What is the most underrated cartridge?

c-fbmi said:
i think there are a lot of cartridges that deserve more accolades than they get, 280 as mentioned, as well as a lot of other older cartridges, 358 win is another already mentioned, but in my opinion the most under rated of all, by everyone who has never hunted with one is the 350 rem mag. I too was guilty of dismissing it as a joke until i got a mod 7 ks on a trade and did a little hunting with it, i was very impressed with this little cartridge and i must say it kills all out of proportion to it's paper numbers. My 350 is now my constant spring companion and resides in a little niche in my camper all summer as a "just in case" gun. This little rifle and cartridge has derailed double digits in black bears and i don't recall ever shooting one twice, from point blank to 300 mtrs!!!!
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yes!
Since I've started hunting with this round I have yet to follow a blood trail. Instant dirt-nap.
I'm running a pseudo-KS build as well, BIG power in a 20" barrelled Model Seven under 7lbs scoped.
 
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My vote for the most underrated cartridge would be 284 winchester, never really caught on as a factory chambering, even though its a wonderful cartridge in a short action light weight rifle.
 
pete dobinson said:
My vote for the most underrated cartridge would be 284 winchester, never really caught on as a factory chambering, even though its a wonderful cartridge in a short action light weight rifle.
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Actually, that's an excellent point. One of the best cartridges out there for North America with some brilliant design points, hugely efficient, and all but overlooked in hunting circles. Certainly appreciated in target circles.
 
Holleyman said:
German rail mounted
Dora
Gustav2.jpg
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Can you imagine what a set of reloading dies for that would cost ???
 
My opinion (not necessarily in this order):
22LR
22 Hornet (maybe the K-hornet as well, but it is a completely different cartrige)
6.5x55, the cartrige that defined, started and crowned the smokeless ammunition,
7.62x39,
7x57/8x57 mauser,
7.62x25,
6PPC
12.7 Soviet
 
The Kurgan said:
7.62x39. People complain about "soft" power and poor accuracy... but look what they're shooting and the rifles their shooting out of. 7.62x39 handloaded, or a quality commerical variant, out of a bolt gun is every bit as accurate as the more popular middle weights. Power? 123 grains at 2400 fps? That can take most game, and of course, will ruin anybody's day! I rank it in my top 5 favourite rifle cartridges, amoung the venerable 30-06, 7x57, 308, and 45-70.
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I, too, think it is underrated. What people fail to consider is that it beats the .30-30 flat nose bullets ballistically. Hand loading brings out the very best in this cartridge. 220gn bullets at 1000fps, 110gn bullets at 2700+fps, 125gn bullets at 2500fps, 180gn bullets at 2000+fps! These are nothing to sneeze at! This is a versatile round if loaded in a bolt gun.
 
Also have to agree on the .22LR. At one point, the Japanese decided to use this in tactical 10-22s for non-lethal crowd control. Their reasoning, the round would not be heard over the riot noise. Sharp shooters could target instigators and they would simply fall down with, at most, a broken rib. Lack of gunfire would not antagonize rioters or cause general panic.
That is, until they shot their first rioters. Blood, death, panic...

Really? The round is deadly accurate, and just ... Deadly.
 
358 winchester. Grouse to grizzly bears, Weasel to water buffalo..... Large usable bullet weight spread. Compatable with pistol bullets. Small enough for short actions, standard bolt face, easy conversion to 308 base semi autos, common brass, and doesn't require a long barrel to make power. 125 grn bullets at 3400 fps, 300 grn bullets at 2000 fps, with 225s right at 2450 it's an amazingly versitle cartridge that next to no one uses
 
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.308 is the most under-rated big game cartridge. People think they're fine for deer, but start to get all ####-eyed when you suggest moose or elk. Run the numbers through the Hornady HITS calculator and you'll find the 210/208 grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of 2400fps is a big game taker for quite some range. You do need a 1:10 twist to stabilize the big 210/208 grain, but it does work. And for the Luddites out there that will chime in and say "you can do all you want with a calculator, it doesn't beat real life" I will say that the elk that my son took at 400 yards is still dead from the .308 loaded with a 208 amax at a mv of 2400fps. At the muzzle, using the hits calculator, the big 208 comes in with a HITS score of 1,562.

Also, say a person doesn't want to use an amax, buy the new Nosler LR accubond. They make a 210 accubond that will open down to 1,300fps.

http://www.nosler.com/accubond-long-range/

http://www.hornady.com/hits/calculator
 
Yak said:
The one in your safe your thinking of upgrading
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I have to agree with Yak on this one! My old Marlin 30-30 has helped me bag a calf moose and number of deer, but it seems to always sit in the safe while I shop for new guns. Great caliber with readily available ammo with enough take down power for anything I'll ever hunt with it. Might have to bring it out of retirement for the spring bear hunt.
 
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