Author Topic: Underrated Cartridges (Read 2126 times)

Dixie Dude · « **on:** September 19, 2007, 09:29:25 AM »

What cartridges do you consider the most underrated? From what I have read, it would be the .35 Whelen, .35 Remington, .358 Win. and the big bore .45-70. Any you consider and why?

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2007, 10:24:19 AM »

7X30 waters , it makes a fine white tail gun ! have shot many with mine and not one has had a bullet not go thru . the largest a 12 pointer ! so it can get the job done , has very little kick !

Almtnman · « **Reply #2 on:** September 19, 2007, 10:58:58 AM »

I have a 45-70 and it sure isn't underrated. I think that it will take down anything that walks on the North American continent and probably some fairly big stuff in Africa. I haven't killed anything larger than a whitetail with it, but have shot a few pine trees down. And I had to buy a Limbsaver recoil pad for it as I couldn't take that mule kicking type recoil any longer. If I had only one rifle to hunt whitetail deer with, I think the .35 Remington might be a good choice.

35Rem · « **Reply #3 on:** September 19, 2007, 11:45:53 AM »

35 Remington is pretty underrated. At least Marlin is keeping it alive.

Shooter973 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 19, 2007, 11:53:14 AM »

The 30-30 is very underrated. About 90% of my hunting could be done with a 30-30. As well as any need for a defensive rifle or just a fun gun. The 30-30 is very efficient and does a lot better than most guys think.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #5 on:** September 19, 2007, 12:24:11 PM »

.243 winchester.

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** September 19, 2007, 12:42:29 PM »

Quote from: victorcharlie on September 19, 2007, 12:24:11 PM

.243 winchester.

Now I'd put that one in the OVER rated category.

Sourdough · « **Reply #7 on:** September 19, 2007, 12:45:32 PM »

How about those that are considered overrated? It's all a matter of personnel openion. Take the .35s for instance. .35 Remington, 350 Rem Mag, and the .35 Whelen. The .35 Remington is a slowed down version of the other two, and it works in a short action. The .350 Remington Magnum is a belted magnum, has higher velocity, and recoil. The .350 also works through a short action. The .35 Whelen is the ballistic twin to the .350 Rem Mag, but is not belted, and being on the 30-06 case requires a long action. Each one fills a niche and has it's own following. Solution: Get at least one of each. I did, I own guns for all three.

jh45gun · « **Reply #8 on:** September 19, 2007, 01:03:59 PM »

If you listen to the idiots that write for the gun rags these days anything old is underated and unapreciated. With the exception of the 45 acp and the 30-06 which is a staple for them and is deserved as both are good cartridges but then so are the 45/70 and the 30/30. 45/70 and 30/30 have been working just fine for well over a Century in the 45/70's case since 1873 and in the 30/30s case since 1894 so both well over a century. Those that use them know they just plain work and that is why they never died out when newer fancier cartridges came along. There are lots of other examples too of the older cartridges that keep doing what they were designed for with out any fanfare. I would guess to some that would make them underated. To me they are all I need though I do use other old cartridges too like the 6.5x55 Swede and the 7.5x55 Swiss.

ms · « **Reply #9 on:** September 19, 2007, 01:07:52 PM »

;DNow I'd put that one in the OVER rated category. yep

Don Fischer · « **Reply #10 on:** September 19, 2007, 01:38:48 PM »

250-3000 and the 260 Rem

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #11 on:** September 19, 2007, 01:55:15 PM »

I think the 8mm Mauser is underrated. Also, the .338-06.

Almtnman · « **Reply #12 on:** September 19, 2007, 03:07:27 PM »

Quote from: jh45gun on September 19, 2007, 01:03:59 PM

To me they are all I need though I do use other old cartridges too like the 6.5x55 Swede and the 7.5x55 Swiss.

One of my rifles is the 7.5x55 Swiss and it's a caliber that will do the job and one of the most accurate rifles I own.

jh45gun · « **Reply #13 on:** September 19, 2007, 03:34:16 PM »

Quote from: Almtnman on September 19, 2007, 03:07:27 PM

Quote from: jh45gun on September 19, 2007, 01:03:59 PM
To me they are all I need though I do use other old cartridges too like the 6.5x55 Swede and the 7.5x55 Swiss.

One of my rifles is the 7.5x55 Swiss and it's a caliber that will do the job and one of the most accurate rifles I own.

Yep got to agree with the anyone who did not snap one of these up did themselves a great diservice. They are a fantastic rifle and I figure mine will last me my lfetime as all it is going to get is a diet of lower powered Cast loads that will still kill any white tail I see. I Let my C&R license expire so I do not even keep up on any of the milsurps anymore not sure if they still have good stocks of these for sale or not yet.

powderman · « **Reply #14 on:** September 19, 2007, 04:33:26 PM »

Got to agree that the 3030 is underrated. My meat getter, when I'm not using the 4570. I use former wheel weights in both, never had one get away. POWDERMAN.

ironglow · « **Reply #15 on:** September 19, 2007, 04:40:20 PM »

   Got to go with Shooter 973 and Powderman...

