Favorite 'Odd' Caliber

[Robert]

While not really an odd ball, I love my 375H&H

 

[Sergei Mosin]

Great looking old rifles there eastbank.
My oddball is the 32 Winchester Special. It's a 94 carbine. Remington stills loads ammo for that caliber but I think it's done by one old semi-retired person who is only there 1/2 the day Wednesday on alternate weeks during late Summer and very early Fall.

I have one of those - it was my great-grandfather's deer rifle. Great for the farms and forests of Pennsylvania. It was last fired about 30 years ago. I've never fired it myself; I'm sure it would be fine but I'm reluctant because it's an heirloom. I left the old ammo (some factory and some old reloads) with my folks when I left home because I don't trust it, but the LGS here has a few boxes on the shelf - and has had those same few boxes for I don't know how long. Seems like it was always a distant second to the .30-30 and here in this corner of the Midwest even that isn't very common.

 

[damienph]

My odd caliber is 7.65 Argentine chambered in a 1909 Argentine Mauser. I don't shoot it very often but it is a good shooting rifle in very good condition. I even have a bayonet for it.

 

[medic15al]

7x57mm Mauser. 7mm Mauser for the magnum crazy kids..

 

[BLRguy]

.358 Winchester. 225's are great Elk medicine.

 

[tark]

25-20. I have two, a Savage model 23B and a Remington pump model 25. Getting hard to find proper jacketed flat nose bullets, however.

 

[ExAgoradzo]

I saw a 25-20 at a gun show once. I even had some cash, but the Sirens were drawing me elsewhere and I thought I'd save that path for another time...

Glad his thread is working.

Greg

 

[Arizona_Mike]

6.5x55 for me a well. Great Cartridge.

Mike

 

[Elkins45]

I'm not sure if the 257 Wby is unusual enough to be considered "oddball" but I have been loving it since the early 90's.

For a more scarce choice I would have to say 358 Win. You can make brass from 308 and it is the perfect platform for cast bullets.

 

[25-5]

Though factory is available for .38 S&W, it is not up to the specs required for some top breaks. Careful reloading is the best.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

.351 Winchester. What did ya'll expect?

 

[WestKentucky]

odd? heck I cut my teeth on odd. The only thing odd around my house anymore is factory loaded ammo...but the two I cant seem to find proper headstamps for anymore are the .256 winmag and the 7-30 waters. I grew up dusting groundhogs and even whitetail with the .256 and have more recently moved into the contender game with 7-30 waters which is a wonderful round out of a short barrel. There are some other oddballs on my short list to pick up though, mainly for the contender because its so much fun for such a small pricetag (you aint burning much ammo with a single shot). I want a 20 tactical, 357 max, and probably something else on .223 rem and 30-30 cases. I really want to build a 1903 in 30-03 though, but it will not ever happen unless I hit some unforeseen windfall.

 

[IWAC]

All of my calibers except the .22 Long Rifle are getting a bit "odd"...but...257 Roberts!

 

[cpt-t]

((( 218 BEE ))): I bought a used Model 43 Winchester Rifle in 218 Bee that was in like new condition in 1963 with a 6 Power Weaver scope on it, a new Military Leather Sling, and two Boxes of 50 rounds each new ammo for $40.00. One of the best Gun Deals I ever made. It was my first Centerfire Rifle, my first rifle I bought with my own money, and my first Varmint Rifle all rolled into one. My Old 218 Bee Win Rifle is like one of my most trusted Old Friends. I have shot 1000`s of Prairie Dogs, Ground Hogs, Badgers, Rock Chucks, Fox, and Coyotes with it. And I have carried it literally 100`s of miles. Never one problem ever. Ammo was $4.50 a box of 50 in 1963 and it is now more than $85.00+ per box. This is My most favorite Rifle I own, and it will be the last one I will part with. I am thinking real serious about having this Old Rifle and a couple of boxes of shells put in the box with me when the time comes.
ken

 

[Don McDowell]

44-77 is my favorite old cartridge. The 405 winchester is another great one , we'll call middle age.

 

[Nature Boy]

So if your "odd" caliber had already been mentioned, is it still odd?

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

So if your "odd" caliber had already been mentioned, is it still odd?

I guess that makes me the "winner" lol because nobody has mentioned the 2 calibers I mentioned...

 

[ajd3530]

Is the 35 Remington "Odd" enough? Love that cartridge. I also love me some .222 Remington as well.

 

[Blade First]

Used to shoot crows with a .219 Zipper ... instant cloud of feathers and other small bits. Wish my buddy hadn't wanted it so much.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

I have a 6.5 Swede, but I hardly regard it as an odd cartridge. For that, I'd have to say the .280 Remington. I don't have one though & no plans to acquire one either. With my .30-06 on one side & the Swede on t'other, needs are more than covered. I could play the thrill of the chase card in finding a non-Remington bolt gun in the caliber, but to tell the truth I'd probably get a lefty .257 Weatherby magnum first. And that's not gonna happen any time soon.

900F

 

[Slamfire]

It used to be the 6.5 X 55 Swede was a rare round, but it is more common and it is a most excellent cartridge. That and the 257 Roberts are my favorite "Odd ball" cartridges. If you can long seat the bullet on the Bob, you can push the velocity up and yet stay within standard, non +P pressures. I have not pushed the +P envelope, but given the case capacity and the bullet diameter, I don't see a need for the 243 Win on medium game if you have the Bob.

 

[FL-NC]

I guess the "oddest" thing I have is 243, in that it has never been adopted from a service round of any type, even though it is a popular hunting round.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

6.5 X 50mm Arisaka, affectionately known as the 6 & 1/2 Jap.

Sam

 

[jamesjames]

I picked up a 1917 re-chambered to 458 Lott. My "poor man's elephant gun" is a kick to shoot. I will down-load to 45-70 loads with a bulky powder. I have touched off 2 full house cartridges and lived to tell the tale.

 

[brewer12345]

35 Rem. Pretty much never see ammo on the shelf, but can get it over the interwebs. Potent medicine for hogs and deer at any distance I am comfy taking a shot. One day I hope to see how it does on elk.