I ran across this interesting article the other day and really enjoyed it although it isn't a particularly new article. It is entitled "The 20th Century's Top Rifle Cartridge" by Layne Simpson, Field Editor, Shooting Times.

In the article Mr. Simpson lists, what he believes to be the 12 top rifle cartridges introduced in the 20th Century. Here are his top 12 picks (this list has them in the order they were introduced, and not in the order of their importance):

.30-06 Springfield -- 1906
.375 H&H Magnum -- 1912
.270 Winchester -- 1925
.220 Swift -- 1935
.300 Weatherby Magnum -- 1948
.222 Remington -- 1950
.308 Winchester -- 1952
.243 Winchester -- 1955
.458 Winchester Magnum -- 1956
.338 Winchester Magnum -- 1958
7mm Remington Magnum -- 1962
6mm PPC -- 1975

What would you pick as the top rifle cartridge of the 20th Century? I'm not asking what is your favorite, but what you think was the all around greatest cartridge introduced in the 20th Century. (Mr. Simpson didn't clearly state the criteria for determining the greatest cartridge, so, I suppose, that could be debatable.)

I'm guessing there are a lot of us who would agree with his first pick, but what would be your second choice (I don't think he clearly stated his second choice.)

The article can be found here: http://www.hunting.about.com/o.../aasttopriflecar.htm

Question:
Among the cartridges listed, which do you believe was the greatest rifle cartridge introduced in the 20th century?

Choices:
.30-06
.375 H&H Mag
.270 Win
.220 Swift
.300 Wby Mag
.222 Rem
.308 Win
.243 Win
.458 Win Mag
.338 Win Mag
7mm Rem Mag
6mm PPC

Question:
Among the cartridges listed, which do you believe was the second greatest rifle cartridge introduced in the 20th century? Why?

Choices:
.30-06
.375 H&H Magnum
.270 Win
.220 Swift
.300 Wby Mag
.222 Rem
.308 Win
.243 Win
.458 Win Mag
.338 Win Mag
7mm Rem Mag
6mm PPC

 

I agreed with the author's choice of the .30-06 as the greatest rifle cartridge introduced in the 20th Century.

My choice for the 2nd greatest rifle cartridge introduced in the 20th Century was the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum. In my mind it easily takes the second spot. It is one of the best known medium to large bore rifle cartridges in the world. It will take any animal that walks on the face of the earth and is the clear leader for large game among professional guides in Africa, and Alaskan professionals guiding in large bear country.

Some have called it the world's most versatile rifle cartridges. Jack O'Connor called it the "Queen of the Medium Bores" and big game hunter, John Taylor dedicated a chapter to it in his book "African Rifles and Cartridges."

The .375 H&H also has quite a unique quality in its ability to handle a wide range of bullet weights while maintaining points of impact that require very little scope or sight adjustments within common distances for a variety of large game.

Even though it has significantly more energy than the .30-06, the .375 H&H factory 270 grain load has nearly the same trajectory as a 180 grain load in a 30-06.

There were a number of great cartridges introduced in the 20th Century, and although they aren't my two favorite cartridges, I have to pick them as my first two choices for the greatest cartridges of the 20th Century.

If this isn't enough to make it the second choice, consider what many others have said about the rifle: http://www.webpages.charter.net/375magnum/allrd.htm

quote:

the .30-06 as the greatest rifle cartridge introduced in the 20th Century.

quote:

I agreed with the author's choice of the .30-06 as the greatest rifle cartridge introduced in the 20th Century.

My choice for the 2nd greatest rifle cartridge introduced in the 20th Century was the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum.

That is my 1 & 2 in the same order.

My signature line.

Picked the 30-06 first and the 222 second.

I went 375 H&H, then 30-06. H&H was number one because you can hunt anything with it.

I went 375 then 30.06 as 375 can go anywhere
but would have been just as happy with them
the other way around.

I think .308 and maybe the .222 should be up there in the voting ????????

1st 30-06
2nd 308
Both good for practically all North American game. Both great hunting/tactical rounds.

30-06 1st and foremost. Look at all the ctgs in the list that were spawned from the '06 case. Second would be the .375 H&H. Just about all the belted mag ctgs in the list are mere step children.

I have both of them, but rarely shoot my '06 anymore.

