Smallest Dangerous Game caliber
- Thread starter GoWyo!
- Start date
Rick in Oregon
Well-known member
Best of luck with your new rifle. I almost went the 9.3 route too, but ended up doing a .338-06 Ackley for the better bullet and brass selection.
Either/both will do the deed for big critters using big bullets!
But I may be clueless.....what's a DG caliber?
Either/both will do the deed for big critters using big bullets!
But I may be clueless.....what's a DG caliber?
kiwishooter
Well-known member
DG would be Dangerous Game wouldn't it??Best of luck with your new rifle. I almost went the 9.3 route too, but ended up doing a .338-06 Ackley for the better bullet and brass selection.
Either/both will do the deed for big critters using big bullets!
But I may be clueless.....what's a DG caliber?
Rick in Oregon
Well-known member
I suppose it could be. Just never seen an abbreviation for it like that. Seems there's one for just about everything now. Guess I'm an old dog and used to seeing things spelled out.....for us slower ones out there.
M_Strohmeyer
Active member
I was gifted a 8mm mauser. Hell of a shooter easy to reload.
Billinthedesert
Member
Well a 9,3 is a little large to be considered a small bore, but I used one on plains game in Namibia about 15 years ago, and my PH had the same rifle -- a CZ 550 in 9.3X62 -- and he used it for everything including backup for elephant in the Caprivi -- with Barnes Triples Shocks.
Now lets talk about Karamojo Bell using a Savage .22 High Power on elephant ...
Now lets talk about Karamojo Bell using a Savage .22 High Power on elephant ...
kiwishooter
Well-known member
Nothing wrong with a Savage 22 Hi Power, just hard to find rifles, ammo and bullets for.Well a 9,3 is a little large to be considered a small bore, but I used one on plains game in Namibia about 15 years ago, and my PH had the same rifle -- a CZ 550 in 9.3X62 -- and he used it for everything including backup for elephant in the Caprivi -- with Barnes Triples Shocks.
Now lets talk about Karamojo Bell using a Savage .22 High Power on elephant ...
While it may have worked for Karamojo Bell I think I would rather have something a bit bigger in dia and energy
Rick in Oregon
Well-known member
Couldn't resist......
Billinthedesert
Member
It's always a bear, isn't it Rick?
I think in this situation I'd want something more than that old Model 8 in his hands even if they did come in the 30 Rem, 32 Rem and maybe the 35 Rem.
Billinthedesert
Member
Ray, the one I have now is in .25 Remington, but needs fresh recoil springs. I've had them in those three other calibers, too.
Frank Hamer allegedly carried an 8 in .25 in his early years patrolling the border on horseback.
Frank Hamer allegedly carried an 8 in .25 in his early years patrolling the border on horseback.
M_Strohmeyer
Active member
There's a gentleman I follow on YT who has decades of guiding in Canada. He shares his experiences in his man cave. That picture is on his wall. He shares his story of being charged by a Grizzly and standing his ground. When the Grizzly ran off he found out the ammo his close friend reloaded for him didn't have any powder. He collapsed to his knees realized how close to death he came. Here's his story if interested.Couldn't resist......
You will find the 9.3x62 a very forgiving round to load for and I have never had a x62 that wasn't accurate. Currently have a custom that shoots in the 2's when I do my job. It is funny as I have been a med-big bore guy my whole life and came to the small cal forum to learn a little more on the tiny stuff.
Rick in Oregon
Well-known member
Dave, welcome to the group. You'll find that the crowd here is quite fond of the small calibers, but many of us also carry medium bore rifles when out for the bigger stuff like elk here.
My dedicated elk rifle is my old pre-'64 Winchester M70 rebarreled to .338-06 Ackley. Shooting the Nosler 210gr Partition, it has taken five bulls, all one-shot kills. Like the 9.3x62, it's easy to load for, shoots in the .3's and is a joy to carry in the elk timber.
But for most of my shooting, it's a small caliber rifle, as both Mule deer and elk seasons are short and require much planning and work. But a week in the rat patch is more fun than work, plus much more shooting.
Yours truly having my way with the squirrels with my Cooper M38 .20Vartarg recently:
If you want to learn about the tiny stuff, this is the place to be!
Rick,Dave, welcome to the group. You'll find that the crowd here is quite fond of the small calibers, but many of us also carry medium bore rifles when out for the bigger stuff like elk here.
My dedicated elk rifle is my old pre-'64 Winchester M70 rebarreled to .338-06 Ackley. Shooting the Nosler 210gr Partition, it has taken five bulls, all one-shot kills. Like the 9.3x62, it's easy to load for, shoots in the .3's and is a joy to carry in the elk timber.
But for most of my shooting, it's a small caliber rifle, as both Mule deer and elk seasons are short and require much planning and work. But a week in the rat patch is more fun than work, plus much more shooting.
Yours truly having my way with the squirrels with my Cooper M38 .20Vartarg recently:
If you want to learn about the tiny stuff, this is the place to be!
Have you not considered using sound moderators?
Know they look terrible but you can get used to them, or do they tell me
Ken.
Rick in Oregon
Well-known member
Ken, I've gone back and forth with that quandary. But the rifles I use mostly are what could be considered 'nice rifles' that command high prices. To that end, I really don't want to modify any of them, as since 1968 I've never used or owned one, the places I shoot don't require them, they are just one more thing to buy that are expensive, they need maintaining, make the rifle much longer than I prefer, they affect the handling quality of the rifle, and just don't look good IMO.Rick,
Have you not considered using sound moderators?
