kodiakbeer
Moderator
I guess Wiley is out of touch.
Cartridge Cults
- Thread starter EdInk
- Start date
I guess Wiley is out of touch.
The .357 Maximum SuperMag. Not just the cartridge but the revolvers built for it as well. The Dan Wesson set the standard for 200 yard silhouette shooting. The cartridge itself is the ultimate red-head or small block Camaro. Extreme in every way. Finicky, tempermental, arrogant...it tells you what it likes and doesn't like in no uncertain terms...but the return for your patience and attention will make you grin for a week.
The SuperMag itself is big and bulky and heavy, possibly the most overbuilt .357 caliber revolver in history; but it's capable of rifle-like accuracy and unquestioned durability. It will also handle loads you wouldn't dare try in the Ruger. The Seville is what Ruger should have built; but still doesn't compare in the accuracy to the DW. In fact, the only firearms to compete with the SuperMag is the Freedom Arms; and, at one time, you could buy four SuperMags for what a single FA cost.
The SuperMag itself is big and bulky and heavy, possibly the most overbuilt .357 caliber revolver in history; but it's capable of rifle-like accuracy and unquestioned durability. It will also handle loads you wouldn't dare try in the Ruger. The Seville is what Ruger should have built; but still doesn't compare in the accuracy to the DW. In fact, the only firearms to compete with the SuperMag is the Freedom Arms; and, at one time, you could buy four SuperMags for what a single FA cost.
In a Contender carbine, the Maximum is capable of duplicating .35 Remington ballistics.
www.357maximum.com
I imagine the Handi-Rifle would be the same.
www.357maximum.com
I imagine the Handi-Rifle would be the same.
Wildalaska
Moderator
.450 Adams, .455 Webley, 38-200......all part of my cult of which I am Leader, follower and acolyte.
Other members welcome.
WildiwearmypithhelmetandathongAlaska ™
PS I also am part of the 7.62x38 Nagant club, but I have to wear a shapka and fur thong for meetings.
Other members welcome.
WildiwearmypithhelmetandathongAlaska ™
PS I also am part of the 7.62x38 Nagant club, but I have to wear a shapka and fur thong for meetings.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"Interesting, I was cleaning up and ran across a copy of G&A from Feb. 2001 which has an article by Wiley Clapp on which rounds ought to or are likely to die out within the next few years. This was in Feb. 2001."
That seems to be a standard article for just about every gunwriter who ever lived.
Askins wrote such an article back in the early 1980s.
I think maybe 2 of the 10-15 or so cartridges he pronounced dead have actually died.
That seems to be a standard article for just about every gunwriter who ever lived.
Askins wrote such an article back in the early 1980s.
I think maybe 2 of the 10-15 or so cartridges he pronounced dead have actually died.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
I reload for over 50 different cartridges... so I have a couple 
that aren't plain vanilla cartridges... a few of my favorites...
17 K Hornet
22 Hornet ( heavy bullet / fast twist barrels )
5.7 X 28
7-30 Waters
32 S&W
32 H&R Magnum
32-40
38 S&W
357 Max
10 mm Magnum
40-60
45 Colt
45-70
50 special
50 A.E.
50-70
I have a tendancy to like shooting those more than the 9mm/357/.308 stuff
that aren't plain vanilla cartridges... a few of my favorites...17 K Hornet
22 Hornet ( heavy bullet / fast twist barrels )
5.7 X 28
7-30 Waters
32 S&W
32 H&R Magnum
32-40
38 S&W
357 Max
10 mm Magnum
40-60
45 Colt
45-70
50 special
50 A.E.
50-70
I have a tendancy to like shooting those more than the 9mm/357/.308 stuff
I keep two near and dear to my heart. First off is 10mm. The reason I find myself a fan of it is because my early formative years were spent reading a lot of Guns & Ammo magazines in the mid to late 1980s when Jeff Cooper owned the back page and kept us updated on his thoughts on the round. When a friend of the family bought an early Delta Elite, I interviewed him for a High School English paper that I had to write. So I pretty much fell in love with the 10mm long before I had a use for actually owning one. (or the money to pull one off!)