   For about 40 years the old "thuty-thuty" was good enough to bring down all kinds of big game ..east & west..

  Then, along came the magnums etc..and suddenly the 30/30 was "barely adequate"..no longer "stylish" I guess !

   My home county just started allowing rifles in the last 2 years..I have a Marlin 336C in 30/30 and the results I have seen with it on deer in these Allegany foothills,
  I don't see how anything would work better.

   I may try my other rifles for variety sake...but the Marlin is just about ideal..even if I get a chance at a black bear some day .

superjay01 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 19, 2007, 04:48:26 PM »

30-30 for sure. I really like my 257 Roberts too.

nomosendero · « **Reply #17 on:** September 19, 2007, 05:48:30 PM »

Quote from: Graybeard on September 19, 2007, 12:42:29 PM

Quote from: victorcharlie on September 19, 2007, 12:24:11 PM
.243 winchester.

Now I'd put that one in the OVER rated category.

If I were to rate a cartridge I would agree.

jh45gun · « **Reply #18 on:** September 19, 2007, 08:34:45 PM »

I started out with a 30/3o Marlin nice gun but I always prefered the Winchester 94 more trim and I liked the way it fit me better. I sold the Marlin when my Dad died and I got his guns which wound up with my brother (Long story) So for years I never had a lever gun or a 30/30 then a few years ago I dedcided to buy a 94 again that I got reasonable it was a post gun made in 64. It had a peep sight on it which I wanted and the bore was mint as the wood was decent. Now that iron receiver does not bother me a bit and this gun is a joy to shoot with cast bullets all I plan to shoot in it. They will take deer just fine. I now kick my self for not having one in all those years.

Mikey · « **Reply #19 on:** September 20, 2007, 12:51:13 AM »

Underrated: 6.5 Swede, 30-30, 35 Rem, 444 Marlin, 7.62x25mm Tokarev, 38 Super. JMTCW. Mikey.

Mikey · « **Reply #20 on:** September 20, 2007, 12:52:47 AM »

Ooooops! Sorry! Forgot the 7mm Mauser and the 8mm Mauser. Mikey.

Almtnman · « **Reply #21 on:** September 20, 2007, 01:17:11 AM »

And what superjay said, the .257 Roberts, one of the best deer calibers around. Now you can't find any of them anymore.

dw06 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 20, 2007, 08:41:04 AM »

250 savage
257 roberts
260 remington
280 remington
338/06
35 remington
8mm remington

GregP42 · « **Reply #23 on:** September 20, 2007, 08:49:17 AM »

Two that I think are way under rated are the 32-20 and the .41 mag. In the right hands a 32-20 out of a short rifle will take game up to the size of deer if the shot is close and placed right. And the .41 mag will do just as much as the .44 with the recoil level of the a hot .357

Greg

Dee · « **Reply #24 on:** September 20, 2007, 09:32:56 AM »

Most all of the the old standard cartridges are UNDERATED, such as for example the 3030.,

Cheesehead · « **Reply #25 on:** September 20, 2007, 02:38:15 PM »

An old standard cartridge. That statement also applies to the 308 Winchester. It is not exotic or new. It is not a new super whiz bang Magnum. It is easy to shoot. It is relatively flat in trajectory. It is common in ammunition and firearms. This cartridge is so common it is boring to some people and therefore under rated.

Cheese

crow_feather · « **Reply #26 on:** September 20, 2007, 02:53:04 PM »

My list of underrated would include the 300 H & H, 8mm Mauser, 6.5x54 (53), and 280 Rem. All great calibers.

Almtnman · « **Reply #27 on:** September 20, 2007, 02:54:27 PM »

That reminds me of a young man about 20 in a hunting club I was in. He bought himself one of those whizz bang magnums and paid a small fortune for it. The ammo was $3 a round and he managed to get a couple of boxes along with the rifle. That was around $120 for two boxes of ammo. He used both of them up at the club getting it zeroed in and had to drive about 125 miles to the closet big city where they had a major sporting goods store that sold that caliber. He tried selling the rifle to everybody in the hunting club and no-one wanted it even at a reduced price. He finally traded it in on a nice .270 Winchester.

Sticking with the old standard calibers makes it easy when you just pull into any Mom & Pop store way out in the country and they have plenty of ammo for it on the shelf.

powderman · « **Reply #28 on:** September 20, 2007, 03:28:32 PM »

Quote from: Cheesehead on September 20, 2007, 02:38:15 PM

An old standard cartridge. That statement also applies to the 308 Winchester. It is not exotic or new. It is not a new super whiz bang Magnum. It is easy to shoot. It is relatively flat in trajectory. It is common in ammunition and firearms. This cartridge is so common it is boring to some people and therefore under rated.

Cheese

Agreed Sir. If I could have only one rifle, it would be a 308 win for all the reasons you stated. POWDERMAN.

Pike · « **Reply #29 on:** September 21, 2007, 02:41:01 AM »

One of my favorites is the Brit 303. All deer that I shot with it only took one shot.