Odd cartridges you fell in love with...

Magnum Wheel Man · August 10, 2011, 07:51 AM

can you list a couple odd cartridges you load & or shoot & why you like them???

I'll start...

22 Hornet ( fast twist )...

I got the idea a long time ago, thinking about the 30 carbine, using a faster twist barrel & a heavier bullet... the semi auto carbine action was'nt as conductive to changing, so I thought the Hornet might be a good starting point... I started with a Taurus Raging Hornet I already had, that had a monster 10" full underlug barrel & was so muzzle heavy with the tiny bore, that I didn't shoot it much, even though I liked the Hornet cartridge, I started by removing the barrel, & fitting a 6" Dan Wesson barrel shroud to the big bull... next I chose a chunk of 1 in 9" twist 223 barrel & threaded it to the gun... I started with 40 grain bullets in factory loadings, just to make sure the gun would shoot factory cartridges well... it did, & I moved up in weight as far as 68 grain bullets all with good results... as good as the 6" barrel was shooting, I just had to do the same 1 in 9" twist barrel on a Ruger 77-22 Hornet, & that rifle shoots great as well... I've settled on a 40 grain, 55 grain & 68 grain loading that shoots well in both guns, loading out as far as the rotary mag will accept...

10 mm Magnum...

this started with my Automag 4, & 1000 Starline cases... since I hate crawling around on the ground chasing "any" brass ( & especially custom brass like these ) the Contender barrel seemed a natural... & several years later I picked up a S&W 610 ( shoots 40 S&W & 10 mm with moon clips ) & now 10 mm Magnum as well... this 6" barrel stainless revolver has turned out to be one of my favorite double actions

50-70 Gov.

while maybe not that odd... more like obsolite... I've really grown to love the big bore stuff... I shoot a ton of 45-70... but if I could convert all my 45-70's to 50-70 I probably would... my only gun chambered in that cartridge right now is a custom Martini single shot... but I'm wanting a Contender barrel ( though I'll have to watch load levels ) & or another rifle in the worst way...

I have several others, as I load over 60 different cartridges, but at the risk of boring you guys, I'll stop there & wait to hear what some of your favorite oddballs are...

jmorris · August 10, 2011, 08:34 AM

7mm BR, almost every load I have used is under 1 moa and more than half are one hole.

458 socom, with a suppressor and 400+ grain bullet it's silly how much hogs hate it.

FrankenMauser · August 10, 2011, 03:03 PM

8x57mm - In the US, this poor cartridge is looked down upon, and has long been cast aside as obsolete. But, the rest of the world, and a few of us in the states recognize its real potential. I blew up my last Mauser in 2008 (intentionally), but I've been longing for a replacement (preferable built on a Ruger M77 Mk II

).

7.62x54R - I can hand load to match the venerable '06, in a rugged rifle that was designed to be beaten, abused, and operated by the lowest common denominator. My M38 makes a great brush gun, but 7.62x54R deserves plenty of respect on its own.

And, of course:
6mm Pedersen - It's a super tight-chambered .243 Winchester, with a standard throat. I love it, because I created it. (Okay, it was sort of also created through a mistake by my gunsmith.)

mehavey · August 10, 2011, 03:55 PM

45x3-1/4" Sharps.

Took me forever to figure out what it liked to eat, but it now shoots under MOA using aperature/iron sights w/ a pure lead/600gr paper-patched Ballard over 90gr Fg/10gr 4759.

A modern 45-70 will put it to shame, of course.
But the Sharps draws a crowd when it goes off.

Scorch · August 10, 2011, 03:57 PM

22 Savage High Power- because I bought a pristine Savage 1899 takedown so chambered.
22 Newton- because I can.
7X57- because I love the ballistics and low recoil. Kills the beasties dead dead dead and just goes POP. I have been thinking about a 7mm BR for pretty much the same reasons for a couple of decades now, but not seriously enough to actually do it. Very economical on powder and performs as well as a 270.
8X57- because there is no reason to burn 5% more powder out of a 30-06 to get the same performance. And because I just have a thing about metric cartridges.

I also used to reload:
6.5-06
32-20
8mm Rem Mag
8X56R
9X57
375 H&H
11mm Mauser/11X60R

oneoldsap · August 10, 2011, 05:14 PM

.358 Win.

RaySendero · August 10, 2011, 05:56 PM

For me it's the 9,3x62 Mauser!!!

