Old Versus New Cartridges: Which Rifle Rounds Are Better?

[Talyn]

Shooters and hunters love to argue about cartridges. I suspect this began when two cavemen first squabbled over which rock had superior ballistic properties. Today, judging by all the jabs and memes on social media, you might conclude that rifle shooters occupy two camps: traditionalists and modernists.

Old Versus New Cartridges: Which Rifle Rounds Are Better?

Shooters and hunters love to argue about cartridges. I suspect this began when two cavemen first squabbled over which rock

athlonoutdoors.com

 

[belladonna]

IMHO as long as it does the job you want it to…great. I just don’t get caliber snobbery, but that’s just me. I have 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor and I don’t have an issue with either. Each to his/her own.

 

[Onewolf426]

Old and new are both relevant. Some are better at certain things than others. But none of them are obsolete. It is why we still have the bow and crossbow around after thousands of years, they are still effective and relevant today.

 

[ECS686]

It’s really hard to beat a 270 or 3006. I mean I get the 308 or other short actions but sometimes we chase things for little to almost no incremental improvement!

So what you want though

 

[Oldmountaiman]

I had a 308 Norma magnum and I believe it was the most brutal rifle I had ever handled.

 

[Grayfox]

The .308 is my most common rifle round in both semi-autos and bolt actions.
I do shoot a few other calibers, but they mostly just go with the rifle That I have designed for them. .30-06 in the Garands, .30-30 & .45-70 in lever guns. 5.56 in ARs.
I don't really have anything against all the newer calibers out there, but I just don't see the need for new calibers and other round to reload when what I have works fine for me.

 

[Oldmountaiman]

The .308 is my most common rifle round in both semi-autos and bolt actions.
I do shoot a few other calibers, but they mostly just go with the rifle That I have designed for them. .30-06 in the Garands, .30-30 & .45-70 in lever guns. 5.56 in ARs.
I don't really have anything against all the newer calibers out there, but I just don't see the need for new calibers and other round to reload when what I have works fine for me.

45-70 OSS love to have one

 

[dv8pnt]

I have various calibers but have taken to a Tikka 6.5 creedmoor that I won a few years back. Have shot quite a few doe with it including this one Saturday.

 

[Anchorite]

Is it the Indian, or the arrow?

 

[dv8pnt]

A guy that i work with said his boy hit multiple deer with a 6.5 and never found any of them. I said sounds like he needs more time at the range.

 

[Hertervillian]

I wouldn’t trade a 300 WM for a 300 PRC. But, if I were new to western hunting I would get the PRC.

I can’t think of a new cartridge that would make me trade out the old standard.

 

[Talyn]

While some traditional vs. modern cartridges have very similar performance the more modern types with the minimal case taper, sharp shoulders and no belts are typically more efficient designs.

PO Ackley had it right decades ago when he developed his designs with those attributes.

It's just took 30+ years for his approach to become mainstream.

 

[Jester560]

I aill stick with my 300 Win Mag, 30-30 and 454 Casull.