Whats your favorite obscure caliber???

WyomingSwede · December 2003

Anyone else do any hunting with the old ones...

I favor the .300 savage in my model 99. I will put it up against any .308 ever made. Dont understand why the .300 savage got such a bad rap...perhaps its proponents are dying off and the model 99 is no longer being made. ( a real shame that.) .250-3000 Savage is another good one...killed off by the .243 I expect.

Another good obscure/wildcat/fading away is the .338-06. I had high hopes but only weatherby chambers it and it is now the age of the short magnum. Anyone that does have a .338-06 sings its praises but it is probably a dying round.

My newest baby is the .264 win Mag. I confess to being a 6.5 afficionado from way back, but I love this cartridge. It is like a .270 on steroids. Great choice of bullet weights and just flat out shoots. Another casualy of the short magum craze.

Do I count the 45-70 in this category...its an old one but seems to be making a comeback against all odds & God bless Marlin. Pooh on that wanna be .450 marlin round...

Anyone else got a take on this???

WyomingSwede

old06 · December 2003

I dont know how obscure this one is but the 35 Whelen its like it was in then it was out but I can tell you one thing it packs a punch stops anything just about in its tracks. 338/06 same thing almost a twin by the way I would take the 45 70 over the 450 Marlin also

psalms 16

woodsrunner · December 2003

I myself am partial to the odd and unusual.

I've always been a fan of the 250 Savage and 257 Roberts. I agree both are victims of the 243. I really wouldn't mind finding a model 20 Savage in either 250 or 300. Savage was only 60yrs ahead of the times when they came up with that one.

Currently I own and shoot a Marlin in 32/40. It's one of my favorite guns. I suppose my Krag is into the oddball category now too.

For years I've wanted a Winchester low wall or Stevens 44 in 25/20 Single Shot. Then I came accross a couple rounds of 25/25 Stevens ammo. The 25/25 is neat, a straight walled 25 caliber about 2-3/4 inches long. Now I've added that baby to my want list. What I really want is a 100-125 yd woodchuck gun that shoots black powder cartridges. A neat single shot that I could mount one of those long old fashioned scopes on.

If my finances ever improve a Axtell Sharps in 40/70 Sharps straight is on my wish list.

Also just about anything British and SxS or single shot chambered for a nitro express cartridge would be more than welcome in my safe. You could add the 404 Jeffery and 416 Rigby to the acceptable list too.

Woods

It's better to die on your feet, than to live on your knees.

cletus85 · December 2003

The .257 Roberts is my favorite "obscure" caliber, and have killed several deer with the cartridge. I wish it was chambered in more rifles. As a deer cartridge the .243 should never have overshadowed the .257.

BOBBYWINS · December 2003

Oh boy!!
I'm glad someone asked this question!

Although a little light for deer(so I won't go into how many
I've taken with it),my .222 Rem mag quit getting factory loads
several years ago.I don't reload,so I have I've had to rely on
a buddy to keep me supplied,but I'm starting to get a little
low on brass.Oh well,since another buddy gave me several hundred
rounds of .223,I guess I'll just have to go out and get one.[:p]

Happy New Year!!
BW

IT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.

Iconoclast · December 2003

.40-82 WCF - I had a M86 in this caliber and used it for everything from groundhogs to white tail. SWEET shooting rifle. I've never been a fan of lever actions, but I've had several M86 in a variety of calibers (.33 WCF, .38-56 WCF as well as the .40-82) and every one could shoot better than I. There's another member who has a .40-82 and has been impressed with its accuracy.

toolmaniam · December 2003

I agree with you on the 300 Savage, my Dad has a Remington 722 and a Savage 99 in the 300 Savage round. It's a accurate all around cartridge in short action rifles. Also another round that is becoming obscure is the .222, In my opinion it's the most accurate round I've ever shot.

A dead intruder cannot testify against you in a court of law!

If they're still moving, put another round in them!

Theguncounterkid · December 2003

gotta say the .218 Bee. So fun to shoot.
BTW Iconoclast, Do you have a line on any ammo for the .40-82?
I have one stashed, but shells are way scarce around here.
Thx,
-Kid

www.acebuyers.com

whiteclouder · December 2003

I have a pair of Savage 99s in 22 Hi-Power. Great "walking" gun for taking quick shots at rockchucks. Getting nearly impossible to find the .228 bullet anymore so I expect I'll retire the rifles when I do.

