Does anyone here like to use cartridges that are considered "obsolete" or "retro"? I don't consider the 30-06 or 270 in this catagory, even though they are old. Mostly because they are still very popular and standard. I'm looking for odd-ball cartridges. I haven't gotten into retro yet, but I'm really leaning that way. Just to be different. Here are some cartridges I've been thinking about: 6mm Rem, 257 Bob, 6.5x55 and 7x57.

I have two .250-3000s (Ruger Ultralight with tang safety and a Model 54), a .257 Roberts, a 7x57 and a .222 (much nicer than the .223). Also a .35 Whelen. Also a .280 and a .30-06. All are good rounds. I do have a very soft spot for the old .250-3000. Mine get used on pigs, foxes, crows and the odd fallow deer. You wont find any short, super short or ultra magnums in my gun safe. Not when the old classics still work ok. I also drive an old truck and live in an old house.

Thank you very much.

The closest I come is 7.62X54R. We have a couple of Mosin Nagants in the inventory. They're really not bad for deer rifles. I slugged both mine and they take 308 bullets. I have a 30-30 level "Yute" load for Angus, a 308 Win level load for Moose, and I split the diff with a 300 Savage-esqe load for myself.

I sawed off an inch or so of stock on an M44 and made a Yute gun for Angus. I'll keep adding material back under a slip-on shoulder pad until he gets big enough.

My plan is that after Angus grows out of needing a Yute gun, I'll take the bubba-up stock, and spray bed liner on it and turn it into an all-weather back-up deer rifle. The stock can be adjusted so that it will fit any number of layers.

We also have a Model 91/30 that handles somewhat like a KY Long Rifle-- monstrously long barrel. It's biggest problem is that there is massive vertical stringing as the barrel heats up. Shooting it is a bit of a novelty.

38-55 out of and old old Win94.

Whatchu need a whiz bang for? Just wait or get closer.

BCR

I got a 6mm, 350 rem mag, 35 whelen, and a 264 win man.

My 45-70 Ruger would probably be considered retro. Also have an 06 and 450 Marlin. The 450 will be going away.

Never quit using my 6mm Remington, even though my youngest son somehow seems to think it belongs to him now... Nice cartridge for varmints - mule deer. Much like the .243 Win performance.

Also have used the .45/70 a bit from a Marlin lever gun. Lots of fun, makes big holes all the way through stuff. Kind of a kick, loading 300 - 425 gr bullets...

.30-30, 45-70.

For deer I use a 300 grain bullet in a loading that emulates the trajectory of the .30-30. I really like that big round.

Nothing here I feel obsolete . .32 special , .35 rem . 38-55 , 32-20, .222 rem. Critters don't read gun rags so they still fall when holes are punched through them even with calibers that have been around for a few years.

Edit to add : the triple 2 isn't one I grab for deer , but if it was all I had and the right bullet ...

250 Savage, 300 Savage, 284 win...and 30-30 (which is starting to look obsolete) all had field-time in 2008

250 Savage

I prefer the term retro.



Mike

Yes. 6mm Rem, 6.5 x 55, and a 45-70. The other neat thing is one can walk into a store and find brass and bullets for these still on the shelf. I stocked up on slugs and 100 rds of brass for the 6.5 this past Sunday.

I could do all the hunting that I would ever care to do with a 300 Savage, 7X57, 222 Rem., and a 16ga shotgun.

I have a 22-250,257Roberts,264 Win Mag, 300 Win Mag, 338-06 and a 450 Marlin for hunting. The 257 is my favorite in a stainless mannlicher stocked Ruger M77 MKII.

Robert

The 256 Newton was ahead of its time and must be close to the perfect case capacity for a 6.5mm/.264" bore medium game cartridge.

Jeff

32 WS doesn't suck...

.45-70; 6.5X55 (2); .222; don't really consider them retro, maybe I'm just old. .303 Savage and .22 HiPower, yeah, they're kinda retro. Most of my shotguns are 16 gauge, but again, that's not retro, just good sense in a bird gun.

I have used at various times the 25-20, 32-20, 38-40, 38-55, 45-70, 30-30, 32 Special, 35 Remington, 250 Savage, 300 Savage and some others I am forgetting. In fact, I rarely use any cartridge designed less than 80 years ago it seems. I have no need for belted magnums or short magnums etc.

I have a 348 Win and 358 Win...a 35 Rem too but that's still fairly popular. The 358 Win seems to be making somewhat of a comeback, it's a great underrated round.

I kilt my deer again this year, flat top, meat, with the 110 Sharps. Black powder ofcourse. Iron sights, which I think is still a challenge. Darned if I didn`t have a hard time picking her out in the bush. Dead real quick.

7X57 is a pretty good go anywhere do it all cartridge.
405 winchester is another great favorite of mine.
45 2.3 sharps loaded with black and 500-550 gr paper patch bullets is retro with an attitude.
The first elk I ever killed was with a 250 savage, another great retro that's been left out in the recent past.

A few. 32 Special, 303, 7MM Gibbs, 35 Whelen, 300 Savage, 7X57, 8MM, 376 Steyr, 280, & 30-30.

