What is the most underrated cartridge?

Most under rated? The 22 short, best cartridge for a true survivor in the wilderness bush. A grouse shot in the body with a short usually falls over and stays there. the same hit with a 22 long rifle will often result in the grouse flying away, before it dies. For all small game, rabbits,squirrels, etc., the short is an ideal killer and destroys very little meat.
Its other great asset is how tiny it is. A box of 50 in the pocket can hardly be felt.
 
My vote is on the 250 savage, at one time it was used to kill everything on the north American continent. IIm not suggesting someone use it to go grizzly hunting with, but at normal ranges its a great deer cartridge and even works good on elk at 200 yards. I just think now days its forgotten and under rated for the job it used to do very well.
 
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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Doug,

there is a way certainly to do some 350 brass otherwise they are hard to get.

pretty sure you have a recipe for it ....
 
Now this is probably more of a long forgotten cartridge than maybe an underrated round, but this Fall I am going to put some meat in my freezer using a dandy little Pre-64 Mod. 70 chambered for the 256 Newton...
 
Call me crazy but I have and hunt with most of the calibers mentioned here: 45/70, 6.5x55, 22 Hornet, 308, and 375 Winhester. But I have to add the 260 Remington. Amazing caliber. But try buying one.
 
Has -anyone- mentioned the good old 30-06? My gosh, the last person to walk into the shop and ask for an aughtsix was a 17 year old girl who had her head screwed on straight. Everyone wants a big ol' barrel burner but the aughtsix is just boringly dependable.
 
1. 30-30 Winchester/35 Remington - these two have taken more North American game than ANY other cailber. Bear, moose, and deer...period.
2. 6.5x55 Swed. - Europes version of the much famed American 30'06. The Swede is every bit as effective and much more efficient. You can't beat the sleek performance and awesome sectional density. Honestly, who needs a "magunum" really?
3. 260 Remington/45-70 Gov't - I put these two in here because of their fall in popularity. Both will kill just about anything you point them at. The 260 crowd know the long-distance capabilities of this round and this secret is just getting out, as its ballistics are similar to the .300 Win Mag without the long action and shock to the shoulder. For everything short-range, 100 yrd or less, you cannot beat the 45-70 for its stopping power and energy transfer. From 250 grians all the way to 550, take your pick. From Hogs to Water Buffalo, this one needs some help to get it back in the game and manufacturing.
 
I would say the 30-30. People constantly "under rate" it. Some people make fun of my little 30-30, but so far I am a very happy camper with it. It is a workhorse with very respectable killing power.
 
Slaymoar said:
I would say the 30-30. People constantly "under rate" it. Some people make fun of my little 30-30, but so far I am a very happy camper with it. It is a workhorse with very respectable killing power.
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My thoughts as well.

[Youtube]Jnze4dZU27k[/youtube]
 
I've seen a Tikka heavy barrel in 6.5X55 put ten shots in the ten ring at 800 meters. Five of them X's. I'm a huge 308 fan but the only guys that underate it are hunters. The military and target shooters know it's potential. To be underrated it would have to be widely known and ignored. 303/30-06?
 
8mm Mauser is probably the most underreated single cartridge. My handloads push 220 grain Sierras faster than North American factory ammo pushes 170's; talk about being set up for failure...

Most European cartridges don't get fair play in North America, except the .338 Lapua, which probably gets too much.

Most .35 cals aren't nearly as popular as their usefulness would suggest they should be.

45-70 get's no respect past 100 yards, even though a practiced shooter with handloads could shoot right through moose out to probably three times that far...
 
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30-30 and 303 brit. Hand loaded these cartridges are every bit as deadly as belted magnums. Just at shorter distances. Took a Bison with a straight on head shot at 60 m with hand loaded 303 brit.
Bullet went through both front and back of the skull and tore up a bunch of neck meat before exiting.
I would say that is plenty enough power for any North American big game.
 
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