30-06, 270, 30-30, 243, and a few more are all obsolete. They're not flashy, no mm label, etc, they just kill stuff. I dont know for a fact, but probably 25% or more of the ammo, used for hunting, sold in the US, is these 4 calibers.
Federal's 2014 list of top-selling cartridges: 1. .223 Remington/5.56mm NATO 2. .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm NATO 3. .30-’06 Springfield 4. .30-30 Winchester 5. .270 Winchester 6. .243 Winchester 7. .300 Winchester Magnum 8. 7mm Remington Magnum 9. 7.62x39 10. .300 Winchester Short Magnum 11. .22-250 Remington
Given that a LOT of .223 is expended for things other than hunting and isn't big-game legal in many states, I doubt the .223 deserves the top spot if considering hunting ammo.
The 30-06, 270, 30-30 and 243 may not be "flashy", but they've stood the test of time. Can't say as much for many of the cartridges introduced in the last couple of decades.
My list of rifles chambered for "obsolete" cartridges includes .243 Win, .30-30, .30-06 (4x), .375 Win, and .45-70. Sure wish I'd had the good sense to buy WSSM, WSM, RSAUM and some others instead.
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
