bore magnums is exactly nill.  It's where you place it that counts.

 

I still like fat and slow (kinda like me!) over light and fast.  But that's just my gut preference.

[dbHunterNY]

it's a very touchy subject.  I know good deer hunters that swear by if you don't use a 200+ gr bullet (not so much mag powder charge) then you're crazy.  I guy I know shot through an iron wood tree with his 338-06 and still had the bullet go through the deer and drop it.  that said i'll still roll into the woods with my 30-06 or 30-30,150gr bullet, and not think twice.

[Mr VJP]

I feel the choice of cartridge should be determined more by the hunting conditions, than the game hunted.  The type of terrain, as well as the distance shots will be taken, requires consideration.  You need enough energy, in a properly constructed bullet, to perform correctly when it hits the target.  Small caliber bullets at high speed, aren't an optimal fit for close range woods hunting.  And a flat shooter, retaining energy at distance, will be a better choice for long shots than a big, slow moving bullet.  

 

I like to examine the conditions, then decide what options I have.  Every option will have a number of advantages, as well as disadvantages.  My choice will be decided by the round that has the most advantages, and the least amount of disadvantages, when the moment to pull the trigger arrives.

 

I realize many hunters must limit the number of firearms they have, for various reasons.  Those hunters do well to select a rifle that will be adequate for all the hunting they do.  The trouble with having few options to choose from is, no matter what firearm is selected, it is always some what of a compromise.  In this case, choosing the one with the least amount of compromise for most of the hunting done, will be the best choice.

 

If you really get into it, making a good choice requires quite a bit of consideration and should not be decided without giving it a lot of thought.  Not doing so seems to be the major reason many hunters go from firearm to firearm, seeking to find the one that really satisfies them.

[Huntscreek]

My 3 choices that I like are the flat shooting 270 for range, the 30-06 All around use, and the 30/30 for short shooting. The most important thing with any gun is shot placement and practice. A lot of deer are killed using less gun but these are the ones I use often.

270 150gr 100yd 2585FPS 2226FTlbs

 

30-06 150gr 100yd 2607FPS 2263FTlbs

 

30/30 150gr 100yd 2019FPS 1357FTlbs