Know they look terrible but you can get used to them, or do they tell me
Ken.
So this old dog is not ready for that new trick. Except for one other fellow in the EORFS, we're the only two who do not run suppressors on our rifles. Doubtful if either of us will either. Plus, the rockchucks, ground squirrels, badgers and the like don't seem to mind.
Hey Rick,
I can't argue with your reasoning for preferring to forgo going down the suppressor route on your many "nice rifles" as I too wrestled with the same quandary for many years before finally taking the leap. You accurately do point out some of the many sound reasons (pardon the pun
) to avoid attaching a suppressor to the end of a firearm and I'm sure valid arguments can be made both ways. For me, it eventually boiled down to hearing preservation, not so much my own, as my hearing deteriorated due to many hours standing too close to a jet engine often at full throttle during my time in the Navy, but for those who are standing nearby, often one or more of my grandkids. Yes, I do supply them with hearing protection when they accompany me, but I still take it upon myself to add that extra measure. To each their own and in my mind, there isn't a right or wrong justification for them, just different rationales for each.
Rick in Oregon
Well-known member
Paul, appreciate your comments, my hearing was destroyed in Vietnam by gunfire, yours from jet engines.
As a Radioman, my Navy GQ station aboard ship was directly under a quad 3"/50 gun mount in Radio Auxiliary in the ships forecastle (fo'c'sle), and when those guns fired it was like sitting inside a huge bell with someone beating on it with a sledgehammer.
My One Alpha Station (away all boats) was in an LCVP assault boat with a .50cal BMG directly over my head that also rained down hot brass on me when fired. In both cases I wore radio headphones on one ear so I could hear local voice commands. I wore them over one ear at a time, reversing ear to ear. So both ears were assaulted with high volume gunfire that resulted in part of my VA compensation for hearing loss.
Note the forward quad gun mount; I was directly under it when GQ was sounded (Chu Lai Vietnam):
A salty me in 1966 in Cam Rhan Bay Vietnam on a day with no shooting and no ear ringing:
I'd be an ideal recipient for suppressors, but I just can't think about it for the reasons previously stated. When I'm shooting, the only folks nearby are my other fellow shooters, and they're usually 50 yards or farther away, also wearing hearing protection. As you said, there's no right or wrong justification, just personal preferences. If suppressors had come on the scene about 30 years ago, I'm sure I'd have jumped on the bandwagon at the time.
As a Radioman, my Navy GQ station aboard ship was directly under a quad 3"/50 gun mount in Radio Auxiliary in the ships forecastle (fo'c'sle), and when those guns fired it was like sitting inside a huge bell with someone beating on it with a sledgehammer.
My One Alpha Station (away all boats) was in an LCVP assault boat with a .50cal BMG directly over my head that also rained down hot brass on me when fired. In both cases I wore radio headphones on one ear so I could hear local voice commands. I wore them over one ear at a time, reversing ear to ear. So both ears were assaulted with high volume gunfire that resulted in part of my VA compensation for hearing loss.
Note the forward quad gun mount; I was directly under it when GQ was sounded (Chu Lai Vietnam):
A salty me in 1966 in Cam Rhan Bay Vietnam on a day with no shooting and no ear ringing:
I'd be an ideal recipient for suppressors, but I just can't think about it for the reasons previously stated. When I'm shooting, the only folks nearby are my other fellow shooters, and they're usually 50 yards or farther away, also wearing hearing protection. As you said, there's no right or wrong justification, just personal preferences. If suppressors had come on the scene about 30 years ago, I'm sure I'd have jumped on the bandwagon at the time.
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kiwishooter
Well-known member
Rick and Paul, I’ve had those discussions with myself a number of times.
Here in New Zealand you can just go and buy a suppressor, no fee paperwork or anything, just pay the purchase price and go and use it.
Acting as range officer it is quite different t when everyone is using a suppressor and then you get someone show up that hasn’t got one.
Many shorten their barrel and get it threaded for a suppressor, so the end up losing velocity my thought on that is why own a 7mm mag to end up with a bit over 7/08 velocities just so you can use a suppressor.
Most here use a overbarrel suppressor so with high volume shooting the end of the barrel gets very warm.
I’m in the process of building a 20 tactical and have contemplated a suppressor but have determined I want to use a 25/26” barrel length which with a suppressor (muzzle forward) would give me a nose heavy rifle with an extra10” or so out front.
Still contemplating but may thread it and just fit a thread protector
Here in New Zealand you can just go and buy a suppressor, no fee paperwork or anything, just pay the purchase price and go and use it.
Acting as range officer it is quite different t when everyone is using a suppressor and then you get someone show up that hasn’t got one.
Many shorten their barrel and get it threaded for a suppressor, so the end up losing velocity my thought on that is why own a 7mm mag to end up with a bit over 7/08 velocities just so you can use a suppressor.
Most here use a overbarrel suppressor so with high volume shooting the end of the barrel gets very warm.
I’m in the process of building a 20 tactical and have contemplated a suppressor but have determined I want to use a 25/26” barrel length which with a suppressor (muzzle forward) would give me a nose heavy rifle with an extra10” or so out front.
Still contemplating but may thread it and just fit a thread protector
