Thread: A question for the doubters

Originally Posted by gimp

What advantage would the .277 actually have to justify the disadvantages?

My .223 loads cost about the same as a 145gr eldx projectile alone. 25% the recoil. I can make 300m headshots and watch the impact through the scope. It kills well.

How many rounds in a session or a year are people shooting with magnums or .270s to build proficiency? The .223 is so cheap to shoot, not even remotely fatiguing, and the barrel life I so long that I consider shooting it basically free. I have a wide range of good bullets I can choose. For a .270, the ELDX might be just about the extent of it? Bergers at $2 apiece?


Hit probability due exterior ballistics is about the same.

Recoil while the bullet is still in the barrel causes poor real-world accuracy. Particularly from any position off a flat range. The more you can reduce that, the better. If people are taking the time to set up solid positions and pick their shots with night guns and getting good results, good work. I'm a bad shot so I'll take all the advantages I can get.

Just wondering if you have ever shot a Jaw of as it does happen.


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At close range (10m) with a 6.5, yes. Tracked for an hour in the dark. Not at a longer range. You have to be very selective about your conditions and position if you are going to do such things.

Cost? That one always surprises me in regard to ammo. You drive out there in your 4wd ($40000 plus $1ish per km) in your flash hunting gear ($700 boots etc) nice rifle plus glass ($5000) bino’s, rangefinder, thermal, and who knows what else and then people buy cheap shitty ammo. Or in this case site a small cost saving in the hunt (not associated paper punching) as a tangible benefit.

Originally Posted by Mararoa

Cost? That one always surprises me in regard to ammo. You drive out there in your 4wd ($40000 plus $1ish per km) in your flash hunting gear ($700 boots etc) nice rifle plus glass ($5000) bino’s, rangefinder, thermal, and who knows what else and then people buy cheap shitty ammo. Or in this case site a small cost saving in the hunt (not associated paper punching) as a tangible benefit.

Sunk costs versus ongoing costs I guess.
I can't make .223 work as a cheaper option than my 6.5CM because the 129gr ammo I favour (on price) is the same price as 75gr match .223 ammo, so no saving at all. If I buy reloading gear in 30 years I might break even...

This conversation seems to have moved to more about the projectile than the cartridge.
Why don't you guys run these big projectiles in something like a 220 Swift or 22 250. And really light them up?

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

This conversation seems to have moved to more about the projectile than the cartridge.
Why don't you guys run these big projectiles in something like a 220 Swift or 22 250. And really light them up?

This is what I am doing, will end up a a bit quicker than a 220 swift but I will limited to the 75 eldm (maybe 80) due to the twist of the barrel I had at my disposal

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

This conversation seems to have moved to more about the projectile than the cartridge.
Why don't you guys run these big projectiles in something like a 220 Swift or 22 250. And really light them up?

Because there is no advantage.

Originally Posted by gimp

Because there is no advantage.

Serious?
No advantage in generating more energy or extending point blank?

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

Serious?
No advantage in generating more energy or extending point blank?

Push a 75eldm at 3400fps and at 300yd it's about the same as a 223 MV...

Speaking of cost. The great thing about the bigger calibers is - you dont need to use a new premium projectile to achieve the same result. A good old cup and core will do exactly what the new 22 calibre ones are being touted as achieving. I havnt lost an animal yet with the speer hotcores im useing.

Originally Posted by whanahuia

Speaking of cost. The great thing about the bigger calibers is - you dont need to use a new premium projectile to achieve the same result. A good old cup and core will do exactly what the new 22 calibre ones are being touted as achieving. I havnt lost an animal yet with the speer hotcores im useing.

To be fair, the heavy .223 bullets are all cup and core and relatively cheap ($70/100). In fact that is their strength. OK penetration and frangible. Nice mushrooms are out, organ damage is in.

.270 Speer hot cores are $75//100

Personally, I prefer to be overgunned. We owe the animal a clean kill, and a larger caliber just gives a bit more wriggle room, for my tastes. I have shot medium pigs at short range with a .22LR, but that was a case of an opportunity, and the discipline to sneak in close and place my shot. I didn't take it to mean a .22 is a pig gun. That's just me. I hate to wound an animal, even pests like possums and rabbits, or rats.

Originally Posted by Growlybear

Personally, I prefer to be overgunned. We owe the animal a clean kill, and a larger caliber just gives a bit more wriggle room, for my tastes. I have shot medium pigs at short range with a .22LR, but that was a case of an opportunity, and the discipline to sneak in close and place my shot. I didn't take it to mean a .22 is a pig gun. That's just me. I hate to wound an animal, even pests like possums and rabbits, or rats.

Do you use match type projectiles?

Originally Posted by Stocky

Do you use match type projectiles?

I shoot factory hunting ammo. Standard .308 150gsoft point. The places I go, this does the job, and I don't get out enough to bother about reloading.

Originally Posted by Tahr

To be fair, the heavy .223 bullets are all cup and core and relatively cheap ($70/100). In fact that is their strength. OK penetration and frangible. Nice mushrooms are out, organ damage is in.

.270 Speer hot cores are $75//100

Cheers, so projectile price is about the same and all thats really different is more powder. A quick add up and it cost me 55c per round for powder and at current prices on primers if I had to buy them, Id be looking at around 1.50 per round.

Its the cheapest part of my day if I fire a shot.