Try this poll again in 5 years, but next time do not put the ctgs in chronological order. See if it makes any difference.

The .30-06 and the .375 H&H are accepted on that list.
But all the rest is downright ridiculous and represents a narrowminded view of the world.

Just my 2c

quote:

Originally posted by tc98:
1st 30-06
2nd 308
Both good for practically all North American game. Both great hunting/tactical rounds.

Agree very good for anything but the biggest and most dangerous game. Shootability, trajectory, versatility and you name it, very useful. I dont own either but could get away with a 308 for all my rifle hunting and target shooting.

Heavenknows youre either ironic or contradicting yourself.

surprised the 3030 and .223 werent on there.

quote:

Originally posted by wwjmbd:
Picked the 30-06 first and the 222 second.

Same here.

I think I will really stir up some "stuff" here. Most believe the 30-06 and 375 H&M Magnum fit the bill.
Out of this selection, I would agree. It is sort of a North American cafeteria list from which to choose.
The 375 H&H Magnum is going to make the short list on about anyones chart.
What is interesting is that the 375 H&H magnum is the first cartridge that I am aware of that carried the Magnum monkier and a belt that all the traditionalist seem to chastise. OH well?? Sort of funny The greatest cartridge ever may have been the launching platform for the marketing term "magnum" and a belt from which to head space the cartridge. Both maligned by the shooting elite.
Now, the 375 H&H may not have been the first. I am sure there is someone here that may correct me but it is the first I can recall.

30Gov't06 and 375HH would be my pick. Interesting to note that all of the cartridges listed, only one not generated from America, 375HH. If you removed the restriction of 20th century, wonder what the list would look like??

I'll take the 300 wby for the greatest of all time.
The 30-06 2nd, even though my daddy, and his daddy shot an 06. Only reason grampa shot one, was that was all they had 85 years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by wwjmbd:
Picked the 30-06 first and the 222 second.

+1

There is hardly any need to present an argument for the .30-06, is there?

I picked the .222 Rem as my second winner, because of what it does, not because of what it could do. In terms of rounds fired per year, it easily makes the cut for me!

- mike

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

the .30-06 as the greatest rifle cartridge introduced in the 20th Century.

Add another for the 30-06!

You left out the 8X57IS.

True the 8X57 was around before the 20th century, but it was not the IS version.

Just as the 30/03 was not the same as the 30/06.

All of those .473" head cartridges owe there heritage to the 8X57.

I voted 30-06 and .222. What one can't do, the other can. Too bad the 7-08 wasn't among the choices.

quote:

Originally posted by wasbeeman:
I voted 30-06 and .222. What one can't do, the other can. Too bad the 7-08 wasn't among the choices.

That would be my choice.

quote:

Originally posted by Lloyd Smale:
surprised the 3030 and .223 werent on there.

Wasn't the .30-30 an 1890's introduction?

quote:

Originally posted by eezridr:

What is interesting is that the 375 H&H magnum is the first cartridge that I am aware of that carried the Magnum monkier and a belt that all the traditionalist seem to chastise.

The FIRST round to carry a belt was "Hollands 400/375 Nitro". Picture a belted 375-06 case.

I think that 7.62x39 is the most common cartridge in the world.
it may not be used for hunting much but the 7.62x39 is all over the world
joe

I think the 308 Winchester is the best of 20th century cartridges.

The 7.62x39 may be widespread, but what is it best at? Certainly not hunting game - only humans.

KB

I find this question very much the same as to award a BIS (best in show) title winner to a dog at a dog show, where multiple breeds compete against each other. Really a silly proposition to compare widely different breeds with each other like toy breeds, terrier breeds, shephard breeds, hunting breeds, working dog breeds, watch dog breeds, racing hounds, mastiff breeds, etc. It just cannot be done.

Some comments on the listed cartridges though:

.30-06 ......... Best medium distance hunting cartridge
.375 ........... H&H Magnum big game boltaction at the time
.300 Wby Mag ... Best long-range hunting cartridge
.222 Rem ....... Best 200 yds competion cartridge
.308 Win ....... Best military cartridge
6mm PPC ........ Best competition cartridge out to 300 yds

And so we can go on with a lot of other non-listed cartridges.

