The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 26, 2013, 08:55 PM   #1
ATPBULLETS
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 31, 2012
Location: Land between the Lakes
Posts: 267
What cartridge has suprised you the most?

What cartridge has suprised you the most?

Lets say for example you buy a rifle/pistol in a certain caliber that did not own or have never worked up loads before..... and after you got into the reloading and shooting/hunting..... the caliber/cartridge just really impressed you...?

Impressed can mean...... low recoil for what it does.... flatter shooting... accurate...etc...
ATPBULLETS is offline  
Old February 26, 2013, 09:05 PM   #2
wncchester
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 1, 2002
Posts: 2,832
? I've been shooting for more than 65 years and reloading for everything reloadable for 48. After a short period of learning, back when I was new, I don't think anything has surprised me; ballistics charts predict what will happen when anything goes BOOM pretty well if you compare what the charts say. The particular case shape does less for accuracy than any other factor, IMHO.
wncchester is offline  
Old February 26, 2013, 09:14 PM   #3
reynolds357
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 10, 2012
Posts: 6,158
.264 Win Mag. It is capable of so much more than the published data states. I have loaded up stuff for it that chronoed 4060. Thats about 350 over what the books say its good for. It is also very accurate even at hyper velocity.
reynolds357 is offline  
Old February 26, 2013, 09:17 PM   #4
myfriendis410
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 30, 2011
Location: Lompoc California
Posts: 274
The .243. I figured it to be good for large varmints/small deer. With the solid copper and Hodgdon Superformance powder it is a deep penetrating high performance round. It worked great on the last hog I plugged; through and through and he ran 30 yards. I was very impressed.
myfriendis410 is offline  
Old February 26, 2013, 11:15 PM   #5
CS86
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 28, 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 224
I have really enjoyed a bolt action .223 with a heavy barrel. I haven't shot a lot of different caliber, but it has a very light recoil and I've worked loads up that shoot very well. Its just been a fun gun for me, and I like that my nephew or daughter can shoot it. My hopes are to get a .243 and have a similar experience.

Another that has recently really impressed me is a .38 special Ruger GP100 (I think a 3 or 4" barrel). All I can say is wow! Comfortable, balanced, accurate, light recoil, and easy.

Last edited by CS86; February 26, 2013 at 11:21 PM.
CS86 is offline  
Old February 26, 2013, 11:28 PM   #6
Big Yac
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 23, 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 422
after I started reloading for the 25-20 I found it a nice little gun for groundhogs, etc to like 100 yards. Its pretty accurate too, not a tack driver or anything but plenty accurate
__________________
"...and that's the bottom line, because Big Yac said so."
Big Yac is offline  
Old February 26, 2013, 11:28 PM   #7
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
 
Join Date: June 25, 2008
Location: Austin, CO
Posts: 19,578
.22-250 with 35gr Nosler LF... 4,435fps has to be seen to be believed. It's the closest thing there is to a handheld laser.

.243Win impresses me with it's versatility. Very few cartridges are legitimate groundhog to elk guns without being overkill on one end or marginal on the other. I was never a big fan until I started researching the "best" deer round. I dug and dug and every rock had the .243 under it. I did eventually go with .243AI instead but mainly because there's no downside for a handloader. Either way, it's incrdibly versatile. 55gr varmint bullet at 4,000fps or 80gr Barnes TTSX at 3,500... kill 'em all.
__________________
Nobody plans to screw up their lives...
...they just don't plan not to.
-Andy Stanley
Brian Pfleuger is offline  
Old February 26, 2013, 11:29 PM   #8
Mike Irwin
Staff
 
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,367
Oddly enough, the 6.5 Japanese Arisaka.
__________________
"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza

Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.
Mike Irwin is offline  
Old February 26, 2013, 11:36 PM   #9
shootniron
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 16, 2011
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,599
The .243...it is very close to a jack-of-all-calibers...

I think the Barnes bullets was all it was ever lacking.

With this said, I seldom hunt with one.

Last edited by shootniron; February 26, 2013 at 11:44 PM.
shootniron is offline  
Old February 26, 2013, 11:41 PM   #10
Dan Newberry
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 3, 2012
Location: Wytheville, VA
Posts: 216
another vote for the .243 winchester...

this group was shot during one of our long range courses by a lowly Savage 110 (pre-accutrigger)... with a bit of glass bedding and a free floated barrel... and an OCW handload, I should add.


...actually, that 3 shot group was shot by 3 different shooters... the rifle was performing so well that others wanted to try it out...

And from my Douglas barreled .243 in 8 twist...



The .243 is not as forgiving in the handloading department as say, the .308 is, but when it's right, it's right...

Dan
__________________
www.BANGSTEEL.com
Practical Long Range Rifle Courses...
Optimal Charge Weight handload consulting
Dan Newberry is offline  
Old February 26, 2013, 11:50 PM   #11
FrankenMauser
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 25, 2008
Location: In the valley above the plain
Posts: 13,392
.444 Marlin
It is an incredibly versatile cartridge.

And, 8x57mm
A great cartridge. It's a shame it never caught on in North America.
__________________
Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.
FrankenMauser is offline  
Old February 27, 2013, 02:51 AM   #12
david_r
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 9, 2013
Posts: 131
357SIG. Oh wait. It surprises everyone else on the firing line.
david_r is offline  
Old February 27, 2013, 03:13 AM   #13
Hammerhead
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2004
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,432
The 30-30.
I shoot it in a 22" NEF Handi single shot so I can use just about any .308" bullet. Even with the old style case (tapered, rimmed & shallow shoulders) it always delivers respectable accuracy with most every bullet & load I try.

