Most overrated cartridges

[bow-n-head]

I have 2 .243's, and I have seen them take down elk numerous times. 90 gr. burger bullets in a 243 has a bc over .4

[bow-n-head]

I really like gun bashing arguments :chuckle:to get everyones take on cartridges. I will never buy a 30.06, and probably a few others, but I despise the 30.06, I think it is because of the people who own them always brag about their 06, whitch doesn't compare to my ultra mag.

[Bigshooter]

Understood... but if you're using a standard action... you could add another 150-200 fps to those numbers by stepping up to the 7mag case. Use of the 7mm case costs nothing, and the gains are significant.

And, for what it's worth... the only .338/06 I've seen break 2750 with a 200 was an AI version. Most book loads are around 2650-2700.

With my 338-06 I get just about 2800 with 210grain with a 25inch barrel.  I have seen a lot of data where there getting almost 2900fps with a 24inch barrel.  My 338-06 I had built on a M70 acation.  If I would of used a 700 action I wouldn't be afraid to increase my pressures and see if I could get 2900fps.  

Stepping up to the 7mm case is the 338 mag and i'm a puss when it comes to recoil.

[Curly]

I'm surprised about the high amount of votes for the ultra mags.   If a guy wants to shoot looooooooooong range they are great. 

[BC CHASER]

 

[Rgrady35]

I like my 7mag.

[catwithboost]

I like my 7mag.

[madmack76]

very true your more than welcome to come over and test it out your self i supply the ammo my dughter will shoot my 300wsm but wont touch the 308 or 270 dont know what it is but it kicks way less

[JoshT]

very true your more than welcome to come over and test it out your self i supply the ammo my dughter will shoot my 300wsm but wont touch the 308 or 270 dont know what it is but it kicks way less

Not possible... unless it has a brake, or weighs about 15lbs.

[superdown]

I voted 30-06 i am just so sick of hearing about it. it's like there was never another hunting round ever conceived.

[bobcat]

I don't seem to hear much about the 30-06 anymore. All I hear about is the Ultra Mags and even more so the Short Mags. The Short Mags are undoubtedly the most overrated cartridges of all.

[bearpaw]

The Short Mags are undoubtedly the most overrated cartridges of all.

bobcat, nice observation....I used a loaner 300 short mag on an overseas hunt one year so I wouldn't have to take guns with me. That particular gun was a sweet shooting Model 70 Win. and did a great job. But, actually the ballistics are close to identical with a .300 WinMag and for that reason I never figured out what the big deal was. The 300 winMag is inherently accurate anyway and catridges are much cheaper and easier to find in strange places.

Of all the short mags, the 270 WSM made some advancement over existing .270 rounds. It beat Jack O'Connors 270 by about 150 fps but only beats the 270 WBY by 25 to 50 fps.

More than anything, they overhyped the use of a short action and it was a good sales manuver by the rifle company's that really helped their sales! 

In the last 5 years there have been several rifles jam on quick reloads that were badly needed. In every instance I can think of, it involved WSM calibers. Some brands of guns are worse than others. But those short fat cartidges can cause problems. They shoot well, but they can be a problem at times.

Many of the calibers we already have are equal to, or outperform them anyway.

[actionshooter]

The Short Mags are undoubtedly the most overrated cartridges of all.

I have to defend my beloved 7WSM. The idea behind the short mags is magnum performance in a short action rifle. A lot of people don't care about a short action rifle, but I wouldn't have a sub 6# in a long action magnum caliber.
I think they are great if you have them for the intended purpose.

[bearpaw]

You are right the WSM guns can be built a little lighter and they do shoot well....but no one can argue, the manufactures really sensationalized them in their very successful effort to increase rifle sales. You made a great choice in that caliber, but I think people are saying it's not as big of improvement in their eyes as what the manufacturers made the WSM's out to be.

The WSSM calibers are even more over rated, they were in my opinion a dissapointment. I think it was earlier in this thread a couple of us mentioned that the 25 WSSM should have been a WSM. That might have been a screamer, but there must be a valid reason they opted for the WSSM case for the .25.

[andrew_12gauge]

the .25 wssm with factory loads has the exact same ballistics as a .25-06 pointless in my opinion