whats your favorite rifle cartridge(s) and why?

mattL46

New member
Saw a similar post (what's your next rifle) and had to post this. Thought it would be a good conversation topic. I said cartridge(s) because I know we all have a select few we can't choose between. Mine would have to be the 30-06 spring. The 257 Robts and the 222 rem. I have an odd bond with the 06 its rich history and how versatile it is. The 257 again a rich unique history and such an all around number. The 222 is so accurate and so often over looked. 3 very fine very useful cartridges. One wouldn't need too many others with the 3 of these.
 
Favorite cartridge has to be the .30/06. It has taken every animal on the planet. Plus and this is a big plus...it's the only one I have.
Next in line would have to be the. 340 Weatherby. I just recently looked at the ballistics for this cartridge.
I have to admit that even though I'll only be able to fire it once due to the cost of ammo, I still want one!!
 
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Ruger I couldn't tell you how many there are I'd only be able to shoot once! Ha ha. I just bought a 308 Norma magnum. Its going to cost me a fortune BEFORE I'll ever get that one shot!!
 
My favorites calibers in order are the .270 Win, .30-06 & .222 Rem. My druthers is any of these in a beautiful Ruger #1 or Browning 78. I feel like the .270 & '06 are the two great American deer cartridges that are powerful, accurate & easy to shoot/hit with at all practical deer hunting ranges. The .222 is just plain fun to shoot! Very accurate, easy & cheap to reload - just pretty much perfect!

Recent cartridges that have really perked my interest are the 6.5 Creedmore & 6.8mm SPC. I'd like one in either a bolt action or single-shot. I also have developed an interest in the .458 Win & I am sorry I have pasted up a few over the years.

As for wildcats, I'd build a 6mm based on an improved .30-30 case. There are a number of variations on this, but the original name was 6mm/.30/30. Of course I want the rim for building a deluxe single shot rifle!

Just what I like...

...bug:)
 
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6mm remington is my fave. Still depressed that nobody chambers a rifle for it anymore.

Can I pick a favorite family of cartridges? That would have to be the 30-06 parent case :D
 
Bumble bug I have to 2nd your opinion of the 270 and 06. Probably not a cartridge on the planet that have taken more deer. I've been drooling over a 6.5 creed more. Very interesting cartridge. Very fond of the 22khornet as well and my dad has a winchester mod85 low wall chambered in such. Been trying hard to beat him out of it! I've got a sako L46 pre vixen in 222...fine fine combination.
 
SteveN so you buy the rifle you want close to dimensions and ream it to such!! :D fine cartridge and fine parent!
 
Never met a cartridge in the 30-06 family I didnt like.I do favor 25-06 & 270win.Just been drinking that koolaid along time and still like it. Guess a 223 makes me smile alittle too.:D
 
wide open places, 280 Remington, from coyotes to moose 120 grn to 175's
in the thick bush, 375 Winchester, a real pig & bear thumper, it's like launching a bowling ball @ 2000fps
and my personal fav, the good ol' 22
 
I'm surprised no one has said .308win or 30-30 yet lol. My personal favorites has to be in order .22lr, .243, .308, and .270. Granted i'm building a AR upper for the 6.8spc right now. Just ordered the bolt yesterday :D. Now I need a barrel and figure out the length I want :rolleyes:
 
mattL46- another easy route to a 6mm remington is to buy old 7 or 8mm mauser actions to build off of. The 6mm rem case is a necked down 7x57 mauser. So is the .257 bob. Another great parent case :)
 
50BMG

50BMG

because its good for prairrie dogs to polar bears, but the biggest target its been used for is 6 foot paper targets and 4" clay pigeons at 1000 yards.
 
.308 - loved shooting th M60 and M14
.223 / 5.56 - velocity has magical powers
7.62 x 39 - intermediate versatility
 
For me it would be the .30-06 for hunting, the .260 for silhouette and the .223 for conventional high power.

The .30-06 is good for anything in the lower 48 and I don't see myself going to Alaska or Africa in the foreseeable future. The .260 knocks down the CPT reliably with 107 MKs and the Rams with 142MKs, both with less recoil than similar, heavier bullets in larger calibers. The .223 is competitive in Match Rifle and the .223 AR-15 rules the roost in Service Rifle for conventional high power shooting. With the heavier bullets the .223 can get the job done at 600 yards. (Whether or not I can get the job done at 600 is another story. . .)

There are many other cartridges that will provide similar service but these are the ones that work for me.


Drue
 
What a fun thread!

I'm surprised so many named the .257 roberts. That is one of my choices also. (As a bit of trivia, I think the cartridge was commercially called the .257 remington roberts to distinguish it from the wildcat. The original .257 roberts, designed by ned roberts and chambered in the griffin and howe rifles, had a slightly different shoulder angle. The remington case is simply the 7 x 57 mm necked down to .25 caliber.)

My second favorite would be the .22 hornet. It was the first centerfire rifle I fired. Many of our shooting areas have become more populated. Distances are less and less noise is often desirable. And, at a 10 grain powder charge, a pound of powder goes a long way.
 
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