The 3 most underrated hunting calibers.

[Ghostcoyote]

I have to say when thinking about underrated hunting rounds, the most popular hunting rounds in the country shouldn’t make the list.

That seems obvious to me, but apparently I’m in the minority.

If I had to pick the most underrated deer round, I’d say the 12ga. I’ve seen almost no mention of it, and I also know very, very few people that deer hunt with any shotgun, I do understand some of this regional.

However given the ranges most people hunt at with newer sabots as well as buckshot, it’s a fine choice for many people that never consider it, Including myself to be perfectly honest.

In my younger years shotgun with slugs was all we were allowed to use besides smokepole. My first 10 bucks came via 20 GA. slug.

 

[Ghostcoyote]

I just think a lot of younger shooters and sportsman get caught in what I call marketing cartridges. Like .17 fireball, we had the .17 Remington. 350 legend in my opinion why pistol bullets? My list goes on and on. My advice study some firearms history and their uses. You will find your cartridge already exists in a firearm of better quality than that of today's fast strike marketing come and be a consumer fool market.

 

[Woodbridge]

Correct. They don't have to recreate the wheel, they just need to create some marketing hype and slap their name on it. Winchester was never going to make money selling 357 max ammo in straightwall only zones... they create the 350 legend, basically a rimless 357 max and it sells like hotcakes!

 

[WisBorn]

Correct. They don't have to recreate the wheel, they just need to create some marketing hype and slap their name on it. Winchester was never going to make money selling 357 max ammo in straightwall only zones... they create the 350 legend, basically a rimless 357 max and it sells like hotcakes!

I think the 350 legend has grown past the straightwall zones. It is a neat mid range round.

 

[BJung]

6.5x55 overshadowed by 6.5 CM because of marketing
7x57 overshadowed by 7mm-08 because of marketing
8mm mauser overshadowed by 30-06
7.35 Argentine, .303 Brit, 7.7 Arisaka overshadowed by .308
.280 overshadowed by 7 Rem Mag
.35 Rem outdone by 30/30

 

[Chuck R.]

Correct. They don't have to recreate the wheel, they just need to create some marketing hype and slap their name on it. Winchester was never going to make money selling 357 max ammo in straightwall only zones... they create the 350 legend, basically a rimless 357 max and it sells like hotcakes!

I think a big reason for the 350 Legend's popularity is that works extremely well in the AR15 platform. Buy a cheap upper and you've got a mid-range deer rifle.

I like the mid-range cartridge resurgence, it's like a lot of folks are realizing that you don't need an 11lb 6.5PRC with 30mm scope complete with MIL reticle to shoot a deer at under 200yds. We did a couple drives this year that gave guys the chance to dust off their 30-30s and .35s. It was fun and we're going to make it an annual thing. I might even buy a red plaid jacket and a pair of LL Bean boots for it. Friend of mine is having a 350L built just for the drives, it does pretty well when compared to the 6.8 SPC II and 6.5 Grendel .

 

[Captcurt]

300 Savage
280
338-06

 

[9x56MS]

250-3000 savage, 300 savage and 35 remington. All a hunter needs to put meat in the freezer. Pretty much any kind of meat short of pachyderms.

 

[entropy]

.223; There are still a lot of people that believe it can't kill deer.

As Captcurt and 9x56MS mention, the .300 Savage is often seen as marginal. It's not.

.243 Win., same reason as the .223. It does not take a .30-06 level round to kill deer. Yes, the '06 does it well, I've got deer with it myself. But there are a lot of deer hunters that still believe the .30-30 is anemic for deer, and the .308 is the absolute minimum.

 

[Ghostcoyote]

I think a big reason for the 350 Legend's popularity is that works extremely well in the AR15 platform. Buy a cheap upper and you've got a mid-range deer rifle.

I like the mid-range cartridge resurgence, it's like a lot of folks are realizing that you don't need an 11lb 6.5PRC with 30mm scope complete with MIL reticle to shoot a deer at under 200yds. We did a couple drives this year that gave guys the chance to dust off their 30-30s and .35s. It was fun and we're going to make it an annual thing. I might even buy a red plaid jacket and a pair of LL Bean boots for it. Friend of mine is having a 350L built just for the drives, it does pretty well when compared to the 6.8 SPC II and 6.5 Grendel .

Just wish they had used rifle bullet diameter to give better ballistics to the end user.

 

[Hunter 08]

.223; There are still a lot of people that believe it can't kill deer.

As Captcurt and 9x56MS mention, the .300 Savage is often seen as marginal. It's not.

.243 Win., same reason as the .223. It does not take a .30-06 level round to kill deer. Yes, the '06 does it well, I've got deer with it myself. But there are a lot of deer hunters that still believe the .30-30 is anemic for deer, and the .308 is the absolute minimum.

I can use .223 here in Nebraska, because it has a minimum of 900ft/lbs of energy, but only up to 100 yards. In my opinion .243 is the absolute smallest for deer with a heavy grain bullet. I've heard of people using 5.45x39mm successfully to take deer with AK-74 rifles, I forget which bullet type.

I think of the older Wildcats of .308 don't get the love. They offered low recoil and did a great for taking down game. They are now being overshadowed by 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[Seedy Character]

I can use .223 here in Nebraska, because it has a minimum of 900ft/lbs of energy, but only up to 100 yards. In my opinion .243 is the absolute smallest for deer with a heavy grain bullet. I've heard of people using 5.45x39mm successfully to take deer with AK-74 rifles, I forget which bullet type.

I think of the older Wildcats of .308 don't get the love. They offered low recoil and did a great for taking down game. They are now being overshadowed by 6.5 Creedmoor.

The .223 Win 64 gr PSP has over 1100 ft/#
17 deer and counting, from 70 to 235 yards.
All 1 shots, none want over 35 yards.
The interesting part, the closer they were, the farther they ran.

Creedmore is over hyped. The .260 Rem is an awesome cartridge.

 

[Hunter 08]

So that 64gr is good up to 150 yards if keeping to the minimum of 900ft/lbs of energy.

I have no issues with modern bullet technology. If it makes it flatter shooting, great.