Your picks for favorite cartridges in 2014, by caliber

The problem remains that many of todays cartridges are much like pop music. They have appeal but without some time in the field noone knows if they will be here in 5 years. The only thing shorter than some short magnums was their shelf life. There are many short run failures out there from recent history. The future state of the shooting supply industry is another concern. The cartridges that count are the ones on the shelf and that favors 30-30 over many on this list!

One trend is the purchase of rifles for narrower roles, ie., gophers, coyotes, deer, moose bear, african hammer, etc..

Me personally, I prefer 100 year old cartridges with rims in unusual sizes, 303, 32-20, 32 Special, 22 Hornet, 22LR, and my new ones are 444 and 223 Rem. Not everyone shoots or cares for magnums, bolts, scopes, and plastic rifles. However most do for very sensible reasons.

I would stick to 22, 6MM, 30, and 338 for component supply, specially bullets. Best choice for bullets and anything bigger than a 338 Magnum is overkill and probably redundant in 10 years when moose tickets are scarcer than grizzly tickets!
 
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SuperCub said:
I'd go for a 223 and a 7x57 or 270Win or 280 or 30/06.


I don't understand the big hate for the 270Win. It was far ahead of all other chamberings at the time that it's been near impossible to improve on it, esp now with the better bullets available. This would explain the lack of other .277" cartridges.
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A strength of the .270 is that it is next to impossible to make a bad bullet choice. I don't hunt with the .270s much anymore but have the three major flavors. Don't remember ever shooting something with one and wishing I'd shot it with something else.
 
I'm enjoying the 375 'be much more than I thought I would. Even my 14 year old daughter is taken by it. Not that noisy and decent recoil, apparently it hits like a Bearcat. I'm at a self imposed 300 yd limit anyhow, might have to reconsider why I even have the 7RM at all.
 
I don't own all of the below, but have at one time or another (current - .22LR, .223, .243, .257, 6.5x55, .300, .35W, .375)

In the .22-cal category, I've fired about as much .223 as I have .22LR this past year. .223 is just so satisfying and I am learning a ton about fundamentals behind the bench and seeing what mistakes I am prone to making that I don't see with a .22. Both of them will forever be in my safe though. The .17's aren't really "a thing" for me.

.243 Winchester is also a favorite. I'm really enjoying shooting lighter, lower recoiling rifles lately. A trim .243 is plenty for whitetails at normal range and great for new shooters to try.

.257 Weatherby is my favorite quarter-bore! Freaking laser gun is what it is. Mine got lightweight Talley 1-piece rings this year to replace the Weaver crap I had on before.

6.5x55mm continues the low recoil/excellent performance kick I've been on lately.

7mm has a huge number of cartridges available, but the 7mm-08, 7x57, and .280 Remington are all excellent and to me really eliminate the need for a .270.

.308 caliber, make mine a .300 Weatherby Magnum. Here's where the mild recoil gets thrown aside, when I reach for a .30-cal I want some balls behind it.

8mm Remington Magnum used to be in my safe but I had no need for it and the offer that was made to me was basically full retail, so off she went.

.358 to me is ###y, I love the .358 Winchester and .35 Whelen. Both pretty mild and throwing nice chunks of copper around.

9.3x62mm is another ###y beast, especially when topped off with 286gr bullets. Oozes class, also mild for what it can do.

.375 H&H is another classy number that I love, but it's not the most comfortable round to shoot. I still try and practice occasionally (when I work up the nerve), and have shot deer with a 235gr load that is extremely effective.

.404 Jeffrey is hot as well, the one I fired was about the max I can handle for recoil.

I've also shot a .416 Remington Magnum with "moderate" loads which would be in the Jeffrey ballpark +100 fps maybe. Harsh, but that's pretty much my limit. I'd get one good shot off, and one off in panic but I'd put money on "flinch".

