The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Why magnums for USA, if AK Fish & Game say 30-06 enough?

Dranrab · February 23, 2021, 08:53 AM

Guide Phil Shoemaker often uses a 30-06 as his rifle to back up clients. With a heavy Partition, it will solve problems. I never have had a magnum rifle (not counting 22 and 44) When I lived in Kodiak I used a 30 and 35-06 and a 45-70, certain in the knowledge that if I did my job, they would do theirs.

I often hunted in remote areas with a 243. I had heard the warnings that bears come running to the sound of a shot. That didn't pass my sniff test. All wild animals learn that gunfire means danger and their survival instincts keep them away. If they came running to the sound of the shot, then guides would use a gun shot as a bear call. I am not saying it hasn't happened, I am saying that it is extraordinarily rare. So rare that it's not worth fretting over.

Bullets and placement matter way more than anything else.

February 23, 2021, 08:53 AM	#50
Dranrab Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2016 Location: NOLA Posts: 203	Guide Phil Shoemaker often uses a 30-06 as his rifle to back up clients. With a heavy Partition, it will solve problems. I never have had a magnum rifle (not counting 22 and 44) When I lived in Kodiak I used a 30 and 35-06 and a 45-70, certain in the knowledge that if I did my job, they would do theirs. I often hunted in remote areas with a 243. I had heard the warnings that bears come running to the sound of a shot. That didn't pass my sniff test. All wild animals learn that gunfire means danger and their survival instincts keep them away. If they came running to the sound of the shot, then guides would use a gun shot as a bear call. I am not saying it hasn't happened, I am saying that it is extraordinarily rare. So rare that it's not worth fretting over. Bullets and placement matter way more than anything else.