Ep.414 Let's talk about 50BMG Vs Elk?

Welcome to the Ron Spomer Outdoors Podcast!
We answer your questions about our recent video about elk hunting with a 50BMG! That and more on this weeks podcast!

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Who is Ron Spomer
For 44 years I’ve had the good fortune to photograph and write about my passion – the outdoor life. Wild creatures and wild places have always stirred me – from the first flushing pheasant that frightened me out of my socks in grandpa’s cornfield to the last whitetail that dismissed me with a wag of its tail. In my attempts to connect with this natural wonder, to become an integral part of our ecosystem and capture a bit of its mystery, I’ve photographed, hiked, hunted, birded, and fished across much of this planet. I've seen the beauty that everyone should see, survived adventures that everyone should experience. I may not have climbed the highest mountains, canoed the wildest rivers, caught the largest fish or shot the biggest bucks, but I’ve tried. Perhaps you have, too. And that’s the essential thing. Being out there, an active participant in our outdoor world.

Disclaimer
All loading, handloading, gunsmithing, shooting and associated activities and demonstrations depicted in our videos are conducted by trained, certified, professional gun handlers, instructors, and shooters for instructional and entertainment purposes only with emphasis on safety and responsible gun handling. Always check at least 3 industry handloading manuals for handloading data, 2 or 3 online ballistic calculators for ballistic data. Do not modify any cartridge or firearm beyond what the manufacturer recommends. Do not attempt to duplicate, mimic, or replicate anything you see in our videos. Firearms, ammunition, and constituent parts can be extremely dangerous if not used safely.

[mikepaul]

CVA is making a new 35 whelen bolt action now. It is in their cascade xt line of rifles. It weighs 7.3lbs, 1:14 twist and 24" barrel

[mikepaul]

Hey Ron thanks for reading my comment. Just to clarify I am in elk county Pennsylvania. Around here the game commission puts in a lot of time and energy to keep the elk. They have a big visitor center in benezette pa where you can go and see the elk. The game commission has big fields and other areas there for them. They are really tame around here because of all the interaction with people they get. The one specifically I was talking about was behind our farm. We are not that far though the woods away from the benezette area and sometimes they wander on to the farm. Every year they have a lottery to be able to get an elk tag. I hope that clarifies things.

[dirtpersonslash]

I don't come back often enough but I'm always happy when I do. Always enjoy the knowledge and plenty of laughs. I may not purchase a book, but I am very grateful for every video you share. Wishing you and Betsy the best! Thank you

[jameswhitaker]

35:48 my understanding is that the Garmin does not employ Doppler, but something called chirp. Unlike the labradar, which does use Doppler, the Garmin will not calculate bc, because it apparently takes only one speed measurement. I still love my Xero, though, very handy and easy to use.

[donoman]

I loved your commentary on a 25-35 I used to own a model 93 25-36.

[dylanjones]

QUESTION- for anyone reading, I love the podcast style talks about all things gun, caliber, cartridge, etc. not looking to replace Ron, but any other good pods or people for me to search out and scratch this itch?

[jameswhitaker]

3:09 I expect that if a blade of grass will deflect a bullet, then certainly a drop of rain could do the same.

[mikewyd]

Former packer/guide here. Guy from the South showed up at elk camp with his 50BMG and a more sensible rifle, can't remember what caliber. Her did not shoot or hunt with the big 50, which he had built himself. Another hunter could not stand not shooting the 50 and kept bugging the owner, who finally relented. Resting on a pad on the hood of a pickup, with a muzzle brake installed, nimrod touched it off. Chaos ensued! Owner caught the 50 just before it hit the ground, nimrod yelled, screamed and cursed while doing the most fantastic dance you have ever seen! Claimed his shoulder was broken, packed his gear and went home, immediately.

[jameswhitaker]

18:31 and yet, in 1920, the .300 savage was introduced and it has a particularly short neck.

[galenhisler]

Come on, Ron ! You should be thinking ahead of what's coming out before it comes out and have it in your books 😂

[gusloader]

Ron Spomer - Hello. My son texted me and said that you had read my comments about the .220 Swift cartridge. He listens to your Podcasts, and I watch your You Tube videos. I rewatched several of your videos but did not hear/see my name or comments then a couple of hours ago - presto, episode 414 is posted and my son was correct. 🙂

If I can find that "American Rifleman" * magazine from the 1930's in my "stack of stuff" I will post the exact month and year of the issue with the favorable .220 Swift reports by actual shooters, hunters, owners. {Kind of amazing that in the middle of the Great Depression, Winchester company took a risk and made a new rifle/cartridge offering. Glad they did.}

As for the comment about W.D.M. Bell and hunting/shooting Red Stag in Scotland.... Sorry - I combined two reports into one. He did aim at where the neck meets the head, so as to not spoil too much deer meat.

The standing stone still after being shot by the .220 Swift was from a veterinarian and iirc, a medical doctor. They said that the .220 Swift bullet hit with so much speed that the liquid / fluids underneath the animal's hide "froze" in place due to a "shocking" effect. The animal could not move, then would bleed out from the heart/lungs would.

My best grade in science class over the years was a C+ in 10th grade Earth Science so I am not the one to challenge or argue with a doctor or a veterinarian.

* Anyone reading this post that is new to guns, ammo, hunting, reloading, shooting-hunting tips and marksmanship ideas should get and read copies of the N.R.A. magazine titled: "The American Rifleman" and read what the men said and wrote from the 1920's to the late 1980's. The ads in the 1930's to 1960's magazines were educational quite often, unlike modern ads which simply say: "Buy this item!"

[jameswhitaker]

8:29 if it’s the energy, how could archers ever have killed game? From my 55# recurve bow with a 565 grain arrow I get about 38 ft-lbs of energy, about a third of the energy from a .22lr, I think. I haven’t hunted with it so, maybe those arrows will just bounce off and not harm the animal. I’ll keep you posted.

[billhatcher]

You should have told us that the cero safe has a lower melting point than lead and tin and it won't harm wood but you need to plug the bore just in front of the chamber then knock it out through the bolt end of they use too much then turn the gun upside down and use a torch and let it drop until it frees up with a hrod down the bore

[CrimeVid]

I don't see why .50 BMG wouldn't work on elk, Carlos Hathcock found it worked on much lighter animals ...

[craigleibbrand]

The 378 Weatherby is the only adequate Elk cartridge but only with the 300gr. Bullet. At least that's what Elmer Keith said. He did use the 340 Weatherby on Mule deer but only with the 250gr. Bullet. He thought the 7mm Rem Mag was good on coyotes only with the 175gr. Bullet.

[michaeldolomont]

Hey when you were talking about bullets in the rain, Barbour Creek shooting school did a video on this out to a 1000 yards and rain has no effect on bullets, he said you can shoot more accurate because you can judge the wind better !!! Check it out his videos are fantastic

[jamesfrench]

Please test the Caldwell chrono and the athlon. I’m in the market for a new chronograph and there’s too much to chose from.

[ronladuke]

Although the 300 Win mag was never known to have accuracy problems it was always criticized for its short neck?

[TheGunNerd]

MK211 RAUFOSS ROUNDS FOR COYOTES, OVERKILL DOESN'T EXIST!!!

[billhatcher]

The Caldwell will tell you what the true ballistic coefficient is I don't know if the other units can do that or not