Two years out of HS and in to college, a friend of mine had been saving some dough to buy his first handgun. I had a handful, so he wanted my input. I told him that a .22 would be a great purchase. No dice... he wanted something substantial. So I suggested a good 4-inch .357 Mag but no deal, he wanted a semi-auto. So I went with a .45 Auto, maybe something from Springfield Armory, but he told me he wanted something very powerful. So I had his suggestion all ready, and got to live vicariously through his purchase... of a S&W 1006. I even helped him build most of the ammo for it.
My evil plan came to full fruition merely two years later when his new wife thought it was a bad idea to have a handgun in the house with a new baby...
He called me up and I bought it from him. 
So fast forward to a couple of years ago when I finally get my carry license, and it's straight to a G29 I go. It's my EDC and I'm quite confident in my ability to shoot it and hit with it. I shoot it regularly. 10mm and me have been "involved" since about 1987, I figure. I'm committed to it. Just the same, however, I don't feel any specific need or want for another 10mm... I have my two and I love 'em.
My other odd caliber? .30 Carbine from a Ruger Blackhawk. This thing is just a rolling riot. It's loud as all hell and lights off a mammoth fireball with hardly any recoil, but the concussion and blast turns heads. Even with all that, it wouldn't be so dang much fun if it wasn't a ridiculous tack driver. This revolver is a hoot and although the cartridge is far from obscure, most of you won't run in to some guy launching .30 Carb from a handgun at your local range.
Two years out of HS and in to college, a friend of mine had been saving some dough to buy his first handgun. I had a handful, so he wanted my input. I told him that a .22 would be a great purchase. No dice... he wanted something substantial. So I suggested a good 4-inch .357 Mag but no deal, he wanted a semi-auto. So I went with a .45 Auto, maybe something from Springfield Armory, but he told me he wanted something very powerful. So I had his suggestion all ready, and got to live vicariously through his purchase... of a S&W 1006. I even helped him build most of the ammo for it.
My evil plan came to full fruition merely two years later when his new wife thought it was a bad idea to have a handgun in the house with a new baby...
He called me up and I bought it from him. So fast forward to a couple of years ago when I finally get my carry license, and it's straight to a G29 I go. It's my EDC and I'm quite confident in my ability to shoot it and hit with it. I shoot it regularly. 10mm and me have been "involved" since about 1987, I figure. I'm committed to it. Just the same, however, I don't feel any specific need or want for another 10mm... I have my two and I love 'em.
My other odd caliber? .30 Carbine from a Ruger Blackhawk. This thing is just a rolling riot. It's loud as all hell and lights off a mammoth fireball with hardly any recoil, but the concussion and blast turns heads. Even with all that, it wouldn't be so dang much fun if it wasn't a ridiculous tack driver. This revolver is a hoot and although the cartridge is far from obscure, most of you won't run in to some guy launching .30 Carb from a handgun at your local range.
Blue Grass
New member
I know this is a hand gunthread but since some rifle calibers have been mentioned, I'll add the .264 Win Mag. My cousin/BBF/ shooting buddy has a pre-64 Model-70 Westerner. Shoots like a laser beam, big muzzle flash, serious grin factor.
jeffreybehr
New member
After starting with handguns with Glocks in .40S&W 1-1/2 years ago, I've converted to 357SIG for EDC (a Glock 32)...
...and a pair of .45GAP Glock 37s for USPSA Production-class competition.
I like the high-velocity-and-high-penetration aspects of the 357, and I love the soft-recoil and high-accuracy aspects of the GAP.
But maybe the real reason for having these 2 less-popular* calibers is that I seem to fall in with odd calibers. I've owned only several rifles in 40 years of guns, but those included a .270 Durham Magnum, a .25-284, and a 6.5-284 Shehane 1000-yard benchrest 'light' gun.
* I think 'cult' is too strong a word for all these less-popular calibers.
...and a pair of .45GAP Glock 37s for USPSA Production-class competition.
I like the high-velocity-and-high-penetration aspects of the 357, and I love the soft-recoil and high-accuracy aspects of the GAP.
But maybe the real reason for having these 2 less-popular* calibers is that I seem to fall in with odd calibers. I've owned only several rifles in 40 years of guns, but those included a .270 Durham Magnum, a .25-284, and a 6.5-284 Shehane 1000-yard benchrest 'light' gun.
