most American of all rounds

dodo bird said:
So you can’t have a beer either (Germany)? Or maybe you shouldn’t shoot at all as gunpowder was invented by the Chinese? 9mm is the American pistol caliber now, even if people don’t like it. I have been to Germany and all over Europe. Never seen 9mm at the stores. Let alone anything else besides pellet guns.
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I think we are making a cultural, not numerical argument. The Toyota Tacoma is the most popular compact pickup in America, and some are even assembled in the US, but that doesn't make it 'American' in my book. Although, like the 9mm, it is often the best choice.
 
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dodo bird said:
I am going to be flamed but don’t care. Today it’s 556/223 and 9mm by a large margin.
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I shoot a lot of both, more than any other caliber that I have, but that's due to popularity and cost. Probably a little nostalgic, but when I think of an American cartridge, I think of the 30-06 in an 03A3 or the 45ACP in a 1911.
 
OLDE RETIRED COASTIE said:
was reading on another site, and question was asked what was the most American rifle and pistol cartridgeTo me for rifles would be the 45-70, still going strong after 150 years, and the 45 colt (aka 45 long colt also going strong after 150 years.
Most versitale round would be 30-06 for rifles, closely followed by 308 winchester, and for pistols 45 acp, followed closely by 38 special. Now to some older folks those two pistol rounds would be reversed,

how do ya'll feel
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"Most American?" The 257 Roberts..Not still around, except for those who know what they are doing...a victim of poor marketing and loadins, outshone by lesser, better marketed guns, but an all American round! :cool:
 
9 mm Parabellum was illegal for civilian use in most of Europe, explains the lack of sighting. There was recently a move to legalize it, don't know how that panned out.
I my time in Latin America, military calibers were banned for civilian use.
 
unspellable said:
9 mm Parabellum was illegal for civilian use in most of Europe, explains the lack of sighting. There was recently a move to legalize it, don't know how that panned out.
I my time in Latin America, military calibers were banned for civilian use.
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Italy legalized it but I don't know what that means for the rest of the EU
 
I would pick .38 special and 30.06 just because they are the most commonly used cartridges. The .45 was used on the battle field where it became popular or should I say recognized.
I don't know any WW II vet or Korea or Vietnam vet that liked the .45, except to say it that it was efficient. Now the 30-30 has been used longer than the 30.06 for deer hunting which made it popular, but Google what the most common rifle caliber is still sold in the U.S. , even in the last few years where records can be verified. It's the 30.06. During the ammo shortage a short time ago, Vista said the most common requested cartridge was the 30.06. I think that is because of performance and versatility. It can be loaded and used from 130 grain varmint all the way up to 220 grain for brown bear in the far north. I think the same reasons can be used for the .38 too. It was a common use caliber for gamblers and ladies in the last century. Police used it up to the 1970s. Even during the world wars it was commonly used as a back up security gun, even by the post office.
 
I remember reading that in Mexico and Argentina, when they used the 45 acp, have to remember Argentina even licensed to build the old 1911, and when they went to the High Power also licensed to build that one
those two outlawed civilian use of the 5 acp, and I understand that is why the 38 super was so popular in Mexico, cause they could not use 45 acp
 
I have decided that, in the spirit of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, I shall no longer focus on giving favor to what I consider the strictly "American cartridges." I shall now commence celebrating the 7.65x17mm, the 6.5 x 55mm, the 7x57mm Mauser, the 9.3x74R and some of the other greats (sorry, I can't do the 8x22mm Nambu)...

Just kidding. Under the power vested in me by the internet, I'm gonna decree the .45 ACP as the American cartridge of all time. Why was not John Moses Browning sainted by the Holy Roman Catholic Church? Oh, wait... he was a Mormon.