Did all of my deer hunting the last 2 years with an 1899H Savage built in 1912, tang rear sight, in .22 HiPower. Backup gun is a Savage 99 in .30/30. Retro enough for you?!

A friend of mine inherited a 30-Remington slide-action rifle, so we loaded up some ammo for it and he used it deer hunting for the last several years.

Main hunting rifle has been a 300 Savage the last 4 years, and took a 303 Savage out this year. Didn't get a shot with it, but I will eventually. Took an antelope a couple years ago with a 250 Savage. 32-40 is also on the table for a hunt in the future.

All Savage 99's, as though you probably couldn't tell.

Use a 45/70 and 8x57m

Also like the 7x57, .300 savage, and 9.3x62m

I do like to hunt with old or odd cartridges. In the last four years I've hunted with and taken game with: .30-30, .35 Rem, .257 Roberts, 7x57, 8x57, 9.3x62 and a .45-70.

Very Cool choices. I've always had a thing for calibers with history. I've always wanted a 6.5x55 or 7x57. Looks like it will have to be a 6.5x55 since no one really makes a 7x57 anymore, unless you go custom. 257 Roberts would also be pretty cool.

I like to hunt with my 303 Brit, 35 Whelen and 30/30.

Along these lines , sort of . Not a single X mm caliber in the safe.

Anyone else have a completely non metric collection ?

Ahhh, Phil, you are missing out, they are great cartridges. Most of the world uses them.

Have a 35 whelen and two 6.5 x 55 swede's. Really like the swedes

I regularly hunt with 6.5x55, 7x57, and 45-70.

I load ammo for a buddy's 8mm Lebel. Now there's one you don't hear about very often. I believe it was the first military round loaded with smokeless powder, and possibly the first smokeless round of all time.

-

I killed two nice bucks this year with two different rifles chambered in 6.5x55. A Ruger #1 and a TIKKA, both excellent rifles. Also have a 7x57 Ruger #1 and a 45-70. Have hunted with and shot deer with 257 Roberts and Ruger Super Blackhawk in 41 Mag.

Ha, just for that, I have a completely metric collection. I have a 7.62x63mm, 7.62x51mm, 5.56x45mm, 6.8x63mm, 6.17x51mm......J/K

Im into the old Savages 303sav.,250, 300, 358, and hunted with my 1920 30-30, used to hunt with black Powder 45-70, 44-77s! John

.300 Savage, .257 Roberts, 6.5x55, 7x57, 16 gauge....heck, I don't think I ever let go of "retro" enough to return!

All of mine are American. The only questionable one (and also the newest caliber) is the .308, you know, that 7.62 NATO thing.

Wow, I never thought I'd live long enough to hear someone call those cartridges obsolete. Retro maybe, but far from obsolete. If you want to talk obsolete, I hunt with, and reload for, the 303 Savage and 22 High Power cartridges. I personally would not use the 22 HP on deer. I use it for coyotes. The 303 and the 30-30 are about the same so it is a good deer round.

I can't believe I forgot to add my 8X60 Mauser.

A Bob, Swede, or 7x57 is "obsolete" in the hunting field like an hourglass figure is "obsolete" on a woman.

I prefer timeless ...

GE

243 WSSM

Well said Gaviidae Esq

I have a 257bob,264win mag(if I could only have one rifle this would be it)and a 25-20 I love these old catridges and plan on getting new and different ones in the future.

This makes me want to go out and try my hand at deer and hog hunting with an old 94 that I have in 44-40. I think it might be just the ticket at 50 yds.
Good shooting!
Marcus.

250-3000 1899 Savage takedown.
35 Whelen in a 98 Mauser.
308 Norma in a Winchester 1917/98 Mauser.
1937 Model 70 SGD in 30 Govt 'o6.

Obsolete Cartridges = 300 saum..have seen several collecting dust on the dealers rack for years now.

Nobody told me my pre 64s in 220s, 250sav,7mm mauser,300hh or 358, are out of date! With the new projectiles powders and cases we have now these older rifles are fantastic to own amd shoot!! I bought a new rifle the other day a 405win Ruger no 1 New gun ,old caliber 5 shots in 1" every time !!

Nope , I wouldn't call that metric if the barrel is stamped .308 . At least that's how I justified the .308s here as non-metric. The barrel stamp.

My father has a pair of remington pumps (14 or 141 - has the curly magazine tube) that are in 25 rem and 30 rem. We have a few shells for them and I may take them hunting again.

Want to find a 35 rem in the same rifle to complete the collection. Is there a 32 rem also?
H

Dan made a funny.

-

Yep, the barrel is stamped .308. Good, I'm off the hook.

Back in the early nineties I was up in the James Bay frontier and was doing some meat hunting with a band where I was working. I was given an 8mm Lebel to use and it is a unique piece of workmanship. I went three for three one shot kills the first evening. The next day six for six, so I am pretty impressed with it as an up close round. That was with fmj ball so shot placement was essential and the lebel did its job.

Randy

I never thought of mine as either obsolete or retro, just experienced and reliable.

