Thread: Something bigger?

While the 1000 pounds thing is not entirely bad you are better to look at the impact velocity of your intended projectile and weather it will perform at that velocity, not just expand a little but actually dump most of its remaining energy in the animal.
This is where the 08 cases fall down IMHO, they still have respectable energy but not the impact velocity to make most projectiles dump that energy in the animal.
If a 1000pounds was needed to kill an animal you wouldnt have killed much with the 223.

A 5,6,7,8mm hole threw small game with no expansion and poor placement will still be a quick effective killer, not so with medium/large game. Its proportional.

A 260,7/08,308 is definitely capable of clean kills on the game you mention at the ranges you mention with excellent shot placement AND the right projectiles driven hard, however the windage at these ranges with this case makes it very difficult to achieve humane killing (placement).

I have been there and had a cock up with wind call with the 308, Im not proud of my shooting that day and still often think of it. I HATE wounding things.
I now limit my range and only consider a long shot in very good conditions.

I urge you to consider things like 280 7 rem mag, the gain in windage is reason enough(for a poor wind call) and the extra speed and energy dumped in the animal will make a marginal shot a good one.(from the animals perspective)