GBullet
02-10-2005, 10:11 PM
The appelation of "magnum" can be subjectively attached to a cartridge. Magnum is a term that came into use 400 years ago to describe a larger than normal champagne bottle, like the one that GBullet opened on Mardi Gras. ;) It comes from the Latin magnus, meaning large. Despite the inaccuracy of the term, when we speak of a magnum hunting rifle cartridge, other shooters equate the magnum cartridge as being beefed up.
Consider two rifle cartridges, one standard ("S") and the other magnum ("M"). Suppose that S is loaded with 30 grains of powder and fires a 125 grain bullet at 2700 fps. Suppose that M is loaded with 45 grains of powder and fires a 150 grain bullet at 2700 fps.
At first glance, M seems like a good deal and it is a nice package. It shoots a heavier bullet at the same velocity. M gives us more 20% more power and a bit more range than S. Could we have overlooked something?
The clue here is that the specifications of S and M were not chosen arbitrarily. In our example, S is the .276 Pedersen and M is the pre-WWII loading of the .30-06 Springfield. Though the .30-06 has never been called a magnum, it offers magnum performance compared to the .276 Pedersen. These two cartridges were chosen because they were extensively tested against each other by the U.S. Army.
The recoil of the .276 Pedersen was about the same as the recoil of a .243 Win. Now, I'm sure that we're all a bunch of tough he-men, and a few ladies, who practice every weekend with our .30-06 pocket pistols. Regardless, the soldiers who performed the tests did far better with the S (.276 Pedersen) than with the M (.30-06). Significantly, soldiers firing the .30-06 became tired much more quickly than did the soldiers firing the .276 Pedersen.
Recoil is a complicated phenomenon. Obviously, increasing the bullet weight while maintaining the velocity increases the recoil. What is often overlooked is the effect of the added powder. Adding more powder, even without any change in performance, increases recoil. It adds to the ejecta (stuff that goes out of the barrel). If that isn't enough, pressure and efficiency problems crop up as you increase the ratio of powder to bullet weight.
Magnums normally have to use longer barrels to offer any great advantage over standard cartridges. Since magnums are typically longer and wider than the standard cartridges they surpass, magnum rifles are longer and heavier. So for the sake of a modest increase in power, you get to carry a rifle that is 2 pounds heavier, snags on every bush, and kicks you until you drool.
Some magnums are still mild kicking and can fit in a normal weight rifle, like the .243 WSSM. Still, the .243 WSSM needs a 22" barrel to be worth the drawbacks.
I apologize if I seem anti-magnum. However, I have learned that a modestly powered cartridge and good shot placement will beat a flinch-shot magnum every time.
Consider two rifle cartridges, one standard ("S") and the other magnum ("M"). Suppose that S is loaded with 30 grains of powder and fires a 125 grain bullet at 2700 fps. Suppose that M is loaded with 45 grains of powder and fires a 150 grain bullet at 2700 fps.
At first glance, M seems like a good deal and it is a nice package. It shoots a heavier bullet at the same velocity. M gives us more 20% more power and a bit more range than S. Could we have overlooked something?
The clue here is that the specifications of S and M were not chosen arbitrarily. In our example, S is the .276 Pedersen and M is the pre-WWII loading of the .30-06 Springfield. Though the .30-06 has never been called a magnum, it offers magnum performance compared to the .276 Pedersen. These two cartridges were chosen because they were extensively tested against each other by the U.S. Army.
The recoil of the .276 Pedersen was about the same as the recoil of a .243 Win. Now, I'm sure that we're all a bunch of tough he-men, and a few ladies, who practice every weekend with our .30-06 pocket pistols. Regardless, the soldiers who performed the tests did far better with the S (.276 Pedersen) than with the M (.30-06). Significantly, soldiers firing the .30-06 became tired much more quickly than did the soldiers firing the .276 Pedersen.
Recoil is a complicated phenomenon. Obviously, increasing the bullet weight while maintaining the velocity increases the recoil. What is often overlooked is the effect of the added powder. Adding more powder, even without any change in performance, increases recoil. It adds to the ejecta (stuff that goes out of the barrel). If that isn't enough, pressure and efficiency problems crop up as you increase the ratio of powder to bullet weight.
Magnums normally have to use longer barrels to offer any great advantage over standard cartridges. Since magnums are typically longer and wider than the standard cartridges they surpass, magnum rifles are longer and heavier. So for the sake of a modest increase in power, you get to carry a rifle that is 2 pounds heavier, snags on every bush, and kicks you until you drool.
Some magnums are still mild kicking and can fit in a normal weight rifle, like the .243 WSSM. Still, the .243 WSSM needs a 22" barrel to be worth the drawbacks.
I apologize if I seem anti-magnum. However, I have learned that a modestly powered cartridge and good shot placement will beat a flinch-shot magnum every time.