Favorite Rifle Cartridge Just Because…

[troy fairweather]

7mm mauser, tho I like many.

 

[gotboostvr]

More like "Except for .280" you mean

6.5x55 is addictive.
As is .243, as well.

My true love does not, yet, exist: 7x45 Oh there are .276 & 280 & 6.8 dancing all around it. Pedersen was close with his 276 at 7x53; the 280nato at 7x50 was even closer. There's a "sweet spot" there that designers have been dancing around for a century.

7mm diameter would make the cross-section folks happy; a 45mm case length means fitting in standard AR magwells. Only downside is that you're looking at 20-22 in a 30 round-length mag. Oh well, nothing is perfect.

There's both 7x45 TCU and 7x45 Ingram if you were unaware.

 

[.308 Norma]

7mm Mauser. And I don't even own a 7mm Mauser. How's that for irrational.

Yet another one of my favorites, and I don't own a 7mm Mauser either. However, I know why I like it, even though some people might call my reasoning "irrational."
It's because way back when I first started hunting big game and paying attention to big game rifle cartridges, when someone said they shoot a "7mm," they meant a 7mm Mauser - NOT a 7mm Rem Mag like they usually mean nowadays.
Not that I don't think the 7mm Rem Mag is a fine cartridge, it's just that it's not as "classy" as a 7mm Mauser. Heck, for that matter, a 7mm-08, let alone the .280 Remington, will do anything a 7mm Mauser will do, but neither one of them is as "classy" as a 7mm Mauser either.

 

[tdbmd]

Surely I’m not the only person on THR who has a cartridge they love for no real reason. For me, it’s the 6.5x55. I have a couple rifles chambered in the x55 and I can’t explain exactly why I like it so much. I don’t reload, so it is nothing more than an expensive, long-action 6.5 Creedmoor for me. I guess it’s just nostalgia, but I really like that round and I’ve accumulated nearly as much 6.5x55 ammo as I have anything else, including 22 LR even though I rarely shoot the two rifles I have outside of hunting season.

So, let’s hear it. Who else has a rifle cartridge they love for no real reason?

Mine would be a toss up between the .257 Rbts and the .35 Whelen

 

[Bull Nutria]

Note I forgot my TC Encore 35 Whelen in my earlier post!

Well, I have 5 hi powered rifles 30.06, 7mm08, 223. 35 Whelen and my newest 25.06. I really enjoy all of them buy i have taken a serious liking to my Weatherby Vanguard 2 sporter (wood stock) in 25.06!!

Bull

 

[gotboostvr]

Yet another one of my favorites, and I don't own a 7mm Mauser either. However, I know why I like it, even though some people might call my reasoning "irrational."
It's because way back when I first started hunting big game and paying attention to big game rifle cartridges, when someone said they shoot a "7mm," they meant a 7mm Mauser - NOT a 7mm Rem Mag like they usually mean nowadays.
Not that I don't think the 7mm Rem Mag is a fine cartridge, it's just that it's not as "classy" as a 7mm Mauser. Heck, for that matter, a 7mm-08, let alone the .280 Remington, will do anything a 7mm Mauser will do, but neither one of them is as "classy" as a 7mm Mauser either.

Yeah, but the 7mm Mauser still isn't as classy as a 275 Rigby

 

[.308 Norma]

Yeah, but the 7mm Mauser still isn't as classy as a 275 Rigby

True.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

Yeah, but the 7mm Mauser still isn't as classy as a 275 Rigby

Ruger stamping their 7x57 No 1s as "275 Rigby" is such a cool touch. Fits that gun perfectly.

You know what. I think I just figured out what my 7mm rifle is going to be...

 

[Nature Boy]

308 Winchester would be my second choice.

That’s my first and second choice

 

[Steven_Seagull]

7x57 Mauser specifically, but really the 7mm bore diameter.

Why?

It's slain so many elephants across the world. It shoots flatter than a .30 but hits harder than a .243 or .264 caliber projectile.

