I was thinking about another post describing a particular round as "iconic", which began some associated thoughts that got kind of interesting. What makes a round "iconic" outside of military service? Given that, what are the most iconic sporting rounds (non-military) in the US, and what about other regions (limit three each region)?

For the purposes of the question, they need to be in common use today. I'll start off with my three US cartridges:

US: (1) 30-30 Winchester (2) 270 Winchester (3) 22-250 Rem

I started an "also ran" list but grew so large so fast it defeated the purpose.

270, 7mm Rem mag, 300 Weatherby

I think you have to put the 30-06 in there.

I know it's roots are military, but nonetheless, today it is a sporting round and not military.

.222 Remington
250 Savage
257 Roberts

Had to think of something else quickly because the inital catridge selection that I thought of were Paul's above.

7x57mm Mauser

Once you leave the US, it's the 7x64 and the 9.3x62. It's their "lack" of military service that contributes to their poplularity.

In my safe:

7x57 Mauser
300 H&H
375 H&H

True icons;

22 Hornet

.222

.220 swift

.375 H&H

45-70

30-30

7.63 x 39

A.C. is kinda iconic
roger

I'd suggest looking to the list of most popular reloading dies.

Which ALWAYS includes the
223REM (which came BEFORE the military cartridge)
30-06
7mmRemMag
30-30Win
300WinMag

While people will comment on the 300Wby, 300H&H by anyone's best information there have probably been more
300WinMags sold than 300H&H and 300WBY sold by a factor of atleast five, (I wouldn't be suprised to learn that it's 20times more.)

as for 30-06? there are likely as many 30-06 rifles in the world
as there are rifles in all other centerfire 7mm or larger hunting cartridges combined.

The only countries where the 30-06 isn't one of the three most popular hunting cartridges are countries where formar military cartridges are simply illegal.

Other than elitist snobs who insist "common cartridges" just won't do it for them (this attitude is STUPID and if I offend you by saying it... GET FUKT!) just about everyone owns a 30-30, a 30-06 or a 7mmRemMag.


Right along with their 22LR and their 12ga

IF you don't own a 12ga AND a 22LR there is something
wrong with you.

AD

There are iconic African cartridges that are iconic because they worked very well for many, many years. They continue to work despite the new wonder cartridges from the recent 75 years or so. The 7x57 and the 404 will still and always 'get it done'.

Von Gruff.

This rather begs the question:

"Is the 30-06 Iconic"?

Appreciate the input. I thought about most of the above too.

But, iconic doesn't mean popular and military is out for the purposes of this question. Granted, the 30-06 is forever a sporting cartridge but it would not exist were it not military first. Likewise the 223 and 308 Win, even if they were technically released first. They resulted from inside poop on the 5.56 and 7.62 NATOs. The reason for excluding military rounds is to creat a list of rounds that stand on their own merits unsupported by the logistcal benefit of military use.

The 7 x 57 is military. The 6.5 x 57 was designed to be sold to the military before the 7 x 57 but no one bought it. So it qualifies for consideration where the 6.5 x 55 doesn't.

I like the Hornet as it could qualify here and in Europe as the 5.56 x 35R. It was adopted by the Air Force in survival guns and it was invented in a military armory but not for military purposes.

The 375 certainly belongs in the Asian and African lists. The 9.3 in Africa and Europe.

If we include Scandinavia as its own area, there's only the 9.3 x 57. All others seem to be military.

North America
45-120 Sharps, 50-140 Sharps, 22 Hornet

Africa
404 Jeffery, 416 Rigby, 600 Nitro Express

22LR

270 Weatherby (1943) way ahead of it's time and still incredibly effective (always wanted one).

If you exclude military cartridges that became popular as sporting cartridges then as well as 30-06 you exclude the 303 British...

So, as others have said, I guess that leaves the 270 Winchester and the 7x64 and in smaller sizes (and still in use today) I suppose the 243 Winchester and the 22-250.

In larger calibres well 458 Winchester and (if only because it saw all the others off) 470 Nitro Express.

Smokeless?
Here are a few.
Since the 222 is a grand daddy to many carts that has to be one.
6 Lee Navy. Parent to the 220 Swift
7.62x39
30-30 is huge as well as the 45-70
30-40 Krag
303 Brit
30-06
6.5 MS/Carcano
250-3000
The 8x57 has to be on the top forsake reasons.
The French Lebel?
375HH
The 22 as said before as well as the 22 Hornet.

quote:

300 Weatherby

+1

But the 30-06 trumps it everyday

good to see ya vapo

30-30, 375 H&H, 12 gauge, 22 LR, & 44 Rem Mag.