I shoot a 6.5x55 swede in Models 95 , 96, and 38
45/70/500 BP
9mm Corto
30WCF
3006
257 Robt
303 Brit
22LR
38special
9x19
45acp
EDIT TO ADD I almost forgot a 50 cal flintlock

I also shoot modern rounds such as 338 win mag, 308, 12 and 20 guage 7mmTCU, and I would like to own a 375 Ruger shame on me that one is really modern

Randy

Yes, there is a .32 Rem as well in the old Rem pump guns.

Am I the only one here that hunts with a 30-40 Krag? I figured that would have been mentioned by now.

Exactly. I've been seeing a few Short Mags and Ultra Mags in the bars and walking around lately. Every once in a while, a classic beauty comes walking along.

I have a .257 Roberts, a 6.5x55 and a 7x57 and all have taken deer and all are accurate.

While I hunt with a few "bread & butter" cartridges (.243, .25-06, .260, 7mm/08, .240 & .270 Weatherbys, 7.62x39 (CZ), .35 Rem, .44 Mag), most everything else I hunt with is either retro or semi-obsolete. My buddies love to razz me and say stuff like "He won't own anything that you can buy ammo for at Wal-Mart." I'm just bored to death with "common" cartridges.

.221 Fireball
.222 Rem Mag
.225 Win
6mm Rem
.25/20 Win
.256 Win Mag (handgun)
.25/35 Win
.250 Sav
.257 Roberts
6.5mm Rem Mag
.264 Win Mag
7mm BR Rem (handgun)
7-30 Waters
.284 Win
7x61 Sharpe & Hart
7x64
.303 Sav
.300 Sav
.307 Win
.30/40 Krag
7.5x55 Swiss
.300 H&H Mag
.308 Norma Mag
.303 British
.32 Win Spl
.32-40 Win
8x57
8mm Rem Mag
.338-06
.348 Win
.351 Win SL
.357 Rem Max
.356 Win
.358 Win
.350 Rem Mag
.35 Whelen
.358 Norma Mag
9.3x62
9.3x64
9.3x74R
.38/55 Win
.375 Win
.401 Win SL
.41 Mag
.44/40 Win
.45 Win Mag (handgun)
.45/70

Also have a couple odd-ball wildcats; .375/06 JDJ & .411 KDF Mag

Some I have that haven't been mentioned yet:

.22 Hornet
6.5x54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer
7x57R
7x65R
.30-40
7.65x54 Argentine

6mm Rem, 257 Bob, 6.5x55 and 7x57.


four of my favorite rounds....guess I am retro?

oh t'well....

Naw Seafire has been known to use that one also...

25 grains SR 4759, 180 gr Speer RN...
1898 Krag Calvary Carbine (sporterized) factory barrel on it still..
Lyman Peep sites..aka 1950s...

7mm Express-and don't call it a .280! 30 Government, and don't call it an '06! .300 Savage. 25-20. 22 Hornet. 303 Savage, 300 Savage, 250-3000. (Anything through a 99, it's all junk and you guys should let me relieve you of those 99's. It' a big sacrifice, but I know you guys don't want those ugly old 99's cluttering up you cabinet and will be more that willing to sell them to me CHEAP.................

The 6.5 x55 and 8x57 are two fine historic cartridges whose field performance is still cutting edge.

I really like shootin them rounds that Wal Mart and most stores dont stock as you have to roll yer own,257 Robts.,6.5x55,7x57,284 winchester,264 Win Mag,300 H&H,it makes people ask questions..............

I just found this thread, glanced around and thought Id missed something...my 7x57 obsolete!!! Then I saw this quote, and calmed down...
A few years ago I killed a small pile of deer and a bear with a .38-55 I gotta know where I stand- Im feeling old enough already, was that obsolete?
Ingwe

Nope not obsolete, experienced, reliable, proven, comforting, and efficient, but nary a thought to being obsolete. I also use a 50cal flinter with Goex for charge and pan, and it doesn't fit the obsolete charge either.
Randy
feeling a bit obsolete myself

A .50 cal flinter... good on ya!
LOVED to use the old iron sighted guns of all kinds till about five years ago, my vision starting to become obsolete and in fairness to the game I had to switch to those new-fangled telescopic sights...
Ingwe

Heck, you're talking about my main rifle battery here. I'm really not that old.
25-20WCF Marlin '94 (1906)
250-3000 M99R (1953)
250 Sav. Ruger M77 Tang Safety Pre-Warning Yea I know it's the same cartridge, just the way they're marked
257 Roberts M77 MkII

Son runs a 300 Sav. M99EG (1954)

They may be old but they'll do anything I need doing up to elk size game.

264 Win Mag
303 Savage
32 Win Special

7WSM will be one for the ages.

I still love and use my .22 Hornet, .250-3000, (2) 6.5x55's, 7mm Express, and .45-70. Also have a .30-30 (in a Marlin 1893 Takedown Rifle that belonged to my great-grandfather), a .38 S&W, and a .303 British that don't get shot much, but I ain't gettin' rid of 'em.

And I agree with Gaviidae_Esq: They're timeless, not obsolete...

Didn't even realize I was a fan of "obsolete" rounds until this thread.

