Rifle Cartridge You Love for No Real Reason

[gotboostvr]

I had a T/C barrel chambered in 219 Zipper once. You think the DW was cool, the Zipper was way-cool.

The DW was an improved Zipper.

Still, both very neat cartridges.

 

[Tallinar]

Infatuated with a cartridge for “no real reason?” I suppose that depends what constitutes a “real” reason.

Judging by the replies, I think most of us have reasons for the cartridges we end up with. Sometimes it’s nostalgia; sometimes it’s what we grew up with, or what was available to us at this or that watershed moment in life. Maybe it’s because we like certain rifles, or certain history. All of these are real reasons, right?

I suppose the closest I can get to a cartridge I like for no “real reason” is 7.5x55mm Swiss. I don’t even own a rifle for it. Only shot it once, but have enjoyed reading about it ever since. I have no good reason to care about the cartridge, but I like it.

 

[Show Me]

.308 and the .357

 

[Meeks36]

470 ne, 303, 222, & 444. Don’t know what I would use the 470 for. 303 and 444 for anything in North America. And the 222 just for kicks.

 

[.308 Norma]

470 ne, 303, 222, & 444. Don’t know what I would use the 470 for. 303 and 444 for anything in North America. And the 222 just for kicks.

If it's "just for kicks" you're looking for, any one of the other three (the 470 ne, the 303, and the 444) you mentioned kick harder than the 222.
Just kidding around, Meeks36. I know what you meant, and I too liked the 444 - until I got one. I thought it would be fun to mess around with, loading it with big, heavy (300gr) cast bullets. I very quickly found out that wouldn't work because I couldn't seat 300gr cast bullets deep enough in the cases to make them work through that Marlin's action. Besides, I've never considered myself all that recoil shy, but I didn't like how hard the 444 kicked with factory loads.
I still love the looks of the 444 though - like a very long 44 Magnum.

 

[rayatphonix]

6.5 Remington Mag. It’s the first 6.5 caliber rifle I bought. It seems like the original 6.5 PRC.

 

[Stevenvalleyky]

Im partial to the 257 Bob and especially my 257Rx6.5Jap. Sure 257 roberts brass can be a pain to get sometimes, and the 257x6.5 is a handload only round. Its not better as a deer round than my 243s, 308s or 30-06s but I still really like it even though it has no real use for me. Just a cool old wildcat to me.

 

[Meeks36]

If it's "just for kicks" you're looking for, any one of the other three (the 470 ne, the 303, and the 444) you mentioned kick harder than the 222.
Just kidding around, Meeks36. I know what you meant, and I too liked the 444 - until I got one. I thought it would be fun to mess around with, loading it with big, heavy (300gr) cast bullets. I very quickly found out that wouldn't work because I couldn't seat 300gr cast bullets deep enough in the cases to make them work through that Marlin's action. Besides, I've never considered myself all that recoil shy, but I didn't like how hard the 444 kicked with factory loads.
I still love the looks of the 444 though - like a very long 44 Magnum.

I have zero need for any of them. Shot a 444 many moons ago. It was stout to say the least. Never even handled a 470. I just want to shot it once and put it up. The 222 would be for paper punching. Maybe go coyote hunting.

 

[Ted100]

Anybody have a rifle cartridge that you are infatuated with for no real reason? For me it’s the 257 Weatherby Magnum. I guess I’ll always have a rifle of some flavor chambered in the 257 Roy, but I can’t really explain why. My 300 PRC is better suited for long range hunting. My various 6.5s, 308s and 7mm-08s are all better suited for hunting at more traditional ranges. The 257 WM eats barrels, is expensive to shoot and can be pretty fussy about ammo. The .25 cal bullets don’t buck wind particularly well. There’s just nothing about that screams, “Hey! Pick me as your favorite!” But, I love it all the same. I like non-standard cartridges and to me, that 257 Weatherby Magnum is about as non-standard as it gets. Anybody else have a cartridge like that?

35 Remington, 35 Whelen and 22 Hornet.

 

[Chuck R.]

6.5 Remington Mag. It’s the first 6.5 caliber rifle I bought. It seems like the original 6.5 PRC.

Agree, it's another one of those...had they only increased the twist, several other 6.5s might never have come to be cartridges.

I really like the 350RM, but there's several other modern short mags that accomplish basically the same thing. I often catch myself looking at posts about the 35 Sambar and thinking about rechambering. But then I realize I'd be just another 200 FPS more than "dead enough", plus there's only so much recoil I enjoy in a sub 7lb rifle.