OK, You asked for it ... What are the most overrated RIFLE cartridges?

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I going to say the 22 long rifle. While very useful, it is often used in applications for which it was never intended with varying results. As an example - It was never intended to be a predator cartridge, but is frequently used as such.
 
bearkilr said:
243 Win. Too small for big game, too big for small game.
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I used to think that as well until I started shooting a 257Roberts and realized that the 243 is very similar to the 257. Both will shoot 100gr bullets at similar velocities.

I've have nothing but good fortune with the 257 on deer and could fully expect the same results with a 243. Are there cartridges that are better for deer? Probably yes with heavier weights, but I would not call the 243 or the 257 over rated.
 
riversrest said:
9.3x57. Outdated potato thrower.
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The 9.3x57 compares to the 358Winchester. You probably don't like that one either. Use it for it was designed to do and you won't be disappointed.

There's always something bigger and faster. Some guys need to have to bigger/fasters to affirm themselves.
 
If your talking just ad hype; right now it has to be the 6.5 Creedmoor.

While Jack O'Connor hype the living chit out of the 270 Winchester back in the day....

Another super wizz bang is just around the corner. And it's success will have more to do with it's marketing than it's actual performance. Just like others.
 
I'll go down a different path , I've found it's not the cartridge that's over ratedted , it's the users expectations are unrealistic . I've used a lot of different cartridges over the years , they all have there pros and cons . I worked with one guy who insisted that there was no bullet drop in his 7mm RM from 100 to 400 yards . Obviously false . The 7mmRM is a great round ........... he was an idiot . Nothing to do with the cartridges capabilities .
 
While Jack O'Connor hype the living chit out of the 270 Winchester back in the day...
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All dancing banana trolling aside, I wonder if I’m the near future the 6.5 creedmoor will be accepted as a general North American ungulate hunting cartridge like the 270

I don’t really want to do the field testing on elk myself
 
anglia2 said:
i'll go down a different path , i've found it's not the cartridge that's over ratedted , it's the users expectations are unrealistic . I've used a lot of different cartridges over the years , they all have there pros and cons . I worked with one guy who insisted that there was no bullet drop in his 7mm rm from 100 to 400 yards . Obviously false . The 7mmrm is a great round ........... He was an idiot . Nothing to do with the cartridges capabilities .
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x100!
 
When the discussion is about hype and marketing, many people forget one of the biggest marketing hypes ever- Belted magnums.

Except for the very few cartridges that actually need a belt to headspace, the belt is superfluous. The H&H case was used by wildcatters because that's what they happened to have, but Remington, Winchester etc certainly had the ability to manufacture beltless brass cases but instead stuck to the belt for the hype.

Belts became a marketing tool for magnum power and almost all cartridges with a belt could be considered part of that hype.
 
I have to agree with the overhyped vs the overrated theme. A lot of cartridges have reputations beyond their capabilities from people
That simply don’t know or care to understand ballistics. Word of mouth can be interesting in this game. Almost every cartridge will do what it’s designed to do, they aren’t all long range boomers or close range thumpers. Like a lot of people have said, and I agree, the 45-70, 308, and 6.5cm amongst others seem to fit the bill of overhyped. That being said I own a 308 and a 6.5cm and they do exactly what I want/need from them.
 
Regarding .270 Win: Berger now offers a .270 Caliber 170 Grain "Extreme Outer Limits (EOL) Elite Hunter" bullet. I used Berger's online twist rate calculator: It needs a 1:8 twist to stabilize it. My .270 Win is a 1:10 twist which will not stabilize it, and I am guessing the throat would be too short anyways for this new long bullet, which is a shame.

Maybe the .270 Win could be the next big thing again with a custom 1:8 twist barrel and a chamber reamer made for the new longer bullets?....Point being that sometimes the limitations of a cartridge is based on its marketing history. With today's lens (hindsight) it seems somewhat bizarre to me that the 30-06 was made for longer heavier bullets up to 220gr (good), but the .270 with the same case was limited to about 150 gr. bullets (bad). Why at the time did they not make .270 Win with a 1:8 twist to be able to handle more diversity of longer heavier bullets with that huge case and powder volume?

I own a .260 Rem Tikka and it came from the factory in a 1:8 twist, which is a big improvement from the original 1:9 twist that the .260 Rem was originally marketed with.

Over or under-rated cartridges may have a new life with a few updated tweaks to chamber lengths and barrel twists?
 
SuperCub said:
The 9.3x57 compares to the 358Winchester. You probably don't like that one either. Use it for it was designed to do and you won't be disappointed.

There's always something bigger and faster. Some guys need to have to bigger/fasters to affirm themselves.
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I love the Spud thrower for my locale... it and the 38-55 are a perfect fit for twisty creek brush in moderately populated areas.
My moderately populated is likely different from most folks
 
The Kurgan said:
Come on gents, time to rant.

I am only going to start with one, though I have about half a dozen cartridges on my 'no-thanks' list...

223

After 32 years, I still can't find a practical use for it, as there are always other cartridges that do the job better. Yes, I served. Yes, I carried. I still detest it.
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lol....you chose one of the best selling calibers as overrated?

I would be happy owning nothing but 223, 308, 9mm, 22lr and 12g.
 
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