Regularly used rounds are:

Rifles,

.22 Hornet (Winchester 70)
.25-20 (Savage 23)
.250-3000 (Savage 99)
6.5x55mm (Mauser 94)
7x57mm (Mauser 93)
.30-30 (Wincester 94)
.300 Savage (Savage 99)
.303 Savage (Savage 99)
.35 Remington (not sure if this is obsolete, but it is in a Remington 14 pump gun)
.375 Winchester (Winchester 94)
.45-70 (Marlin 1895 & Sharps)

Pistols,

.30 Mauser (1896 Mauser)
.30 Nagant (Nagant Revolver)
.32 S&W (breaktop S&W)
.32-20 (Colt SAA)
.38 S&W (breaktop S&W)
.38-40 (Colt SAA)

Shotguns,

Maybe???

16 Ga. (Cresent Double & L.C Smith)

6.5x55 & 7x57. Picked up a like new old purple receiver Ruger 77 in 7x57 a few years back and let my then 14 yr old son convince me it should rightfully be his. Still his favorite and at 18 thinks the old caliber is way cool. He's right. After that I found a 77 MK II in 6.5x55 and to me it's at least as way cool. Both rounds are well over 100 yrs old so guess they qualify as retro.

Sam, please tell me it isn't so... youv'e got to quit hanging around with Dober...
If it is true, there will be holes shot in alot of my pre-concieved notions. Probably 7mm holes...but will they be 7WSM or 7x57?
Ingwe

A 141 in 35 Remington....
A classic from yesteryear.

32 Win. Special; 35 Rem; 8x57 Mauser; 22 Hornet and 38 WCF (aka 38-40). Youngest rifle in the bunch is over 50, one is 85 years old and the one most-seasoned, turned 103 this year.

Can't even recall the last time I killed a deer with something that wasn't at least 40 years old?

I'd have to say the 358 Win & 350 mag :
Rem 660 350 mag
Ruger 77 MKII 350 mag stainless
Rem 600 358 Win
Ruger Hawkeye 358 Win
Rem 700 358 Win
We can add the 35 Rem also
Rem 600 35 Rem
Rem 7600 35 Rem
Marlin 336 35 Rem

Ken

250 Savage bolt action model 14 Custom Order
300 Savage, M99GL 16" barrel
356Winchester, Marlin 336, 20" barrel, large loop lever, peep sight,

I just got me a rifle in a "retro" cartridge! I picked up a Ruger No 1A, pre-warning mark, in 7x57 Mauser! I'm stoked!

i guess i'm coming in this late i see alot of cartridges that are comon in the various list.My opinion of obsolete is have to either make your ammo or specail order an example the 401 winchester self loader you have to order or make you don't go to a gun shop and buy ammo for.A 30-30 you can go into any gunshop or walmart and buy.I have some obsolete plus some harder to acquire but not obsolete
22 hi power can buy but not obsolete
250-3000 " "
303 savage i'd call obsolete as well as 32,35,and 401 wsl but 151wsl is still availabe.Ihunt with a 308 norma mag but can still buy so i don't believe it qualifies

I've got a 7.65mm Mauser that I hunt with every 2 or 3 years. That's it for me.

I have and hunt with a Savage 99 in .303 Savage. It's classic, retro, and yes, obsolete. I dare you to find ammo for it in any commercial outlet. I ordered some Cabela's Obsolete (that's what they called it) ammo a few years ago, and it took me over a year to get it. was over $40.00 for a box of 20. Recently I saw some Norma brass in the Midway catalog, for over $1.00 per round! Empty brass! But it's cool, and it was my Dad's.

Like the .45-70? Yes...

The .30-30? Yes...

The .375 Win? Yes...

The .257 Roberts? Yes... (My favorite...)

Also have three rifles in .30-06, which is now 103 years old...

I absolutely love my Ruger #1 in 405 Winchester.

I guess I never thought of myself as "retro", 'til I saw the posts here.

My last 2 purchases were a .35 Whelen, & a 7x57! I've got 2 buddies begging to buy the latter from me, 1 of whom already has a 7mm-08.

Just last night, I was trying to talk a guy out of a M96 in 6.5x55, but it had already sold...

I never realized how many cartridges there have been out there. I've been thumbing through, "Elmer Keith's Big Game Hunting", and a lot of it sounds like Greek:
.375 Nitro Express
.405 Winchester
.400 Jeffrey
.285 O.K.H. Mauser
.333 Jeffrey Mauser
.45-90
.50-100-450
.333 O.K.H.
.405 W.C.F
.400 Whelen
.334 O.K.H.
.30 Newton
.35 Newton

I don't see myself adding any of these to the safe anytime soon!

FC

I haven't actually hunted with this one, but when going through some of my grandfather's things I found a .351 S.L.R. cartridge. Pretty oddball. Wish I had the gun that went with it.

.300 Savage (not really "retro") and .303 British.

Aqualung

I have a fondness for the Savage 250-3000..but its in a T/C pro Hunter. The Savage 99 in 300 savage is just to heavy in comparison.

Doc

i like the oddball cartridges nobody else has! or those forgotten in the past.