Seriously, though guys -- after due consideration, I have come to the conclusion there is no single "most American of all rounds." Our country has birthed some of the most impactful, effective firearms cartridges/calibers in history, so to proclaim any one of the greats as "the most American" kind of slights those you think didn't quite measure up. I mean, really, .22LR, .38 SPL, .357 Magnum, .44 SPL, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, .45 ACP, .30-30 Winchester, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .45-70 Government. .257 Roberts, .270 Winchester, 7mm Remington... How can you say that any one is more culturally and historically significant than another, more deserving to be called the American round?
 
"The most American" anything is hard to define/determine. The American culture must be taken into account. Are we talking about overall sales numbers, popularity, longevity, who invented it? LOTS of factors to consider. I thought about putting my vote in as .45 ACP as the pistol and 30-06 as the rifle and they are good choices, but I'm just not sure they reflect "most American".

I finally decided on 500 S&W magnum and .50 BMG. Now, why in the world would I think those one might ask? America is all about "go big or go home", power, excess and versatility. No, 500 S&W hasn't been around for very long, but it follows that idea of "bigger is better" that is often thought in American society. It's impressive...like it or not, it's impressive. I don't want one and it's definitely not for everyone, but it certainly reflects America. It's also in a revolver which hearkens back to cowboy roots, plus S&W is classic American.

.50 BMG...you CAN'T deny the inventor, Moses H. Browning, among the gun greats of inventors. Again, big to the point of being excessive, but effective. How much damage has the .50 BMG done on how many battlefields over the decades? It's been used in everything from machine guns, to man portable semi-auto rifles, to single shot monsters. It's ALMOST man portable artillery and it has been used in fighter airplanes.

Both have imperial designations rather than metric which is certainly American stubborness at it's finest.

Prove me wrong...
 
have to admit to owning 3 revolvers, one is a Ruger security six, 357/38, one is a clone of a Single Action Army Colt, an Uberti EL PATRON, 45 Colt, and one a Tauras Judge in 45 Colt/410.
all three in classic American calibers.
Own two 1911's one in 45 ACP, the other in 9 mm, and a Rock Island baby rock , 380 a sort of 1911.
 
Just a technicality in1845, France, Nicolas Flobert developed the .22 BB (Bulleted Breech) Cap also known as the 6mm Flobert. (I have some) So not really American design although probably Americas favorite round.
Also the German guy Georg Luger invented the 9mm.
 
go back far enough in history, and both the rifle and pistol as we know them, was designed in Europe somewhere. And Beretta is the oldest firearms company in the world.
 
I still remember when some idiot at GM came out with a car called the Beretta, and did not ask for permission to use their name. Beretta sued and got millions of dollars! Was probably some idiot had never heard of Beretta, and was never in or associated with the militaryt
 
actually the 44 Russian was a Smith and Wesson developement, but originally was designed for the Russian contract, cause they wanted a 44 caliber. Till that time was only the 44-40 the only 44 caliber cartridge.
From the 44 Russian came the 44 special and eventually the 44 mag in the 1950s
 
OLDE RETIRED COASTIE said:
I still remember when some idiot at GM came out with a car called the Beretta, and did not ask for permission to use their name. Beretta sued and got millions of dollars! Was probably some idiot had never heard of Beretta, and was never in or associated with the militaryt
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They did actually try and negotiate rights to the name, but the talks dragged past the car's introduction, and a recall of Beretta cars for faulty hood latches upset Beretta for fears of reputation tarnishing. So they sued to get GM to realize how seriously Beretta took the matter.

They did not get "millions of dollars". The case was settled out-of-court and the terms of the settlement were made public. The settlement would be:
  • GM donates $500,000 to Beretta’s Cancer Foundation
  • A signed agreement allowing GM to use the Beretta name for their line of sports cars given GM disclose that "Beretta" is being used by permission in their catalogs and in the owner’s manual.
  • A symbolic exchange of gifts, Beretta receives from GM a 1989 Beretta GTU Coupe and in return, Beretta gives GM a shotgun and hunting rifle.

The car is at Beretta's Gardone Val Trompia facility, the whereabouts of the Beretta firearms are unknown.
 
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