What's more ethical, hunting deer with a minimum caliber rifle you know you can shoot with excellent accuracy within 50 yards, or blasting away at deer 100 or more yards out with the largest caliber you can find but haven't shot hundreds (not tens) of times?
The latter happens a lot more than some guys will admit, but we don't discuss that very much. Somebody posts a picture of their deer and their .50, .54, .58, .62, etc., and we all (myself included) belt out our congratulations without ever questioning how well the hunter shoots his/her gun or how much preparation they did before the hunt.
During the past 2 deer seasons I've taken 5 whitetails with a .40 shooting 65 grains of 3f Goex under a .395 rooundball in a .015 cotton patch. Whether or not the caliber is enough to cleanly and ethically take deer is not even a question. I shot through 3 of those deer, never had one go very far after the shot, and I have never lost one with it.
I also pass on more shots than I take, maybe twice as many. My longest shot was about 48 yards, most less than 30. If you aren't willing to do that, then the caliber would not be an ethical choice for you.
Bottom line is this: if YOU think the smaller caliber rifle is too small, then it probably is, for YOU. Hunting with a caliber that you don't have confidence in is certainly not ethical.
BUT before you decide it's not enough, take it out and use it. Use it for small game, like squirrels and rabbits. See how devastating that smaller caliber can be on those tough little squirrels with 30 grains of powder.
Then double that charge and start shooting at telephone books at 50 yards. Make your decision based on YOUR FIRST-HAND EXPRERIENCE, not what somebody tells you.
If someone tells you your rifle is too small for the game you're hunting with it, ask them how they know? If (when) they begin reciting ballistics charts or terminal energy, shock, etc., ask them about their first-hand experience.
Almost none of the people who say your caliber is too small will have any experience with it. If they have no experience with the caliber you are discussing, they are not qualified to tell you it's not enough.
I'll say this - hunting large game with a mimimum legal caliber is not for everyone. You absolutely must be willing to accept the limitations that go along with it, same as any other primitive weapons hunter.
But if you are willing to embrace the added challenge, it can be very satisfying.
Ever hear the phrase "Beware the man with only one gun?" :grin: I don't want to be that guy with only one gun, but there is a reason we've all heard that phrase.
:hatsoff:
Spot