222 Rem.
225 Winchester
264 Win mag
280 Rem
284 Win

35-55 in Phoenix Single Shot rifle and 40-50 Sharps Bottleneck in Phoenix SS rifle.... And the Storm Watch Brews!!JT #1

I meant 38-55 not 35-55...dam computers.

My ex wife's dad had a 351 Win SL...
and an old box of full of ammo for it, all with green brass to it...

He let his 15 yr old son hunt with it...

Sadly when they ran out of ammo, they just took the gun to the dump...my ex's family was like that with a lot of stuff..

it had belonged to My Father in Laws father...

what a waste of a classic firearm...

I didn't handload in those days tho...

What about all the fine rimfire cartridges???
esp. the Stevens types.

I never go out in the field with out. 257 Bob, 250 3000, or 300 H&H. Like the REM 700 Classics.

EKH4LF.

Winchester 1895 405 WCF
AMRA

Retro cartridges I hunt with...
30-30
.32 Winchester Special
.35 Remington
.300 Savage
7x57

Obsolete Cartridges..
.30 Remington
.32 Remington

I guess some of mine are obsolete, some are retro, and some are just plain classics.

257 Roberts Kimber
250 Savage Model 99
22 Hornet Ruger
32-40 Model 94
38-56 Model 86
6.5 Swede Ruger
38-40 Marlin
300 savage Model 99
348 win Model 71
300 H&H Sako
22 Savage Model 99
307 win Model 94
9.3x72R Drilling
25-35 Contender
375 H&H Whitworth

I remember an article by Craig Boddington several years back about all the cartridges he thought were now deadwood. He included everything in 6.5mm. He claimed a .257 or a .277 would do everything a 6.5mm would do.

I thought you're right, Craig. We should do away with the 25's and 270's as a 6.5 will do everything they can do.

I suspect he was just trying to get a rise out of us 6.5 Looneys.

6.5X257

Mine is an early 1900s Win in 32-20. Has 2 deer to its credit this season already and about to leave on a hog/javelina hunt in a day or so.

303 Brit (No1 Mk1* 1902 vintage)
303-25 (Lithgow SMLE 1942 vintage)
another 303 Brit (No4 MkI* Longbranch 1942 vintage)
22 Hornet (Anschutz 1431/32 1947 vintage)
375/303 aka 303-375 (almost identical to the 38-55) in the building. (No1 Mk1 nineteen very old vintage)

I notice a lot of folks say the 257 is their favourite. The 303-25 is my favourite! (Very close to the 257).

How about a Remington m24 in .22 short. Not exactly obsolete, yet, but darned close................

hey guys--what's the difference between a 180 grain '06 at 2700fps in 1940 and a 180 grain '06 at 2700fps in 2009?

in my opinion where does the obsolete or retro cartridge come into play versus the new whizzzbzng cartridges of 2009.

When I started the post, I figured Retro and Obsolete are two different things. I still think this.

Retro is an oldie-but-goodie that may be past its prime but is still holding on.

Obsolete is: no one really chambers this cartridge anymore because something else has come along that is easier to deal with and performs just as well if-not-better. Kinda like the 7x57 Mauser or 7mm STW or 300 H&H.

Dan360,

really, calling the 7x57 obsolete...

There is 7 companies offering about 17 factory loads in 7x57 in Europe. The cartridge has a stellar reputation in Africa for plains game.

Its going strong - if not in the US, well your own lookout.

Well, it stands admitted, that you have covered the 7mm segment rather well between the 7mm-08 for short actions, the .280 rem. for Standard an all those cartridges for the "Mag-Pies".

i just built a 6.5x55 on a m98 action. i plan on keeping the Swede current as long as i can.

i have explained to hunters and shooters what the swede is and the bullet weights available and they say "man that would be a great deer cartridge..."

no kidding.

-Matt

Dan,
Ruger is still chambering the .257 Roberts, 6.5x55, 7x57, and .300 H&H.
Savage is also still Chambering the .250 Savage and the .300 Savage.
CZ 500 in the 6.5x55 and 9.3x62 can also be bought here in the US.

Got a .30 Newton, .264 Win Mag and .358 Norma Mag (sort of, chambering issues)

Exactly, Obsolete! There may be 17 factory loads for the 7x57 and maybe 2 or 3 companies chamber a rifle for it, but you don't see hardly any of that in the US. I would be pleasantly surprised if the 7x57 even lands in the top 25 in ammo sales. No US firearms company makes an action for the 57mm cases. Actions are almost always short, long and magnum/full size. The fact that a chassis isn't dedicated for the mauser line of cartridges tells me that its obsolete. Sure, its probably pretty popular and the sentimental favorite of many. I bet the number of loads and ammo sales for the 243, 25-06, 270, 7mm-08, 280, 7mm Rem Mag, 308, 30-06, 300 WSM, 300 Win mag and 338 Win Mag are far more numerous than any of mauser-based cartridges.

Yeah, the 257, 6.5x55, 7x57 and 300 H&H are available in some rifles. And mostly in special runs at that. I had to look a long time before I even found a Ruger No. 1A in 7x57. Of the four cartridges, the 257 Bob is probably the most available and if you don't want a Ruger M77 or Kimber 84M, you're SOL.

