Favorite cartridge

coyote nose · Post by **coyote nose** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:16 pm

Just did a search with the title favorite cartridge, just to see what people like on this forum, and to see if I am out of touch with my choice. Amazingly, I coul not find a thread that dealt with that topic, so I will start it here. Forgive me if it HAS been covered before...I just could not find it. What is your ONE favorite cartridge....NOT necessarily the one you like best for self defense..or the one you like best for deer hunting..or antelope hunting. Not the one you find would suit you best for a survival situation...not your favorite handgun cartridge and your favorite rifle cartridge...you dont even have to own a gun in that cartridge (ie: 44 henry cartridge). just plain old what is your FAVORITE cartridge...the one that intrigues you the most for a whole host of reasons...and you can only pick ONE. Mine is simple, it is the .45-75 WCF cartridge. Always liked it...from way way back. Never got a gun in it until I bought the Chapparal 1876. Have a hundred or so different cartridges on display in my reloading room, but when i go to kill some time and look over the display it always seems the 45-75 is what I go to first.

WCF3030 · Post by **WCF3030** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:20 pm

Given you guidelines I'd have to say TR's 45-90.
Probably from reading to many of TR's books.
A close second would be the 50-70.

Ray Newman · Post by **Ray Newman** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:26 pm

.45-2.4" Sharps & .45-2 7/8" Sharps.

coyote nose · Post by **coyote nose** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:28 pm

hmmmm 50-70...awesome.
Ray, you can only pick ONE.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:30 pm

# 1, .45-70
# 2, .32-20
# 3, .30-06

Those are my favorites but the .45-70 Rules!

jb

Shooter973 · Post by **Shooter973** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:33 pm

Mine would have to e the poor, old 30-30 Win. I shot my first deer with one and have had a fondness for it ever since. I still shoot it a lot. I cast and shoot lead bullets almost exclusively for them and have a ball doing it.

I've pretty much given up hunting deer with a scope sighted rifle and now use a 30-30 or a large caliber handgun with open sights. Very fulfilling and a lot more challenging than a high power scoped rifle.

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:35 pm

.30-06

Otto · Post by **Otto** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:37 pm

Coyote nose,

What is the medal on the far left of the photo?

BTW my favorite cartridge is 45 Colt. That and .223/5.56 are about all I shoot anymore.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:37 pm

45-70

spaceman spiff · Post by **spaceman spiff** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:45 pm

.30-30 for me.

tman · Post by **tman** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:46 pm

.356 wcf

Lastmohecken · Post by **Lastmohecken** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:05 pm

Well, I just don't know if I can pic a favorite, bar none, according to the rules of the thread.

However, on the basis of most pleasing to the eye. I think it has to be the 375 HH Mag. It's the most beautiful, long, and slim, not fat and short like many more modern rounds. And it feeds like butter in a good boltaction.

However, if confined to leveractions, then I think my favorite is the 348 Win.
NO! Wait it's the 30/30, 45/70, 44mag, Oh I just can't do it, I can't choose.

Maybe it's the 30/30 after all.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:08 pm

Only one???? Dang, that's mean

Ok, then.... the Lowly .22

dkmlever · Post by **dkmlever** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:43 pm

.32 Win Spec!

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:51 pm

What is my favorite cartridge

The one,

The only,

.45 Colt.

First, foremost, and forever.

Joe

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:59 pm

I'd have to say 45 Colt.

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 6:00 pm

.303Brit
My first centerfire was a No4 Mk1 Enfield still have that gun.
You just have to love it. It started out as a Black Powder round in the late 1890's made the transition to smokeless and continued to make a name for its self as a military round until the 1950's. How many other rounds can say that.

DBW · Post by **DBW** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 6:08 pm

30 millimeter firing at a rate of 3900 rounds per minute.

In a smaller caliber I like the .30-30

Post by **Hobie** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 6:28 pm

I'm with Blaine .22 LR...

If I could expand favorites would include the .38-55, .357 Maximum and .45 Colt.

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 6:32 pm

44Mag

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 6:39 pm

.44 Magnum - small enough to use in a 'carry' gun if you had to, yet big enough that out of a rifle or carbine it will drop any whitetail out to 100 yards or perhaps more. Lead bullets work, as do jacketeds. Cases last forever. Flexible with powders.

A 'stepdown' to .44 Special or Russian can be done if needed, and there are wildcat 'stepups' with longer cases. No bottleneck cases to shoot the bullets, unfortunately. (How about a .430 Rigby...?) The .45 Colt DOES have more factory-standard flexibility there with the .45 Colt, .454 Casull, and .460 S&W series, but .44 Mag is still my favorite.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:08 pm

.22lr

45-70

in that order. would grab the .357/.38 though for just one. Does that make sense? I just can't imagine anyone not having a .22 that likes to shoot. The 45-70 has been on so many platforms, seen so much history and is such a wonderful effective round for anything I will ever shoot at. However, the .357/.38 is a constant companion to me and bridges the gap between the two. If I could only have one, it would be that. But my favorite is the .22 for so many reasons

morgan in nm · Post by **morgan in nm** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:16 pm

For a bolt gun, .257 Roberts.
Levergun=45-60 and 25-20(hard to choose just one)
Handgun=44mag

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:41 pm

.32-20 WCF

coyote nose · Post by **coyote nose** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:06 pm