I had a .458 once, and fired exactly two shots from it before I sold it. Enough said! :)
 
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Gatehouse said:
.375- Obviously, the .375 Ruger is the top pick. Nobody would design a tapered case like a .375 H&H in a bolt action anymore,
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Still beating that pathetic little drum of yours I see? .......

when I told you your Ruger was a classless little pretender, you have a hissy fit - and ban me - how pathetic are you really?
 
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SuperCub said:
I'd go for a 223 and a 7x57 or 270Win or 280 or 30/06.


I don't understand the big hate for the 270Win. It was far ahead of all other chamberings at the time that it's been near impossible to improve on it, esp now with the better bullets available. This would explain the lack of other .277" cartridges.
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exactly - the 270 along with the 30.06 and the 22lr, some of the greatest cartridges to ever come out of the USA.

Some clown, will undoubtedly tell us that non would not be manufactured - if invented today!
 
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Canuck Bob said:
The problem remains that many of todays cartridges are much like pop music. They have appeal but without some time in the field noone knows if they will be here in 5 years. The only thing shorter than some short magnums was their shelf life. There are many short run failures out there from recent history. The future state of the shooting supply industry is another concern. The cartridges that count are the ones on the shelf and that favors 30-30 over many on this list!

One trend is the purchase of rifles for narrower roles, ie., gophers, coyotes, deer, moose bear, african hammer, etc..

Me personally, I prefer 100 year old cartridges with rims in unusual sizes, 303, 32-20, 32 Special, 22 Hornet, 22LR, and my new ones are 444 and 223 Rem. Not everyone shoots or cares for magnums, bolts, scopes, and plastic rifles. However most do for very sensible reasons.

I would stick to 22, 6MM, 30, and 338 for component supply, specially bullets. Best choice for bullets and anything bigger than a 338 Magnum is overkill and probably redundant in 10 years when moose tickets are scarcer than grizzly tickets!
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The hype around the some of the stuff manufactured nowadays is really pathetic, the venerable 22lr (of 1887) must be one of the greatest inventions of modern time - how many millions have come to the shooting sports through it?

When you have cartridges with real pedigrees like the 6.5x55, 303, 7x57 - 9.3x62 - 375 H&H (to name a few of my personal favourites) the modern "want to be's"- like "pedigree less" dogs, are mere mongrels in comparison.

Perhaps if some of the "great drum beaters" actually traveled to far off place and walked in the footsteps of the legends, they may realize the significance of these awesome cartridges in the sport we all love. (But then again Im not exactly holding my breath)
 
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My stable of calibres is limited as I tend to use my guns in the bush and except for the guns my Dad/Grandfather left me I own nothing that is not used yearly. When I started out years ago I stuck with the tried and true because I was hunter not a reloader. Over the years as my interests escalated into reloading and target shooting my preference for the time proven calibres hung on. But never say never there is always room to expand ones calibre collection.

This what I use and why.

.22LR - cheap to target shoot and just plain fun.

.22mag- was my ground hog/ jack rabbit when we had ground hogs and jack rabbits relegated to stray cats and anything else around the house of a smaller size that needs shot. A very effective, cheap little cartridge. The 17's are just an attempt to reinvent the wheel which is the 22mag.

5mm mag - by Remington, my Grandfathers groundhog gun now obsolete. A rival in it's day to the 22 mag, but the 22 mag was to well established and still is. Ammo is now available again on a limited basis. Shoot a stray cat or two every year with it to honor my Grand Dad as he hated cats.

.243 - mainly for coyotes and wolves, have shot deer with it but it's useless when around brush and gads. An open air calibre.

.30-06 - my main hunting cartridge, will handle everything and anything from groundhogs to moose without issue. Also have a .308 that my Dad left me which also works well but I prefer my 30-06.

.375 H&H - friend of mine introduced me to this cartridge. Recoil to me is the same as a 12ga heavy duck load. Pleasant to shoot therefore in a heavy calibre. The 375 H&H's reputation is legendary so it will handle any future needs I have that the 30-06 is shy on.