Clouder..

gap1916 · December 2003

41mag and the 10mm. I love them both.

Greg
Former
USMC
ANGLICO

JustC · December 2003

280 ackley improved. Obscure because it's a wildcat for handloaders only.

Performs to almost a 7mm mag range,..with less powder,..less recoil,..and longer barrel life.

why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
Got Balistics?

Warbirds · December 2003

7mm-300Win Mag. It's one fast, flat shootin' wildcat.

R/

Dave

How different the world would be if we could consult the veteran instead of the politician. - Henry Miller

n/a · December 2003

35 grain .224

"I dont care how thin you make a pancake, it still has two sides"

"A wise man is a man that realizes just how little he knows"

whiteclouder · December 2003

quote:Originally posted by Classic095
35 grain .224

Just curious. Who made that?

Clouder..

n/a · December 2003

Hornady, V-Max 35 Grain Ballistic tip, .224 , used in the .22 Hornet round. Winchester makes the .224 bullet in 42 grain, 55 grain, which are a bit heavy.

The 35 grain has an amazing expansion rate for such a small bullet.

"I dont care how thin you make a pancake, it still has two sides"

"A wise man is a man that realizes just how little he knows"

toolmaniam · December 2003

quote:Originally posted by whiteclouder
I have a pair of Savage 99s in 22 Hi-Power. Great "walking" gun for taking quick shots at rockchucks. Getting nearly impossible to find the .228 bullet anymore so I expect I'll retire the rifles when I do.

Clouder..

Try this link for brass and bullets
http://www.owlnet.com/quality/22 Savage Hi-Power.htm
This one here sells new ammo 5.56X52 is the designation
http://www.gunshop.com/jmar/jmar_orderform0703.pdf
A dead intruder cannot testify against you in a court of law!

If they're still moving, put another round in them!

Travis Hallam · December 2003

My Sako/Lazzeroni Warbird should count in this obscure catagory. I have had two and they both shot unbelivable loads. The first was a 168 J36 bullet by lost river that shot 3580 fps in a 6/10" group. I sold it and missed it so much I bought another. This one shoots a 150 gr lazerhead bullet about 3700 fps in one hole. Honestly do not think I can find a better cartirdge as far as perfomance. Price is the only drawback but the local gunsmith reloads them for me at about a cost of $1 a bullet for me, I supply the dies, brass and lazerhead bullets which cost a dollar a piece.
If more major rifle companies would start making lazzeroni loads it would really help on the price. Currently it is only Savage and Sako.

Mad Dog

n/a · December 2003

I'd like to get a .17 Remington, in a HB rifle.

Eric

All American Arms Company

Veteran Owned and Operated

whiteclouder · December 2003

Toolmaniam:

Thanks. I knew I could get imported bullets but at 50 cents each, I thank my good sense for buying all the stock a retiring dealer had about 35 years ago. The cases seem to last indefinately.

Clouder..

Mobuck · December 2003

.308 Norma Mag. Just to be different than all the .300 win mag guys. Making cases is a great pass time, too. Finally had to sell it because of shoulder problems.

Mobuck

elect1mike · December 2003

8 bore elephant gun lots of kick

bull.txt

col elect1mike Illinois
volinters RRG
I am a man but I can change if I have to,I guess.

Spring Creek · December 2003

250-3000
aka 250 Savage

REBJr · December 2003

7.62x54r

-Ralph

In the demonstable absence of evolutionary perfection, if some calamity is not to occur, we shall have to learn to live with ourselves as we are. Fast. -Tattersall

