Rifle cartridge choice, because?

[FL-NC]

My decisions are determined by what the rifle is being used for and the cost and availability of ammo to feed the thing. Of course, in this day and age I would have a hard time deciding regarding the second part.

 

[Mike J]

My first centerfire rifle was a .30-30 because that was the one my older sister's boyfriend offered to sell me. I wound up selling it back a couple of years later because I had gotten in some trouble & needed cash (I was a young drunken idiot).
A few years later after straightening up, I wanted a deer rifle to hunt with. Just about all the older men I had worked with used a .30-06. So I bought a .30-06 because I knew it would work. I've never bought a different deer rifle because I've always felt that one would do anything I want to. I couldn't really justify it to myself.
Now with the way ammo availability has been I find myself looking at .308. Just because it is so widely available (I don't reload). Not sure if I will buy one or not but I am looking around at .308 rifles.

 

[redneck2]

Just because it is so widely available (I don't reload). Not sure if I will buy one or not but I am looking around at .308 rifles.

From what little I’ve looked at commercial ammo lately, it seems 6.5 Creed is just as or more available. I suppose that varies by store and location.

 

[Mike J]

From what little I’ve looked at commercial ammo lately, it seems 6.5 Creed is just as or more available. I suppose that varies by store and location.

I'm just going by what I have been seeing at the local Academy Sports as far as ammunition is concerned. I looked around some online for a .308 bolt gun. I saw a lot more 6.5 Creedmore rifles available than I did .308. I don't really have a plan but I am looking around. I haven't hunted for a while. Life gets in the way. But I am wanting to get back to it. I have a couple of kids that would like to go & my boy is 9. I need to take him with me some & if he wants to hunt it would be good to have another rifle to set him up with. I also like what I've read about 7mm-08 but it doesn't seem to be in style at the moment.

 

[.308 Norma]

Now with the way ammo availability has been I find myself looking at .308. Just because it is so widely available (I don't reload). Not sure if I will buy one or not but I am looking around at .308 rifles.

I also like what I've read about 7mm-08 but it doesn't seem to be in style at the moment.

It's pretty obvious that I use a ".308" now (a .308 Norma Magnum), but I started with a .308 Winchester myself- almost 60 years ago. And the truth is that lately I've been considering going back to a .308 Winchester, or maybe a 7mm-08 Remington in a lightweight "mountain rifle" of some kind. Either cartridge would do everything I'm going to do (as far as big game hunting goes) for the rest of my life. Besides, as much as I love my 308 Norma Mag, it seems to have grown heavier - just like the mountains around here have grown steeper and taller.
Regardless Mike J, I would never try to talk anyone out of buying a 308 Winchester, or a 7mm-08 Remington (IMO they are two perfect, all-around cartridges for big game hunting in the lower 48), but the truth is, you could get into reloading for a whole lot less money. And by getting into reloading, you'll only have to worry about component availability in the future, instead of worrying about cartridge availability along with component availability.
BTW, for the most part, 308s and 30-06s use the same bullets, primers and powders. In other words, component shortages affect 308 shooters in the same way(s) they affect 30-06 shooters.

 

[redneck2]

And by getting into reloading, you'll only have to worry about component availability in the future, instead of worrying about cartridge availability along with component availability.

Get 100- 200 cases, a few boxes of bullets and primers, and an 8# jug of powder and you’ll have a lifetime supply of hunting rounds no matter how avid a hunter you are.

 

[Bazoo]

I decide several ways. I look at cartridges of the world, the old ones, and pick one that seems neat. I look at how the cartridges look. If they look right, it's a go, if they don't look quite right, I tend to shy away. I go to the store and browse until something catches my eye and feels right. Since I reload, I don't worry about availability, just how the gun looks and feels and if the cartridge looks good and has something neat bout it.

I have a 30-06.... Eh. It's so if I ever get the chance to hunt somewhere for something that the 30-30 ain't legal to use. I don't particularly care for 06, but the rifle feels good to me. An old savage 110. I'm pondering several things, including converting it to 270 or 35 Whelen. 270 be the most likely as barrels are common. I just ain't run across one yet from someone who did the same thing.

I consider if it's cast friendly. While 270 ain't real cast friendly, 06 is and that's a plus. But I ain't into it so I haven't worked much with it. I've always had a thing for 30/40 Krag. Also would like to have a marlin 45/70 or 444.

And, I got a thing for 22s. Rimfire that is. Why, I don't know. Just like it. I'd rather spend an evening with a brick of 22 and my single six or a good single shot rifle than anything centerfire.

