MOshooter65202
New member
LOL Matt I hear ya! 
Too many good cartridges to choose from.
Too many good cartridges to choose from.
whats your favorite rifle cartridge(s) and why?
- Thread starter mattL46
- Start date
I love this subject. I keep thinking about buying or building my perfect BAR, and am struggling over cartridge choice.
I must say that the .30-06 is one admirable round, which I may even call the "best" overall cartridge. But I want something a little different, just because.
I used to be drawn to the oddballs. Many years ago, after getting all cranked up by Bob Hagel in "Game Loads and Practical Ballistics for the American Hunter", I built most of a 7mm Mashburn Magnum. I botched the stock inletting, gave it to a friend who was a great woodworker and was going to try to make it work, but the friend, my Mashburn, and I have since gone separate ways. I at least got to the point where I fired a few rounds through it.
I still like hot 7's, like the Rem 7mm Mag. The STW is a little too new for me. I like something with some heritage. But the Rem, being introduced in 1962, isn't exactly a classic, either.
Something about the .264 Mag makes me swoon. That long, tapered bullet, the super-flat trajectory and crazy velocity, the reputation as a "barrel burner", all give it a weird "bad boy" image. I normally like something 7mm or bigger, but this one is the exception, which adds to its mystique.
I am starting to look more closely at the .270. Something about the .270 always seemed very classic, elegant, and effective. It always seemed a little classier than the 06. I don't seem to see a lot of them around here (Upstate NY) compared to 06s. So maybe they seem a little more exclusive to me, although I'm sure they are very close in popularity to the 06. I think of the 06 as an effective tool, and the 270 as a piece of hunting heritage. I'm not saying it makes any sense. Please don't take offense if you love your 06. This is just my opinion, which is usually a bit off the wall.
The 8mm Mag is a really cool bad-ass round. In many way it seems like it should be the perfect big game round for anything in North American. Shoots as flat as an 06, packs the punch of a 338. But it really seems to have disappeared. Cartridge and bullet choices are few. And it is new. If Bob Hagel didn't hunt with it, it doesn't have the classic status I am looking for.
I never warmed to the Win 300 and 338 Mags, for some reason. I don't know why. I think I like my magnums to be long. But I haven't ruled them out.
So I'm back looking at a real oddball. I won't be able to find a new factory gun for it. But it packs a bigger wallop than an 06, has as great a heritage, and is really unusual today. I would have to struggle to find ammo, and probably have to mostly load my own. My current cartridge of choice is the:
.300 H&H!
Hopefully sanity (and lack of money) will stop me before I go down this path. But what a great cartridge! A lot more sensible for North America than the .375 H&H, but just as cool.
So there's my odd list. Chances are I'll just keep plugging along with my .303 British, which I have actually gotten pretty fond of.
David
I must say that the .30-06 is one admirable round, which I may even call the "best" overall cartridge. But I want something a little different, just because.
I used to be drawn to the oddballs. Many years ago, after getting all cranked up by Bob Hagel in "Game Loads and Practical Ballistics for the American Hunter", I built most of a 7mm Mashburn Magnum. I botched the stock inletting, gave it to a friend who was a great woodworker and was going to try to make it work, but the friend, my Mashburn, and I have since gone separate ways. I at least got to the point where I fired a few rounds through it.
I still like hot 7's, like the Rem 7mm Mag. The STW is a little too new for me. I like something with some heritage. But the Rem, being introduced in 1962, isn't exactly a classic, either.
Something about the .264 Mag makes me swoon. That long, tapered bullet, the super-flat trajectory and crazy velocity, the reputation as a "barrel burner", all give it a weird "bad boy" image. I normally like something 7mm or bigger, but this one is the exception, which adds to its mystique.
I am starting to look more closely at the .270. Something about the .270 always seemed very classic, elegant, and effective. It always seemed a little classier than the 06. I don't seem to see a lot of them around here (Upstate NY) compared to 06s. So maybe they seem a little more exclusive to me, although I'm sure they are very close in popularity to the 06. I think of the 06 as an effective tool, and the 270 as a piece of hunting heritage. I'm not saying it makes any sense. Please don't take offense if you love your 06. This is just my opinion, which is usually a bit off the wall.
The 8mm Mag is a really cool bad-ass round. In many way it seems like it should be the perfect big game round for anything in North American. Shoots as flat as an 06, packs the punch of a 338. But it really seems to have disappeared. Cartridge and bullet choices are few. And it is new. If Bob Hagel didn't hunt with it, it doesn't have the classic status I am looking for.
I never warmed to the Win 300 and 338 Mags, for some reason. I don't know why. I think I like my magnums to be long. But I haven't ruled them out.
So I'm back looking at a real oddball. I won't be able to find a new factory gun for it. But it packs a bigger wallop than an 06, has as great a heritage, and is really unusual today. I would have to struggle to find ammo, and probably have to mostly load my own. My current cartridge of choice is the:
.300 H&H!
Hopefully sanity (and lack of money) will stop me before I go down this path. But what a great cartridge! A lot more sensible for North America than the .375 H&H, but just as cool.
So there's my odd list. Chances are I'll just keep plugging along with my .303 British, which I have actually gotten pretty fond of.
David
.300 Winchester Magnum is mine. It offers a perfect balance of cost, power, range and loading components + ammo selection.
Its relatively cheap to shoot for what it is, you can hunt big dangerous game, shoot targets at ultra long ranges, you can load it OHMYGOD-hot, you can load it down to 30-06 power levels...and it just looks damn sexy.
