Good ol' cartridges

[jnyork]

Seemingly every week one gun company or another will introduce yet another "short magnum", "sniper round", "long range smokemjoe" or some such nonsense. They seem to sell a bunch, so it's all good, some shooters will not rest until they find the "holy grail" so to speak. BUT, have you ever considered the number of perfectly good cartridges we have available to us that are 50, 75, even 100 years old and still going strong, and will do whatever it is you need done in a highly effective manner. For instance, before my unfortunate canoeing accident, I HAD the following in my gun safe, and shot them all quite a bit.

Handguns:
.45 ACP
.38 ACP
.38 S&W
.22 LR
.44 Remington Magnum
.38 Special
.357 Magnum
All 75-100 years old except the .44 Mag

Rifles:
.22 LR
.22 Hornet
.22-250
.222 Remington
.257 Roberts
.270 Winchester
.30-06
.44-40
.32-20
.33 WCF
.30 Remington
.30-30
.32 Special
.308 Winchester
6.55 X 55
7.62 X 54R
.303 Brit
All of the above I believe are at least 50-100 years old.

They do the job for me, I have no desire for a big ol' .300 Mangle'em Boominkicker. Just my dos centavos. Thanks.

[Old Ironsights]

You didn't have that accident on the PopoAgie did you? I gotta remember to bring my magnets next time I go fishing ...

[Old Savage]

You should never try to put a gun safe in a canoe.

[rjohns94]

seems an awful lot of accidents happen on this forum.

I do agree with you though.

.22, .357, 45-70 do it for me in rifle, .22, .357, .44sp/mag could easily do it in hand guns ( ive added a .475 to the lot. Can't forget about the 30-30 and 30-06 and .375 H&H as top of the heap even still. Add a .22 and 12 gauge and I could be happy. .22, 30-06, 375, 12gauge, could do ANYTHING well and has done! Atleast for my way of hunting, shooting, etc.

[Old Savage]

That is a good minimalist collection.

[jnyork]

Added three I had forgotten. Overboard in deep water in Boysen Reservoir.

[Old Ironsights]

Added three I had forgotten. Overboard in deep water in Boysen Reservoir.

All that rust must be why the River runs Red every spring... right?

[Bogie35]

You should never try to put a gun safe in a canoe.

bogie

[mescalero1]

That's where mine are

[J Miller]

The newest cartridge I have a gun for is the 7.62 NATO round.

There's nothing designed since then that I need.

Joe

[jnyork]

The newest cartridge I have a gun for is the 7.62 NATO round.

There's nothing designed since then that I need.

Joe

What does "need" have to do with it?

[Bullet Bob]

Good story - I'll need to do the same in a couple of months. That way, when "they" come for them, I'll be able to point to an old thread on the internet, telling how I lost all my guns (it was BIG canoe, I tell you!).

[O.S.O.K.]

Truth be told it can be done with a couple of .22LR's (handgun and rifle), a 45 Cal handgun, a 30-06 rifle of any kind and a 12 guage pump that accepts choke tubes.

That would be my minimalist line-up.

Of course, you could substitute any number of caliber choices in each category... like a .356 Win or .307 Win chambered levergun would do for the rifle very nicely as well.

[Griff]

I guess I have the minimalist collection:

Handcannons:
.25ACP (c. 1905)
.36 percussion
38 S&W (c.1899)
.38 Special/.357 Magnum (c.1899/1935)
.45 ACP (c.1904)
.45 Colt (c.1873)
.50 percussion

Shoulder arms:
7mm Rem Magnum (c.1962)
.30-30 (c.1895)
.30-06 (c.1906)
.40-90SBN (c.
.45 Colt (c.1873/albeit 1985 in carbines)
.45-70 (c.1873)
20 Guage
12 Guage

With the exception of the 7mm Remington & .357 Magnums, ALL are over 100 years old.

[tman]

i'd add the 40s&w and the .356wcf. the .40 in a glock is all you need for defense. out of the 94, the .356 has the range and power for all north american game.

