Ready to go back to the classics, or never left?

The Kurgan

The Kurgan

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Super GunNutz
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As hard as I try to "really want" and "really need" a ***WSM or other newer "treats of the week"... after looking at the ballistics charts, actual experiences, and my actual requirements, I keep navigating back to the tried and true classics like 30-06, 7x57, 6.5x55, and the bigger bore stuff that started life as BP cartridges. No disrespect to the modern age and the legions of "I need the latest and fastest" but I think "they" got it right 60-120 years ago. Anybody else?
 
Staying with the classics, never left them. No need for anything else, do not reload or I would need a larger safe. If .366 Wagner was available on shelves locally, there would be a full stock rifle in that caliber in my safe.
 
Is has been writen that there really has not been much if any BG cartridge improvement since the 270 was rolled out.

I think the most modern cartridge I have used is the 308 with the exception of the 222 & 223.
 
I use cartridges that I find interesting and/or practical. Sometimes it's new, sometimes it's well over 100 years old, sometimes it's 50 years old. If I like it, I use it.

That 300WSM is now 15 years old, and is a very popular cartridge, so is the 270WSM. The NEW KING- 375 Ruger- is almost 10 years old. I remember hearing "stock up on brass" when the 300WSM came out, but it's going strong. The 30-06 is over 100 but still probably the #1 popular hunting cartridge. There are obsolete cartridges (like the 375 H&H) that are still very popular, full on newfangled cartridges that are very popular and everything in between.

So, to the question of gravitating towards classics or new? I think you are correct in that the classics worked well then, they actually work better now with modern powders and bullets....But I have no intention of limiting myself to "just old" or "just new" I'll use whatever piques my interest. :)
 
Just for fun, I went and looked up a bunch of my favorite cartridges/cartridges I currently own firearms chambered in and listed their birthday year. :)

1872
1887
1891
1895
1902
1904
1906
1944
1958
1964
1962
1997
2001
2007

I guess I have some gaps in the 1920's and 1930's :)
 
nice spread.

Don't feel like researching dates, but I have:

12 gauge
30-06
7x57
6.5x55
7.62x39
32-20
310 Greener (Cadet)
7.5mm Swiss Ordnance (7.5x23R)
32 S&W Long
22 Hornet
 
Currently The rifles I hunt with are .303, 30-06, and .375 H&H. Sold my 6.5x55 and just got a 6.5x54. I think those are all pretty classic. I am considering getting or building a 300 win mag, but I don't have any need for anything more "modern" than that.
 
The Kurgan said:
nice spread.

Don't feel like researching dates, but I have:

12 gauge
30-06
7x57
6.5x55
7.62x39
32-20
310 Greener (Cadet)
7.5mm Swiss Ordnance (7.5x23R)
32 S&W Long
22 Hornet
Click to expand...

I've always felt Gatehouse has a nice spread...

I'm not sure where the line is that determines a "classic" but I feel that I mostly gravitate to classic"ish" cartridges... the last new"ish" one sold three or four years ago (6.5 CM).

As I downsized my battery and was forced to make hard choices, my true preferences were revealed, the common factors being; nice walnut stocks, rich blued metal, well established cartridges with some historic appeal, bolt action rifles and break action shotguns. But that is just me.
 
The newest cartridge I have is the 375 Winchester, the oldest the 43 Mauser.
 
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Gatehouse said:
Just for fun, I went and looked up a bunch of my favorite cartridges/cartridges I currently own firearms chambered in and listed their birthday year. :)

1872
1887
1891
1895
1902
1904
1906
1944
1958
1964
1962
1997
2001
2007

I guess I have some gaps in the 1920's and 1930's :)
Click to expand...

It also looks like I have some gaps in the 1970's and 1980's. Anyone want to take a stab at what noteworthy cartridges were "legitimized" in the 20's, 30's, 70's 80's? Maybe the 70's was Weatherbys heyday and that's why I have gaps. :)
 
Gatehouse said:
It also looks like I have some gaps in the 1970's and 1980's. Anyone want to take a stab at what noteworthy cartridges were "legitimized" in the 20's, 30's, 70's 80's? Maybe the 70's was Weatherbys heyday and that's why I have gaps. :)
Click to expand...

7-30 Waters, 307, 356, 375 Winchester, 7-08, 8mm Rem Mag, 35 Whelen, 416 Rem.

22 Hornet, 270, 257 Roberts, 300 Savage, 348 Win, 300 H&H.
 
MiG25 said:
7-30 Waters, 307, 356, 375 Winchester, 7-08, 8mm Rem Mag, 35 Whelen, 416 Rem.

22 Hornet, 270, 257 Roberts, 300 Savage, 348 Win, 300 H&H.
Click to expand...

7-08 should be on my list. Never owned any of the others except .270 but loaded for a few on the list. Hard not to like the 348 and the 300 H&H, both very cool. Always liked my buddies original .348 WInchester. Such a cool lever gun.
 
I finally landed a 7mm rem mag after going years convincing myself I would never give in to the new age magnums. I still hang my head in shame. A sucker for advertising.
 
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heronfish said:
I finally landed a 7mm rem mag after going years convincing myself I would never give in to the new age magnums. I still hang my head in shame. A sucker for advertising.
Click to expand...

It's hard to call a 50+ year old cartridge a "new age" magnum............I think it has proven it's worth and is well on it's way to becoming a true classic...........
 
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