What's the most useless caliber

The .17HMR isn't a case where the .22 will do anything it will do. A .22 is about a 100 yard gun, where a .17HMR shoots flat to 200. In places where a rimfire can be used for turkeys, like B.C., but a centrefire is illegal, a .17HMR will give you a long range option that a .22 or a shotgun can't match. I'm questioning the .570 T-Rex cartridge...
 
.17 Mach Two. Lacks the gopher-poppin' abilties of the HMR, costs more than .22LR and isn't usually found in the small town Co-ops, UFAs and Home Hardwares.

I think a lot of handgun cartridges are far less useful than they could be in this nation.
 
With all of the short fats around these days answering your question is a tough choice. Why limit it to just one "most useless"?
 
.17 Mach Two. Lacks the gopher-poppin' abilties of the HMR, costs more than .22LR and isn't usually found in the small town Co-ops, UFAs and Home Hardwares.
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It kills gophers just as dead to 150 yards or so, at half the cost of the 17HMR. I could care less if I can find it in small town CO-OPs, UFAs or Home Hardwares, I don't buy ammunition there anyways.

By the way, the 17Mach2, and the 17HMR are the SAME CALIBER.

As for the most useless caliber, the most common caliber that I have no use for, is anything that uses a .277" bullet.
 
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jacky said:
The 375 H&H is timeless and will always be number one:p
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Although obsolete, I am sure the H&H will hang on for quite some time. Lots of obsolete cartridges have fans and the H&H is no different.


I like the .257 Wby but the rest I don't really see much use. However, even so Weatherby was a genius and his calibers will stand the test of time.
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.257 Weatherby is one of the few Weatherbys that interest me.
 
Huntsman said:
.303 British......there I said it........
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Woudl have agreed with you a couple of years ago With the exception of some fine expensive double or custom rifles and maybe Bill Leeper's F class rifle, ;) .303 shooters were mostly confined to SMLE's or big clunky Enfields, but with the new CGN RUger #1 in .303, I gotta say the old warrior has just breathed some new life.

Always liked it for it's Canadian hunting history, but hadn't hunted with a .303 in about 20 years until last year. :)
 
Well at least someone mentioned the 30 carbine. I did think it strange that the Ruger No 1 would come out in a 303 though.. I guess someone will buy it.
Interesting thread.
 
jacky said:
The 375 H&H is timeless and will always be number one:p

I am one of those guys using obsolete cartridges....the 7X57. Another timeless number one.

I like the .257 Wby but the rest I don't really see much use. However, even so Weatherby was a genius and his calibers will stand the test of time.
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Timeless is probably an appropriate defination. I have nothing against some of the newer developments in the world of cartridges but like yourself, I seem to gravitate towards those that have proven their worth in the field in days past. To name a few, that I presently have;
  • 219 Donaldson Wasp.
  • 7x57R.
  • 7x61 S&H.
  • 308 Norma Magnum.
  • 348 WCF.
  • 358 Norma Magnum.
  • 44-40.
While I concede improvements in the field of cartridge development, to a degree, have been made I see little reason if any to change over everytime a new kid appears on the scene.
 
bogie said:
Well at least someone mentioned the 30 carbine. I did think it strange that the Ruger No 1 would come out in a 303 though.. I guess someone will buy it.
Interesting thread.
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A hundred or more CGN members bought one....

It's proved to be a very popular chambering in the Ruger #1.
 
There's a pile. But also a pile of goodies that a few would like throw out. I nominate the Mach 2 CARTRIDGE, unless you only hunt gophers and crows. I would own one of the larger .17s like the HMR or .17 Rem, but not a whole lot of utility there.

Also the .444 Marlin. What's the point? A hot loaded .44 mag comes close, but being pistol bullets your choice for projectiles kinda sucks. Only the heaviest have any kind of sectional density, but mostly are designed for pistol velocity anyway. (unless you cast)

Dishonourable mention goes out to any "big game" cartridge (I'll let the .243 slide) that hits hyper velocities. You really have only 2 choices when you start messing around at 3500+ fps. Exploded, or same caliber hole in and out.
Not really good for anything but spreading small animals over several acres.
 
