Most Underappreciated Rifle Caliber

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7.65X53 (Argentine)...no one seems to like this round (which is basically a .308 LONG before 1957).
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So is 7.5x55 Swiss. .308 bullet, high pressure, extremely modern-looking cartridge, noncorrosive from the start. Waaaaaay ahead of its time.

Swiss was never in an actual war, but that doesn't make it any less effective. It's a powerful cartridge, and frighteningly accurate. The Swiss issued match-grade ammo for a battle rifle. I don't think anyone else has ever done that.
 
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Rim-fire : .22 short, long and long rifle.
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Do you mean a rifle that can take all three? That probably is underappreciated since IINM most new .22lr rifles only take .22lr.

Otherwise, it's hard to imagine a regular rifle shooter who doesn't own a rifle in .22lr.

I wish they chambered Model 700s in 8mm Mauser, or do they?
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One or two years ago there was a limited run of M700's in 8mm Mauser and I still see some NIB offered for sale on the online auctions from time to time. Might be a good idea to try to track one down since surplus 8mm is so inexpensive right now. You could have a lot of fun at the range and the gun can double as a very capable hunting rifle.

As far as the original question: Of the calibers I shoot, the most underappreciated is probably the 6.5x55 Swede. Shooting my Swedish Mauser is very comfortable and accurate. I have to confess, however, that the only things I've ever killed with it are pumpkins and milk jugs so while I hear it performs well on medium game, I have no first-hand experience. Supposed to be flat shooting as well, but I've only shot it on paper at 100 yards.
 
Where are you guys getting this from?
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Speaking only for myself, the fact that the thread is called "Most Underappreciated Rifle Caliber", yet no one before sm listed it.

The thread is not called "Most Underappreciated Rifle Caliber That You Don't List In a Thread about Most Underappreciated Rifle Caliber", but "Most Underappreciated Rifle Caliber".

That's where I'm getting that from.
 
The 260 Rem.
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I'll enthusiastically second that.

After crunching numbers and running ballistics looking for the ultimate whitetail caliber, I discovered the .260 Rem. IMO, perfect balance of bullet diameter, bullet weight, penetration and mild recoil in a short action, lightweight gun.

Couple those characteristics with modern bullet technology (bonded bullets and Barnes for example) and there isn't much that this caliber can't do.

And if you don't believe me, ask the Swedes about their 6.5mm bullets...If I remember correctly, they've had some success with 'em. :p

Ed
 
7-30 Waters

Very accurate and a deer killer all out of proportion to it's size under 200 yards. In a Contender carbine or Winchester 94 lever gun it's easy to carry and shoot. Plus it's a great caliber for younger hunters or those who don't want a ton of recoil.

flatdog
 
22 mag is very under used, and the 284 win. It WAS the short mag. I'd like to list the 7mm STW as a possibly overlooked chambering- but I don't know. I reload, but cannot ever find the stuff in OKC. Ditto on the 260, everything has already been stated. Also, the 7mm mauser- light recoil, great accuracy and it IS a tapered case- never had a FTF in my FN-49
 
6mm remmy. 5 times the bbl life of a 243, more accurate, 300 fps more than a 243, ruger still makes them factory. Academy sells the rounds for 10 bucks a box. whats not to love?
 
The 6 x 45 (6 mm/.223) Very accurate, about 30% more energy than the .223 and it works great on the AR platform.
 
357 Remington Magnum.


Try this load, 180gr XTP HP with 15grs of Lil'gun and any case and regular pistol primers. Or use a 180gr LFPGC, either will take the wind out of something.
 
cool post... er ... or... maybe I just like to shoot the "wierd stuff"

my votes...

22 hornet... I love this round, shoot it in several hand guns & rifles...

6.5 Sweed... bought new remington ammo... great stuff for an old rifle...

7-30 Waters... my long range varmint round for the Contender pistol...

8 mm Mauser... this one is a brute... especially in old steel butt plate straight stocked rifles...

45-70 ... probably the rifle round I shoot most often, & the cartridge I hunt with the most, most often from my TC Contender hand cannon...
 
Another 8x57 vote. Very good all around big game caliber, increasing in popularity with all the milsurps around, and there is now a wide(r) range of bullet selections available to handloaders.

Along the same notes, 8mm-06. Seen a variety of load data that has the 8mm-06 "stepping on the heels" of a .338 Win mag, in similar bullet weights. Still about 200 fps less, but also still a b=pretty potent round. Some serious thump there, and it's an easy conversion to a military Mauser.
 
7.5 MAS. There is some speculation that this cartridge and 300 Savage were studied by US Ordnance when developing 7.62 NATO.
 
I would say 7mm and 8mm Mauser suffer more in the USA from the clunky weapons - I know a lot of you like Milsurp stuff but I'm not one of em - besides the 7mm was in the 93 Mauser, IIRC, not even the latest 98 model.

The rounds themselves are as fine an example of balance between caliber, efficiency, and hard hitting performance as you can make before rather rapidly hitting the scale of diminishing returns. They do everything a cartridge can be made to do except look impressive in your hand sitting next to a newer "magnum" cartridge.

The 8mm in German loadings actually has more pizazz than the best loadings of the 30/06 are capable of. It's just the .323 bullet has never caught on in the USA so the reloading cannot really easily duplicate the Euro ammo stats. JMTC

If you would get a Euro hunting rifle in 7mm or 8mm, you would have as fine a weapon as ever existed, imho, however, they are usually pricey.
 
250 Savage. Its the intermediate round that could have been the US version of the x39.


7.5 MAS. I have a MAS49/56 and with 7.5 MAS, It is the rifle that the M14 should have been.
 
From a hunting perspective, I think 7mm-08 is a vastly underappreciated round. Its ballistics are much like a .270 but with more accuracy and a heavier bullet, and it will smack down a deer quite nicely. I've never figured out why it isn't more popular.

From a pistol perspective, I agree with those that have mentioned the .44 Special -- it's a fabulous all-around cartridge, for plinking on up through self-defense. It's no surprise that the Thunder Ranch revolver is a .44 Special.
 
Well, having recently purchased a K-31, my vote is going to be for the 7.5 swiss. What an absolute peach of a cartridge that is!

I notice that the ol' .300 H&H was mentioned. When my dad decided I needed a hunting rifle, he let me shoot three and choose the one I want. 7mmRemMag, .30-06 and .300 H&H. I ended up choosing the 7mm (and I still have it, 20 years later), but I have to admit that I liked the .300 H&H...
 
.30-06. Were it given the respect due, half or more of the chamberings that are floating around today would not be here at all.
 
.35 Whelen.

I've wanted a .250 Savage and a 6.5x55mm for a good while, now.

John
 
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