 

[jag1954]

I have both 6.5 CREEDMOOR and .22LR rifles. I like em both. At this point I'm thinking of .308, ammo is plentiful around these parts and I'm always up for exploring new cartridges.

 

[Seedy Character]

After 50 years I'm sure @.308 Norma 's wife is a very special lady. Heck she is a 7 mm Rem Mag fan. That's special in itself.

50 years IS special. Congrats

We are approaching 46 (next month).
EX was only around a couple months.

There is / was a big difference.

 

[Mosin77]

Heretofore I’ve mostly bought whatever gun seems interesting. Cartridge? Sure, I’ll buy some of that one too, or track down another die set. This has led to the need to stock, at last count, somewhat over 3 dozen different calibers. Which does push the boundaries of the absurd, at least a little bit.

Lately, especially with the chronic shortages in components and rising costs of both components and reloading equipment, I’ve gotten pickier about what cartridges I actually load and shoot. Do I really need to explore the possibilities of 7.5 French? It’s not much different than 7.5 Swiss, .308, or .30-06, so….

 

[3Crows]

The .45-70 because it is the only Government a man needs!

3C

 

[High Plains]

I've always said that from a practical perspective most cartridges are more alike than different. The only reason I'd personally not be interested in anything 8mm is due to the lack of good bullets available.

There is a profound difference in the various weights of 8mm bullets and all other deer-sized game cartridges. A possible exception is the .35 cal line of bullets but those are generally for critters larger than deer.
What I will be hunting generally drives what cartridges I want to use. I have several .28 and ,30 cal rifles so a .32 cal/8mm isn’t going to do anything the smaller calibers do very well. I had a VZ-24 and had it rebarreled to 9.3x62mm Mauser ——- it’s my “big one” if I decide to go after elk and don’t use a 300 Wby. I’m not getting into a math contest about sectional density of .32 cal bullets because velocity and accuracy are massive factors where I live and hunt in western Kansas, aka Land of the Long Shot. I kicked around the notion of a 325 WSSM but bullet choices was a big factor. The 325 gives much more velocity than a 8x57. I’m happy with what I have. If you want a 8x57mm Mauser, get it.

 

[Weflyfast]

I've always said that from a practical perspective most cartridges are more alike than different. The only reason I'd personally not be interested in anything 8mm is due to the lack of good bullets available.

WHAT? .... SIERRA HORNADY AND NOSLER all make quality bullets for the 8mm (.323)

 

[G-man44]

Have a 98 Mauser needful of a new barrel. Ordered an 8x57 #2 1/2 from ER Shaw this week, mainly because the only non wildcat reamers I have on hand are .270 and 8x57. I already have 2 98s(and an M70) in .270. Always wanted a heavier barreled 8x57 anyway.

Now if I DIDN'T already have the reamer, I may have gone another direction. I could be wrong, but I figure, I have the rifles I use regularly and they seem to pretty much stay the same these days. Buliding another one is more just about building another one, no so much needing another one. Since this will use up the last of my Mauser parts, I doubt I will do any more.

What reasons affect your choice of cartridges?

I choose cartridges based on a couple reasons, collecting a particular manufacturer, model or time period and ballistic performance. I seldom ever “buy new” due to the somewhat false assumption that older is better however I will, “buy new”, from time to time and I do not plink as I see no need for it. I then consider it’s ballistic performance. When it comes to hunting I prefer heavy, slow moving projectiles however I do like the 6.5mm’s particularly the 6.5 x 55mm for its accuracy and down range effectiveness.

Considering all, I suppose that ballistic performance would have to be the main reason, or to use a better term, the main criteria a cartridge has to satisfy, for me. I can come up with a plethora of reasons to give my wife when I need any cartridge but I am blessed in that she enjoys shooting as much as I do.

 

[dh1633pm]

Sometimes it is as simple as using what ya got. That includes reloading equipment, ammo supply, reloading supplies, or even powder. In your case items to work with 8x57.

 

[G-man44]

X

 

[G-man44]

I'm just going by what I have been seeing at the local Academy Sports as far as ammunition is concerned. I looked around some online for a .308 bolt gun. I saw a lot more 6.5 Creedmore rifles available than I did .308. I don't really have a plan but I am looking around. I haven't hunted for a while. Life gets in the way. But I am wanting to get back to it. I have a couple of kids that would like to go & my boy is 9. I need to take him with me some & if he wants to hunt it would be good to have another rifle to set him up with. I also like what I've read about 7mm-08 but it doesn't seem to be in style at the moment.

