Least Favorite Cartridge

[Drilling Man]

  You do realize that the 7 Rem. Mag and the .338 Win Mag. have the exact same case don't you?  And that the .338 shoots heavier bullets at similar pressures...  Now, which one do you think will have more recoil?

  DM

[wallynut]

I know they are basically the same.  It's more likely the 7's had a bad fit of the stock which I left out of my post.  Doesn't change how "I" feel about the 7mag.  Sorry if that offends you.

[Drilling Man]

I know they are basically the same.  It's more likely the 7's had a bad fit of the stock which I left out of my post.  Doesn't change how "I" feel about the 7mag.  Sorry if that offends you.

  It doesn't offend me at all, i was just wondering if you really thought a 7mm Rem. Mag. had more recoil than a .338 Win. Mag., as that's what you alluded to in your first post.

  I've fired a huge amount of both in the same rifle, you should try that some time too.

  DM

[dks7895]

I am not a fan of any of the short magnum cartridges.

[diggler1833]

Any cartridge where the factory thinks it is doing you a favor by charging you $2+ per round.

Any cartridge where it costs $1+ per to buy factory brass to reload.

[kombi1976]

Wow, I can see that you place quality highest in your reloading component purchases...... 
"Less favourite" I can understand but "least favourite"??!!
Give me a break!
Just be thankful you live in the USA and don't have to pay a mint for brass which isn't in "same old, same old" cals.
I might add that you're cutting yourself out of some of the more fun and interesting cals, more specifically the European ones and the Nitro Express rounds.
Here in Oz my Lapua 9.3x62 brass costs about AUD$120 (USD$108) per 100 but it's well worth it for the quality.
And the US-made Hornady 450/400 NE 3" brass is about US$33 per 20 but, geez, there's nothing like the heritage and the fury of a classic Nitro Express round.
I guess if all you like is common American-made rounds then you can afford to be that picky.
Personally I can't help but think it's a pretty tight fisted and short sighted approach to cartridge choice and I'm neither rich nor have access to cheap components and ammo.

[diggler1833]

"Highest quality" and being somewhat frugal at the same time can still be obtained.

I'm sure you ave very proud of your Lapua 9.3x62 brass .  I personally have no use for calibers that large, but I know that there are some people who do need them.  The "heritage and fury of a classic Nitro Express" round falls short on me since I get to experience the "heritage and fury" of John Browning's M2 on a regular basis.  Thank goodness those rounds and the almost $40 per round Mk-19, 40mm HEDP rounds that I shoot don't go on my account.  I will say though that the 450/400 3" NE did come out about 20 years earlier.

Having to take care of a wife, and raise two kids on my salary mean that I do not get to afford the "finer" cartridges in life.  It does not mean however, that I do not get the opportunity to make the most of what I do have.  You can cover everything from casual plinking, to dangerous game hunting, to reaching out a mile downrage while shooting inferior, cheap-brass (under $1 per case) calibers.  I definitely won't use factory ammunition anymore unless it was mandated for use somewhere, once you get into anything less common than a .223 or .308 the prices really start to go up for factory ammo.

I work occasionally on a range, and get dibs on the left over brass on those weekends when I do.  I have yet to ever buy a .223 cartridge or brass, and still manage to have a .223 that is a very solid shooter in the .5s with freebee range brass.  I sold off a lot of my .308 brass and bought virgin cases in other calibers because it is the most economical thing to do.  The same goes with pistol casings and shotgun shell hulls.  

Since I no longer competetively shoot on somebody else's dime, I don't get the opportunity to shoot unless I pinch pennies at every opportunity that I get.  I don't buy cheap equipment, as I know what happens when you do.  So that leaves me to either shoot my "common American-made" rounds that are inexpensive, or watch my expensive brass sit on a shelf and collect dust.

I'm done with this one.  

[AtlLaw]

I'm done with this one.  

My goodness!  For your sake I certainly hope so...  You gonna have a stroke!    You make some good points but anything that gets somebody as riled up as this has you should be avoided at all costs!  

I can see that you place quality highest in your reloading component purchases......   ...
Just be thankful you live in the USA and don't have to pay a mint for brass which isn't in "same old, same old" cals....
Personally I can't help but think it's a pretty tight fisted and short sighted approach to cartridge choice and I'm neither rich nor have access to cheap components and ammo.

Now listen mate,    you're right as rain.  But remember, we're not used to paying those prices.  Y'all are!  And obviously neither of us (U.S. & Australian citizens that is...) like it.  Look what happened when the price of gas went up here.  Everybody else in the world was wondering what we was complaining about!    Even so, we (U.S. citizens) feel we don't have to accept price gouging and have a tendency to get right touchy about being what we consider overcharged!  And you was steadily proddin a sore spot on poor ol' Digger!    I'm sure he didn't really mean that certain parts of your anatomy only equaled 9.3x62mm...  

Now personally, I see it both ways...      Not your anatomy, the price of brass!    I wanted to shoot the 45-120 but the price of the (Norma) brass made me hesitate!  So I bought it when it went on sale!    'course I bought it before I had a rifle-gun chambered for 45-120,    but I calls that "prior planning!"  

Nevertheless, the 243 is still less favored then all my other calibers and the 243 Winchester is the least favored of all my cartridges!    Wait, is that right?    <I favor my 243 less and it's least favored...    no... I favor it least among...    no no no!  it's less fav...    aw crud!  who cares...  >

P.S.  I'm sorry for stickin my nose into other people's business but y'all gave me such a great scenerio I couldn't hep my own darn sef!  Now I can get ready for work... 