Here is my list:
.250 Savage
.257 Roberts
.270 Winchester
.270 Weatherby
6.5x54
6.5x55
.30-30
.300 Savage
.300 H&H
.300 Weatherby
.35 Remington
.358 Winchester
9.62x62
.375 H&H

I'm sure I have left some out.

338 Winchester Magnum!

7x57 Mauser; .300 H&H, .318 WR, 9,3x62; .375 H&H; .404 Jeffery

22LR
12ga
30-30
45 colt
45/70
30-06
375 hh
470/500/577 nitro

222 Rem
257 Roberts
300 Savage
35 Whelen
45-70

8x57 the mother of all modern cartridges..

quote:

Originally posted by jens poulsen:
8x57 the mother of all modern cartridges..

Or is it the Lebel
Yes not much arguing there.

Symanntics but there is a diference between iconic and classic or popular. The 404 is an iconic African cart while the 458 win mag is popular and the 375 HH is a classic and popular. I need to rethink my list.

Phew! I thought there was something wrong till I saw the .404Jeffery... Military or not I think that .303, 7x57, .30-06 and 6.5x55 are as Iconic as it gets. The 9.3x62 is also on the list. I have no sympathy for any of the Weatherbys, or the .270Win, byt I think the .308 should be there as well, as it was there at the same time as it became the 7.62Nato...

my 2p...

Finman

IMO if there is one cartridge that is 'iconic' and has killed just about every animal on the earth it is the 6.5x54MS.

Here is my list (I own some & the others are just dreams)

22LR - Brno Model 1
222 Rem - Rem 700
6.5X54 MS - Mannlicher Schoenauer
6.5X55 Swedish Mauser
270 Win - Pre 64 Mod 70
7X57 Mauser - Mauser 98 (Rigby if in 275 Rigby mode)
30'06 - 1903 Springfield
300 H&H
303 Lee Enfield
8X57 Oberndorf Mauser
9.3X62 Oberndorf Mauser
375 H&H
416 Rigby
404 Jeffery
450/400 double rifle - Webley
577 NE Wesley Richards
600 NE Jeffery

For a cartridge to be “Iconic”? Sport writers are the makers of iconic rounds. Whether they are or not.

Well TR made the 405 Win iconic.

Harry Selby's 'Skitini'. Every time I see 416 Rigby it conjures up images of Africa.

Semantics are indeed a problem here. The definition of icon, outside of religion, is pretty narrow really, and as far as objects are concerned it refers to a symbol. As Sid points out, I think the Rigby is an icon, as is the 375. Things like a 300 Savage or 405? These are iconic, which has a much broader definition. For this thread, being about the adjective iconic, almost any cartridge would qualify which falls into some generic class of cartridge. If you read different dictionary definitions closely, you will see that an object doesn't have to be an icon to be iconic. In fact, an iconic object is one that is generic. It could be almost any. The 30-30 would be an icon of general purpose lever action rifle rounds. The 300 savage, the 32 WCF, the 35 Rem, the 38-55 etc are iconic because they are universally recognized as this type of cartridge, but I doubt they would be touted by many people as the icon of this class.

My favorite iconic non military round is the 257 Roberts.

quote:

Originally posted by Finman:
Phew! I thought there was something wrong till I saw the .404Jeffery... Military or not I think that .303, 7x57, .30-06 and 6.5x55 are as Iconic as it gets. The 9.3x62 is also on the list. I have no sympathy for any of the Weatherbys, or the .270Win, byt I think the .308 should be there as well, as it was there at the same time as it became the 7.62Nato...

my 2p...

Finman

I excluded military rounds because they're too obvious and government distribution of billions of rounds of ammo make them unfairly advantaged against sporting rounds that had to make their rep on sports alone. Second condition was they had to still be in widespread use. Carry on...

My 3 favorite "go to" cartridges (besides the 22LR which is #1) are 30-06, 7x57, 223. Excluding military cartridges, I guess they would be 6mm Rem, 270, 375 H&H.

quote:

jens poulsen: 8x57 the mother of all modern cartridges

Ditto, and still probably the best single all-around rifle cartridge.

The short list; and I own all four:

1. 257 Roberts

2. 300 H&H

3. 375 H&H.

4. DR in .470 NE

A man could get by very nicely with just those four for the world.