Cartridges you just hate

[CastShooter]

Well, hate may be a strong word. But it makes for a good click-bait.

In any case, lately I have been running into people who, when asked, what rifle caliber they would like to buy now, reply .308 Winchester. Now, do not get me wrong, I not only like the .308 fundamentally as a cartridge and always wanted a rifle chambered in one, but I even own a few. However, having had and still owning several, every time I get one, I wonder why I bothered. I need one for Palma style/FTR matches. But for hunting, if I shoot .30 cal, I shoot .30-06. If I wanted more power and recoil, I'd shoot .300WM or .300WSM or .300 PRC. I do not want/need that. So ought-six it is. Pretty much same availability as .308, pretty much the same price, pretty much the same choice of bullets. Actually better I'd say. So why would anyone need or want the .308? Ugly ass, short cartridge.

I also do not like .243 Win. And when I remember it is based on .308, I dislike it even more. What do you need 6mm for anyway? If I was hunting smaller animals in Europe, I'd use 6.5 of some kind. Probably 6.5x57. Or 6.5x55. Or maybe even that 6.5 Creedmoor.

I hate .25-06, yet my buddy kills deer and elk with it at distance on regular basis.

I hate .270 Win. Just Weird caliber to me. Too much recoil and blast for what it is. Plus everyone loves it "sooo much".

I used to hate 6.5 Creedmoor without ever even firing or seeing one. Probably because everyone liked it "sooo much", like the .270. So, I decided to get one to be able to substantiate my "hate". Well, it turns out, it's falling into the same bucket as the .308. Nice, yet nothing special. Wanted to hunt with it this season but did not get out enough, so was not successful in filling my tags. So, jury is still out. But it only sends 140gr bullet at 2625 out of my 20" barrel. Switching to 130gr Terminal Ascent, I can send it at 2718fps, so good enough to 400m or so. But even if it kills deer well, I hate Short Actions and will go back to 7mm for hunting...wait, maybe that is why I do not like the .308 or .243. Maybe it's that one is really limited by the COAL of these. But at least I like the 6.5CM more than the .308 and will probably use it to replace 6.5x55 to punch paper and shoot occasional coyote.

I dunno. I also hate .416 Rigby. I like how it looks, I hate the recoil, muzzle blast and concussion.

I also do not like Weatherby cartridges, belted cartridges (except .375H&H, .458 Lott), magnum cartridges, big kickers - like the .416 (except .458 Lott and have yet to try .404 Jeffery), rimmed cartridges, any weird ones. I almost wonder why I like anything at all. Maybe I'm getting old and crusty.

I used to like .458 Lott but it's no longer with me. Same with .338WM and .300 WM. Who needs all that recoil and blast anyway? That .338 sure killed good though.

I do like .22 LR, 7x57, 7x64, 280 AI, 8x57, 9.3x62, 9.3x64, .375H&H (though once I shoot up all the ammo it's gone).

I also like 8mm-06, 338-06and 35 Whelen never even firing one of these - so you could say I like things based on 30-06, rather than .308. But I kind of like the 6.5CM, yet do hate that .25-06 and .25 or .277 anything.

I also like .505 Gibbs, .50 BMG not having fired either of these. So how do I know if I like them? Would probably hate the recoil and concussive blast.

I might like 7mm-08 even though it's based on .308, but then I'd probably go for 7mm SAW or 7 SAUM if I wanted a SA 7mm.

Now...Do NOT take this post as criticism of YOUR favorite cartridge (should it happen to be one of the ones I do not favor) but rather as a statement that I recognize I may have completely irrational dislike for some cartridges and still end up owning them, shooting them, but for some unknown reason still hating them. Then one tries to figure it out and comes up with some reasons or rationalizations behind the dislike. Yet it all seems false in some way. In the end I like that we have so many different cartridges to choose from.

However, the main reason for this post:
Do you also hate or dislike some specific cartridge or class of cartridges? For real reasons or just so? Are we nuts? Am I?

I never thought I'd find another person that has my tastes almost exactly. We only part ways on the 25-06.

