quote:

Originally posted by Paul H:
22 rf without a doubt.

30-06, it was the first successful smokeless round on the battlefield (no offense to our allies, and to our continental friends, well, you lost), and transcended that role in the sporting fields as well.

Sorry Paul, that honor belongs to the 7X57 in Cuba where they used that cartridge and the Mauser rifle to cut our guys to ribbons.

We came up with the 30-06 to answer what Paul Mauser had come up with, but had to make the case longer because we didn't have as good and compact a powder as the Germans had developed.

with out naming every cartridge I own and thus just having a list of cartridges that could be the best, I will name what I love to shoot the most,
.22LR
375 H&H

if i could only have 2 guns they would be it.

quote:

Originally posted by 510wells:

quote:

Originally posted by Paul H:
22 rf without a doubt.

30-06, it was the first successful smokeless round on the battlefield (no offense to our allies, and to our continental friends, well, you lost), and transcended that role in the sporting fields as well.

Sorry Paul, that honor belongs to the 7X57 in Cuba where they used that cartridge and the Mauser rifle to cut our guys to ribbons.

We came up with the 30-06 to answer what Paul Mauser had come up with, but had to make the case longer because we didn't have as good and compact a powder as the Germans had developed.

The 30-40 Krag was a smokeless round and pre-dates both of those. Then there were the ones that began life as black powder rounds and made the transition to smokeless like the 45-70 and 303 brit.

Actually the honor of first succesfull smokeless cartridge probably belongs to the 7.62X54R which began life in 1891.

There are so many worth mentioning, but FWIW, I would chose:

22 LR
223
6.5x55
30-06
375 H&H
12 ga

I would have to say the two best ever would be the 30-06 and 303 British. They contributed to our freedom witch we all love and enjoy. They servived two world wars and are still in service today.

10 mm
.30-06
All anybody needs!

The headline for this thread should have been
" the finest cartridges ever invented"!

However I believe it`s meant the same!
8x57 mauser
.22lr
.45 Colt
.270 weatherby
.416 Rigby

Short list:

22LR, both in a bolt action rifle and auto pistol.

44 mag. Only consistant preformer on game out of a conventional handgun.

9.3x62. Does everything a 06 will do and some it never will. As with the 375, it works, and in a lighter platform than most 375's.

375 H&H. The almost perfect round, maybe too much for some, maybe not enough for others, but works for everything.

458 Win. OK the Lott is better, the 375 is better, whatever is better, etc. This was a revelation in heavy rifle development and it does work.

Might adds:

222 Rem.
308 Win.
300 We. Mag.
416 Rigby

You could add many more, 270, 35 Whelen or any "improvemant" over the "parent" case. You could also go historical and look at the "parent" cases of any of the above. I'm just looking at rounds in common use today.

Short mags? You're kidding right? The Remington versions are near dead already. The Winchesters have sold one to everyone that likes new stuff, and there are already enough used ones to satisfy rifle looney's like myself who just want to tinker with something for the hell of it.

.22
22-250
.270
30'06
300 Win Mag
.375 H&H
.450/400 x 3,1/4 inch Nitro Express
.500 Jeff/Schuller

9mm
38 spec
357
44Mag
45 ACP
40 SW
10 mm

We need a definition of terms. Define "great" and we can work from there. Factors that others have mentioned:
usefulness
popularity
uniqueness at time of introduction (groundbreaking quality)
history/longetivity

.30-06,
7x57
.45ACP

22LR, 30-06, 12 gauge, 375 = hunt the world.

Since no one has responded to my earlier post, let me chime in on the definition of "great."

First criteria - usefulness; if the cartridge isn't useful/practical then the other factors don't matter.

Second criteria - long history; it has to have proven itself over a long period of time.

Third criteria - popularity; obscure cartidges, however good, need not apply (e.g., the Newtons)

Fourth criteria - uniqueness at the time of introduction; this is the least important (and in my mind, almost a non-factor), primarily because of the old adage that there's nothing new under the sun. Whatever cartridge gets nominated, some other poster could come along and describe similar developments that came before.