Weight range of 139-175gr, it's a hefty, but long and slender like projectile.
I prefer the 173-5gr myself, but don't avoid the 139/140gr loads.

I own one and wouldn't trade it for anything. It can safely handle anything in the America's with the right shot/projectile.

 

[valnar]

Surely I’m not the only person on THR who has a cartridge they love for no real reason. For me, it’s the 6.5x55. I have a couple rifles chambered in the x55 and I can’t explain exactly why I like it so much. I don’t reload, so it is nothing more than an expensive, long-action 6.5 Creedmoor for me. I guess it’s just nostalgia, but I really like that round and I’ve accumulated nearly as much 6.5x55 ammo as I have anything else, including 22 LR even though I rarely shoot the two rifles I have outside of hunting season.

So I clicked on this thread before I could read any post, with the intent on writing "6.5x55".

If the rest of the world's militaries were smart they would have adopted the 6.5 x 55 way back then and stopped messing around with trying to develop new better cartridges. For a battle round it has the reach and power without the recoil which I feel makes it better than both the .223 and .308. M1A or AR10, both would have been better chambered for 6.5 x 55.

I posted this once before on THR. I firmly believe that if the militaries of the world adopted a 6.5 variant many years ago, we would not have swung so much from full .30 battle cartridges to poodle shooters. Goldilocks was right in front of us for over 100 years.

 

[Speedo66]

The first time I took my first 96 Swedish Mauser out (about 35 years ago) it obliterated a GatorAid bottle at 80 yards (the range seems to grow about 10 yards every time I tell the story) on the VERY FIRST SHOT, off hand! (The shot even impressed my buddies!) I instantly fell in love with the Swedish Mauser and the very low recoiling 6.5 x 55 cartridge. Eventually I had to buy an AG42 Swedish Ludgman semi auto in 6.5 x 55. I will have to be unoriginal and declare the 6.5 x 55 my favorite cartridge too!
55.[/QUOTE
Withdrawn

 

[valnar]

More like "Except for .280" you mean
My true love does not, yet, exist: 7x45 Oh there are .276 & 280 & 6.8 dancing all around it. Pedersen was close with his 276 at 7x53; the 280nato at 7x50 was even closer. There's a "sweet spot" there that designers have been dancing around for a century.

7mm diameter would make the cross-section folks happy; a 45mm case length means fitting in standard AR magwells. Only downside is that you're looking at 20-22 in a 30 round-length mag. Oh well, nothing is perfect.

You could probably do the math, but I bet it would be very similar to the 6.8 SPC, considering AR case constraints. Only so much space for bullet and powder.

 

[nastynatesfish]

7 rem mag
It does everything you could ever ask it to do. From 120-190gr bullets. Less recoils than the big 30s and accurate as you can make it. It will always be my favorite round. But best do all, shoot all round is a 223 for me. I shoot a ton and love them from bolt gun to semi auto. It’s a great cartridge.

 

[bangswitch]

That’s my first and second choice

Just like the 30-06 "family" of cartridges, you just have to love the .308 "family". Versatile as all get out, whether it's a .243, 7mm-08, .308 or other derivative. I have a .308, and it's a hard choice between it and the Grendel sometimes.

 

[Gun-Reck]

Surely I’m not the only person on THR who has a cartridge they love for no real reason. For me, it’s the 6.5x55. I have a couple rifles chambered in the x55 and I can’t explain exactly why I like it so much. I don’t reload, so it is nothing more than an expensive, long-action 6.5 Creedmoor for me. I guess it’s just nostalgia, but I really like that round and I’ve accumulated nearly as much 6.5x55 ammo as I have anything else, including 22 LR even though I rarely shoot the two rifles I have outside of hunting season.

So, let’s hear it. Who else has a rifle cartridge they love for no real reason?

The 6.5x55mm - is surplus to my field battery.

But is still one of my favorites.

Inexpensive PPU ammo with good reloadable brass, 140 gr. Speer bullets, and the same powder as the .270 Winchester.