.44mag - got given one of these in a Ruger semi auto rifle. Greatest little bush gun they ever invented except for the M94 in 30-30. Light, fast and the 44mag is perfect for plowing through brush and gads and putting deer on the ground.

This is what I would pick out of all the cartridges available in 2014 if I had to do it over again and why.
 
My signature probably explains where I am at. While I still favour having a .30-06 in the line-up, the one I early-willed to my son is always available.
.22 LR - really enjoy the BR side of these rifles. While some may be critical of using ammo at $10-20 per box that is my choice.
.22-250 is a standby.
.243 Winchester is a greater starter for new shooters. Have had 6mm Remington in the past but what I have now will do.
.25-06 is my second one and is a great choice in the 1/4 inch game.
.260 Remington - was looking for a 6.5 and a short action cam available first. It will be the only custom gun . . . don't need another.
.280 Remington - sits between the .270 Winchester and .30-06.
.300 Win Mag - bought on a whim and other than bedding the recoil lug it will do just fine as is.

Parted company with the .338 Win Mag a few years ago . . . it had become an overly expensive "tractor gun" and my days of hunting Elk and moose were over.
I do not see any gaps but I could create a few if someone thinks they need something more than I do. If the price is right I can be moved.
 
Kudu said:
Still beating that pathetic little drum of yours I see? .......

when I told you your Ruger was a classless little pretender, you have a hissy fit - and ban me - how pathetic are you really?
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Actually, you got a time out because I got tired of you following me around trying to take little shots at me, just because you got your panties in a knot after I gave you infractions for calling other members insulting names. I don't expect you to understand that, but there it is. I *did* expect you to follow me around here on CGN, and you haven't dissapointed. Fill your boots. :)
 
mrgoat said:
My stable of calibres is limited as I tend to use my guns in the bush and except for the guns my Dad/Grandfather left me I own nothing that is not used yearly. When I started out years ago I stuck with the tried and true because I was hunter not a reloader. Over the years as my interests escalated into reloading and target shooting my preference for the time proven calibres hung on. But never say never there is always room to expand ones calibre collection.

This what I use and why.

.22LR - cheap to target shoot and just plain fun.

.22mag- was my ground hog/ jack rabbit when we had ground hogs and jack rabbits relegated to stray cats and anything else around the house of a smaller size that needs shot. A very effective, cheap little cartridge. The 17's are just an attempt to reinvent the wheel which is the 22mag.

5mm mag - by Remington, my Grandfathers groundhog gun now obsolete. A rival in it's day to the 22 mag, but the 22 mag was to well established and still is. Ammo is now available again on a limited basis. Shoot a stray cat or two every year with it to honor my Grand Dad as he hated cats.

.243 - mainly for coyotes and wolves, have shot deer with it but it's useless when around brush and gads. An open air calibre.

.30-06 - my main hunting cartridge, will handle everything and anything from groundhogs to moose without issue. Also have a .308 that my Dad left me which also works well but I prefer my 30-06.

.375 H&H - friend of mine introduced me to this cartridge. Recoil to me is the same as a 12ga heavy duck load. Pleasant to shoot therefore in a heavy calibre. The 375 H&H's reputation is legendary so it will handle any future needs I have that the 30-06 is shy on.

.44mag - got given one of these in a Ruger semi auto rifle. Greatest little bush gun they ever invented except for the M94 in 30-30. Light, fast and the 44mag is perfect for plowing through brush and gads and putting deer on the ground.

This is what I would pick out of all the cartridges available in 2014 if I had to do it over again and why.
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5mm!! Don't hear about that too often anymore. Impractical for most, but can't ignore the cool aspect, especially if you can track down ammo. :)
 
17 - hmr. Fast accurat and fun. Great gopher gun.
22 - lr for plinking, 223 for gophers/coyote's and whatever in-between
30 - 30-06 it will do everything a person needs and a wide range of bullet choices for anything you may need.
338 - the Lapua mag if you need some more jam.

All be it boring but that would be my list.
 
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