All that being said, the rounds that seem to fit the above would be:
22 LR
7x57
.30-06
.375 H&H

All of the above have proven themselves to be tremendously useful, have very long histories, and have been/still are popular world-wide.

.22 LR
.220 Swift
.270 Win.
.30-06 Sprg.
.308 Win.
.30-30 Win.
.338 Win.Mag.
.375 H + H
.44-40 Win.
12 GA.

.22

22-250

6.5x55 SM

30-06

300 Weatherby

338-375 Weatherby ( Greatest Overkill Cartridge, neck & neck with the 30-378 )

416 Rigby

12 Gauge
20 Gauge

Wow!
Interesting thread.I`ll chime in.

Greatest cartridges ever invented IMHO...

Handgun calibers-Auto pistols
.22 LR
9mm Parabellum
.45 ACP

Handgun calibers-Revolvers
.357 Magnum
.44 Magnum
.45 Long Colt

Rifle calibers-Intermediate
7.62x39
8mmx33 Kurz
6.8mmx43 SPC

Rifle calibers-Full power
.308 Winchester
30-06
8mmx57 Mauser
.404 Jeffery
.416 Rigby
.50 BMG

Shotgun calibers
12 gauge 2.75"
12 gauge 3"

Miscellaneous
25mmx59 (Payload Rifle)
40mmx46SR (M203)
84mmx246R (Carl Gustaf RCL)

And for a bit of nostalgia..
Rifle calibers-Rimfire
.44 Henry Flat
56-52 Spencer

There`s a lot more cartridges I like,but having
those I listed above I`d be ready for anything.

Yes,I`m a gunnut.
Looks I`m also a cartridge nut.

Regards
-----------------------------------------------

Wow...

Nobody even mentioned the CO2 cartridges that power my Daisy and Crosman guns...

.22 Lr (10/22)
.22-250 (Remington)
.280 Rem.(Mark Bansner)
.300 Win. Mag (Mark Bansner)
.338 Win Mag (Mark Bansner)
.416 Rem Mag. (Ruger #1)
.450 Marlin (Marlin Guide gun)
12 ga (Benelli, Super Black Eagle and Win. Defender)
This is my list of personal faves (as well as what I use for all my hunting)

8X57 Mauser

22 LR

44 Russian

Beat these!!

30-06

quote:

Originally posted by DobleTroble:
1) 6.5 x 55. Nothing invented since has improved on its ability to kill animals up to 300 lb.

2) 8 x 57. It is the mother of rimless cartridges. Its as good as or better than almost all of them (6.5 x 55, 7 x 57 may beat it)..

I throw in with you, but if we consider parenting I would add the 7.62x39, .375 and the .404 roger

quote:

Greatest cartridges ever invented

this is a long list but I'll try to be breif.

22lr
223
257 roberts
7X57
30-30
30-06
300H&H
300 wby
338
375 H&H
416 Rigby
416 Rem
458 lott
470 NE
500 NE
600 OK
And 700 DA

Pistol
357 mag
45 ACP
45 LC
454 Casull

Speciality Pistol

7-30
6.5 JDJ
358 JDJ#2
375 JDJ
416 JDJ
300 Wisper
500 Wisper

I do not know what the great cartridges are, but here as some that I like:

22 LR
222
223
270
30-06
9.3 x 62
375 H&H
404 jeffery
458 lott
470 NE
500 NE
500 Jeff
505 Gibbs
577 NE
585 Nyati
600 NE
600 OK

38 spl
9 mm
45 acp
44 mag
300 whisper

here goes for the great rounds, there are many more I like....am currently wanting a .300 RUM for a certain purpose but it is not in the same great category as I think these are;


12 gauge shot shells
.22lr
22/250
6.5x55
30/06
.300 H&H
9.3x62
.375 H&H
.416 Rigby
.404 Jeffrey
45/70
.458 Lott
.505 Gibbs

22LR (subsonic)
30-06
300 Win.Mag.
375 H&H
9.3x74R
460 WbyMag
577 N.E. (best of all)