If there were only 12 rifle cartridges....

[Ole Humpback]

I read this article on Chuckhawks, and as far as theory crafting goes, it was really neat:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/12_rifle_cartridges.htm

1. .22 Long Rifle
2. .223 Remington
3. .243 Winchester
4. .260 Rem. or 6.5x55 SE
5. .270 Winchester
6. 7mm Remington Magnum
7. .30-30 Winchester
8. .308 Winchester
9. .30-06 Springfield
10. .338 Winchester Magnum
11. .416 Rigby
12. .45-70 Government

The point of the article was that if all but 12 of the existing rifle cartridges that we have avaliable for hunting were to overnight become obsolete and vanish, which 12 cartridges would you want to have live on. I particulary liked the notion and thought, why not see what everyones "12 list" is.

My list is as follows. Its based on the versatility of the caliber & the lineage of the cartridge.

1. .22 Long Rifle
2. .257 Weatherby Mag
3. .257 Roberts
4. 7x57 Mauser
5. 30-30 Winchester
6. 30-06 Springfield
7. 300 Weatherby Mag
8. 358 Winchester
9. 375 H&H Mag
10. 416 Rigby
11. 45-70 Government
12. 470 Nitro Express

 

[jojo200517]

Well the only rifle cartridges I stock and shoot are

1 .22LR
2 7.62x39
3 .30-30
3 7.62x51 / .308
4 7.62x54r

I can think of plenty of people aside from just me that would be pissed if they woke up and all of the 7.62x39 and 7.62x54r was suddenly vanished or somehow obsolete. I'm guessing all the mosin nagant owners would probably start playing out our congress critters worst fears of drive by bayoneting.

Edit: can we add pistol calibers and other stuff i care about? looks like some did so i'm a edit this in

5 .357magnum
6 .45acp
7 12 gauge
8 16 gauge

guess i could fill out the other 4 with stuff i don't have but would consider given unlimited monies

9 7.62x25
10 .44 magnum
11 338 lapua
12 50 bmg

 

[greenlion]

I'd say most people could make do with 3 or 4 calibers. I don't have time to shop for ammo for twelve different calibers.

 

[kfgk14]

Twelve rifle cartridges I can own?
1.) 6.8 SPC-Medium game (pigs, deer, coyotes, pronghorn, etc.), two-legged threats
2.) .22LR-Training, squirrels, fun
3.) .45-70-Anything organic I need to kill, nostalgia, making smoke clouds and scaring small children/old folks
4.) .50 BMG-Killing trucks, killing trucks at long ranges, killing pretty much anything at long ranges, bruising my shoulder
5.) .30-06-Anything in North America, feeding an M1
6.) 5.56 NATO-Feeding my preferred platform (AR-15)
7.) 6.5 Grendel-Same as 6.8 SPC with somewhat greater range potential
8.) .300 AAC BLK-Shhhhhhhhhh, they'll never hear us *shoots feral pig* See? *shoots another pig, continues until all are dead where they stood*
9.) .416 Rigby-Dangerous game/big five/further bruising my shoulder
10.) 6.5 BRM-Shooting very small groups at very long ranges
11.) 5.7x28mm-PDW usage
12.) .408 Chey-Tac

 

[BrocLuno]

Let's see: (this applies to rifle only? Don't want them taking away my handgun cartridges, but they'll probably try )

22 LR
22-250
223
243
6.5x? (I have Arisaka, but Swede is much more popular)
30-30
30-06
303
308
35 Remington
375 H&H
416 Rigby
45-70

 

[DammitBoy]

1. .22 Long Rifle
2. .22 Hornet
3. .223 Remington
4. .243 Winchester
5. .45 Long Colt
6. 8mm Magnum
7. .30-30 Winchester
8. .308 Winchester
9. .30-06 Springfield
10. .45-70 Government
11. .408 Chey-Tac
12. .50 BMG

 

[wlewisiii]

Not probably similar to most around here but these are the ones I'd be wanting to keep around. But based on how I shoot and the rifles I like, these are want I either own or want.