Warrior

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:

quote:

I agreed with the author's choice of the .30-06 as the greatest rifle cartridge introduced in the 20th Century.

My choice for the 2nd greatest rifle cartridge introduced in the 20th Century was the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum.

That is my 1 & 2 in the same order.

Right on. Next.

I go along with the 30-06 and the 375 H&H.

Regardless of what anyone says or thinks, there is not a single species of normally hunted game on this planet that has not been killed with an '06, and folks I don't even like the round.

As for the 375, I look at it as a 30-06 non steroids, and I love the 375 for everything.

quote:

You left out the 8X57IS.

True the 8X57 was around before the 20th century, but it was not the IS version.

Just as the 30/03 was not the same as the 30/06.

All of those .473" head cartridges owe there heritage to the 8X57.

What he saya +1.

The fact is that the 7x57 because of ALL its derivatives (by various "routes" some direct some round about) - 6mm Remington, 257 Roberts, 8x57 and the lengthened American 30-03 and 30-06 is probably the greatest single rifle cartridge EVER.

But I'd say that the 375 Holland and Holland I'd rate as the greatest 20th Century before the 30-06.

I'm thinking maybe the .218 Bee, or the .264 Newton...

Why isn't the .223 Rem not on that list?

Pretty interesting! With no offense intended to anyone, I'll say this; This poll provides two interesting subjects that may have been debatable prior to it's post. One subject serves to prevail what type of gun the voter has and two, regardless of the facts that voter will stay the course and vote to the contrary of those facts. Ignorance to the facts is subjective, so I won't go there. (kind of like those that voted for Obama without even knowing anything about him).

I.e., in the middle of the pack rests the .308 or NATO 7.62X51 which has more National and International titles, records and "first's" than the rest of the pack combined. It has been deemed through research to be the most accurate .30 caliber round from the time of it's inception to this very day. It has also been placed in the top 5 most accurate "commercially" available rounds in production. It provides the firepower in over 27 hand-held and vehicle mounted military machine guns around the world including the early M60 which is still in use today and the General Electric mini 30. In the hands of U.S. snipers dating back to the later efforts of the Korean war up to this day, the .308 has killed more bad guys than all other platforms and systems combined. and has proven to be an effective hunting round for deer to elk.

Interesting indeed!.....

I shoot:
.223 Rem
6mmBR
.243 AI
6.5X47 Lapua
6.5X280 Norma
.257 Roberts
.270 Win
7MM RUM
.308 Win
.30-06 Sprg.
.300 WM
.338 LM
.338 WM
.408 Cheytac
.416 Rigby
.45-70 Govt.
.458 WM

And of course a few .17/.22LR /.22WM

I have no favorites......

You missed the best one!!

The .223 Remington

quote:

Originally posted by heavenknows:
The .30-06 and the .375 H&H are accepted on that list.
But all the rest is downright ridiculous and represents a narrowminded view of the world.

Just my 2c

I think there is some truth in what heaven knows is saying. roger

IMO, it's rediculous that not one 6.5mm (.264) caliber cartridge was listed.

quote:

Originally posted by ColeK:
Why isn't the .223 Rem not on that list?

Because apparantly the poll is about useful hunting cartridges, and when the 223 is matched against any of the other cartridges on the list, it is practically useless in comparison.

It never has and never will belong on any list of legitimate big game cartridges.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by rcamuglia:
IMO, it's rediculous that not one 6.5mm (.264) caliber cartridge was listed.

I agree that the 6.5s should be on the list, as well as the 7mm-08, just so those who want to vote for them can. But I don't think any of them would rate at the top. Surely though they would be in the top twenty or twenty-five or so. I sure like them.

But really, the 260 or the 7mm-08 wouldn't be here if the 308 hadn't come first. So, that's the way I look at it. IMO, no other 6.5mm (20th century) even comes close to the top 20.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

Originally posted by heavenknows:
The .30-06 and the .375 H&H are accepted on that list.
But all the rest is downright ridiculous and represents a narrowminded view of the world.

Just my 2c

I think there is some truth in what heaven knows is saying. roger

I don't agree. Top two in my book are either the 30-06 or 308, and the 338. Anything outside of Africa with those two. I prefer the 308 over the 30-06, but if picking the most significant regardless of my preference, I suppose it is the 30-06.

KB