Otto, the medal on the far left is a replica indian wars service medal I picked up on ebay several years ago.
To those that are responding to this....remember, the question was not "if you were limited to one cartridge what would it be", the question is which cartridge is your favorite for whatever reason. There is a difference. My 45-75 choice of favorite cartridge is not what i would pick if i was limited to one cartridge to shoot/hunt/etc. Nice to see though that the old 45-70 has such a following.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:07 pm

colo native · Post by **colo native** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:10 pm

25cfw, 40-65, n 38spec

stinkycat · Post by **stinkycat** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:57 pm

22 long rifle use it more than any other these days. Next would be .357 mag and 30wcf.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:15 pm

I have several favorites...

while I'm known to my friends as:

And the 2nd largest number of guns in a single caliber are in .45 Colt;

my most intriguing and humbling cartridge is the .40-90 Sharps Bottleneck;

a gun chambered in my favorite cartridge is still in my future, yet I already have reloading components and ammo to feed this illusive 9th wonder of the world: the .32-40!

pharmseller · Post by **pharmseller** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:40 pm

.348 Win
Of Course

P

Post by **Old Savage** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:48 pm

Right now the one that intrigues me the most is the 25-35.

flb · Post by **flb** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:51 pm

I would like to say 30-30 but if I could grab one gun forever it would be my .357 Ruger Security Six.

Post by **Old Savage** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:54 pm

Since it is about one cartridge you could also grab a carbine and be very well served for most purposes between them - excellent choice.

Rimfire McNutjob · Post by **Rimfire McNutjob** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:01 pm

22 Long Rifle.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:21 pm

I shoot a lot of .357 and .22 but I have to say straight-walled cartridges leave me cold. So that leaves me with 30-30 and 35 Rem. The 30-30 shoots great but I'm not into the rim, so by process of elimination I guess it's 35 Rem. BUT, and this is a BIG BUT, it's not practical for hunting unless I can get a good copper load for it, so we will have to see. If it turns out to be good only for silhouette and plinking, then I'll have to concentrate on 30-30.

No I'm not going to move just to shoot a specific cartridge.

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:31 am

30 WCF, handy saddle guns. danny

44LVR · Post by **44LVR** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:52 am

Got a lot I love.

But only 1 favorite. The 44 magnum. I use it nearly everyday from home defense to a trail gun. I use it to take bunnies and grouse to bull elk.

I probably have around 60 bullet moulds. At least 40 of them are for the .44. Out of maybe 10,000 bullets stacked, boxed and sitting on my bench ready to be loaded, I'd bet 8500 or more are sized .431.

44

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:09 am

Nice display and collection of old cartridges you have there.

You and I would get along just fine.

Your moulds with integral handles also get my attention. I still use some old H&G's from time to time. Oh! favorite cartridge!

44 Spl. ---Most likely stems from my earlier readings of Elmer Keith---Nothing like holding a fine Triplelock, New Service, or SA Colt in your hands and reading that inscription on the barrel.--------------------Sixgun

86er · Post by **86er** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:12 am

450/400 3"

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:21 am

44 Special

Pathfinder09 · Post by **Pathfinder09** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:30 am

My favorite cartridger is the .405 Winchester. It can do everything with the right load and bullet., and close behind would bethe .45-70 Govt.

Noah Zark · Post by **Noah Zark** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:36 am

Without a doubt, my favorite handgun cartridge is the 45 ACP, and my favorite rifle cartridge is definitely the 6.5x55 Swedish with the 30-06 a close runner-up.

Noah

Cimarron Red · Post by **Cimarron Red** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:20 am

.45-70, without a doubt!

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:31 pm

The little 22, earns alot of respect from me. For it's size it'll do a whole lot more!

Nath.

Idahoser · Post by **Idahoser** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:47 pm

For every criteria you could think of, you'd have a different cartridge. How could you possibly pick just a "favorite"...

I think if you whittle it down to one gun, most folks would be holding a .22 or a .357. Is that their favorite?

If you go by how many rounds are already in the house, I think it's a safe bet most of us would say .22. Favorite?

.22 isn't an impressive-looking cartridge. .44 Mag is, .30-06 is, 20mm Vulcan is. .50BMG is. I always thought the .30-30 was kinda ugly. If it's not a spire point, then it needs to be a straight-wall.

I'd probably like .45 Colt. I got rid of a .454 Puma because I was slow being able to start reloading and ammo was ridiculous otherwise. I still think I'd take .44 Mag over .45 anyway.

Aliens had a 10mm caseless. Would that be a cartridge at all? And those smart-guns. What the heck was that little thumb-drive of a magazine?!

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:39 pm

Being that is is one cartridge only, I would have to say the 45 Colt. In a rifle or handgun, it can do it all.

-Tutt

oldgoodstuff57 · Post by **oldgoodstuff57** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:10 pm

32 rimfire

71fan · Post by **71fan** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:20 pm

348 Winchester, of course, with 44 mag a VERY close second.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:20 pm

This week it is the .32-20 .

500 pieces of Starline brass will be here
Thursday according to UPS tracking. Next week????

Aussie Chris · Post by **Aussie Chris** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:31 pm

Nice collection Coyote Nose.

Hard choice but have to say 30-30 Winchester

Followed closely by .30.06 sprg and 38-55 Winchester

Chris