Vicious-Peanut
Member
.35 Whelen and .22 magnum
Most Underappreciated Rifle Caliber
- Thread starter EvisceratorSrB
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1lostinspace
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- Joined
- Sep 15, 2007
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- 124
the M16 and 5.56mm have been killing for over 50 years but everyone has something to say about how it doesn't kill but wound.
LeibstandarteAdH
Member
In terms of currently, and throughout history as well, the 8mm mauser round has been downplayed like hell. It could have served the NATO and the Warsaw Pact better then their current MBR round in all ways, including development costs and such only for NATO.
TehK1w1
Member
444 Marlin, 7.5 Swiss, 35 Whelen, 35 Remington 
chemist308
Member
22 Lr
rockinrussky
Member
How about the 5.45X39? It gets great ballistics, especially considering that the recoil is almost nonexistent. Sure, it doesn't fragment like the .223 but it also doesn't depend on having the proper velocity to achieve its purpose (like the 223 needs to fragment) It can very reliably tumble once it hits a solid object. I am not in any way trashing the 5.56 round by the way, I just think for military applications 5.45 really gets put down a bit too much. Did I mention just how cheap the ammo is? Even by today's prices it makes the 7.62X39 look overpriced. The 5.45 would also make a wonderful varmint round or heck,for just about anything smaller than a deer.
556A2
Member
6.5 Swede
7.5 Swiss
.30 Carbine
7.62x54R
7.5 Swiss
.30 Carbine
7.62x54R
wuchak
Member
257 Roberts. I've been intrigued by this cartridge (and the .358 Win) ever since I learned of it. If I were going to buy a bolt gun the 257 Roberts is what I'd want it chambered in. For now my Marlin in .35 Rem does everything I need rifle to do.
"often been referred to as the "most useful rifle cartridge ever developed". That is not very far wrong. It is suitable for a wide range of hunting under a variety of conditions. As a long range varmint cartridge, it is as good as they come, being only slightly inferior to the newer 6mm's. On deer, antelope, black bear, sheep or goat it is as good as any other cartridge available. Naturally, it is not as powerful as the 270 Winchester or 30-06 Springfield but has ample power for the game mentioned at all practical ranges." source http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/257r.html
"often been referred to as the "most useful rifle cartridge ever developed". That is not very far wrong. It is suitable for a wide range of hunting under a variety of conditions. As a long range varmint cartridge, it is as good as they come, being only slightly inferior to the newer 6mm's. On deer, antelope, black bear, sheep or goat it is as good as any other cartridge available. Naturally, it is not as powerful as the 270 Winchester or 30-06 Springfield but has ample power for the game mentioned at all practical ranges." source http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/257r.html
Slugless
Member
6.5x55 Swede. Fun round, I really appreciate the low recoil.
.303. "Rule 303!" It does not, btw, make a particularly good aircraft MG round.
.30-06. Some of the new calibers seem pointless. But hey, as long as they're an excuse to get a new gun...
.22 LR. My take on this one is that the people who underappreciate it really underappreciate it. I go to a big range and I've only once seen someone shoot a .22LR at 100 yds. Quite a few people will shoot it at 50 yds. Almost no one shoots it offhand at 25 yards. The people who shoot .22? Usually good shots. The people who shoot .223? Usually I'm not impressed with their shooting.
Those of us who appreciate it? 'nuf said.
sm, over time I've found that I look forward to what you have to say and am always pleased when I see you've posted. Keep up the good work!
.303. "Rule 303!" It does not, btw, make a particularly good aircraft MG round.
.30-06. Some of the new calibers seem pointless. But hey, as long as they're an excuse to get a new gun...
.22 LR. My take on this one is that the people who underappreciate it really underappreciate it. I go to a big range and I've only once seen someone shoot a .22LR at 100 yds. Quite a few people will shoot it at 50 yds. Almost no one shoots it offhand at 25 yards. The people who shoot .22? Usually good shots. The people who shoot .223? Usually I'm not impressed with their shooting.
Those of us who appreciate it? 'nuf said.
sm, over time I've found that I look forward to what you have to say and am always pleased when I see you've posted. Keep up the good work!
