So I know this discussion has been beaten to death but I there is an aspect to it that I haven't heard many people speak about (none actually) I know with the onset of all the newer 6.5 and specifically the 6.5CM everyone has been talking about how they can compete nicely and the beat ballistics of the .308Win as the distances get longer, especially out past 400 yrds. This is great for shooting targets and rocks but doesn't the frontal diameter and overall mass of the .308 bullets create a much larger and devastating wound channel at nearly all ranges?
I do understand ballistics and have quite a bit of experience shooting at distance with the .308, but not in a hunting situation. What I don't seem to understand is that there seems to be a difference between just the ballistics of hitting at a set distance and the ability to kill quickly at that same range.
Between these two different calibers wouldn't the increased energy (regardless of how you measure that energy K.E., Momentum, Taylor knock out) and larger diameter of the .308Win be a better choice for 90% of the shots you will encounter in the field than the better dope and drop of the 6.5 on the 1-5% of the shots in the field?
I do understand ballistics and have quite a bit of experience shooting at distance with the .308, but not in a hunting situation. What I don't seem to understand is that there seems to be a difference between just the ballistics of hitting at a set distance and the ability to kill quickly at that same range.
Between these two different calibers wouldn't the increased energy (regardless of how you measure that energy K.E., Momentum, Taylor knock out) and larger diameter of the .308Win be a better choice for 90% of the shots you will encounter in the field than the better dope and drop of the 6.5 on the 1-5% of the shots in the field?