I thought I was crazy, now I know there's at least 2 crazies. Thanks!

 

[CBH Australia]

View attachment 662950

No, not at all.
I have .308 and .300wm among others.

I have never owned a .30-30, they were popular here once but the so was 7.62x39.

I believe the .30-30 is great but is probably best used with open sights in close range hunting. Even with a red dot or low power scope it still probably best used within its limits.

I only say this because it’s a bit like the 6.5creedmore hype. Some consider it to be a big gun and the be all and end all. With the right ammunition I used accordingly they excel but neither are a big cartridge if you look a little closer .
Horses for courses.

 

[Rem700stw]

Not a fan of the 6.5 Man Bun/Creedmoor. Never could stomach the recoil from 416 Remington either. I love 6.5x55 and 416 Rigby. What can I say.

 

[One Day...]

The .222 still has a huge following in Europe because there are a lot of them, in countries where "military" calibers were illegal for civilian use until relatively recently (e.g. France, etc. before European Regulations "harmonization" i.e. adoption of German regulations). It probably killed more Roebuck in modern times than all the other small calibers combined. It is also quite accurate and has won more than its fair share of gold medals...

The 6.5 Creedmoor is nothing but an umpteenth iteration of the 6.5x54 Mannlicher, 6.5x55 Sweden, and other 6.5x52 Carcano, 6.5x50 Arisaka, 6.5×58 Vergueiro, etc. or more modernly .260 Remington. As such it does not deserve more attention than that. What tends to get people annoyed (me included) is the stupid launch marketing that led a whole bunch of idiots to confuse punching paper at 1,000 yards with zero remaining kinetic energy, and wounding Elk/Kudu-sized game at same distance...

As to the other "hate this one or that one", yeah, the 7 Mag is nothing but a noisy .280, which is itself nothing but a copy of the 7x64 which WAS a meaningful improvement over the 7x57 ballistics; and the .308 is nothing but an American plot to still have a US cartridge as the NATO standard after the .30-06 was deemed a bit too much (too long) for battle rifles, etc. etc.
Oh well, I love them all ......................................

 

[meigsbucks]

I think everyone is entitled to their choice of cartridges. As for me, I enjoy playing with different rounds. However, there are a few that “aren’t among my favorites”.
Although the few game animals I’ve shot with a .243 all died quickly and with one shot, I prefer .25’s and up. It is a great coyote round.
6.5CM, is a good deer round, but has been hyped up for everything. It really doesn’t do anything the 7mm-08 (a round I’ve been using since it’s inception) does as well or better.
I’ve never been a huge .308 fan (in rifles). I’ve owned four. One was exceptionally accurate (HK91) but was unfortunately stolen. Two others shot patterns, not groups and one that is an 1-1.25” grouper. Not really indicative of the accuracy reputation of the round. Additionally, I’ve always thought of the .308 as a .30/06 wannabe.

 

[flatwater bill]

I usually don't respond to these click bait topics......what is your favorite____________cartridge, color, movie star, or whiskey. But I must say.............the 25-06 is the most useless cartridge I have ever owned. (Ya, I bought two of them). And the only reason I'm saying this, is I have one of them still for sale. (or trade for a good 243)...FWB

 

[Thomas Rutledge]

I love the 10.75x68 because most hate it. Its been fun.

 

[CoElkHunter]

.22 birdshot. Anyone ever actually able to kill a bird with that stuff?

Last summer my son in law couldn't kill a rattlesnake in camp with his .44 magnum 2.5" barreled Ruger Alaskan with factory shot loads. He ended up killing it with a shovel. Go figure?

 

[CoElkHunter]

Where's Townsend @Bob Nelson 35Whelen? I'm sure he likes most any cartridge? LOL

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I usually don't respond to these click bait topics......what is your favorite____________cartridge, color, movie star, or whiskey. But I must say.............the 25-06 is the most useless cartridge I have ever owned. (Ya, I bought two of them). And the only reason I'm saying this, is I have one of them still for sale. (or trade for a good 243)...FWB

Which movie star and how much are you asking for her? I might be interested if she has good teeth and perky boobs.

