most American of all rounds

and that round has been around since about 1894 or something like that, and the Sweeds , and Finns have killed a lot of moose, which they call elk, for well over 100 years and with the Finns , not to mention a whole mess of Russians way back when
 
and before anyone says anything, I know they used a whole lot of Mosin Nagants in their war against the Russians, but they used a bunch of Swedish Mausers too
 
This is really a loose question but for me 30-06 and 45ACP still as popular now as they were a 100 years ago. Neither round really lapsed at any time as far as I know. there are rounds like 45-70 that although popular then and now were almost lost to history at some point in between.
 
I like the 30-06 from one angle. Back to back world war champion (although the same could be said for 303 British too) and really not widely used beyond the US except in donated weapons right after the war. 308 and 5.56 are more common, but also set as NATO standards, so we share those with some STANAAG committee.

On the other side, I’d say 30 Super Carry. Made to fit no real need, only a marginal gain over the most popular cartridge in its class globally, based on old technology, mostly to benefit profit margins for manufacturers. We can still do big innovation, but in the meantime, there’s always marketing hype.
 
I'd say a 30-30 Winchester in a Winchester rifle is about as American as apple pie . When you throw in the Marlins , Savages and a few miscellaneous others there has to be more sporting rifles chambered in that round then any other centerfire , non military round , by a wide margin .
 
jmr40 said:
That would need an asterisk beside it. The 45-70 was a huge flop originally. It was designed as a military round during the Indian wars in the 1870's. It proved to be a poor choice and was basically dead by the 1890's.

While it's been around for 150 years it lay dormant and rarely used for the better part of 100 years. Marlin re-introduced the 1895 rifle in an improved version in 1973 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 45-70. This came with a lot of creative advertising and hyperbole about how powerful the round is.

Modern loadings are pretty potent and capable of any game animal in North America, but hunters in the 1800's considered it suitable for deer, but nothing larger. It was never used for large scale bison hunting. Even with that 45-70 didn't really become popular until around the turn of the 21st century. I'd wager it has killed more game in the 21st century than the 19th and 20th combined.

The 30-06 gets my vote for the most American rifle cartridge. It has only recently started to wane in popularity but had a solid record as both a military and hunting cartridge for 120 years. It was originally introduced in 1903 as the 30-03 and slightly modified and renamed in 1906. In a few more years the title may well go to 223/5.56. For handgun rounds I'd have to go with 45 ACP and 38 Special.
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Well said in regards to an American rifle cartridge. 45-70 is uniquely American and a great long range round but 30-06 reigns supreme and the best American rifle cartridge.
 
I would opine .30-06, for a number of reasons. As far as an 'American' cartridge, it can handle most game in America, handloaded to scale, and was a military cartridge. That is not even considering it's popularity and the sheer number of firearms chambered in it, including the M1 Garand. I would give .30-30 and .308 runner-up trophies, with an honorable mention to the .22LR.

Pistols? Like many here, you could probably reach a draw with the .38SPC and the .45ACP... and, of course, the .22LR.
 
To me it’s the .270 Win.

Yeah, it’s the offspring of the ‘06, but to me it embodies America at its finest. The wide open spaces, sportsmen out hunting, deer camp talk and all that goes with it. Plus, like the .30-30, the .270 wasn’t a martial round repurposed for sporting use, so its success rested entirely on sales to the American shooting public. :)

Stay safe.
 
1694580040381.png
S&W model 3 and Colt model P were both issued by US military.'
Problem with this was the 45 S&W worked in both revolvers, but the 45 Colt only chambered in the Colt model P (Peacemaker). This led to the naming of 'short' or 'long' Colt. Frankford Arsenal was ordered to make only the 45 S&W (Schofield) cartridges until the Model 3 was dropped.
 
I'm gonna join the argument for the 30-30. It was designed for the tube-fed levergun, which is about as American as you can get. It is also about as historically popular a rifle and round as you can find, but pretty much only in N. America. I actually think a 30-30 levergun should be issued to each American when they turn 18.
 
Yeah, based on sentiment alone, as far as evocative American cartridges -- and I'd stipulate still in common use and names that most every American knows -- it'd be the .30-06 and the .45 ACP, with the .38 Special possibly tied... we are talkin' "most American" right?
 
P5 Guy said:
View attachment 1171384
S&W model 3 and Colt model P were both issued by US military.'
Problem with this was the 45 S&W worked in both revolvers, but the 45 Colt only chambered in the Colt model P (Peacemaker). This led to the naming of 'short' or 'long' Colt. Frankford Arsenal was ordered to make only the 45 S&W (Schofield) cartridges until the Model 3 was dropped.
Click to expand...

Nope, there never was an official 45 long or 45 short colt ammunition. Each 45 caliber cartridge had it's official name, and not a'one was Long or Short. If you are going to call the 45 Colt a Long Colt then you must always refer to the 45 Schofield as a 45 Short Colt.....of which no one ever does. This is the same with the civilian cartridges as well, thus... 45 Colt, 45 Schofield, 45 Colt Government (a shorter cased 45 Colt black powder cartridge) , 45 Auto, etc.

During that time, the 45 Colt ammunition was referred to in catalogs as Colt's 45 or Colt's 45 U.S.A.


On a side note: here is a civilian UMC 45 Colt cartridge dating between 1874 and 1876

Untitled.png
 
OLDE RETIRED COASTIE said:
and for those who put in the 30-30, if anything has killed more game in this country than the 30-06, it would be the 30-30.
Click to expand...

I imagine even if you included war time deaths caused by the 30-06, the .22 LR has killed a greater number of things.

Not sure if killing and consumption makes something more “American“ though.
 
edwardware said:
.30-06, for it's place in America's contribution to WWII.


<rant>
No, the .45 Colt is not also known as "45 Long Colt". There is no such thing as a "45 Long Colt", or a "45 Short Colt" for that matter. That there are Shorts and Longs in .38 and .22 does not magically make 45 Colt "Long". Kids these days. . .
</rant>

Seriously, I suggest Mermelstein's Guide to Metallic Cartridge Evolution if you want an overview of the field. It's a great read.
Click to expand...
Actually there was a 45 Short Colt. After the US army adopted the 45 Scofield they had a problem. The rim was too wide for the Colt revolver. They reduced the rim and this cartridge was known as the 45 Government. It appeared on the civilian market labeled as the 45 Short Colt.
 
45Colt and 45ACP are what I think of for classic American pistol cartridges. Big bullets, years of US military use, legendary "stopping power" lore, widely associated with the American cowboy and US soldier, and both are still popular today.
 
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