[J Miller]

The newest cartridge I have a gun for is the 7.62 NATO round.

There's nothing designed since then that I need.

Joe

What does "need" have to do with it?

The newest cartridge I have a gun for is the 7.62 NATO round.

There's nothing designed since then that I need nor want.

There, I fixed it.

Joe

[Buck Elliott]

Yeah, I know I'm from another planet, but I just cannot understand why a man would want to go thru life without at least a couple guns (long &/or short...) chambered for the venerable .45 Colt cartridge.

Gun 'riters have been trying to bury the old warhorse for gnerations, and it WILL NOT die...!!! And for darn' good reason.

Just a nickel's worth from a guy who has lived with & by that caliber for many many snows...

[AJMD429]

Handcannons:
.25ACP (c. 1905)

...Sorry! I had to clean my keyboard off before reading further...!

[Bogie35]

Let's not forget the 35 Remington and the 44 Special!

My minimalist collection:

Handgun:
44 Special

Rifles:
35 Remington
22 Long Rifle

Shotgun:
12 gauge

bogie

[shdwlkr]

I used to have a lot of firearms but before answering this thread I had to check and it seems that I don't have much of anything anymore dang house rats got to my collection and now all I have is a shotgun, 22rf rifle and one pistol. I expect they will disappear soon too as the house rats are still active.
I was planning on handing some down to the grand kids but all that is gone now unless i can find more to replace all that has disappeared.

[t.r.]

I feel that magnums are the wrong choice for vast majority of modern hunters. Not just the recoil and less-than-ideal bullet performance concerns. Ammo cost discourages mastery of one's hunting rifle. How can a hunter shoot accurately at 275 yards (or farther) without practice, practice, practice?

Of all the new cartridges introduced in past 30 years, only the 338 FEDERAL and 338 Marlin Express have interest to me. But no new purchases are on my immediate horizon.

TR

[tman]

had hornaday used rubber-tipped bullets on the .307 and.356 and loaded them them to their light magnum specs, we wouldn't need the 308 and 338 marlins. the older ones would have made more sense.

[3leggedturtle]

I agree the older ones do everything you need. My newest cartridge is a 223, tho i also have the 222 and I like it better But then again whats newer a 256 Win Mag or the 223?

[Streetstar]

hmmmmm


If i had to limit myself to an older cartridge wish list------

.45 Colt -- carbines and handgun hunting and other fun stuff

.45 ACP -- personal defense type stuff

.30-30 and 45-70 (lever gun stuff)

.30-06 and .300 and 375 H&H (For long range and big stuff)

Bolt rifle in .220 Swift (for the small stuff)

It goes without saying that a .22 LR or three would work its way in there, as well as a 20 gauge

[RIHMFIRE]

i like to shoot the old timers...
22, 38-40, 44-40, 45lc, 30-30, 32ws, 38-55 & 06'

[Old Time Hunter]

What! Nobody shoots the 43 Mauser?????

[claybob86]

I guess I have the minimalist collection:

Handcannons:
.25ACP (c. 1905)
.36 percussion
38 S&W (c.1899)
.38 Special/.357 Magnum (c.1899/1935)
.45 ACP (c.1904)
.45 Colt (c.1873)
.50 percussion

Shoulder arms:
7mm Rem Magnum (c.1962)
.30-30 (c.1895)
.30-06 (c.1906)
.40-90SBN (c.
.45 Colt (c.1873/albeit 1985 in carbines)
.45-70 (c.1873)
20 Guage
12 Guage

With the exception of the 7mm Remington & .357 Magnums, ALL are over 100 years old.

Griff, I feel bad that all you have to shoot is a bunch of ol' worn out, obsolete firearms like that. Just drop 'em by here and I'll buy you some nice NEW ones!

[AJMD429]

had hornaday used rubber-tipped bullets on the .307 and.356 and loaded them them to their light magnum specs, we wouldn't need the 308 and 338 marlins. the older ones would have made more sense.