Are you guys peeking in my gun safe, or what! I can't believe I have so many "underappreciated" cartridges. I don't even own the beloved 30-06(gasp).Wait a minute, I've never even fired a 30-06(gasp, and double gasp) For the past 20 or so years I have hunted with the following : Model 94 in 7-30 Waters, Model 94 in 30-30, 336 in 35 Remington. Recently acquired a Contender with (you guessed it) 35 Rem, 30-30, 7-30 Waters, and 357 Max. Also hunt with Model 70 Classic Featherweight in the 6.5x55. I should note, however that I do own a 22lr, 270, a 22-250, and a 223. Perhaps my "appreciated" cartridges will balance out my "unappreciated" ones. The deer don't seem to notice the difference.
woof
Member
Another vote for the .260 Rem. This is the modern alternative to the 6.5 Swede and the .257 Roberts. It is the most versatile of the .308 family.
groda
Member
6,5x55 is certainly not underappreciated up here and is (in practice) the legal minimum for hunting deer and up.
However, .338 Lapua Magnum doesn't get the respect it deserves, and the consensus among the local Fudds seems to be that it's inadequate for anything larger than deer. Furthermore, 7,62x51, despite all the loads, loading data, and loading knickknacks available for it, doesn't get too much love from hunters. Maybe everybody just associates it with the disassembled Ak 4 they keep in their basement.
Besides hunting, one round I would love to see more of here is 5,56x45--it would cost a fraction of the infinite number of similar poodle-killers that are used in its place here for putting holes in sheets of paper.
However, .338 Lapua Magnum doesn't get the respect it deserves, and the consensus among the local Fudds seems to be that it's inadequate for anything larger than deer. Furthermore, 7,62x51, despite all the loads, loading data, and loading knickknacks available for it, doesn't get too much love from hunters. Maybe everybody just associates it with the disassembled Ak 4 they keep in their basement.
Besides hunting, one round I would love to see more of here is 5,56x45--it would cost a fraction of the infinite number of similar poodle-killers that are used in its place here for putting holes in sheets of paper.
Richard.Howe
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- Joined
- Dec 23, 2003
- Messages
- 887
toss me into the 6.5x55 bucket...
jpwilly
Member
THE ONE YOUR SHOOTING! 
Snapping Twig
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- Joined
- Jul 7, 2007
- Messages
- 655
There are so many. Consider the Ackley cartridges for instance. Improvements over every caliber they modified, but unheard of these days.
I shoot two - 6.5-06 and 7.62 X 39 in very accurate rifles.
The 6.5 kills like the hammer of Thor and the BC makes it excellent for long range. I think of it as a ballistic twin of the 7mm mag without the recoil.
Add to this the magnum-like velocities without the overbore barrel burnout.
The 7.62 X 39 home loaded with 150g premium bullets like a Nosler BT are superb for a brush gun. In an accurate rifle, you can take just about any game out to 150 yards with good shot placement. Sort of like a 30-30 but semi auto in my case (accurized Mini 30).
I shoot two - 6.5-06 and 7.62 X 39 in very accurate rifles.
The 6.5 kills like the hammer of Thor and the BC makes it excellent for long range. I think of it as a ballistic twin of the 7mm mag without the recoil.
Add to this the magnum-like velocities without the overbore barrel burnout.
The 7.62 X 39 home loaded with 150g premium bullets like a Nosler BT are superb for a brush gun. In an accurate rifle, you can take just about any game out to 150 yards with good shot placement. Sort of like a 30-30 but semi auto in my case (accurized Mini 30).
Macchina
Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2006
- Messages
- 998
.22 Magnum. This tiny little rimfire can reach out to 125 yards with ease for varmints. At under 75 yards, you can take down small big game. My grandpa used to shoot does in the neck with a .22 WMR to save as much meat as possible. I hunt squirrels with this round using the new CCI V-Max bullets. It's accurate to 1 squirrels brain out to as far as you can see the squirrel. I think when people think .22 rimfire, they think .22 LR, and don't even look at it's far more capable bigger brother.
Also, my uncle bought a few 6.5x55's for his kids to deer hunt with. My eyes have been opened to this cartridge and I'm wanting one now. I just bought a .44 mag Marlin 1894, so I'm going to have to wait until next year, but it's high on my short list.