Then, Norma discontinued their "Professional" factory ammo line, including liquidating their 6.5x55mm Nosler 140 gr. Partition offering, SE loaded, for essentially component bullet cost.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

My irrational dislike bordering on hatred for the .270 comes from my youth. My uncle had a featherweight I used to shoot groundhogs. With 150’s “loaded hot” and a steel butt plate, I’d be black and blue after a couple shots. Funny thing is now perhaps my favorite round is my 7 Remington Mag. My 7 mag X-Bolt has a fantastic pad and the recoil is very mild though it should kick harder than the .270 did

No kidding! My Mossberg Patriot in 270 with 150gr ammo kicks!! My M1 Garand in 30-06 still has a bit of a kick but it's not bad at all. I almost want to sell off all my 270 stuff but I'd have to find the right buyer, and I also do like having a 270 walnut bolt gun around... Jack O'Connor tribute I guess.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

So this is a favorite caliber due to its rarity or social status? For me that would be 25-06. My custom Remington 700 is a labor of blood sweat and tears that took a year and a half to get put together right. I have a thread on the debacle actually if your interested in reading about it.
I do however also like 6.5 PRC because of the very interesting ballistics and case design and all that jazz. Oh yeah, Lapua makes brass for it as well! I have 400 cases ready to load lol.

 

[adcoch1]

For me it's the 350Rem Mag.

Overkill on everything I use it for, but I find myself going out of my way to kill stuff with it. A 200 grn at 2830 or 225 at 2740 just smacks things an kills with authority. My M7 is just over 7lbs "all up" loaded with scope and sling. It carries like a dream and leaves a mark on both ends. This summer I'm going to investigate loading cast bullets just to get to shoot it more.

View attachment 1156972

Making brass from 7mmRM:

View attachment 1156973

Every time you post anything about this rifle, I get a little jealous.

Same

 

[Pat Riot]

.30-30
I love the guns that fire it. I like the history of it.
I have not hunted with it…yet. I just love the round.

 

[Buckeye63]

30-30

Because 30/30 works, and comes in cool guns

Top Marlin 336 no safety
Middle Marlin Spikehorn 16 inch barrel
Bottom Marlin 30AS

 

[EIB0879]

I really want a Model 70 in 264 Win Mag.

As a kid I always wanted one of these but never had one.

 

[.308 Norma]

.30-30
I love the guns that fire it. I like the history of it.
I have not hunted with it…yet. I just love the round.

Me too!
The year Winchester went to angle eject on their Model 94s, I went right down to the gun store and bought myself a brand new, top eject Model 94 30-30 because I knew I'd never see new top eject Model 94s again. We were allowed two deer per year (as long as one of them was a doe) here in Idaho back then, and I took that Model 94 30-30 out and killed my second deer that year with it. It worked just fine - I shot her though the ribs at about 40 yards, she ran down hill for about a hundred yards, and piled up in a heap.
I put my 30-30 away for a few years after that - until I let our oldest daughter use it to shoot her first deer - a forked horned buck through the ribs at about 100 yards. He dropped in his tracks, and I haven't used my top eject, Model 94 30-30 since.
But I like it, and I like the round it's chambered for - it's not the fastest, nor is it a real good all-around cartridge for the open country big game hunting we do out here in Idaho. And in my personal opinion, scoping a Model 94, 30-30 is sacrilege. Nevertheless, a deer hunter can get the job done with it if he/she wants to.

 

[.308 Norma]

I really want a Model 70 in 264 Win Mag.

Ah yeah, the legendary "Westerner."

 

[Obturation]

the .500 S&W magnum which is harder hitting than the 45/70.

It has a larger meplat and in some cases is loaded with very heavy bullets but 45/70 is more powerful from everything I've seen. Maybe from a rifle the 500 creeps up some but a larger case with slower powder is a hard to match . all while operating at much lower pressure. Not talking trapdoor loads. You are wise though, bigger is better!