RIfle Cartridges That Should Die, Rifle Cartridges That Should Live On Forever?

The 270 Winchester needs to die because there really is no “niche” between the 25-06 and the 30-06 that needs filling, and if there is, the 280 Remington does a lot better job of filling it. Besides that, the selection of bullet weights available for the 270 Winchester is pathetic, especially compared to its closest cousin - the 280 Remington.

The 270 Winchester should live on forever because it’s a great “all around” cartridge for North American big game hunting - it shoots flat, it hits hard, it’s plenty accurate with the right person behind the trigger, and it doesn’t kick so badly that most people can’t handle it. And while the 270 has its share of detractors due to its relatively small selection of available bullet weights, who cares? Almost all of the North American big game animals that can’t be easily killed with a 130gr bullet from a 270 Winchester, CAN be with a 150gr bullet from a 270 Winchester. Besides, what big game hunters experiment with a bunch of different bullet weights anyway? Most of them just find a bullet (and bullet weight) that works, and stick with it.

None of them should die, per se. I shoot at least one completely obsolete and obscure cartridge and get much joy from it, so I don’t begrudge anyone else theirs! And based on that, they should all live on forever.

What should die. Pretty much all of the newer overbored magnums. The Noslers, the .264WM, the other 7mags. They are obsolete. Bullet, optics, powder, rangefinder technology has made all of them powder eaters with no place in the modern world. There's still a niche for the .30 and up ones, especially in the beltless variety.
In the handgun realm, pretty much any .25- .32 caliber should go away, with the exception to follow. I have little use for anything .45 either (blasphemy I know!). I can see the use of the .454 and .460 if one shares habitat with brown bears. The .40 S&W can die already. The 10mm is far superior. I'd really like the .44 Auto mag to make a comeback! The .380 can die already, except for some occasional runs to keep the classic PPKs running at the range.

The 7.62 Tokarev, .30 mauser and Luger should live forever. I'd like to see a modern 7.62 tokarev like round with firearm and ammo support rather than short barreled flamethrower .32 wheelguns that are inferior to .38 spl 158s. The 5.7 is cool, but not gunfight cool. If I want a borderline smallbore rifle cartridge in a gunfight, give me a 7.62 or maybe a 7.

My reloading friends will understand this, but I can find a reasonable use for most rifle cartridges and calibers with a preferred powder burn rate between CFE BLK and 4350. If it needs reloader 22 to reach its full potential, pretty much guaranteed I don't want it.

someguy2800 said:

My reloading friends will understand this, but I can find a reasonable use for most rifle cartridges and calibers with a preferred powder burn rate between CFE BLK and 4350. If it needs reloader 22 to reach its full potential, pretty much guaranteed I don't want it.

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how bout 33 or Retumbo?

There's a fair pile I couldn't care less if DID die, even some that I like for.......reasons. That said there arnt any I think SHOULD die, as long as someone else likes them enough to pay what the components cost.

If theres 2 that come the closest, it would be the .224 Valk and the .22 Nosler.

As to living for ever....well....nope, they all will all be replaced eventually.
Tho I'm sure some curmudgeon will someday be grumbling about the new-fangled, redundant, fan-boi gathering, not as good as the old one cartridge, thats quickly replacing their beloved 6.5 Creedmoor.
Hell probably gather up what's left of his hair into a bun, and gesture with his non-fat, zero dary, decaf soy late...... itll feel like hes back in the glory days.......

I personally don't want any cartridges to die, mostly because I like obscure stuff. But the real problem isn't the cartridge but the guns to shoot them in. Take 30-30 for example. As a 30 cal cartridge it doesn't have anything going for it that other 30 cal cartridges have, but the rifles it fits in are just so useful.

But 270 win can die.

the reality is that there are maybe 800 or so rifle calibers (blind guess), and we could get by with 5 or so to realistically cover all our bases. beyond that, they're just fun exercises.

To name 1 example, the m1 carbine and the 30 carbine that goes with it. nobody needs either, but the m1 is a fun piece of history to have, and we need the 30 carbine to feed it. Now, I hate the 30 carbine: proprietary case, tapered case that is harder to size, headspaces off the mouth so trimming is important, hotter than it needs to be to plink with and too anemic to really be a hunting round, not particularly good at anything, but I have one and love shooting it.

but what really needs to die are:
45 acp cases that come in 2 primer sizes
9mm mak that gets mixed in with my 9mm luger.
muzzle brakes at public ranges
brass washed steel cases
berdan primed m1 carbine

22 Hornet.
It should live forever since it is so...elegant.

It should die because there really isn't a niche between 22 WMR and 223 Rem that needs to be filled.

Needless to say, I have wanted one for years but I can't dream up enough of a justification.