 

[MS 9x56]

Any cartridge wearing a belt. Belts are for holding up pants or moving machinery. Any cartridge containing the word magnum. A magnum is a large bottle of wine or champaign. Any new cartridge claiming to be better than an already existing similar cartridge. It is just hype trying to sell something new that already works just fine.

 

[Ndczerwinski]

I used to any go after Winchester cartridges and hate anything that had Remington’s name attached to it, mostly because I felt like they produced inferior ammo and inferior firearms.

Since then I have expanded my horizons to own more than Model 70s and more than Winchester cartridges and I am pretty much open any anything that isn’t a 30-06 or a Weatherby. Never liked 30-06 because I was always a 308, 270, 300 win mag guy before and always hated the look of the double radiused shoulders.

 

[JES Adventures]

Not a fan of the 270 Winchester, had to blood trail too many bucks in the South Texas Brush Country back in my guiding days.

Our loaners at the ranch now are 308 and 300 Win Mag, seem to get the job done.

John Ed

 

[dneaster3]

Well, hate may be a strong word. But it makes for a good click-bait.

In any case, lately I have been running into people who, when asked, what rifle caliber they would like to buy now, reply .308 Winchester. Now, do not get me wrong, I not only like the .308 fundamentally as a cartridge and always wanted a rifle chambered in one, but I even own a few. However, having had and still owning several, every time I get one, I wonder why I bothered. I need one for Palma style/FTR matches. But for hunting, if I shoot .30 cal, I shoot .30-06. If I wanted more power and recoil, I'd shoot .300WM or .300WSM or .300 PRC. I do not want/need that. So ought-six it is. Pretty much same availability as .308, pretty much the same price, pretty much the same choice of bullets. Actually better I'd say. So why would anyone need or want the .308? Ugly ass, short cartridge.

I also do not like .243 Win. And when I remember it is based on .308, I dislike it even more. What do you need 6mm for anyway? If I was hunting smaller animals in Europe, I'd use 6.5 of some kind. Probably 6.5x57. Or 6.5x55. Or maybe even that 6.5 Creedmoor.

I hate .25-06, yet my buddy kills deer and elk with it at distance on regular basis.

I hate .270 Win. Just Weird caliber to me. Too much recoil and blast for what it is. Plus everyone loves it "sooo much".

I used to hate 6.5 Creedmoor without ever even firing or seeing one. Probably because everyone liked it "sooo much", like the .270. So, I decided to get one to be able to substantiate my "hate". Well, it turns out, it's falling into the same bucket as the .308. Nice, yet nothing special. Wanted to hunt with it this season but did not get out enough, so was not successful in filling my tags. So, jury is still out. But it only sends 140gr bullet at 2625 out of my 20" barrel. Switching to 130gr Terminal Ascent, I can send it at 2718fps, so good enough to 400m or so. But even if it kills deer well, I hate Short Actions and will go back to 7mm for hunting...wait, maybe that is why I do not like the .308 or .243. Maybe it's that one is really limited by the COAL of these. But at least I like the 6.5CM more than the .308 and will probably use it to replace 6.5x55 to punch paper and shoot occasional coyote.

I dunno. I also hate .416 Rigby. I like how it looks, I hate the recoil, muzzle blast and concussion.

I also do not like Weatherby cartridges, belted cartridges (except .375H&H, .458 Lott), magnum cartridges, big kickers - like the .416 (except .458 Lott and have yet to try .404 Jeffery), rimmed cartridges, any weird ones. I almost wonder why I like anything at all. Maybe I'm getting old and crusty.

I used to like .458 Lott but it's no longer with me. Same with .338WM and .300 WM. Who needs all that recoil and blast anyway? That .338 sure killed good though.

I do like .22 LR, 7x57, 7x64, 280 AI, 8x57, 9.3x62, 9.3x64, .375H&H (though once I shoot up all the ammo it's gone).

I also like 8mm-06, 338-06and 35 Whelen never even firing one of these - so you could say I like things based on 30-06, rather than .308. But I kind of like the 6.5CM, yet do hate that .25-06 and .25 or .277 anything.

