Recently, the hunting media has begun to popularize the idea of shooting smaller calibers for big game hunting. Years ago, I wrote an article on whether the 223 Remington was adequate for deer. That said, my opinion has continued to evolve over the years. To be clear, I am not advocating on grabbing a 22 Hornet for your next elk hunt. However, there are many reasons why smaller than traditional cartridges may be suitable for hunting larger game.
Background Context
Before we dive in, lets provide some context to this discussion. First of all, when discussing using smaller cartridges for hunting, we are assuming the use of heavy, polymer tipped, match style projectiles. These are the types of bullets commonly cited by small cartridge advocates. While historically there has been trepidation about match bullets expanding reliably, the polymer tipped match bullets expand violently and consistently. I have hunted with match bullets, specifically Hornady ELD-Ms, and they always expand without issue.
Increased Bullet Weights
One important aspect that traditional cartridge advocates often overlook is that the bullet offerings for a given caliber have increased drastically over the years. For example, it is not uncommon to find 80-90gr bullets for 22 caliber bores. Likewise, the 6mm family of bullets has offerings in the 108-115gr range. Historically, these heavier bullets did not exist in these calibers.
Traditionally, the 243 Winchester is often cited as the minimum appropriate cartridge for deer. A 243 Winchester with a 90gr bullet has been killing deer since the 1950’s. Nowadays, an 88 ELD-M from a 22 Creedmoor is a nearly identical weight bullet at essentially the same muzzle velocity. Furthermore, the 22 Creedmoor bullet will have a higher sectional density, making it likely to penetrate better than the old standby.
Improved Accuracy
Another benefit of going to a smaller caliber for big game hunting is improved accuracy. There are two sources of accuracy improvements when moving to a smaller cartridge. First of all, there is a mechanical advantage to shooting a smaller cartridge in an equal weight rifle. Secondly, rifles with less recoil are easier to shoot. Before we look at the human side of the equation, let’s delve into the mechanical.
Mechanical Advantages
Brian Litz has done some excellent research in this field and has developed his TOP theory of rifle accuracy. Through the use of high speed cameras, Litz has been able to show that the rifle begins to recoil before the bullet has exited the barrel. Litz has been able to empirically show that larger cartridges are predictably less accurate than smaller cartridges when the rifle system weight remains the same. On the average, dropping down in caliber will give you a more accurate rifle.
Shooter Advantages
The other accuracy benefit is that smaller cartridges are easier for the shooter to handle. Good shooters can minimize this difference off the bench. However, in field positions with time constraints this benefit becomes more apparent. Even great shooters will shoot better with a lighter recoiling rifle, all else equal. If you don’t believe me, try for yourself! Run a shooting drill with a magnum rifle and then shoot it again with a 223 Remington. The results may surprise you.
There is also an economic benefit to using small calibers for big game hunting. Smaller cartridges are cheaper to reload, as they burn less powder than their bigger counterparts. Coupled with the low recoil this allows for longer practice sessions and more rounds down range. This is imperative in developing practical shooting skills. Another benefit is spotting impacts and misses is also easier with a lower recoiling rifle.
Retained Velocity
Retained velocity is another advantage to using small calibers for big game hunting. Earlier, we touched on the fact that modern bullets tend to be heavier for caliber than older designs. In conjunction with being heavier, they have much higher ballistic coefficients. This means that they buck the wind and retain velocity better than the bullets of yore.
A classic example is that people will scoff at shooting at elk with a 6.5 Creedmoor. The same people will consider a 308 Winchester completely adequate. However, when you crunch the numbers, these two cartridges extremely similar at typical hunting ranges. On a 300 yard shot, a 6.5 Creedmoor with a 147 ELD-M is going 2323fps while a 308 Winchester with a 150gr Corelokt is only going 2009fps. The Creedmoor will buck the wind better, have a higher sectional density, and is hitting the target going over 300fps faster. Unless you think the 3 grains of bullet weight are going to make the difference, it’s hard to argue that one is ethical and the other is not.
Closing Thoughts
In closing, modern bullets are have terminal results that are similar to older designs that are several calibers larger. Additionally, they are doing so with better retained velocity, less wind drift, higher sectional densities, and lower recoil than their historical counterparts. Modern 6mm cartridges when paired with the right bullet are capable of creating the same wound channels as the older 6.5s and quarter bores. Likewise, well designed 6.5s leave nothing on the table compared to traditional 30 caliber options.
At the end of the day, cartridge selection is a personal choice. For many hunters, being willing to look past the headstamp and carefully select a bullet can yield real, tangible benefits. Keep an open mind, because using small calibers for big game hunting is not as radical as it at first seems.