What I have never understood is the positive "phobia" that many American ol'timers seem to have of recoil.
To hear them, even a 30'06 is a formidable proposition that will get you in a shoulder-strap for a week. A 45/70 is a miniature cannon to be used only before a rapidly-approaching, highly displeased Montana buffalo. And any cartridge like the 338, the 375 or (heaven forbid) the 416s or 450s is sheer self-murder.
My gosh, we don't live in the days of 10-lb muskets firing slow 200gr roundballs anymore!
In Britain, where men are not exactly as healthy and buff as their American cousins, people have fired 375s for nearly a century without any horror stories. Are they better than us?
To pass up a perfectly wonderful cartridge like the 338 (one of the real strokes of modern ballistic genius) because of fear of excessive recoil is - to me - a
real pity. The 338 is one of the most deadly, versatile, flat-shooting yet pleasant cartridges ever developed.
Women often take it to Africa, with very impressing results on the likes of plains game, leopard and even the mean stuff (where it is legal).
I own a beautiful Ruger #1 in that cartridge and find it a peach. And I am not exactly a big man.
The other cartridges you mentioned are all ok, I guess, but they all have serious handicaps compared to the versatility of a 338. (270=poor sectional density. 308=inablity to use heavier bullets. 45/70=range.)
The only other choice I would consider is the 30'06. Although not exactly a "stopping cartridge", it has been doing it all since practically 1903 and its following is still rightfully growing by the day.
As far as noise or fuss, look, you have to break the egg in order to make the omelette. I have been in the field with many cartridges and, when it comes time to shoot they all are louder than heck. But it's one shot. My hearing has never suffered (I am a classical musician, I should care); but I have been considering a pair of "Wolf Ears" for my next hunt.
Mike, it sounds like you are ready to become a real rifleman!!!
Get a real rifle cartridge and see how it will change your outlook on life!!!!
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