When I can shoot 2" groups at 100 yards with cast bullets or 1" groups with full power jacketed ammo with an inexpensive rifle and an old school cartridge, I'm happy.
Hammerhead is offline  
Old February 27, 2013, 04:13 AM   #14
Aaron1100us
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 19, 2011
Posts: 235
Re: What cartridge has suprised you the most?

7.62x54R, first rifle I owned bigger than a .22lr. Shot 30-30 and .308 before. I love the kick and muzzle blast from the 54R.
Aaron1100us is offline  
Old February 27, 2013, 06:31 AM   #15
hooligan1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 18, 2010
Location: Independence Missouri
Posts: 4,582
25-06, has been wonderful so far but like these other fellas picked, I also like the .243 and its repeatabilty.
__________________
Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.
hooligan1 is offline  
Old February 27, 2013, 07:16 AM   #16
Magnum Wheel Man
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 26, 2006
Location: Southern Minnesota
Posts: 9,333
"the" one that suprised me the most was the 22 Hornet, with the addition of a faster twist barrel... I did an expirimental custom revolver in that set up, & was so impressed, I did the same 1 in 9" twist on a Ruger 77 - 22 Hornet... 68 grain bullets are my favorite in the FT Hornet in both the 6" revolver & the rifle...

the 8 X 57 suprised me in recoil ( especially in the old military straight stock carbine guns ) back 20 years ago, my FIL asked if I'd sight in one of his guns... I thought it was an honor... in reality, after about 30 rounds through the gun on the bench, the result was a 6" bruise on my shoulder... t-shirt, straight stock, steel butt plate, bench shooting, & 8 X 57 = bruise...
__________________
In life you either make dust or eat dust...
Magnum Wheel Man is offline  
Old February 27, 2013, 08:55 AM   #17
chiefr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 27, 2010
Location: AR
Posts: 1,401
50-70 Springfield. The first US Military centerfire cartridge. I have also been in awe of the accuracy of the Allins and rolling block that fire this old black powder round.
chiefr is offline  
Old February 27, 2013, 09:50 AM   #18
zplinker
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 21, 2011
Location: way out here
Posts: 262
22 Cheetah. With 40 gr. Nosler ballistic tips, I've run it over 4700 fps, but it groups better at 4600, so that was the prairie dog load. They just disappear sometimes!
zplinker is offline  
Old February 27, 2013, 09:58 AM   #19
MarcB
Member
 
Join Date: January 7, 2013
Posts: 41
Another vote for the 264 mag. 2nd place the 220swift.
MarcB is offline  
Old February 27, 2013, 10:15 AM   #20
twobit
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 25, 2010
Location: Coyote Creak, SW Texas
Posts: 597
45 Colt is my favorite handgun and levergun caliber. I only started shooting it about five years ago, which is new for me considering I have been shooting for forty-seven years now.
__________________
Twobit,
Strive to live up to the opinion that your dog has of you.
twobit is offline  
Old February 27, 2013, 10:21 AM   #21
Water-Man
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 23, 2008
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 2,126
6.5x55SE. IMO there's nothing better for all around honors.
Water-Man is offline  
Old February 27, 2013, 10:29 AM   #22
myfriendis410
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 30, 2011
Location: Lompoc California
Posts: 274
The other experience I had that was a real surprise was shooting the Sharps in 45/70. This rifle was a gift for my 50th birthday and I had always wanted one to work with cast bullets. After "going to school" on bullet alloys, casting techniques and lube recipes I spent over a year at the bench shooting a variety of smokeless powders under them (no BP--been there done that). When I hit on the right combination I was putting five rounds in ONE HOLE, and using a tang sight to boot, at a hundred yards. THAT was eye-opening! Those old-timers could really shoot, even without fancy optics.

So I learned two things: a peep sight can work as well as a scope (at least to 300 yards) and the first cartridge rifles were excellent platforms for building an accurate rifle.
myfriendis410 is offline  
Old February 27, 2013, 10:54 AM   #23
kraigwy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 16, 2008
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 11,061
375 H&H

All around cart. for any game in the world.

Accurate and flat shooting (velocity and trajectory is similar to the 30-06)

Good bullet selection. Conventional 375 bullets don't open up fully on light game such as antelope and small deer so there is little meat damage, yet give you all the penetration and expansion needed on heavy dangerous game.

Works well with cast bullets, giving you the velocity of the 30-30 with little leading.

Jacketed bullets can easily be made using a modified bullet mold and 3/8 OD Copper tubing.Making the 375 one of the cheapest rounds to load.

__________________
Kraig Stuart
CPT USAR Ret
USAMU Sniper School
Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071
kraigwy is offline  
Old February 27, 2013, 12:40 PM   #24
rg1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 6, 2001
Posts: 1,125
300 Blackout. Using .223 brass to form Blackout brass, 30 caliber bullets, and pistol powders all in a AR15 style rifle. Doesn't feel right to mix up all the above components but it sure is fun to shoot.
rg1 is offline  
Old February 27, 2013, 12:42 PM   #25
ScottRiqui
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 27, 2010
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 2,905
Which cartridge has surprised me the most?

I'd have to say it was the .40 S&W I accidentally fired out of my .45 1911.
ScottRiqui is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:29 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.09644 seconds with 10 queries