If they aren't chambered in nearly EVERY MAJOR factory offering, you gotta wonder. I think the only reason the 257 Bob hangs on is that the 25 Souper isn't a factory cartridge. If it were, there goes the Bob. Even the 243 has nearly eliminated the bob in that niche even though its in a different bore size.

I'm not saying that obsolete cartridges aren't cool. This thread is to demonstrate how cool they are. Not to say they should go the way of the dodo. But they have been rendered obsolete by more efficient and practical designs.

You won't see me giving up my 7x57 any time soon. Not even for a 7mm-08!

Krags and Swedes. And one Krag chambered in Swede.

This was my grandfathers 30-40. I'm just putting together a fresh batch of 220 gr. corelocks together now for it.
Doc

Dan,
Ruger has been chambering M77's in .257 Roberts and 7x57 for years. Ruger is chambering the M77 RSI in the 6.5x55 as a special run. Ruger is chambering the M77 Frontier Rifle in the .358 Win and they have been cataloging this for several years. Ruger is also chambering the the M77 Hawkeye in the .257 Roberts, .264 Win. Mag., .35 Whelen, and .358 Win. These last four are not special runs. The .257 Roberts is also chambered in the Hawkeye UL. In the No. 1-A Light Sporters and the No. 1 RSI they are chambering 7x57 as a standard item. This year they are offering the 300 H&H in a No. 1-A Medium Sporter as a special runs and the 9.3x74R.

As I understand it if Ruger Distributor will order at least 250 rifles of any model and chambering Ruger will make a limited run.

Also as I understand it if the U.S. CZ Distributor will order at least 10 rifles of any model and chambering CZ makes and will ship the to the U.S

So what if "they aren't chambered in nearly EVERY MAJOR factory offering", at least they are offered in some. Therefore they are not obsolete. They are retro-cartridges.

Dan,

there is more to the world than the US of A.

obsolete means - "out of use"

The 7x57 never was "in use" in the US. So it can not be called obsolete, especially when, in the countries, where it has been used from the beginning, it is going strong. No end in sight.

As for the system length question -

COAL .30-06 3.340"
COAL 7 x 57 3.074"

Difference .266". I rest my case.

Just my two cents.

All the best.

I like some retro cartridges. The ones I shoot the most are below. They tend to fill in gaps or in the case of the Norma have design features I feel are superior enough to make fooling with the cartridge rather than the more common equivalent worth it.

In addition to the ones you mention I have the 250 Savage, 308 Norma Magnum and 35 Whelen. My Whelen and one of the Norma's are military conversions. The Whelen was a custom but it had too short a throat for the TBBC Bearclaw loading so I had it SAAMI chambered and long throated. I would still call it retro.

The 25-35, 300 Savage,.30-40 Krag [in an 1895 Winchester], 32-20, 25-20, and 348 Winchester have all passed through my hands too and some will likely do so again.

6.5X55 swede in a M700 classic is my go-to rifle, i also shoot a .358 win, 35 Whelen and recently a model seven magnum in 7mm SAUM which is just about obsolete, or soon to be.

I agree. There is more to the world than the US. I would guess that world wide, there are still far more popular cartridges than the 7x57. I still love the cartridge though.

And .266 is plenty to argue and banter about! That's a whole 6mm! Think about all of the people who argue about the 270 and 280. The difference is only .007 there. Just playing. I see your point.

Where in Germany are you located? My grandfather did a great deal of hunting in Germany. He had twin rifles built in 6.5x57 and 8x57 while in Germany. Both on K98 actions. The barrel on the 8x57 is a turned-down MG42 barrel. Both rifles wear Pecar scopes in claw mounts. My grandfather took a nice moose in Alaska with that 8mm.

I understand what you are saying, but the lack of available rifles renders a lot of these calibers obscure to your average hunter. Why have a Ruger Hawkeye in 264 Win Mag when you can have a 7mm Rem Mag in almost any rifle you want? Both are based around roughly the same case and perform in a similar way, with the 7mm being more versatile. See what I mean? There is a reason that many companies have dropped these cartridges as offerings. Why have a full-length action in a 300 H&H when you can have a 30-06 length action chambered in 300 Win Mag?

I think that most rifle loonies, myself included could answer those questions because we love certain cartridges and rifles. On the other hand, many hunters buy a "huntin' rifle" to do all of their hunting. Most of those guys don't care about the history of the 300 H&H or 7x57. Most don't care about what a 264 Win Mag can do with a 26 inch barrel. I'd bet good money that most just want a rifle to hunt with that they like. I'd also bet good money that they want something chambered in a cartridge that they can buy at any sporting goods store.

Dan,

location is roughly 60 miles north east of Berlin.
Pretty much best hunting around here - pigs, all the deer and mufflon sheep.

You guys still have those rifles in 6,5x57 and 8x57 IS?

