Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Favorite Cartridge and Why

Lets hear everyones favorite cartridge and why?

300 rum becuase

7 x 57....because it's been the best for more than a century.

Possibly the lowly .22LR. Ive used it to kill just about anything that lives in this desert country having either feathers or fur. I have used it for a tool, sinking a pilot hole for lag bolts in big lumber, punching holes in tin, burn barrels, trimming branches to high to get a ladder to. It's abundant, available, inexpensive, I always keep at least 5K in storage. Just a great under rated cartridge with a plethora of firearms available for it, rifle,pistol or revolver.

LBP, You stirring up trouble again . I'll play along. I guess it will have to be the plain old boring 30-06. Why, because I grew up using one and had dreams of taking it to Alaska one day.

8x57JS it's sort of an underdog here in the U.S. due to the commercial loadings being inherently anemic, but handloads really bring out it's potential. And besides, I'm 2 for 2 on cow elk using my sporterized turkish mauser,and 185 gr. remmy corelokts

BSA, Not I...

I'll take the 223, I use it for about everything these days from prairie dogs to deer...

I know, I've been under that impression. Why couldn't you have asked something like, list your favorite cartridges for varmints/coyotes, deer, and elk/moose. You know I would of said .223 in one of those categories. Talk to you later,bsa.

Thats too easy my friend, pick one...

Fine I'll agree with hankmcmauser.

We should all own an 8mm mauser. I like the 175 gr. sierra's though.

For deer sized game, 257WBY. Shoots really flat and kills like a bolt of lightning with no recoil. Lots of other 'favorites' depending upon the game being sought. My rifle collection is a collection of ideal for the purpose specialty rifles. One for every concievable hunting situation, and the best I can find or build for each. Can't pick just one favorite for that reason. Shoot more 223 than anything else as far as rounds fired, largely due to several rifles in tha caliber that are used for high volume rodent blasting.

After years of experimenting (30-30, 30-06, 257Wby, 300Wby, 300WM, 338WM) I ended up deciding to just stick with a standard '06-based round and be done with it. So, that summer I bought a 25-06, 270Win, 280Rem and 30-06 and shot them all side by side one summer until I ended up with a favorite. And that favorite turned out to be the boring old 270Win!!

I really love that round now and it'd be my #1 pick as an all-around big game cartridge.

But.....

If I could only have one gun, it'd be a 22lr.

If I was preparing for SHTF, it'd be a 223Rem.

If I'm hunting in the timber or would be shooting something with teeth, it's a 45-70.

If I'm out to have some plinking fun, it's a 45LC.

If I'm going after something with feathers, it's a 12ga.

If I needed a handgun for self-defense, it's a 9mm.

Pretty vanilla but you'd be hard-pressed to top any one of 'em IME!!

Damn it, I don't think I have a favorite. I LOVE THEM ALL!!!

I think my true favorite is the .22 WMR, tremendously versatile in rifle & handgun.

Just had a chance to shoot the new Kel-Tec P-30 a 30 shot .22WMR handgun. WOW! I can hardly wait till mine comes in. It shall be my walking around the woods/family property sidearm replacing the Bearcat.

22LR is definitely the one that eats the most ammo, but in the hunting field, give me a vanilla old 30-06 with 165 - 200 grain bullets for all that walks or stalks Canada at least.

although I have several rifles.. 22 for small game 50-70 encore for big game.

I have no favourite as such, but the most fun I have had with a centre-fire cartridge was with the little Brno ZKW 465 that I had rechambered for the 22 Spitfire.
It used the original Brno barrel and shot like stink, 3400 fps with 40 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips into 3/4" at one hundred yards.
The cartridge was small enough to carry a pocket full for a days outing.....seriously, this thing was more fun than a fight.

i guess, if i have to pick, it's the .308 winchester...
it's just cool, from concept to cornfield...

i have one that i seldom use, but will never let go of...

.340 weatherby with 250 grain noslers, cause I ain't found anything yet that I can't knock on it's arse and kill with one shot.

I have favorites for particular purposes but I cant pick one all around favorite. My favorite yote rifle is chambered in 22-250 but it isn't my favorite elk cartridge/rifle. I guess the 7rem mag for big game, the 22-250 for small game, and a .223 for real small game and rocks. In a light weight short barreled rifle for backpack hunting, I'm fond of the 7mm-08. Hunting elk up high where long shots are likely I prefer the 300 RUM and 200gr accubonds. .257wby with 110gr accubonds at 3550 fps and very little recoil is easy to like for deer sized critters and if I ever draw a mountain goat tag I'll probably use it.