* I think 'cult' is too strong a word for all these less-popular calibers.
I think some people are getting wrapped up in the word "cult". Any small group that does not follow the beliefs of the mass's could be considered a cult. It doesn't mean you have to drink any Kool-Aid. It just means you don't follow the crowd.
Personally I dont have any non mainstream calibers. Economies of scale for me. .38/.357 - 9mm - .380 auto ( all .355, .356, 357 sizes) and .223. Bad enough I buy little pieces of metal and bottles of chemical's, just to put holes in paper. Without spending extra for the hard to find calibers/supplies..
Personally I dont have any non mainstream calibers. Economies of scale for me. .38/.357 - 9mm - .380 auto ( all .355, .356, 357 sizes) and .223. Bad enough I buy little pieces of metal and bottles of chemical's, just to put holes in paper. Without spending extra for the hard to find calibers/supplies.
.dakota1911
New member
I think the 10mm was going culty after S&W stopped making autos for it and so did Colt. Then came Glock chambering it in one of their guns and it started to catch back on and Colt started making the Delta again. Now it is not too hard to find it loaded down here in the SW. The prices aren't even that bad.
Peter M. Eick
New member
38/44 High Speed is my favorite.
It was the precursor to the 357 Magnum and had two great guns built to fire it. The 38/44 Heavy Duty and 38/44 Outdoorsman.
Why do I like it? The fun of doing a round that few others do. It is all about a lost time where guns were made of quality and carefully constructed. It is also about the original speed demons and the competition to the 38 Super.
It was the precursor to the 357 Magnum and had two great guns built to fire it. The 38/44 Heavy Duty and 38/44 Outdoorsman.
Why do I like it? The fun of doing a round that few others do. It is all about a lost time where guns were made of quality and carefully constructed. It is also about the original speed demons and the competition to the 38 Super.
I bought in, big time
My personal favorite cartridge is the 41 Action Express.
It was sadly pushed aside by the FBI 10mm/40 S&W debacle. Like most cartridges, it got pushed too hard for what it really was, the perfect LE cartridge a couple of guys wanted (instead they got the 41 Magnum 'hunting' cartridge, ay?).
The dedicated 180g Speer Gold Dot bullet shoots wonderfully without the need for recoil-adding velocity; numerous 41 Magnum bullets work nearly as well.
Specific goodness comes with 200--210g LSWC and Sierra's 170g JHC.
UZI subguns were (are) easily converted to 41 AE and are still popular overseas (too expensive to run nowadays in the USA).
I have a custom 41 AE barrel I slip into one of my EAA Witnesses from time to time......
(I shot my first USPSA and IDPA matches with 41 AE; I made pallets full for subguns; I still have a 'bit' of brand new IMI brass for fun. And for sale....
I almost cry when I think of all the brass I left laying in the grass.)
My personal favorite cartridge is the 41 Action Express.
It was sadly pushed aside by the FBI 10mm/40 S&W debacle. Like most cartridges, it got pushed too hard for what it really was, the perfect LE cartridge a couple of guys wanted (instead they got the 41 Magnum 'hunting' cartridge, ay?).
The dedicated 180g Speer Gold Dot bullet shoots wonderfully without the need for recoil-adding velocity; numerous 41 Magnum bullets work nearly as well.
Specific goodness comes with 200--210g LSWC and Sierra's 170g JHC.
UZI subguns were (are) easily converted to 41 AE and are still popular overseas (too expensive to run nowadays in the USA).
I have a custom 41 AE barrel I slip into one of my EAA Witnesses from time to time......
(I shot my first USPSA and IDPA matches with 41 AE; I made pallets full for subguns; I still have a 'bit' of brand new IMI brass for fun. And for sale....
I almost cry when I think of all the brass I left laying in the grass.)
SPEMack618
New member
Despite having only shot maybe twenty rounds of it, I'm a proud 10mm fan boy. A Delta Elite chambered in 10mm is very near the top of my wish list, in fact the only thing it is second to is a Colt 1911 style weapon in .38 Super. As a student of history, I think that caliber has a lot going for it other than it's all around decent preformance, and as another plus, apparently, according to family lore, I'm distantly related to Melvin Purvis, so it fits.