Some other considerations that put the odds in your favor are;
#1 how little wind drift a projectile gives compared another. A good comparison would be comparing a 168 grain 30 cal to a 168 grain 7mm. It's significant!
#2 how fast is a projectile going when it gets to the animal. Guess which bullet above will arrive sooner and with more energy - with less wind drift.
High BC going fast = Less windage needed and potentially more energy to drive through to the vitals. Two of the most overlooked aspects of success at distance.
Nobody is perfect at reading wind or can place a perfect shot all the time. A little extra help can make a big difference.
Last month a friend shot a Coues whitetail at 580Y in what seemed like calm conditions with his 6.5-4s. 143's at 3007 fps. He hit it just barely off the chest in the gut because there was an undetectable slight wind between him and the deer that pushed the bullet 5" off POA to the right where the lungs meet the gut. The second shot finished it. His was a spike not much bigger than a German Sheppard. Had he been shooting a 308 the result would have been a gut shot or back leg.
When I shoot my 308 with 155's in 10 mph-ish winds it's not easy hitting a 10" plate at 675Y. With my 6.5 Saum, 140 hybrids at 3175 fps, it's not hard keeping them on the plate. Chances are I'll make a cold bore hit with the 6.5, chances are I'll hit left or right with the 308.
Very good points.
Even though I shoot a lot of matches in the West were we get significant winds and topography and really feel connected to my match calibers and they are fast and have a ok BC; My 6.5 is my 400 and under gun. Although if conditions are perfect, I might push it a bit.
I switch to a magnum below if I feel the range will be greater. Here I used lighter stock to keep the weight down on the longer barrel and long action.
Compared to the 6.5 build (my favorite now - had a #2 SS Bartlien before the recent Proof build) below. Both weigh about the same, but the 6.5 has such low recoil my self spotting even in wonkie positions is easy. It is all a balancing act, too light or too big and you pay for it as a shooter.
You can save 1lbs by choosing a Bartlien 1 and another 1.5# but using a non-adjustable hunter elite shell, but then you might give up good cheek weld with a scope above and even working up loads can be a challenge as the pencil barrel heats.
Last edited: