I guess we are just not done with this,,,close to five months, 15,000 views, and going on 400 responses. What did I start.
The hunting variables, distance, shot angles and huntiing styles that we all have determine our choices of caliber. I did the math one time and over 60% of my deer were taken by me at 60 yards or way less. I am shooting quickly, just a few seconds at most, and am aiming for a 6" kill zone circle, preferably a double lung shot. A good many of my deer i have shot up close just when they are starting to run.
For me, a 6.5x55 is pretty minimal,,,,more is better.
I shot a buck angling away from me one time at about 40 yards. I am very comfortable with such shots. I think I used a 7x57. The bullet went diagonally all the way through him. He dropped like a stone. A light bullet would not have been the right caliber.
Considering that such is my style of hunting I would be totally irresponsible to use a .223 or even a .243. I would lose many opportunities with them.
Add in I hunted/lived in very windy places, again light bullets are not right for me.
It is also significant that I one lived and hunted in NW Wyoming Grizz country in the pre bear-spray era
Carry on and on,,,and on and on
MR