groundhog devastation · December 2003

222MAG!!!!! End of discussion! Not really the end, I'll elaborate! The 222Mag and 223 were products of a Remington engineer named Mike Walker. The gov't was looking for a round to work in their lighter semi-auto carry guns. Both the 222Mag and 223 were tested in proto-types and the 223 won out because it functioned more reliably due to the shoulder angle and short neck. It was giving up a bit(although not much) in velocity to the 222Mag but the gov't adopted the 223. The 222Mag saw a very limited production life in factory rifles but did enjoy a very well received welcoming to the BR ranks. Then somebody got the great idea to "neck it up" to 6mm! The 6x47 was born!! It was the darling of the accuracy crowd until the duo of Dr. Lou Palmisano an Ferris Pendall came up with a little cartridge known as the PPC!!!! The 222Mag is a stellar performer! Accurate, easy to load for, velocity attrible to it's intended purpose...varmints=enemies(some of you might not make that connection) ad just plain fun to shoot! With a good scope, the recoil is negligble enough that you can watch the varmints go spinning! LONG LIVE THE OBSCURE 222MAG! Ruger may revive the interest in this one! Their .204RUGER slated to hit the shelves in March 2004 is simply a 222MAG necked down to 20 caliber! The case is an inherently accurate case so this was a logical step down! GHD

cowdoc · December 2003

mine is an obsolete one....the 5mm rem mag when i was kid i shot a pile of p dog with that cartridge.

p3skyking · December 2003

All I shoot are obscure calibers.

11mm Mauser
11mm Murata
8mm Nambu
7.65 Luger
8mm JR
9mm Japanese revolver

I don't consider these obscure because they are commercially available;

7.7 Japanese
6.5 Japanese
8mm JRS
30/40 Krag

What men call a hero...is merely a man who is seen doing what a brave man does as a matter of course.
A man who is in love with learning is a man who is never without a bride, for there is always more. L'Amour

Warbirds · December 2003

Yes Mike, those are some OBSCURE calibers!

R/

Dave

How different the world would be if we could consult the veteran instead of the politician. - Henry Miller

Boomerang · December 2003

Not real obscure but I like the 7x57 Mouser and the 6x55 Mouser.[:D]

Boomer

"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as it is by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed"

NRA Life Member

FrancF · December 2003

45-120-3.25 [:D]

Proud Member of
The Secret Society of
Black Helicopter Pilots

groundhog devastation · December 2003

FrancF, Good one! I'm looking for a 40-65!!! GHD

moose56 · December 2003

Hunted the first time with a Model 99 Savage Takedown in 250-3000 and connected with a nice doe. I wish Remington would bring back the 5mm Mag rimfire, that was a nice gun for squirrels and groundhogs. Been kicking it around having it rechambered for the 5mm Craig. Also have a 50-70 in a Remington rolling block original rifle.

Moose

"I will follow the path of others some of the time, but most of the time I prefer to make my own path." - Mike Moyle

Smokin Guns · December 2003

'course I think the most "obscure" would be the Flobert Caliber...feller's will even outshoot the .17...[;)]...'specially if'n there's a breeze...[:0]

Alpine · December 2003

.22 Rem Jet
.225 Winchester
.264 Winchester

"If you ain't got pictures, I wasn't there."

Iconoclast · December 2003

Clouder, I may have some .228 bullets kicking around on a back shelf. I'll look if'n you're interested.

woodshermit · December 2003

22 Winchester Automatic

woodshermit · December 2003

22 Winchester Automatic

DancesWithSheep · December 2003

.401 PowerMag, .405 Win

BlueTic · December 2003

DaveW - I really like the sound of that 7mm-300 win. I shoot a .280 rem, but that would put a .284 165grn way over the 7mm - mag range and flat as hell. Do tell more - what type of rifle you got chambered for this and how many grns powder for your particular bullet? Do you downsize the necks yourself?

IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)

Gibbs505 · December 2003

You guessed it, the 505 Gibbs!![:D][8D]

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Bert H. · December 2003

1. 405 W.C.F. (I have an original Winchester Model 1885 high-wall in this cartridge).

2. 22 K-Hornet (I have an old Winchester Model 87 Winder Musket rechambered for this cartridge)

3. 222 Rem Mag (I have an original Remington Model 722, and a Model 700 BDL Varmit Special in this sweet shooting cartridge).

Bert H.

Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!

snowtigger · December 2003

308 Norma mag. 458 Win mag(I know it ain't obscure, but those who ENJOY shooting it are).

It ain't what you shoot, it's what you hit.

Whats your favorite obscure caliber???

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