Killing power of cartridges listed by killing power. Rifle Cartridge Killing Power Comparison Here is why I do not do invest or buy or own intermediate cartridges. Common calibers have their place, all these new ones are titillating because they are different not because they are better or fill a gap that does not exist. Unless a carbine gives a vast improvement over a 4 to 6 inch revolver your better off to carry a totally different caliber rifle, especially in areas where there are large or dangerous game. There is not one caliber that cannot be exchanged for a common caliber that has a better or more common ammunition, I understand nostalgia and am aware of the confidence of using the same rifle or caliber that dad or granddad touted by them because they used them in the war. today we have better hunting bullets better quality barrels and excellent optics it's time to quit believing erroneous information sent out by those that have a vested interest in selling uppers or calibers they produce. special expanding and heavier bullets increase killing power as long as the caliber is accurate and most are given a decent rifle or pistol to use them in. The two calibers I got interested in was carbine length 40 S&W 10MM and 300 blackout after some research they fail to impress in a carbine other than the fact they chamber in a long gun and a pistol. or as a stand alone rifle if your power level is minimal by these numbers. it's not going to improve it's ballistics because you read a article.
Hard to improve on perfection, and we have had perfection for close to 100 years give or take, so any thing "New" had better perform and perform very well. Only a hand full of newer chamberings can really claim that improvent, and even then, most were a compromise for some thing else. The list of improved is small, and well known, .338 Win mag, .338 Lapua Mag, .270 win. .243 win .22/250 that's about it! Some might argue for others like the .300 win, but that's just an over blown .30 that dosnt really improve any thing, and those that claim it, always forget or discount the bigger .338 win which is tops of my list for actual, significant gains! Same argument for the 7mm rem mag, nothing gains over the .270 win, which ALWAYS gets second classed despite its near ballistic match! Same with the granddaddy of all modern chamberings, the 6.5X55 Swede, my all time favorite and the Swede plays by it's own rules, in very rare company! Nothing in that bullet diameter compares or offers any measurable improved with out serious barrel life issues which make any attempt folly! Pistol chamberings in rifles? Sort of a solution to a non problem in my book, if .45Colt dosnt do it, not much else can! 10mm auto is a great round, but until you stretch the barrel length to 13 inches, you never gain the real performance that is capable of, but once you do, there are very few that can touch it smaller then .44 cal! I get the whole push, gotta drive sales with new and improved toys, and the idea that the AR can take all these chamberings is cool to a point, but that's all it is, a marketing push with nothing tangible in gains over proceeding innovation, such and the M1Carbine, or a short action M77 Ruger in .44 mag, not much else actually improves on the old timers! Then taking the medium length AR and "Inventing" new chamberings to fit it, again, cool, but not really any more improved on then it's parent .308 Winchester! Money well spent is in load development with in the long established chamberings, if you want an AR to take a .300 win mag, they make them, and the cost keeps them rare, but where there is a will there is a way, and you toss enough money at a problem, chances are you can find a solution! It's awfully hard to actually innovate these days, so keep a weather eye on the horizon for that next big one thay comes along, because it's been quite a while since we saw that last one!
Long ago decided that 30-06 or 308 for long range,357-38, 45, 9 mm for pistol, and 223 or 300 blackout for carbine, would do me. Only reason for multiple choice in pistol is the guns chambered for a particular cartridge. Grand dad had a lever action 30-30 bought new in the 1890's that he carried his whole life, reloaded with the Lee hand tool, shot all the deer and moose he wanted and could place the shots where he wanted and hunted in woods, brush, etc, and never needed anything else. Have several weapons and except for target shooting, 90 % of the shooting I do is 22 or 410 to kill pests around the place. Those guns are tools, just like a rototiller, and while very useful, sadly neglected in all the gun talk. In a real life situation, a good rifle, with good optics, reloading equipment and knowing how to use it, and reloading supplies and ammo stacked deep would out class having 5 of the latest and greatest gun toys. If the government doesn't take your weapons, and you are able to hold what you have, you will not need 5 weapons no matter what you think, and the guy or gal with 5 expensive empty weapons with no ammo just has some very expensive inefficient clubs. Love reading gun porn, wife likes reading romance novels, but neither one of us find it necessary to carry it to the next step. Just saying that in real life more bullets, beans, and band aids would be a higher priority than the latest $4,000 toy rifle-optics combo in 600 wizzard.
I want an over under with .308 on top and .22 on the bottom. I spent a lot of cash in my youth trying to find the latest and greatest and eventually found out is was.....ME! I picked a rifle caliber (well, two) and got good with it, learned what my projectiles would do and how they acted in various weather, and now I can put them where I want 'em. I do have other calibers because those guns are like children, but I'm grabbing the old tried and true .308 going out the door.
this is doable a company in Alaska makes shotgun inserts I think the company name is MACE but they make full length steel rifled inserts I guess you could silver solder or accraglass them in to make the eliminate the variable in harmonics or mark them so you know where to set the insert to limit deviation I sold a Weatherby Athena I got cheap before I found it could be done at a reasonable price. I saw a 3 barrel drilling from what I remember it as a 9.3MM X 12ga double upper. I agree with all the opinions if I need power over a 308 I would step up to a 338 and only because Africa requires 375 or over for big game I would just go with a 375 H&H double bigger is not better in this instance because of weight to recoil ratio. I figure if a 180 grain 308 or a 12 ga w/ 5 slugs won't drop it I shouldn't be looking for it. I have no illusions but no animal here will walk off with a 5.56 FMJ or AP through it's skull,I still like 308 better.