CMG:

Unfortunately, we only have one of those rifles. We have the 6.5x57 but the 8x57 was taken in a burglary. Its really unfortunate because on the market, its probably worth very little. The claw mounts for the scope are probably worth more than the rifle itself. However, it was worth much more to our family.

Some I hunt with are;
32-20 92, mfg. 1915
30 WCF mfg. 1935
38-55 mfg 1954
45-70 stainless Marlin (17" barrel)
35 Whelen CDL
.45 Colt 92 Trapper carbine
Virgil B.

Ya'no, if a body really really wants a rifle chambered in a retro or obsolete cartridge they are not hard to find.
GunsAmerica.com today had rifles for sale in the following cartridges:

Cartridge # of rifles Cartridge # of rifles
7x57 18 8x57 10
9.3x62 5 .257 Roberts 17
6.5x55 14 9.3x57 0
.264 Win 6 .280 Rem 11
.38-55 12 .45-90 5
.45-120 1 .40-60 2
.300 H&H 1 .375 H&H 1
7 STW 9 .358 Norma Mag 0
.30 Newton 0 .256 Newton 1
.250 Savage 2 300 Savage 18
.356 Win 2 .348 Win 1
.32 Win Spl 15 .225 Win 2
.284 Win 1 .375 Win 0
.307 Win 0 .405 Win 11
.30 Rem 0 .350 Rem Mag 1
.222 Rem 6 .303 British 8

Rifles chambered in some of these cartridges aren't hard to find in small town gun shops. Yesterday I was in the big boy toy store and they had a Win 1885 in a .405 and a .45-90, a M99 in a .300 Savage, a couple Mausers in 8x57, and a Sharps in a .45-120.

My go to gun is my Ruger Model 77 in 257 Bob, if its gonna be an all walking day I reach for the 30-30 or 300 Savage. The newest centerfire in the rack is a .270.I don't use cartridges developed after I was born!!!

I'm with you reddnek. All but 2 are older than I am and they are a .308 and a .223.
My to rifles are a #1A .257 Roberts, M336 30-30, and an old FN .270.

Cole, I envy you your #1 257, By the time I got the money together for one Ruger had dropped the chambering. I love the model 77 but I still lust for a #1

Ruger is offering a #1-A in a 7x57 this year and a M77 RSI in 6.5x55.

I personally am attracted to those odd ball "not used much"( I hesistate using "obselete") anymore calibers. I recently bought a CZ 550 Safari in 375 H&H (I LOVE THIS GUN!!! I might add) and am building a 264 Win Mag on a Savage 110 that will be my mule deer gun.

Definitely retro: Been using the Swede for the past 20+ years. Obsolete: Not yet, but I have a pair of .260's. Only a matter of time for this one, I'm afraid. Not to mention the .264.

Best Regards

I used a .284 Win for years. I guess it isn't obsolete by definition, but you won't find many caring about using it...only its brass for the numerous wildcats it has spawned.

I now have a .338 Federal. I like to think of this cartridge as "nouveau retro."

I'm really kicking around the idea of a 6.5x55. It is between it, the .260 Rem and the venerable .270 Win. If the Swede gets the nod, I'll be retro, yet again.

I like the 303 British, the 7.92x57mm Mauser and the 7.62x54R Russian. I like old military cartridges. Other retro cartridges that I am interested in are the 7x57mm Mauser, 7.65x53 Argintine, 7.7x58 Jap, 7.5x54 MAS, 7.5x55 Swiss, 6.5x55 Swede, 6.5x50 Arisaka and 6.5x52 Carcano. Of course there is my favorite ther 30-06 Springfield.

Most of my rifles are "retro" because I am. My Remington 720 and
M30 express are retro although their 30-06 chambering isn't by our rules. The Savage 23 25-20 is for sure, and my CZ 9.3X62 is retro because it predates the 30-06 and most American shooters have never heard of it.

Win 94 30-30, 7x57, 308 Norma Mag, got it all covered! 58gscott

Hmm, lessee.

Retro-.222 Rem, 7x57, .45-70, .45 Colt.

That's my hunting battery, by some odd coincidence.

Sako L461 in .222

Ruger M77 tang safety 7x57

Marlin GG 45-70

And a Ruger Bisley Blackhawk in .45 Colt

Oh, and a .22 LR of course. Well, several of them.

Guess I'm hopelessly old fashioned...but all those obsolete, retro cartridges just keep on doing the job...

Retro perhaps, but still the high-water mark for Remington, in my opinion. The 725 was pretty nice too.

Rick

I guess that I am a retro hunter as well. Rifles that I have taken deer with include 8mm Mauser, 6.5X55, 6.5X57, 300H&H, 9.3X62. Other than the CZ in 9.3X62 all of the rifles are at least as old as I am. The 300H&H is also a '55 model.

They are both shooters, especially the 720, under 1" when there is no operator errors. It has been successfully taken hunting up in Northern Wisconsin also.

Hoo boy! I regularly shoot a .22 Hornet, but not on deer. But it does the trick on 'yotes to at least 200yds.