That's so true.

I was looking at the .308 Marlin and .35 Remington cases, and thinking "why didn't they just neck down the .35 Remington?" - or, for that matter, since they're using "special" bullets anyway, they could just have used SABOTs in the .35 Remington!

If I had time, I'd find some .308/.357 sabots, and load up some 150-grain gummy-tip 308's in them to shoot in my .35 Remington. If I could match the .308 Marlin ballistics, they'd probably give me a prize, and scrap their whole line of XLR .308's in favor of MY cartridge, don't ya think?

[DBW]

Since getting involved in leverguns I've kept it simple:

.30-30
.357/.38Spl
.44Mag/44Spl
.22LR

Aside from the .30-30 the latter three are my lever/sidearm combos.

I've got a 12guage shotty for giggles.

[awp101]

Since getting involved in leverguns I've kept it simple:

.30-30
.357/.38Spl
.44Mag/44Spl
.22LR

Aside from the .30-30 the latter three are my lever/sidearm combos.

Ya know, a 10"-14" .30-30 Contender barrel would give you a .30-30 sidearm...

[DBW]

Since getting involved in leverguns I've kept it simple:

.30-30
.357/.38Spl
.44Mag/44Spl
.22LR

Aside from the .30-30 the latter three are my lever/sidearm combos.

Ya know, a 10"-14" .30-30 Contender barrel would give you a .30-30 sidearm...

Geez, don't tell me that. Now I'm going to have to consider that option.

[awp101]

Since getting involved in leverguns I've kept it simple:

.30-30
.357/.38Spl
.44Mag/44Spl
.22LR

Aside from the .30-30 the latter three are my lever/sidearm combos.

Ya know, a 10"-14" .30-30 Contender barrel would give you a .30-30 sidearm...

Geez, don't tell me that. Now I'm going to have to consider that option.

Always glad to spread the disease!

Of course I don't do rifle calibers over .22 caliber in pistols anyway. One carpal tunnel surgery on each wrist is enough for me...

[Hillbilly]

25-35.... flat shooter....no recoil to speak off and fairly quiet from a 20 inch barrel. When I look at ballistics tables I find several other "modern' cartridges that can offer the same virtual numbers.

38-55 could replace several in the "modern" lineup as well.

J

[Bogie35]

had hornaday used rubber-tipped bullets on the .307 and.356 and loaded them them to their light magnum specs, we wouldn't need the 308 and 338 marlins. the older ones would have made more sense.

That's so true.

I was looking at the .308 Marlin and .35 Remington cases, and thinking "why didn't they just neck down the .35 Remington?" - or, for that matter, since they're using "special" bullets anyway, they could just have used SABOTs in the .35 Remington!

If I had time, I'd find some .308/.357 sabots, and load up some 150-grain gummy-tip 308's in them to shoot in my .35 Remington. If I could match the .308 Marlin ballistics, they'd probably give me a prize, and scrap their whole line of XLR .308's in favor of MY cartridge, don't ya think?

Yes I do! It's a great idea!

bogie

[6pt-sika]

I'm kinda wide open when it comes to cartridges !

I might wanna shoot something today that was first used in the 1870's and tommorrow I might want to shoot a cartridge that was turned loose this year !

I'm very very partial to the 32-40 on one end of the spectrum and on the other end the 338 Federal and 338 marlin Express have my attention and money shall we say !

There are a pile of things that I would still like to try ! Maybe not buy but be able to say i tried them ! Like some of the Maynard cartridges for example or the 50-110 WCF , or the 50-115 Bullard ! Also the R2 Lovell and the 22 Bluestreak ! None of that stuff was is less then 70 years old !

[6pt-sika]

Just for thought !

Just because somethings new doesn't make it bad !

And just because somethings old doesn't make it GREAT !

[BigSky56]

A 30/30 kills deer, elk and moose for me and takes care predators too and when I go to the east side it works for speed goats and prairie dogs. danny