Most common high powered rifle cartridge?

[I_Hunt_Liberals]

What is the most common high powered rifle cartridge?

I'm guessing it's a 30.06, but I'm probably wrong....
Would anybody have any hard facts on this subject?

Thanks.

 

[Taurus 66]

Is this a trick question?

 

[OrvilleYertleson]

probably the good old 5.56 Nato considering our military is consuming it as fast as we can make it

 

[Third_Rail]

OrvilleYertleson, he said high powered, not varmit.


I'd guess either .30-06 or .30-30 (borderline, more of a mid-power cartridge)

 

[I_Hunt_Liberals]

HeH, I said High power =)

HeH, I said high power
The .223 is high power, but I'm talkin, high power sniper/big game rifles, 30.30 or larger.

 

[Third_Rail]

If the .223 is high power, then so is a .22WMR.


A sniper's rifle? What does who uses which rifle have to do with what it's chambered for? You lost me there.

If you're simply asking about common cartridges, 30-06 is probably the answer... but again, just gut feeling, and that I've seen it in even half-decent shops. I don't think I've ever heard anyone being told "no" after asking if a gunshop carries 30-06

 

[foghornl]

If your spec is "number of commercial factory loads available in the USA", then it would be the .30-06.

Remington's web site listed about 35 different loads/bullet types for the .30-06; the .308Win round had 20 or so

 

[jefnvk]

.30-06

 

[rbernie]

I suspect more rifles are sold in either 30-06 or 7mm Rem Mag than in any other single chambering - can't say which of the two would come out on top.

 

[Spy Who Came in from the Cold]

If you asked what is the most common high powered rifle cartridge in the world, I'd put my money on .308 / 7,62 NATO.

 

[Third_Rail]

If it were for the whole world, counting "older" stuff, I'd say either 8mm Mauser, 30-06, or maybe 7.62x54R.... Possibly .303brit, even.


But I doubt it would be .308. Just... too new, less than 50 years old, IIRC.

 

[dfaugh]

Recall a magazine survey(poll)....

Said 30-06 was most popular...IIRC following were tied for second, .270, 7mm, .300 Win Mag, 30-30...I think...but 30-06 was #1.

 

[Lonestar.45]

I'd have to go with 30-06 hands down. Wish I could get a hold of sales figures for different caliber ammo, because I have a big feeling the manufacturers probably sell more 30-06 than anything (when talking about high power calibers). Every store that sells ammo ALWAYS has that on hand. Maybe not others, but always that. There's a reason.

 

[Smokey Joe]

.30-'06

The 'Ought-six is unquestionably Top Dog in the U. S. and those of the WWII allies to whom we supplied Garands or Springfields. (.308 Win, aka 7.62x51 NATO is catching up but so far the old '06 has a long head start. There are a crowd of cartridges virtually tied for 3rd place, and breathing down the .308's neck.)

Now, I'm wondering about internationally: The Brits spread the .303 Br even further across the globe than we did the '06. A ton of countries adopted some Mauser or other, usually in 8mm Mauser. And just as our Johnny came marching home after BOTH of The Big Ones with a preference for the '06, Tommy Atkins marched back to Blighty feeling the same way about the .303, as did Fritz and his friends with the 8mm.

 

[R.H. Lee]

uhhh........250/3000 Ackley Improved? It's been around since the late 40's.......

How'd I do?

 

[patent]

What is the most common high powered rifle cartridge?​

It depends on where, worldwide or just US? For US, an article by Chuch Hawks mentions some rankings here, though he doens't provide citations: http://www.chuckhawks.com/readers_choice_rifle_cartridges.htm

He indicates that the .30-06 is the most popular hunting cartride in North America.

He says the .223 is the second cartridge on the sales lists, though you've indicated you are looking at larger calibers. The remaining top 5 are the .30-30, the .270, the .308.

patent

 

[Fumbler]

The most common high power cartridge in the world has to be the 7.62x39 hands down (can't believe no one has said that yet).
As much as we all think of the 7.63x39 as being underpowered I'm willing to bet it has killed a very very large number of big game in this world.

The most common BIG GAME cartridge in the world is probably the 30-06.
Most common magnum cartridge is the 7mm Rem Mag.

 

[Mannlicher]

Learning to use the search function here, and Google, will get you some answers.

 

[DMK]

Learning to use the search function here, and Google, will get you some answers.

Yea, but you don't get such entertaining discussion on Google.

 

[kudu]

I'd say 30-06 also for N. America but Fumbler makes a good point about the 7.62x39.



I_Hunt_Liberals, ever consider having a moderator change your name to something less offensive? Not that I like liberals.

 

[Quintin Likely]

I think if you use reloading die sales as a basis of commonality, it'd be .30-06, with a spackling of .308, 7mm Rem Mag, .30-30, and a couple others.