Gatehouse said:
A hundred or more CGN members bought one....

It's proved to be a very popular chambering in the Ruger #1.
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Interesting, if it didn't take such a red-headed step child of a bullet size. Why not just .308 cal bullets already.

If we didn't have the 7.62x39, I would banish it to obsolescense. (But I am obligated to accept it, I guess.)
 
tactical lever said:
T
Dishonourable mention goes out to any "big game" cartridge (I'll let the .243 slide) that hits hyper velocities. You really have only 2 choices when you start messing around at 3500+ fps. Exploded, or same caliber hole in and out.
Not really good for anything but spreading small animals over several acres.
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Use the proper bullet and you will do fine. 130gr TTSX leave my 300WSM at 3500fps and shred the heck out of internals but don't mess meat up too much....:)

tactical lever said:
Interesting, if it didn't take such a red-headed step child of a bullet size. Why not just .308 cal bullets already.
.)
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Something to do with how the English measured caliber 5000 years ago when the .303 was introduced.

Nevertheless, there is a .311 caliber bullet available that can do anything that you can do with a .308 or .30-06.
 
tactical lever said:
Also the .444 Marlin. What's the point? A hot loaded .44 mag comes close, but being pistol bullets your choice for projectiles kinda sucks. Only the heaviest have any kind of sectional density, but mostly are designed for pistol velocity anyway. (unless you cast)
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Well, not really. Using the Hornady 265gr as one example, because while it does well out of a 44 Mag it's perhaps better suited for the 444, out of a;
  • 44 Mag handgun the top load listed gives a velocity of 1400 f/sec.
  • 44 Mag rifle, 1700 f/sec.
  • 444 Marlin, 2300 f/sec.
I'd say that's a substancial difference and a caliber/bullet combo that's worked well on Deer and Moose for me.
 
Gatehouse said:
Use the proper bullet and you will do fine. 130gr TTSX leave my 300WSM at 3500fps and shred the heck out of internals but don't mess meat up too much....:)



Something to do with how the English measured caliber 5000 years ago when the .303 was introduced.

Nevertheless, there is a .311 caliber bullet available that can do anything that you can do with a .308 or .30-06.
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That's more or less my point. Does't mess up too much meat. Just that it's harder to get a bullet that won't fragment on bone at this velocity when the target is 20 yards away, but still opens reliably at 1/2 a km away on a softer target.

As for the .311, again if a 308, or 30-06 will do the same thing with a much more commonly available bullet; more choices.....

It's bad enough searching for cartridges or brass. I'd own one, I just wouldn't go out of my way to buy a new one.
 
heronfish said:
30-30

Nostalgia is great, still outdated.
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M37-1.jpg

Depends on who is behind the rifle.
250 yards, give or take a few. Only needed one Silvertip 150 grain factory bullet. Using a smaller bead and rear peep sight.

Nostalgia kills.
 
Johnn Peterson said:
Well, not really. Using the Hornady 265gr as one example, because while it does well out of a 44 Mag it's perhaps better suited for the 444, out of a;
  • 44 Mag handgun the top load listed gives a velocity of 1400 f/sec.
  • 44 Mag rifle, 1700 f/sec.
  • 444 Marlin, 2300 f/sec.
I'd say that's a substancial difference and a caliber/bullet combo that's worked well on Deer and Moose for me.
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Whoops, I'm going to tick everyone off tonight. The rifle load sounds pretty tame. The case capacity being what it is, in a suitable rifle should be hotter than that. I believe one of our nutters was hitting 2200 with 240 gr. Of course, not recommended in the manuals and handily exceeded with handloaded .444. Still however limited by bullets.

Again, not that it's "bad", just that the 45-70 will do all of that and more.
 
Brutus said:
M37-1.jpg

Depends on who is behind the rifle.
250 yards, give or take a few. Only needed one Silvertip 150 grain factory bullet. Using a smaller bead and rear peep sight.

Nostalgia kills.
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Nice, I'm completely in agreement. An excellent round before the deer, black bear and moose found out that it's too small to kill them. And they can't be shot within 800 yards any how. ;)
 
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