When you get home and settled I need to send you my 16" AR upper in .357 Maximum for some T&E. I'm still playing with loads right now but it works well and seems to like 180grn bullets best.
I’ll just stay with my 45-70,.44 mag and .45 colt. What more could want? With 45-70 500 grain corbon you get much more penetration than much of your other calibers. You cannot hide from a 45-70 500 grain no where.
I have been looking, Gunsmith an all, the 3 that actually intrigue me, .375 Ruger for an AR, type, .458/.308 Socom, AR and or Ruger Hawkeye, .300 B.O. in a Ruger American Ranch with Supressor! Nothing at all wrong with the Grand ol .45/70, my Marlin XLR is about the slickest handling full size "Modern" sporting rifle around! Still don't have it's twin in .45 Colt, but workin on it! For killing power, .45/70 is the benchmark others try to reach, with .375 H&H and .500 Jeffries actually exceeding that with out sending you to the doctor to get your shoulder knocked back in its socket! Lol
Being a profesional mechanic I d't use a crescent wrench and pliers to work on an airplane . My life is more valued than an airplane, hence I have more precise tools for defending it.
I roll old school! If it wasn't around by WW2 I don't have it. The youngest one in my safe is 7.62x39! It works for me.
45/70 in trapdoor strength is enough for about any animal in North America. The shooting magazines try to sell guns, but whatever weapon you are likely to own will most likely do the job.
Had a .500 Nitro Express for a short while. $6 a shot back in the '80's, much smoke and more recoil, and the results weren't worth the trouble. I ain't going to Africa or even Alaska to hunt. It would totally disintegrate a gallon jug of water down to quarter size pieces though. I think it would have rendered and North American game useless.
Gathering up parts for a .458 Socom now. Know a guy in Mississippi that just built one. Recently ordered a custom brass bullet mold. He's chunking these out
Two go-to extremes come to mind instantly. Eyeball accurate .22 Long Rifle is nasty stuff, as is 7.62x51 from many old surplus rifles (that used to be available for about $125, Spanish FR8, 1916, Indian 2A1) that will break clay birds routinely at 100 yards offhand with open sights. As a range rat, I find that hitting small targets at long distances is much more about quality trigger time than expensive gear.
I'm a 45/70, 44 Mag rifle guy myself If too far, 30-06 If too small, 22LR If too fast, close, and too dangerous, 45ACP If fast, close, and tasty, 12 ga
Question in my mind is what purpose does it fill. does one choose a caliber on it's popularity advertising, or from personal experience ? I'm not in a position to need a 7 MM mag. I'm not hunting sheep . If I was handed one ,i'd be trading it for something I have more use for. Did it in the past I'll do it again and again. To start with , I believe that the .17 HMR is about to make the .22 long rifle obsolete . @2550 FPS it is flatter shooting and more accurate than 1225 FPS .22 lr even 2200 fps .22 mag. Though I have and enjoy my bolt action marlin , savage makes a better rifle being semiauto and accepting a heavier charge even. ammo made specifically for it. I think something like 3000 FPS Imagine having the report of something better than .22 and almost the velocity of a .223 ,and 1/5th the volume for the size of the whole cartridge . In a survival event, how much one can carry in bulk is a big deal . For the space you might allow for reloading supplies in other center fire calibers it hardly compares the .17 is more practical IMO. No it does not have stopping power of a .44 mag 450 grain bullet, but it's MOA is far more impressive . Something big and heavy also has mass that cross wind has a lot of influence, a lot to slow it down too . Being fractional smaller the .17 HMR get's there being less distraction to influence it's performance. . IMO if a cartridge is reliably more accurate , that means shot placement is more practical. if you KNOW you can make a head shot in record speed ,it beats hoping the game doesn't move so your heavy bullet get's there in time for a center mass kill. If you have to lead the target like a rabbit running from you ,and your using a .223 the hit will likely not leave much useable meat , and larger calibers even less . and with larger calibers they are slower requiring more lead time. Add a rabbit that runs zig zag . ( good reason for semi auto ) depending on terrain and skill, less ammo is wasted leading the target . I might also add the .17 can be zeroed @200 yards . I had to get a special scope for that caliber . this hunting experience is on the desert . I have to admit that most of my larger prey hunting has been in close quarters mountainous terrain, so having a .44 mag was my best option . I have a .454 now but haven't had the opportunity to hunt with it yet . Post apocalyptic event there won't be much big game to need a high caliber hunting round but that does not negate the need to be able to reach their distance .
Sir, with respect, that is the most profound statement I've read in decades! Perhaps if I'd invested heavily in 5mm Remington Magnum in 1969 the .22 Long Rifle might already be obsolete.
