Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Which Priorities in Cartridge Choice?

Priorities?

long proven track record

plentiful factory ammo availability

Call me old fashioned.

.22LR
.30-30
.30-06
12-ga

EdM, Many years ago I had the fantasy that I would hunt Africa and Alaska. I wanted a rifle that was plenty adequate for what may be required. I'm also stuck with the opinion that if you use one(1) rifle exclusively(I know, boring)that you may have a slight edge when making a shot in less than desireable conditions. I wanted something that had some horsepower, ammo availability, legal in Africa for dangerous game, relatively flat shooting, and maybe just a little history(romance). I bought my first .375 H&H around 1982. While I still have it, it's retired. Upon moving to Wyoming, and still wanting to use the .375, I decided that a lighter, flatter shooting rifle would be pretty handy hunting and hiking steep, big country around here. So in'89 I had a semi-custom (less than 9 lbs.,scoped,loaded, and slung).375 AI built. Still haven't, and probably never will see Africa or Alaska, but that .375 AI is my only hunting rifle. memtb

Me too. The only problem with the one-word response is, people define "performance" differently.

Some would put accuracy at the top of the list. Some consider the availability of ammo or components. Some consider the track record on the game to be hunted.

And those who have nothing else to hang their hat on tend to cite "speed."

I'm thinking that speed is the easiest aspect of performance to adjust...
Drop in a bigger motor and rock on...

I like something that can be fun to shoot, kill well at reasonable ranges, and is a little different (although I like to have one rifle chambered to a common cartridge to bring on out of state hunts as back up).

Generally that means non-magnum "classic" cartridges or their modern equivalents: .257 Rob/.25-06, 6.5x55/260, 7x57/7-08/.280, .308/.30-06, etc.

Accuracy and enjoyability trump speed every time, and massive blast really messes with my ability to shoot well.

I like sharp shoulders, very little case taper enough neck and no belt. The brass should come from Lapua, Norma if possible.

Size the capacity to speed/bullet weight needed. In fact I like a little extra capacity so I don't need to lean on it to hard to get where I want to be.

I like a case short enough that there will be a lot of COAL lee way and still fit in the Mag box.

Cartridge popularity means nothing to me. When I have something put together I will usually get enough brass to last quite a while.

Some of my favorties currently in the safe are 223AI, 250AI, 6.5 CM, 7mm-08AI, 7mm SAUM, 300WSM, 338RCM and 375 ruger.