.22 LR
.218 Bee
.223
7mm-30
7x57
7mm-08
.30-30
.308
9.3mmx62
.38-55
.416 Rigby
.45-70

 

[mshootnit]

22 Mag
6mm Rem
30-06
375 H&H
416 Rigby
22 Mag
6mm Rem
30-06
375 H&H
416 Rigby
17 HMR
220 Swift
12 Ga.
I have never been one for following rules very well. Sometimes I don't know what the rules are and sometimes they just don't make sense to me.

 

[Auto426]

If you were limiting yourself to 12 cartridges I'm not sure why you would pick both the 30-06 and the .308. While the 30-06 has the edge in today's modern hunting loads, the two are very similar balistically and the .308 is chambered in a much greater variety of platforms.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Thank god we are not limited to so few choices. The ones I own are in red.

1. .22LR
2. .22 mag (the one in the safe isn't mine)
3. .223/5.56mm
4. .30-30 Winchester (hunted with one a lot, fact is it wasn't my rifle)
5. .30-06 Gov't
6. .375 H&H
7. .44 Mag
8. .45/70 Gov't
9. .338 Lapua (it was this or 300 Win mag, something between .30-06 and .50 for long range)
10. .50 BMG (why not?)

If you can't get it done with those... I'm not sure it needs doing. I could have left off the 44 mag as it's the same role as the .30-30 and added another 'Africa' caliber. I own an 8mm mauser but it doesn't fill any role the '06 can't--except mount a bayonet. I don't own a single .308.

EDIT: Also just realized it was 12 not 10.

Hmmm

11. .416 not that I plan on shooting elephants, can be had in a bolt gun.
12. PDW cal like .30 carbine or 5.7mm

 

[cerberus65]

I would forgo the .260/6.5x55 and the .416 Rigby and instead add back the .375 H&H Mag. and the 458 Win Mag. Or if we were allowed a baker's dozen I might add back the 6.5x55.

 

[beatledog7]

Offhand, I'd pick mostly the classics, nothing exotic:

22LR
.223
.243
25-06
.270
7mm Rem Mag
30-06
.338 Win Mag
.357 Mag
.375 H&H
.416 Rigby
45-70 Gov't

 

[mnhntr]

.22
.22 WMR
.223
.243
.25-06
.260
.308
.30-06
.300 Win Mag
.338 Lapua
.45-70
.50 BMG

 

[ExAgoradzo]

1. 22
2. 223
3. 357 mag
4. 44 mag
5. 270 Win
6. 30-06
Then I would like to get:
1. 308/7.62 in an AR platform
2. Something with a '4' in front

I also have a 22mag and a 30carbine
Let's not forget the 12 & 20 gauges!

 

[Bio-Chem]

Alright, i'll play your game:

.22LR
.22-250
.223
.25-06
.270 win
7mm rem mag
.308
.30-06
.338 win mag
.375 H&H
.444 Marlin


Hmmmm. not sure on my 12th

 

[GCBurner]

I've got some calibres I shoot just because I like the gun they're chambered in, not because the cartridge itself offers any competitive advantage.

 

[Gdbyrd]

If reloading is applicable:

1. 22 LR
2. 223
3. 25/06
4. 300 Win Mag

I think I could get by with just 4. Really where I live, I could probably get by with just 3, maybe 2...223 can be played with alot on a reloading bench.

Just doesn't seem right though. Too many little spots to fill.

1. .22 Long Rifle
2. .223 Remington
3. .243 Winchester
4. .260 Rem. or 6.5x55 SE
5. .270 Winchester
6. 7mm Remington Magnum
7. .30-30 Winchester
8. .308 Winchester
9. .30-06 Springfield
10. .338 Winchester Magnum
11. .416 Rigby
12. .45-70 Government

I substituted some things, like the 7mm mag, own a 300 win mag, I just don't have a need for any of the larger calibers otherwise I'd have one : / I did own a .338 but I sold it as I only hunt small whitetail.