There is simply nothing wrong with it besides the short-ish barrel life.
Its relatively cheap to shoot for what it is, you can hunt big dangerous game, shoot targets at ultra long ranges, you can load it OHMYGOD-hot, you can load it down to 30-06 power levels...and it just looks damn sexy.
There is simply nothing wrong with it besides the short-ish barrel life.
@ Matt
My favorite load for the 300 is 220 grain SMK's, OAL 3.520'' (just shy of touching the lands) with 79 grains of H1000 for 2800fp/s (1:9 26'' barrel), neck sized fire formed Hornady brass, federal magnum primers. .4 groups at 110 yds and enough power to reach out to 1000 easily.
I love it as much as my rifle does.
My favorite load for the 300 is 220 grain SMK's, OAL 3.520'' (just shy of touching the lands) with 79 grains of H1000 for 2800fp/s (1:9 26'' barrel), neck sized fire formed Hornady brass, federal magnum primers. .4 groups at 110 yds and enough power to reach out to 1000 easily.
I love it as much as my rifle does.
My Favorite
My favorite is the 30 06, its everywhere in America, very good for Hunting and from its brass I can form several different cartridges that I also like. I have also noticed alot of Cartridges are compared to the 30 06 and will probably still be when they become obsolete, but the 30 06 will still be available and used because American Riflemen love It !!!
My favorite is the 30 06, its everywhere in America, very good for Hunting and from its brass I can form several different cartridges that I also like. I have also noticed alot of Cartridges are compared to the 30 06 and will probably still be when they become obsolete, but the 30 06 will still be available and used because American Riflemen love It !!!
Geezerbiker
New member
At the moment my favorite is the .45-70. I only shoot hand loads with cast bullets and I can load them light or hot and all shoot great from my Handi rifle.
However it only slightly edges out all the other calibers I shoot. My guns are like children, I try not to play favorites.
Tony
However it only slightly edges out all the other calibers I shoot. My guns are like children, I try not to play favorites.
Tony
I'm going to nominate a round which I've never owned. The 7X57. It was the 1st smokeless powder round and came out in 1892. It has taken every animal on the planet and was the preferred round of the most prolific elephant hunter of all time, WD Bell. Although it would not be seriouly considered a DG rifle, even 100 years ago.
If we don't include varmit rounds and dangerous game rounds there hasn't been a round that has come out since 1892 that significantly improves on its performance. In fact many of the rounds designed for general hunting since then are really a step backwards. With advancements in bullets, rifles, optics and powders the round is better than ever.
The 30-06 family of chamberings are a small improvement, but there is nothing I'd hunt with any of them the 7X57 wouldn't take. The 308 family including the 7-08's only advantage is being able to use in short actions. The 30-30 and all of the traditional lever action rounds since 1892 are a step backwards, as well as many other chamberings. The .30 cal and under magnums won't kill anything the 7X57 won't kill. They will do it from greater distance, but most people don't have the skills to use them at those ranges.
Even though I've never owned one, every chambering I do own borrows at least something from the 7X57's design. It is the great granddaddy of rifle chamberings and even at 120 years old will still run with anything made since.
If we don't include varmit rounds and dangerous game rounds there hasn't been a round that has come out since 1892 that significantly improves on its performance. In fact many of the rounds designed for general hunting since then are really a step backwards. With advancements in bullets, rifles, optics and powders the round is better than ever.
The 30-06 family of chamberings are a small improvement, but there is nothing I'd hunt with any of them the 7X57 wouldn't take. The 308 family including the 7-08's only advantage is being able to use in short actions. The 30-30 and all of the traditional lever action rounds since 1892 are a step backwards, as well as many other chamberings. The .30 cal and under magnums won't kill anything the 7X57 won't kill. They will do it from greater distance, but most people don't have the skills to use them at those ranges.
Even though I've never owned one, every chambering I do own borrows at least something from the 7X57's design. It is the great granddaddy of rifle chamberings and even at 120 years old will still run with anything made since.
I have to agree with the 22LR as number one. So cheap, best thing to have in order to perfect (or improve) your marksmanship.
I really like the 300WSM. I don't know why it hasn't been said already. It blows the doors off the 30/06 and 308 using a wider range of bullet sizes. Does it in a short action, and will most importantly is deadly accurate. Here in Alberta I hunt Black bear and having a "bush gun" that can easily be carried through brush and shouldered in possibly un-ideal spots. At the same time you want to be able to throw a 180+gr. Bullet around 3000fps. I can therefore my favorite.
I really like the 300WSM. I don't know why it hasn't been said already. It blows the doors off the 30/06 and 308 using a wider range of bullet sizes. Does it in a short action, and will most importantly is deadly accurate. Here in Alberta I hunt Black bear and having a "bush gun" that can easily be carried through brush and shouldered in possibly un-ideal spots. At the same time you want to be able to throw a 180+gr. Bullet around 3000fps. I can therefore my favorite.
30-06
Versatile, powerful, steady price, and has the ability to take anything in North America. From a whitetail to a grizzly bear, you can't beat it! No wonder it has been popular for over 100 years!
Edit: 22 LR is right there with the 30-06 on my list. Cheap, fun, versatile, accurate!!
Versatile, powerful, steady price, and has the ability to take anything in North America. From a whitetail to a grizzly bear, you can't beat it! No wonder it has been popular for over 100 years!
Edit: 22 LR is right there with the 30-06 on my list. Cheap, fun, versatile, accurate!!