Almost everyone has a cartridge or cartridges that they hate for some reason or another. I am interested in what they might be, and why. I realize many may hate a cartridge just for they sake of the attitude of its users, or because of a more rational reason. Either-way do tell. Take care
Posts: 2045 | Location: West most midwestern town. | Registered: 13 June 2001
I can't say I hate any cartridge that will go off but I sure don't care for 270 rounds.
Reason, many deer shot thru the ribcage just do not react except to run away. Sometimes the blood trail is sparce at best.
Based on my personal experience killing around 300 deer with guns, 270s often have come up short in these areas. I don't know why it is but it still is. The gun kills the deer but not in the no nonsense way an 06 or 7mag does.
next batter....
Posts: 3167 | Location: out behind the barn | Registered: 22 May 2002
This is an amusing, if totally subjective discussion(thats why its fun) I cannot stand the 243 Win, In my area it is too light for deer, too big for gophers, and brings back memories of many missed shots, poor groups and embarrassment that this round gave me as a youth.
Ncboboy: the reason you do not like the 270 is the deer in your area are too small to fully react to the impressive (if not mythical) killing power of the 270. {I told you this is totally subjective and fun!}
Consider it "mamby pamby" if you will, but I can't think of one I truly hate. But those that know me will tell you that I am not a gun collector so much as I am a gun accumulator. Ok, I have a great dislike for any cartridge that I don't have a gun for yet!
Posts: 323 | Location: Keithville, La. USA | Registered: 14 February 2002
I have chased more wounded African game shot by clients with the 270 WCF and the .378 Weatherby. Loaded with heavier bullets the 270 does fine, but the light jacketed 130 grs bullets are not my favourite on African game. Due to the extreme recoil the .378 is not shot well by most, I can think of two zebras crippled by .378's that were tracked and shot the following day.
The ability to shoot well is more important than calibre, to an extent. Don't try and shoot a buffalo with a .222. I also believe it is better to use a heavier bullet and get closer than it is to chance a wounding shot at long range. Markmanship and shot placement often overlooked are never out of style.
Posts: 1573 | Location: USA, most of the time | Registered: 11 March 2002
I have an unfounded dislike for the .308, and I have a steyer scout rifle in this cartridge. I find myself forcing myself to use it just because I know it is a fine rifle and an accurate round. Also, Ive have some bad experiences with 7mm mag, where at closer ranges they just zip through not showing signs of a hit, then finding animals by chance in completly differnt areas with a hole as if they been shot with an FMJ, but I think thats more to do with the ammo. - Factory remington soft points, dont recall the weight.
Posts: 2286 | Location: Aussie in Italy | Registered: 20 March 2002
I once had an irrational prejudice against the 308 & 8x57- until I got some experience with them. Now the 8x57 is one of my favorite rounds, especially for open sight shooting. And I recently bought my first 308 after almost 50 years of shooting nearly everything else, a Sako L-57. Love it.
Posts: 9487 | Location: Texas Hill Country | Registered: 11 January 2002
I have little use for the Weatherby line of cartridges because of the radiused shoulders and freebores. The former makes them more difficult to load, and the latter is often detrimental to accuracy. Yes, I know, they can be successfully loaded and sometimes exhibit good accuracy, but all things being equal, I'd prefer a conventional shoulder and a throat just long enough to clear the ogive of the bullet when seated out near the full length of the magazine.
You asked for a prejudice and I gave you one.
Posts: 13274 | Location: Henly, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2001
Well,congratulations the boys of cyberspace have just condimed most of the finest calibers on todays market, and some of the most popular ones..
I cannot see a thing wrong with any of the above mentioned calibers if used properly and for what they are designed for and with proper bullets, albiet the 243 is not a favorite of mine, but I could get by shooting deer with one if I had to.
To condem the 270, 308 or 375 H&H, seems kinda short on real world experience, as they have all been proving themselves in the hunting fields of the world for many years. I have personally shot a world of game with all of them and never found them lacking.
I think I'll just take this thread with a grain of salt...
The 300 Weatherby is an altogether wretched chambering. Not only is the cartridge big,loud, a waste of powder, and unnecassary ; But, Ive found that many of the guys who shoot it are flim-flams.
Mostly they are guys who never shot anything until they reached middle years, made a ton of money, and think that due to their bottom line they are instant experts in everything. As we whom were raised with the sport know, there is only one way to get your spurs. And you DONT buy them!
