For those who swear by bigger bullets when hunting game, the two most popular reasons are because the round will penetrate deeper into what it hits and because it won’t ruin nearly as much meat when it hits the target. Both are especially important when you’re going after big game.
The argument on penetration is that a lighter bullet traveling over 3,000 FPS could fragment just about the moment it hits the target. A round that’s a bit heavier and travels a couple hundred FPS slower will often stay intact better, allowing it to go deeper. Another factor that causes deeper penetration is the greater momentum that a heavier round can build compared to a lighter bullet. Since you need penetration and bullet expansion to take out game in one shot, a bigger bullet may be more likely to kill what you shoot.
You also need to consider what that fragmentation of lighter bullets will do to the game you kill. As a lighter bullet fragments, it leads to substantial bloodshot meat, whereas a heavier bullet typically punches a small hole at the point of impact. This is less of a concern if you’re hunting strictly for trophies, but if you plan to eat what you kill, you obviously want as little of it ruined as possible. In that regard, a heavier round is a much better choice.
It’s Not All About Getting a Bigger Bullet
So, bigger bullets definitely have their merits. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should go big with your next rifle.
If you’re planning to shoot anything that’s more than about 300 to 400 yards away, you’ll need to consider the muzzle velocity of the round. A super-speed cartridge will make it easier to shoot accurately at those long ranges. However, if the cartridge is too light, wind drift could become more of a factor, and it may not sustain its velocity. For that reason, you may want to consider ammunition in your desired caliber that’s a bit heavier.
The design of the bullet also determines how effective it is. If it doesn’t have an aerodynamic design, it won’t work well at long range. When a bullet is streamlined, it’s able to maintain its velocity better.
Don’t forget about the recoil, either. Even though you can manage this, it’s still a factor when you’re picking a round. Those heavier rounds typically have far more recoil, which can make it more difficult to shoot accurately and leave you with a sore shoulder halfway into your hunting trip. It’s exciting to shoot those large rounds from time to time, but it’s not so exciting when you get home and can barely move your arm.
One final item to consider with bullet weights is that it’s better to stick to one grain instead of switching it up depending on the situation. When you have a rifle sighted-in with, for example, 142-grain bullets, switching to 160-grain bullets can lead to accuracy issues. It obviously won’t be a massive difference, but from hundreds of yards away, you could end up with your shot being a few inches off, and that may be the difference between a clean kill and missing your target.
Finding the Right Bullets
If you already have your hunting rifle of choice, you’ll probably want to stick with that caliber, making your ammo choices more limited. Let’s say you’re starting from scratch, though, and you’re trying to decide on the best ammo before you commit to anything.
It’s good to take your time when choosing a rifle caliber and consider what you really need. Many new hunters want a bigger bullet because they think it will be deadlier, but in the real world, it’s much more complicated than that.
A .300 Win Mag round would be great if you want to take down an elk or even a deer at 300 yards or farther away, but it would be far more than you need if you’re mainly hunting at short range or going after smaller game. You may end up with a ton of bloodshot meat and a higher ammo bill than necessary. On the other hand, even the best shot placement probably wouldn’t be enough if you were going after a bear with a small round, such as .223 Remington.
There are times when bigger bullets are the way to go, and they can be a lot of fun to shoot. Just make sure that you’re not only going for a bigger bullet because you’ve bought into the hype surrounding them, as bullet size isn’t the only thing that matters for hunting.
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