 

[sKunkT]

1. .22 Long Rifle
2. .220 Swift
3. .243 Winchester
4. 6.5mm Grendel
5. .280 Remington
6. 7mm -08
7. .32 Winchester
8. .30-06 Springfield
9. .35 Whelen
10. 8mm Remington Mag
11. .444 Marlin
12. .460 Wby. Mag

 

[P.B.Walsh]

I'll play

.22lr
9mm NATO
.45 ACP
.357 Magnum
.223/5.56x45mm NATO
30-30 Winchester
7.62x39mm
12ga.
.308/7.62x51mm NATO
.338 Lapua Magnum
.375H&H
.50 BMG

Left out all other unnesesary ones....... lol jk this is all I need..... mabey

 

[fal762x51]

I could get by just fine with fewer than 12.

My minimum list would be:
22LR
223 Remington
243 Winchester
308 Winchester
45-70 Government

There is nothing that needs doing that can't be done with one of those.

I would like to also have 30-06, 30 carbine, and 7.62x39. But I could get by with just those top 5.

 

[LoonWulf]

errrr....
1 .22LR
2 .17hmr or .22mag
3 .223
4 .243
5 7-30, .30-30, or .35 remington (only in there cause i like tube feed lever guns)
6 .30-06
7 7mm remington magnum
8 .338 winchester magnum
9 .375 H&H or Ruger
10 .45-70 (also for lever guns)
11 .458 lott
12......i ran out

I dont own all of these, or even most of them, they are just rounds i like.

 

[Bio-Chem]

Not to thread jack, but i'd also be interested in seeing people comparing their list of 12 to the rifles they currently own/plan on owning

 

[sKunkT]

1. .22 Long Rifle
2. .220 Swift
3. .243 Winchester
4. 6.5mm Grendel
5. .280 Remington
6. 7mm -08
7. .32 Winchester
8. .30-06 Springfield
9. .35 Whelen
10. 8mm Remington Mag
11. .444 Marlin
12. .460 Wby. Mag

The bold ones are one I own, and the green ones are ones I plan on owning. If the rest happened show up in my safe, however, I wouldn't complain.

 

[benzy2]

Of his list

1. .22 Long Rifle
2. .223 Remington
3. .243 Winchester
4. .260 Rem. or 6.5x55 SE
5. .270 Winchester
6. 7mm Remington Magnum
7. .30-30 Winchester
8. .308 Winchester
9. .30-06 Springfield
10. .338 Winchester Magnum
11. .416 Rigby
12. .45-70 Government

Honestly, I think his list duplicates uses fairly heavily. If the AR platform wasn't so heavily involved with the .223 I don't think it makes the list. You could easily jump from .22lr to the light 6mm bullets for any use needed. From there you don't gain a ton in the .260 and when you get into a .270, the 7mm Rem Mag has closed the gap. At that point, I don't see much use for a .30-30, .308 or .30-06 that a 7mm Rem Mag doesn't cover. The bump up to a magnum .338 would be the next big step and would do what ever a .45-70 would be expected to do. Now if the context is more for existing rifles it's a different story as there are a ton of rifles in the calibers I cut out. Take those listed below and maybe toss the .416 back in and you would cover every use his list covers but in 4 or 5 rounds rather than 12. It seems a bit arbitrary to pick 12 as the number of rounds you are limited to using.

1. .22 Long Rifle
3. .243 Winchester
6. 7mm Remington Magnum
10. .338 Winchester Magnum

 

[MrSpiffy]

Alright, I'll play this game, too... why not?

• .22LR - Small game, plinking, survival, inexpensive...
• 5.56x45 NATO / .223 - Varmints, urban assault... same thing, right?
• .30-30 WIN - Good all-around hunting cartridge in a compact lever gun
• .30-06 - Gotta have ammo for the M1's out there
• 7mm-08 - Medium game hunting (deer, etc.)
• 7.62x39 - All them AK's out there... would be nice to find ammo for them in a pinch
• 7.62x51 NATO / .308 WIN - Common gun, common round, good all-around cartridge
• 7.62x54R - Yeah, I own a Mosin. Wanna fight about it?
• .300WM - Long-range big game hunting
• .45-70 Gov't. - Shorter-range big game hunting
• .338 Lapua - Longer-range killin' and shootin'
• .50 BMG - Really long-range killin', shootin', bruisin, and concussion-givin'

Good enough... there's some overlap in the list, obviously. Always fun to think through something like this. Makes you question if you really need a cartridge, or if it's just nice to have.