Also, my uncle bought a few 6.5x55's for his kids to deer hunt with. My eyes have been opened to this cartridge and I'm wanting one now. I just bought a .44 mag Marlin 1894, so I'm going to have to wait until next year, but it's high on my short list.
KiltedClaymore
Member
im not sure if it has been said, but my vote goes to the .300 savage
Detachment Charlie
Member
.348
.348 Win. -- hits like a dump truck full of wet sand.
.348 Win. -- hits like a dump truck full of wet sand.
Nolo
Member
I don't know anyone who's shot it but .280 Ross. A really excellent 7mm cartridge before all of the other 7mms. A little long, though.
Yo
Member
Four Best in Class
I have four cartridges worth mentioning.
17 Mach 2.
It shoots at 2150 fps--nearly twice what a 22LR will do. Ammo is less than HALF the cost now of 17 HMR. Even very cheap 17 HM2 rifles will do MOA pretty easy at 100 yards. Yes the 17 HMR has more velocity, but in terms of Bang for the buck, the 17 Mach 2 is still the rimfire "star" in my book.
220 Russian.
With match bullets and Lapua Brass right out of the box, I've personally seen the 220 Russian WIN a 100/200 benchrest match straight up vs. the PPCs. It is very efficient, the brass is superb, and of course it can be necked-up and fire-formed into 6 PPC, the most accurate cartridge in history.
6mmBR
The 6BR or 6BR holds a ton of records from 300 yards out to 1000 yards. Ballistics, with a Berger 105, are very similar to a Rem 260 with a 120, with MUCH better brass and the .243/260 use 50% more power. It is easy to load for, perhaps the easiest cartridge to deliver 1/4 MOA you can find (after the 6PPC). As a varmint cartridge it's the equal of a 22-250, and gives up very little to a .243. 6BR--ask the man who shoots one.
7mm WSM/300 WSM
Now that Norma brass is available, the WSM cartridge family is really coming into its own. It is the "short fat" case equivalent for big bullets. Within a few years, I think the 7mm and 300 WSM will be the favored 1000-yard cartridge and it SHOULD be our military's sniper round. The ballistics of both WSMs are dramatically better than a .308 Win.
- - -
With these four cartridges you pretty much have every BR competition and hunting need covered.
I have four cartridges worth mentioning.
17 Mach 2.
It shoots at 2150 fps--nearly twice what a 22LR will do. Ammo is less than HALF the cost now of 17 HMR. Even very cheap 17 HM2 rifles will do MOA pretty easy at 100 yards. Yes the 17 HMR has more velocity, but in terms of Bang for the buck, the 17 Mach 2 is still the rimfire "star" in my book.
220 Russian.
With match bullets and Lapua Brass right out of the box, I've personally seen the 220 Russian WIN a 100/200 benchrest match straight up vs. the PPCs. It is very efficient, the brass is superb, and of course it can be necked-up and fire-formed into 6 PPC, the most accurate cartridge in history.
6mmBR
The 6BR or 6BR holds a ton of records from 300 yards out to 1000 yards. Ballistics, with a Berger 105, are very similar to a Rem 260 with a 120, with MUCH better brass and the .243/260 use 50% more power. It is easy to load for, perhaps the easiest cartridge to deliver 1/4 MOA you can find (after the 6PPC). As a varmint cartridge it's the equal of a 22-250, and gives up very little to a .243. 6BR--ask the man who shoots one.
7mm WSM/300 WSM
Now that Norma brass is available, the WSM cartridge family is really coming into its own. It is the "short fat" case equivalent for big bullets. Within a few years, I think the 7mm and 300 WSM will be the favored 1000-yard cartridge and it SHOULD be our military's sniper round. The ballistics of both WSMs are dramatically better than a .308 Win.
- - -
With these four cartridges you pretty much have every BR competition and hunting need covered.
moooose102
Member
.300 Holland And Holland Magnum, And 22 Winchester Magnum. Great Cartridges. Price Of Ammo Has Hurt The 22 Mag For Years! And Now That The 300 H&h Has Gone Extinct, The Prices For That Ammo Is Really Nuts! $55-75.00 A Box. I Would Hate To Have To Buy Retail Ammo For It!
Myles
Member
.375 Winchester
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