Not really wishing for anything to die ……… , but there are a lot of cartridges out that seem to come about only to fill the tiny little gap between already established cartridges , sooooo the firearms companies will have something “new and shiny” to sell. Many of them to “my limited imagination” seem to be the “answer” to a question that nobody ask ……… oh well your mileage may vary


Mostly just because I like them, and they have a lot of uses……… I hope the 22lr , 30-06, 5,56, and the 12 gauge are still around long after I am gone

Dr T said:

22 Hornet.
It should live forever since it is so...elegant.

It should die because there really isn't a niche between 22 WMR and 223 Rem that needs to be filled.

Needless to say, I have wanted one for years but I can't dream up enough of a justification.

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It excels at recoilless shooting at steel targets out of a Handi Rifle... Lots of hornet talk on the THR lately and i love it.

If anything needs to die, its 22 mag! Doesnt do much more than LR, especially the hypersonic stuff. It costs almost 50 cents a pop and isnt readily or reliably reloadable. Thats the niche that the hornet fills. Medium power 22 caliber in a reloadable case with affordable components.

BigBlue 94 said:

It excels at recoilless shooting at steel targets out of a Handi Rifle... Lots of hornet talk on the THR lately and i love it.

If anything needs to die, its 22 mag! Doesnt do much more than LR, especially the hypersonic stuff. It costs almost 50 cents a pop and isnt readily or reliably reloadable. Thats the niche that the hornet fills. Medium power 22 caliber in a reloadable case with affordable components.

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I agree. I look at the Hornet as a reloadable 22wmr. They’re kind of 6 vs half-dozen, depending on whether or not you are keen on reloading. Definitely a big step up from 22lr, but not nearly 223 levels of flash and blast.

I have to convince myself every couple of months that I do not, in fact, need a hornet, any more than I need a 22wmr.

I've been trying to convince myself I need a 22 hornet for many years.

I don't think any cartridge should die as long as there is a firearm to shoot it and a person interested in doing so. Some people particularly enjoy keeping obsolescent cartridges alive.

Whats all this "trying to convince" on a forum of the worst (best?) enablers ive seen!?

I would buy ten hornets before i bought another 22 mag. The one exception would be an old 10/22 in WMR...

Die? None. There are many cartridges that I don’t like, for one reason or another, but someone likes them or they would be dead.

Live? 30-30

Just my thoughts, but no cartridge should die. Part of the fun of gun ownership is working with the strange, bizzare, and archaic. Often times, older cartridges have historical significance and keeping them alive lets us continue to examine and observe both the cartridge and the arms that fired them. Other times cartridges were designed to exploit a particular innovation or trend in the shoot world at the time, and again we can learn from this. And it is just plane to fun to use your brain to get something to work. Most importantly these cartridges give us the brass we need to make other cartridges. Some famous guy once said something like, "Where is folly bred, in the heart or in the head?" I say let us oddballs keep our old, obsolete, and obstreperous cartridges and those not interested can march on with the more mainstream and modern.

7mm WSM should die.

6.8 SPC II should live forever.

Pat Riot said:

Huh?

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Lol sorry. Weatherby.

308 forever. Good in a rifle, good in a carbine. Makes most everything else just for fun.

45-70 to die? - unconscionable servile insurrection!!!!! Nothing should die especially the .22 RF, .308 Winchester, .45 Colt and yes the 45-70 very light artillery round. These are God’s calibers; they must be of this Earth as long as the eagle flies, the river flows and the grass grows.

sisyphus said:

308 forever. Good in a rifle, good in a carbine. Makes most everything else just for fun.

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I agree. However, as I said in another thread, if I was to be honest with myself, almost ALL of my guns are "just for fun." For that matter, so are my 308s (one 308
Winchester and one 308 Norma Mag) because I hunt "just for fun" - we don't really need the meat, and if we did, we could buy it cheaper at the supermarket.

Steve S. said:

They must be of this Earth as long as the eagle flies, the river flows and the grass grows.

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It seems like there's still plenty of eagles around here, but we've been in a draught here for 12 years or so - the rivers aren't flowing very well anymore, and our rancher friends are having a hard time finding decent graze for their cattle. Besides that, I didn't buy myself a new 257 Weatherby last summer because my wife and I had to spend $10,000 having our well drilled deeper. So I don't reckon I'll be buying myself a 45-70 anytime soon.

I don't want to see any of the cartridges die.... i use most all of them to make varmin Die ..... I have been reloading over dozon cals for most of my life... i love a 22mag.... plenty of power in crowded farm yards and needed in area's where only rimfire are allowed... And the best part..... i don't have to chase the brass....

For "that should die", how about .25-06, .270, and 6.5x55 to start

Dr T said:

22 Hornet.
It should live forever since it is so...elegant.

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I really like 22 Hornet for a close in varmint cartridge. I have a 21" Contender carbine which is quite accurate and a handy size. Better kills than with a 22 long rifle.

Maybe someday I'll get a small bolt rifle chambered in 22 Hornet.