Calibre for this shot?

[ejg]

At 500yds BC starts to really work, i'd prefer my 300wm with 208gr having roughly 1000ftlbs more energy at 500yds over my 308 that only has around 1200ftlbs at that distance.
edi

 

[Jon P]

300 WM - Sako super hammerhead ammunition.

 

[NewForester]

There is an accuracy thread going on atm and the following screen grabs from videos this morning pose the question.
Good Sambar stags take a bit of getting and are thus truly wanted. This stag ran uphill to bush edge, stopped on his toes for seconds, maybe 10-15. He is at a ranged 500 yards and its drizzling, you have to drop him on the spot or at least get a bloody good bullet into his shoulder because once they are in the bush they take finding (without dog).
What calibre rifle in your own arsenal is your go to rifle for this scenario? You need flat tracking and oomph, remember say the .308 Winchester will drop 4' at 500 yards.
Take note that under our hunting laws the minimum calibre for sambar is .270 Winchester, thus no 6.5`s and .243`s

View attachment 375160

View attachment 375161

So, what is your go to calibre for Sambar stags, John? 300 Win Mag? 7x64?

 

[Lateral]

This makes very good reading from Chuck Hawks, about the best calibres based on distance, velocity, bullet weight, and the weight of the game to be shot.

Myth Busting Big Game Calibres

Tables 5, & 6 are probably the most useful, although it only really covers out to 300yds, although table 5 can be used to extrapolate out.

Personally, I'd be more confident with a 300wm, similar, or one of the more powerful 300's

 

[Sika98k]

Out of my cabinet the .300 H&H would be my choice.

Ooooh ! Very nice.

 

[Jagged77]

I’d love to use a .338 LM. The knock down power of a 300 gr going flat out would be sufficient.
But realistically a .300 WM with 200 gr would be a good choice I reckon.

 

[ASl sniper.177]

I’d use my .338 LM with a 30” barrel. The knock down power of a 300 gr going flat out would be sufficient. I’d keep my .50 bmg in reserve for this one. Scope won’t zero below 1000….
Ok, they’re range rifles, realistically .300 WM with 200 gr

You obviously live in a different world to most of us on The stalking Directory. There's nothing I couldn't kill in the uk at 400 yards and under,with my 6.5 creedmoor. Obviously,with the right bullet.
As the saying goes,aim small,miss small.

 

[Utectok]

Personally I wouldn’t take the shot but if I had time I’d be happy to shoot my 6.5x55 at the range and I’m sure it would be fine. I get that’s not allowed but a gun you’re confident with and the right bullet is the one to pick. Most uk deer legal calibres will kill fine in the right place at 500yds. This evening I spent 10 mins getting set up to shoot a deer at 310yds all worked perfectly but I wouldn’t have tried to do it in 10-15 sec at that range let alone 500yds … we all make choices

 

[Jagged77]

You obviously live in a different world to most of us on The stalking Directory. There's nothing I couldn't kill in the uk at 400 yards and under,with my 6.5 creedmoor. Obviously,with the right bullet.
As the saying goes,aim small,miss small.

Different world? Odd thing to say, I was only responding to the OP (the scenario isn’t the UK and nothing below .270 cal).
This is all hypothetical anyway, unless I was sure of striking my mark I wouldn’t take the shot. I’m not a massive fan of long range hunting.

 

[ASl sniper.177]

Different world? Odd thing to say, I was only responding to the OP (the scenario isn’t the UK and nothing below .270 cal).

Soz,just popped up as a new post! Thought it was uk based. Probably from Australia,where I have relatives from 60 years ago.

 

[njc110381]

If my life depended on it I'd have a punt with my .300WSM and most likely get it. As it doesn't though I'd let it walk.

 

[Nkawu]

I would use my 375 H&H and load up either a 250 grain TSX or the 270 grain LRX. Should reach 500 m with plenty of energy.