Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Whats the best cartridge developed in last 20 years.

third case from the left, 11.2x72 Schuler that came out about 1904....fairly straight sided, rebated rim thoroughly "modern" looking case 110 years old. (l to r: 577 nitro, 470 Nitro, 11.2x72 Schuler, 260Rem, 6.5x54MS and 223 Rem)

Don't interpret my response as negative, that's not the way I intend it.


A few have mentioned the same idea (feeling) I have. Nothing in the past 20 yrs has come out that attracts me enuff to have purchased it.

First of all, short actions don't make me goo goo and gaa gaa.

Secondly, the 30-06 can handle everything from mice to Brown Bear, see Phil Shoemaker on that. Oh I forgot, the 06 hurts when you shoot it..(yeah that's sarcasm.)

Thirdly, I've been set up for loading the 7mm RM and the 300 WM and 8mm RM so long it would only cost me $$$ to change or add any short mag>>that CAN'T DO anything better ballistically.

As to competitors of the 22 Mag, mine does all I need done. I have a 6mm Rem for longer range or larger animals.

So I'm quite content with established rounds.

Someone on the fire says, "happily stuck in the past". That suits me.

Jerry

DF

I don't either.....yet, but think the 17 rimfires are pretty cool along with the .338 Federal. I hesitate to buy anything rimfire and be at the mercy of the manufacturer/hoarders so therefor no 17's and I may never get around to a .338 as I now have a 9.3.

But seeing as how Missouri Ed brought some humor to the thread, I figured I get us back to reality (campfire reality that is)

My vote for "best" is the .25 TCM, not the .22 TCM but that case necked up to .25. I know it's less than 20 YO because I just "developed" it as I was reading this thread, therefor it's "the best"!

I intend to use it in my Ruger BH with the .25 cal bbl. I already have cylinders for 25-20 and .256 WinMag so I will have a new cylinder made for the new round.

Yes, I know it is rimless, that's OK too, I'm getting moonie clips made.

Case capacity is similar to the 25-20 around 18-19 gr so I'm sure I can get it to do anything the old gal can do but in a newer "dress" without a rim. I think it'll fit in a shorter action too, that's important right?

I'm actually thinking I might be able to whip her up around the .256WM speeds, again the impotence of going rimless can't be stressed enough. We are in the 21st century you know.

I might even be able to get it to exceed the .256 as I'm seriously considering having the chamber mouths (maybe even the forcing cone) impregnated with carmalube, cermaoil, or whatever that stuff is.

Maybe the best part is I think the magazines from the parent pistol can be made to work with the .25 cal version and then I just get a .25 cal bbl and I'll have a 1911 that can shoot .22, .25 and 9mm all in on one frame.

UBER, right guys?

Geno

PS, next on the drawing board is a .30 cal version to try to reach .30 Luger and/or 7.62 Tokarev stats in a "modern" platform.

6.5x47 Lapua

What do you prefer:

Blondes, Brunettes, or Red Heads??

The resurgent 280 Ackley being standardized and brought out of obscurity should get some consideration.

I think the main draw to the 6.5CM is the full support from Hornady, not anything ballistic ally.

The 6.5 Creedmoor has excellent factory ballistics.

You get the 140 Amax with a BC over .600, at a velocity over 2700 fps.

That combo gives long legs to a very user-friendly chambering.

Agreed. Hornady just made it user friendly and easy at an affordable price.

17 hornet and 7mm saum

My choice...

...........A good question and a very loaded question too. How should "best cartridge" be defined? A completely new cartridge and caliber? Or with a case design improvement on an existing caliber/bullet diameter family? Both?

There have been a few new variations in case design within the same caliber family. As one example the 375 Ruger. A shorter fatter case design that holds more powder than the H&H casing, which in turn achieves the same ballistic performance from rifles with shorter barrels and somewhat shorter actions. A casing improvement that has led to shorter OAL 375 Ruger rifles. For those who like 375 H&H ballistics from shorter OAL rifles, then some including me, would consider that good cartridge development, innovation or redesign over the past 20 years.

Though the 300 WSM cannot quite dulpicate (only but by a small velocity margin) 300 Win Mag ballistics, some prefer the shorter actions and lighter rifles the 300 WSMs are chambered in.
A good cartridge development there? Some think so and I do as well.

Imo, when there is any discussion about what is the best cartridge developed over the last few years, then any design improvements in rifles that correspond to any new cartridge/existing cartridge development, should also be considered in the equation.

Whichever the best cartridge developed over the last 20 years is, it still needs a rifle to fire it.

How should the best cartridge be defined?

One that's not dead.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!....LOL

Agree on the 17HMR. Going to have a 6.5 Creedmoore or x47 built next year.

D) All the above.

Wouldn't have thought of that, however this really changed deer hunting in slug-only states.

.204 Ruger

The 9.3x62.....Given an new spike in interest since JB figured out its true potential and shared it with the rest of us. There's the 9.3 as it was from 1905-2000, and then the post 2000 9.3. Thanks JB!