what do you think is the most versatile cartridge ever made?

For all the posters pushing a 12 gauge let us consider the fact that the original post included a stipulation of recoil. If we are insisting that a shotgun be considered I'll change my vote to a 20 gauge. It may give up a bit of performance but lighter guns, less recoil yet still very effective.
 
I live within 30 minutes either way of some of the most diverse terrain in North American as far as hunting shots are concerned. There is also a very diverse smattering of big game. Locals don’t use 45-70’s, they don’t use 30-30’s, they don’t use big 375’s, and they would look at you like you have three heads if you suggested a shotgun. But there sure are a lot of 270’s, 30-06’s, and 7 RM’s.
 
stubblejumper said:
B.C. represents one province , there are 10 provinces, and 50 states in Canada and the USA, and that doesn't include Mexico. And in a large part of Ontario, you can't use a 30-06 for any big game hunting. You also can't use any centerfire rifles to hunt big game in parts of Alberta and other provinces. And I am not aware of any locations where a rifle is legal for waterfowl.
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Actually, a very small part of Ontario is calibre restricted, and in those areas there isn't a rifle season for deer or moose.
 
Get whatever floats your boat. Just about any mainstream cartridge or it's equivalent will do.

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Any of those four. I choose 308.


all_around_cartridges.jpg


https://www.chuckhawks.com/all_around_cartridges.htm
 
I would vote for 308. Low recoil, kills anything, tonnes of different bullets to choose from, relatively inexpensive to load for, ammo found anywhere, found in just about any modern rifle.
 
todbartell said:
One special run of a few hundred guns ten years ago?
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Point taken... but between the usual bolt action options, the Winchester 1895, and the now the Ruger I think it qualifies. He lists the 6.5x55 as already meeting the criteria, and I don't know of any lever action 6.5x55 rifles, for instance. I think his criteria was based on "I can get one in a Remington 700 or a Winchester M70."
 
Barnes_270 said:
Point taken... but between the usual bolt action options, the Winchester 1895, and the now the Ruger I think it qualifies. He lists the 6.5x55 as already meeting the criteria, and I don't know of any lever action 6.5x55 rifles, for instance. I think his criteria was based on "I can get one in a Remington 700 or a Winchester M70."
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and the Globco semi-auto in .303 Brit, for that matter..............
 
There are still Ross rifles kicking around, if you want some variety in your options for sending .303 British downrange. Or you might be able to find a Winchester M1895 made in that calibre.
 
.303 B would undoubtedly be in the running for most influential cartridge. It fought in several wars, and due to the influence of the British Empire it was probably one of the most commonly used hunting calibers worldwide.

Ballistics on par with the 308. Points lost for the rimmed cartridge, and cases tend to stretch if you like reloading.
 
Touché. I’ve shot more Grizzlies than rabbits. So versatile certainly depends on circumstances, and the circumstances of this discussion are one modest recoiling rifle for all game on the continent. Like all of us I own more than one gun, but it’s fun to play at these thought experiments as the post count here shows.
 
old303 said:
There are still Ross rifles kicking around, if you want some variety in your options for sending .303 British downrange. Or you might be able to find a Winchester M1895 made in that calibre.
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I just picked up an 1895 in .303 brit. Can't wait to fill the freezer with it next year!
 
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