When he gets to the age you think he can handle it, set him up with a 243w. It’s a good cartridge to start him on, recoil isn’t too bad and it’s an all around good hunting cartridge. Good luck on your endeavor! There’s nothing like going on your first hunt with your dad. He’ll remember that forever.

 

[Atavar]

For me if it comes down to one rifle for *anything* it really comes down to two choices. Either 30-06 or .300WM.
With both of those you can load lightning fast light plinkers for varmints or heavy long thumpers for big or dangerous game.
Killing ranges out past 500 yards for either if you can shoot that far.
For both of those if your local shop has any ammo it will have some for those.

 

[blue32]

Component shortages have taught me that even things like 6.5mm bullets become unavailable or priced beyond what I'm willing to pay. My next rifle cartridge needs to be at home with cast, function well with a variety of pistol and rifle powders, accept standard and magnum primers, and have the range to go out to 2-300 meters. Being able to shoot bullets under 130 grains is a plus.

 

[1948CJ2A]

I have an old German 8x57 Mauser that a prior owner had sporterized back in the 1950s-60s. They did a really nice job on it in my opinion. All I did was mount a scope on it and loaded up some Barnes TTSX 160gr bullets. It shot great even with the old military barrel. I took it to the deer woods last Thanksgiving and took a great whitetail buck with it. That shot stopped it in its tracks and there was no movement afterwards. It was one of the cleanest kill shots on a deer I've ever had in my 27 years of hunting whitetail deer.

All that business about bullet selection may have been true back in day but these days (not withstanding all the Rona supply chain crap) there's plenty of options across the different manufacturers.

I'm a fan of the .323/8mm stuff in general. I've got an 8x57, and 8mm-06, and an 8mm Rem Mag. Can't say enough positive things about 8mm chamberings!

 

[AK Hunter]

I choose my calibers by what I'm using the gun for. Hunting squirrels with a .50 cal has bad results. LOL
I also look at the reloadability & availability of components for the round since I reload for almost everything I own.

 

[Chuck R.]

I have an old German 8x57 Mauser that a prior owner had sporterized back in the 1950s-60s. They did a really nice job on it in my opinion. All I did was mount a scope on it and loaded up some Barnes TTSX 160gr bullets. It shot great even with the old military barrel. I took it to the deer woods last Thanksgiving and took a great whitetail buck with it. That shot stopped it in its tracks and there was no movement afterwards. It was one of the cleanest kill shots on a deer I've ever had in my 27 years of hunting whitetail deer.

All that business about bullet selection may have been true back in day but these days (not withstanding all the Rona supply chain crap) there's plenty of options across the different manufacturers.

I'm a fan of the .323/8mm stuff in general. I've got an 8x57, and 8mm-06, and an 8mm Rem Mag. Can't say enough positive things about 8mm chamberings!

IF your looking to expand, I've got a Steyr MOD S with Swarovki 1.5-6X in 8x68 that I'm going to move sometime this year. I haven't shot it since an elk hunt in CO years ago. The 200 Grn Nosler Partition at 3000 FPS left a lasting impression on a 5x4.

 

[G-man44]

I choose my calibers by what I'm using the gun for. Hunting squirrels with a .50 cal has bad results. LOL
I also look at the reloadability & availability of components for the round since I reload for almost everything I own.

Years ago, back when I hunted with muzzleloaders only, I used my .45 Pennsylvania rifle to take squirrels with head shots. My eyesight was really sharp back then and I was successful probably 50% of the time but that’s a big waste of lead. Man do I wish I could relive those days.

 

[someguy2800]

Component shortages have taught me that even things like 6.5mm bullets become unavailable or priced beyond what I'm willing to pay. My next rifle cartridge needs to be at home with cast, function well with a variety of pistol and rifle powders, accept standard and magnum primers, and have the range to go out to 2-300 meters. Being able to shoot bullets under 130 grains is a plus.

I'm also switching a lot of stuff over to cast bullets. Still not casting my own yet but with the unbelievable cost of jacketed bullets now its still a big savings buying cast.

 

[WisBorn]

The reason for rifle cartridge choice works both ways for me.

My Weatherby MarkV Ultra Lightweight is 7 mm Rem Mag because it was not offered in 30-06 or 280 and I wanted the rifle.
I wanted a 300wsm so I bought a Tikka it didn't make my accuracy standard so I sold it and bought a Savage to replace it.