But for deer, I've got the following that fit this category:
.250-3000 in a Ruger 77RL
6.5x55 in a '96 and a '38 Swede Mauser
Had a 7x57 but sold it (stupid, stupid, stupid)
.280 Rem in a tang safety Ruger 77
.270 in a CZ 550 American
.30-06 in a Sako Finnbear
.303 Brit in a No.4 Mk1 Enfield
.375 Ouch&Ouch in a Ruger #1
.416 Rigby in a Ruger #1 (also good for p-dogs)
.45-70 in a Ruger #1 (absolutely brutal with stiff loads)

And these are my usual favorites.

And I've been wanting a 9.3xSomething pretty bad for a while. May have to trade an STW for one.

remington 722 in 257Bob- 1/2 MOA with 120 partitions in federal premium (still load for it though, amo is so expensive) only work on this is the trigger, it isn't even bedded...

1962 ruger 44 carbine in 44 mag, just a cool gun, ruger's first long gun.

I use these every year for something

A couple of .22 calibers. 22 Hornet and 22wrf.

.22 Hornet in Ruger #1 SS
.25-20 in Savage 23B, Win '92 rifle, and Win 1885 SS rifle.
.25-35 in Greener Martini SS
.38-40 in Win 1885 SS
.44-40 in Win 1885 SS and Colt New Service

I have kiled deer (mostly CA blacktails and NY/VT whitetails in "jungly" woods) with all of these in the past, but only use the .25-35 and .44-40 now. Both work very well if you handload and have a strong-actioned rifle.

My .44-40 1885 Hiwall is easy to get to .44 Mag rifle ballistics (but cases don't last as long as the Mags would). But I just load it to the same ballistics as the old .44-40 WHV loads meant for Win '92s, using Hornaday 180 gr. jacketed hollow points. At .44-40 velocities they expand perfectly (my Hiwall is a reproduction with .429 barrel, so .44 Mag bullets work fine if you can make the crimping cannelure fit).

In a single shot you can use pointed .257 95-100gr. bullets and a somewhat heavier charge in the .25-35 and get much better ballistics than the underloaded factory 117gr. flatnoses.

I've never used a cartridge more "modern" than the .250-3000 (1913) for deer hunting. Biggest deer I ever killed was with a 16 guage LC Smith SxS! And I've killed a couple with a Ruger Bisley .357. Works fine if you are close.

Every gun on this table has taken some kind of game from gophers/rabbits to moose. The list is long but distinguished, all of them time proven and used over 100 years before I got them. I have enjoyed putting them to the test on just about every kind of game here in Montana.

As mentioned in an earlier post...no mms in the group, obsolete??? I wouldn't call any of them obsolete, old?, yes quite, but certainly not obsolete.

Hopefully 100 years from now someone will be in some sort of photograph behind the same guns making the same claims. I doubt you would see the same pride in a gaggle of synthetic and stainless guns.

I still want to shoot a whitetail with my dad's old M94 32 Special. It's been in the family for I'm guessing 100 years?
Would be pretty neat to blow the cobwebs out of that thing and launch a few dusty Silvertips at a buck.

Sammo; make a point to do it...I have had a M94 in .30wcf that belonged to my grandfather...and did exactly that with it..170 Gr. ST are very impressive...had a ball, filled the freezer...
How You feelin'?
Ingwe

Ingwe, this rifle belonged to my great-grandpa, I've never shot it but my dad has a few boxes of ammo that must be from the 1960's, give or take 10 years.

Feelin' quite a bit better this week, thanks for asking. Still not in the mood for a beer, maybe this weekend. I better hurry up before Maygan finishes off my stash of ambers.

Weather is warmin' up! I'm ready for October already...(grin)

Glad you are on the mend...I'm backing off some of the amber liquids myself, not a bad gut, just a BIG one...
Besides grandfathers m94 I bought a M64 some years ago and have really stacked them up with that and 170 gr STs. Old eyes can't see the irons anymore, but it used to be one of my favorite things to do..
You should come up Sat. and watch Tom knapp do his thing..
Ingwe

Tom Knapp..Is he the shotgun trickshot? I think I've watched him on TV, pretty impressive.

Thats the guy, hes putting on a show Sat. at 10;00 then theres an air show in town too. Tom's a buddy, so I will be Emceeing the show, and farting around with some demo guns afterward...
Ingwe

Sounds like fun! Tom appears to be a pretty good character.

Thought I saw a deal on the news about the airshow.

Well, the Tom Knapp show is free,so thats reasonable enough, don't know about the airshow. If you get up this way, I'll be easy to find at the show, the big old white haired fat guy...
You can PM me for details if you decide on it...
Ingwe

Right on, I'll Pm you if we are headed that way.

If you get a minute this evening go take a good rip off the B12 for me...(grin)

Mannn, I hate to let you down, but I'm watching the B12 intake too. Like you, I'm itchin' for October,but there is WAyyyyyy too much of me to haul up the hill. Haven't seen my belt buckle or other parts south for quite some time, gotta do something....even if it means missing some of my vitamins!
Ingwe

Ain't it funny how the ol' belly grows a little bigger each winter. Damn B12 and beer!

Yeah, and I thought vitamins were supposed to be GOOD for you!
Been a long week, signing off for now, take care!
Ingwe

Later Ingwe.