I also like .505 Gibbs, .50 BMG not having fired either of these. So how do I know if I like them? Would probably hate the recoil and concussive blast.

I might like 7mm-08 even though it's based on .308, but then I'd probably go for 7mm SAW or 7 SAUM if I wanted a SA 7mm.

Now...Do NOT take this post as criticism of YOUR favorite cartridge (should it happen to be one of the ones I do not favor) but rather as a statement that I recognize I may have completely irrational dislike for some cartridges and still end up owning them, shooting them, but for some unknown reason still hating them. Then one tries to figure it out and comes up with some reasons or rationalizations behind the dislike. Yet it all seems false in some way. In the end I like that we have so many different cartridges to choose from.

However, the main reason for this post:
Do you also hate or dislike some specific cartridge or class of cartridges? For real reasons or just so? Are we nuts? Am I?

@Milan as he walks up and down the ammunition aisle at the store

 

[Aaron N]

For me it’s the 30-06, mainly because everyone has three (including me).

I do have a soft spot for 308’s though because I took my first deer with one, and 270 because it was my first rifle.

Now I tend to choose the obscure route, much to my dads dismay (he was doing my reloading)

 

[CoElkHunter]

@Milan as he walks up and down the ammunition aisle at the store

And he stops walking and becomes eerily quiet as he gazes at the assortment of 6.5 Creedmoor ammo. LOL

 

[Bonk]

I don’t care for any cartridges with the terms Weatherby, PRC, Creedmoore, AI, WSM, RUM, RemMag or WinMag in their name but I’ll give the .458 a pass.

OTOH, anything that has -06 or H&H in the name is fine with me.

 

[ftrovato]

I'm not a fan of the 357 Magnum.

I shot thousands and thousands of jacketed and my own cast bullets for this caliber.

My observation is the 38 special is great for practicing but the 357 has to fast of a snap to its recoil and doesn't deliver much energy or penetration on the other end....

Elmer Keith had it right when he designed and delivered the 44 Remington Magnum.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I was gonna say I have heard of it referred to as to as Rat shot.

@cash_tx No need to hate the .222, it’s a mighty round and was the go to in Australia for many years. It won’t die here as anyone older than me used them. I did own one, my brother still does and I have a mate who still shoots Roos professionally with a .222.
Most roo shooters used .222 into the 80,s when .223, military rounds and affordable rifles made the .223 make sense.
It’s still around though it wained in popularity and availability.

And, for @93marlin and others who just can’t like the 6.5creedmoor I’m in the same boat. I am not trendy, much less a trendsetter and not planning on owning one.
I actually believe it has its merits and availability is certainly one of those.
I’ve watched the comparisons on YouTube and I believe with the right load and firearm combinations it still has its merits used accordingly.
Myself, I don’t want one. I plan to have a .260rem for target shooting in defiance of not having a creedmoor.
What I don’t like is the nonsense claims and promotion of it being more than it is.
I was even told it will outdo any of the geriatric .30’s, when I asked how I did not get an answer.

There are a lot who don’t like .308. Like the .223 it has wide following in Australia. It was used extensively for full bore target shooting along with being offered in semi autos when they were available to responsible shooters. There must be tons of .308 sporters in use here because it just works and is available and affordable. It’s common as muck but it still does the job and for a one gun hunter relying on factory ammo it makes sense.

I don’t “Hate” any of the rifles. There are lots I would love to have and plenty I would pass over. It’s just about what suits your needs and style.

@CBH Australia
I used to have a lovely 788 REM in 222 until my son decided he wanted it more than me. His reasoning, dad you have the 22 Hornet can I have the 222. Hard to argue, at least it's still in the family.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I don’t care for any cartridges with the terms Weatherby, PRC, Creedmoore, AI, WSM, RUM, RemMag or WinMag in their name but I’ll give the .458 a pass.

OTOH, anything that has -06 or H&H in the name is fine with me.

@Bonk
So you must like the 35-06 aka Whelen and don't forget the 7mm/06, 25-06, 338-06
Bob