[R.W.Dale]

And the US-made Hornady 450/400 NE 3" brass is about US$33 per 20 but, geez, there's nothing like the heritage and the fury of a classic Nitro Express round.

You know I like the oddball stuff just as much as the next guy. But if you really really really break it down  outside of hunting they all just simply go BANG and send a bullet downrange and how exactly is that different than a 30-06? (example)


I personally look for my oddball kicks that can be had on the cheap. Like a $150 45 win mag savage bbl.

Brass $25 per 100
Bullets $21 per 100

Knowing you have the ONLY one at the gun club or in the entire state- PRICELESS

soon to be supressed

[diggler1833]

Look, I wasn't trying to get out a flamethrower.  I had just merely seen a few instances where a poster on this thread jumped on a couple of others about their opinions, and had done so to me as well.  If you don't like an opinion of mine, produce fact to substantiate your rebuttal.  Rolling one's eyes, calling one a cheapskate, and implying that somebody is missing out by not shooting a crap-ton of 4000+ ft/lb of energy cartriges is not my idea of producing fact.  It was probably unprofessional of me to insinuate that somebody was trying to act as if they had a huge internet attitude by doing so.  I will refrain from those comments in the future.

Once again I state:  My least favorite cartridge is one where the factory thinks it is doing you a favor by charging $2 per round.

Or any cartrige where it costs $1 per  to buy factory brass to reload.


P.S.  Long live the .260 and 7mm08.  

[kombi1976]

I said it before and I'll say it again......gauging the merit of a cartridge on how cheap it can be bought is no measure at all.
If we want to cry financial responsibilities I can play that game.
I'm married with 4 kids and a mortgage and car loan and am the sole bread winner.
But it was MY choice to have all of those things.
Me having those restrictions doesn't make guns I can't afford any the less worth owning.
Am I buying big bores to compensate for something? Maybe, but who cares.
Besides, that wasn't the point.
Both the 9.3x62 and the 450/400 have proved themselves in the hunting field and my examples were purely to expose the ridiculousness of a logic that precludes ANYTHING more than $2 per factory round or $1 a case in brass as not worth the investment.
Have you sampled EVERY one of those expensive cartridges to show how bad they actually are?
I think, diggler, rather that you have listed your least favourite price and your indignation and distain for the market forces and/or manufacturing costs that drive those prices.
Instead how about you find a cartridge that fits within the cartridges you've actually used (i.e.can afford) and tell us which of those is beneath contempt?

[Mnswede]

Well, my least favorite cartridge would be any cartridge that I don't have or shot.  Now I wouldn't want to use some of those cartridges for some specific reasons, ie. deer hunting etc.  But to just enjoy the shooting and to be able to say I've shot one of those.

As for the above discussion about disliking a cartridge because you can't/won't afford the cost.  I say, wait and dream until you can. That is how I got my Sako TRG-42 in 338 Lapua.  The rifle and the Leopold Mark 4 X16 scope, quality Lapua brass/250gr Scenar bullets, and quality Redding Comp dies set me back alot, but it has been worth the price to me personally.

No, I am not rich either, retired Military, medically retired Deputy, married with two kids and house payments.

[kombi1976]

As for the above discussion about disliking a cartridge because you can't/won't afford the cost.  I say, wait and dream until you can. That is how I got my Sako TRG-42 in 338 Lapua.  The rifle and the Leopold Mark 4 X16 scope, quality Lapua brass/250gr Scenar bullets, and quality Redding Comp dies set me back alot, but it has been worth the price to me personally.

No, I am not rich either, retired Military, medically retired Deputy, married with two kids and house payments.

Mnswede, you've hit the nail on the head.
All of my major firearm purchases have been because of patient waiting too.
I can't say the future will be any different, at least until the kids have left home.

[nomosendero]

Look, I wasn't trying to get out a flamethrower.  I had just merely seen a few instances where a poster on this thread jumped on a couple of others about their opinions, and had done so to me as well.  If you don't like an opinion of mine, produce fact to substantiate your rebuttal.  Rolling one's eyes, calling one a cheapskate, and implying that somebody is missing out by not shooting a crap-ton of 4000+ ft/lb of energy cartriges is not my idea of producing fact.  It was probably unprofessional of me to insinuate that somebody was trying to act as if they had a huge internet attitude by doing so.  I will refrain from those comments in the future.

Once again I state:  My least favorite cartridge is one where the factory thinks it is doing you a favor by charging $2 per round.

Or any cartrige where it costs $1 per  to buy factory brass to reload.


P.S.  Long live the .260 and 7mm08.  

Yes, refraining is good. As you can see, I MODIFIED your posts. This is a family site & violation of that again will cause me to bring the matter to Bill's attention.


I haven't looked at this thread since shortly after it started (my mistake) because the topic doesn't interest me. I don't know why anyone would care what my "Least Fav" cartridge is nor why I would care what yours is, makes more sense to focus on what we use & why than what we don't use. But some see the need evidently & that's fine as long as rules are followed.

[Freezer]

Thank You Nomosendero  

[saddlebum]

I hate the .357mag.     I have .38s and .41s so who needs the muzzle blast from that sucker. Bitterness over permanent hearing loss in left ear may have contributed to my opinion.