Then they have the balls to tape yrdge cards onto their butt-stocks and tell all kinds of wild tales about the "long shots" on big game theyve made. Tho there are never any witness's to any of them, only to the missed and crippled shots and always an exuse for them.
No offense to the experienced rifleros that have mastered the 300Weath. A different bunch altogether.............J
Ray, I don't think anyone was condemning anything. Most of the "admissions" stated that there was no rational reason for them.
Since we are on the topic, I will admit that I have an irrational and subconcious dislike for 7mm's, mainly the Rem Mag. There is no logical reason I can think of for this feeling, except that I seem to associate the cartridge with some "slob hunters" that I was exposed to while in my impressionable youth. Also, some of my Dad's friends would call it the 7 Mickey Mouse which is not too flattering and probably effected my mental image of it. With the benefit of time and experience, my concious mind knows it is a fine cartridge, but it still can't convince my subconcious mind to like it.
Canuck
Posts: 7123 | Location: The Rock (southern V.I.) | Registered: 27 February 2001
Well I started this topic, I guess I will put my two cents into it. First of all my intent was one of solicitating an opinion. Haveing said that I see nothing wrong with anyone personaly condeming any cartridge SO LONG AS THEY DONT THINK IT SHOULD NOT EXIST OR GO AWAY. One mans favorite is another mans hated. To not have a personal opinion, being "objective" and all including, is just pure mindless nonsense. Many people believe that by acting "objective" others will percived them as being thoughtfull and well respected because of a lack of human like barriers. BS. At any rate, I am glad to see many people disliking the 308 and any of its fledglings (thanks Ray for adding the 243), I have always feared that if I ever owned one I might fall asleep shooting it. It is neather fast nor slow, large or small, and to me though historicaly important, doesnt have the rich hunting history that warms my blood. I realy enjoy my 250 savage, this was americas first smokeless high velo deer/varmit cartridge. It is ashame it doesnt exist in greater numbers. The 243 basicaly shot it down (someone musta hated the 250 sav). Its all a personal opinion. A cartridge is a inanimate object, there is no such thing as a boring cartridge, only bored people
Posts: 2045 | Location: West most midwestern town. | Registered: 13 June 2001
There are only two religions that get under my skin. The Church of the Holy 270. (Which yet is an excellent cartridge. And the Holy Order of the 9mm ganster guns. (Sorry to add pistols to this.)
Just had to get in on this one. I absolutley cannot stand the entire new super mag genre, 30-378, 338-378, .300 RUM, Warbird, the list goes on. Please tell me what these rounds will do that my old .300 Winchester will not. They are all noise and recoil and used by "snipers" rather than hunters.
------------------ Gotta love that BIG MEDICINE
Posts: 1259 | Location: Colusa CA U.S.A. | Registered: 27 June 2001
RIGHT ON JR how much power is enough. My old 300 works just fine. Like Stonecreek I dislike Weatherby over priced and over rated. $100 a box I dont think so!
Posts: 36 | Location: prince george bc canada | Registered: 07 April 2002
Chalk up another 270 hater. No real reason, just can't stand them. And I also have a drop chart on my .300 Weatherby.....go figure. Like the .243 greatly.....as a coyote round and jackrabbit evicerator.
Posts: 346 | Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico | Registered: 05 January 2002
270win/243 for me . have trailed more deer down shot with these calibers in my area.than all others put together. with decent hits also. my opinion...........
Posts: 66 | Location: garner n.c. usa | Registered: 28 January 2002
Any 300 or the 7 mag. I dont feel they are needed for the average hunter. Most folks cant shoot these rifles at the distances they were made for. The 30-06 is better suited for these same folks with less recoil, but I'm sure they get caught up in the mag syndrome. All you gotta do is go to the range and you can spot these folks out.
I'm sure I rubbed some folks the wrong way on this one, so I will add there is no wrong caliber as long as the owner likes it.
Posts: 204 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 06 December 2000
I don't think I hate any cartridge. There are some that I wouldn't choose, such as the .270, and that is only because I have a 7mm Mag (which I truly love). I know the .270 is an excellent cartridge. I have seen a LOT of game cleanly killed with it. That being said, I do enjoy shooting my .270 at targets, I just don't hunt with it.
I also believe that some of the biggest magnums (.30-378, etc.) are at the point of diminishing returns, but that really floats some boats, just not mine.
I think a better topic is what cartridges do you love...and for me that is simple.
1.) .303 British 2.) 22 LR 3.) .45-70 Govt. 4.) 7mm Rem Mag 5.) .30-30 6.) and on and on and on....