**Mike Irwin** · August 10, 2011, 09:53 PM

.25-20

.32-20

.32-40

.300 Savage

6.5x50 Arisaka

Geezerbiker · August 10, 2011, 09:58 PM

The .30 WCF or .30-30 be cause it's so available and has such a long history. The .22 K-Hornet but it's a very efficient round and just so unique...

Tony

Sport45 · August 10, 2011, 10:57 PM

7.7x58 Arisaka and .375 Winchester.

The cartridges that convinced me to start reloading!

Crankylove · August 10, 2011, 11:06 PM

.22 Hornet-Does all the local varmits just as well as most of the larger .22 centerfires, but with less recoil and noise.........and is just plain fun to shoot.

.358 Winchester-Decent range and energy for the areas I hunt (I like the heavier bullet, even if it is at lower velocities), and I specifically wanted a bigger bore Elk rifle without "Magum" in the name, or a belted case. I dont mind a bit of recoil, but I don't really enjoy it, and don't need something that will beat me to death just to prove how manly I am.

7.62x54R-Good all around cartridge. From rabbits up to Elk, it does it all. My Mosin Nagant looks like crap, but shoots POA=POI out to about 350 yards, and is pretty versatile when it comes to reloading.

.32 S&W/.32 S&W Long-Really only got involved with these two after getting my SP101 in .327 Federal Mag. Great fun for target practice, and lots of options to reload.............and those little .32 S&W's are so dang cute.

One of these days I would really like to get a Sharps in .45-90, and a 1895 Winchester in .405 Winchester or 7.62x54R.

Ideal Tool · August 10, 2011, 11:08 PM

Hello, I never before had come across a cartridge that gave me so much trouble tooling up for, but once all the bugs were worked out.. I really like it & it's FUN..The .236 (6mm) Winchester-Lee navy.
.32 WCF
.25-25 Stevens
.40-50 Sharps B.N.
.40-70 Sharps Straight
.22 Hornet
All the above ctgs. are loaded with cast lead-alloy bullets.

kraigwy · August 10, 2011, 11:20 PM

25-20 in Remington M-25 pump action

44-90 Sharps Bottleneck - Remington Rolling Block

7.62X38 Rimmed for the Nagant pistol (not good for much but fun to reload and shoot)

mavracer · August 11, 2011, 06:43 AM

38-40 and 38-55.

Maxem0815 · August 11, 2011, 06:51 AM

43 Spanish 38/55
43 Egyptian 44/40
577-450 Martini 38/40
10.4 Vetelli 32/20
7.62 Nigant 351 Self Loader
50/70 Gvt
8mm Lebel
43 Baumont
44-55 Ballard

Mace

Magnum Wheel Man · August 11, 2011, 07:50 AM

lots of neat cartridges out there... several of them I reload for as well

right now my retired machinist buddy has talked me into a 6.5 Arisaka carbine he has... we're srill working out the details ( he has 2 die sets, one standard, & one he custom made to the chamber dimensions... appearently they are often quite big... maybe to make them more reliable in muddy conditions ??? but I'm inclined to go with his custom dies to keep from overworking the brass... speaking of which, I think I'll be getting a bunch of cases he made out of 35 remington cases )

one other that has really interested me, & I want to try to do is the 577 Snider... I have a set of loading dies... this same buddy had a carbine with some "other" wood on it, but I ended up selling it for him, as the chamber was bigger than my dies... looking to get a tighter chamber reamer & a couple barrels I was wanting to do a double rifle on a vintage strong side by side 12 gauge I have

larry60 · August 11, 2011, 07:08 PM

.358 Norma Magnum

TXGunNut · August 11, 2011, 07:57 PM

375 Winchester because it was a beautiful rifle with a cool name; Big Bore. Invested in dies and a lifetime supply of brass. Then I decided it made little sense to shoot a 98% gun with growing collector value, let alone modify it with aperture sights or a scope so my old eyes can see to sight it. Bummer. My one and only safe queen.
45-90 because someone rechambered a black powder rifle marked ".45-70". I'll get my .45-70 Sharps someday but this is fun, if frustrating.

Hawg · August 11, 2011, 08:12 PM

44-40. I started reloading for it because of the history. It's a quirky cartridge to learn to reload but a piece of cake after you learn the ins and outs of it. It's a real pleasure to shoot and its easy to see why it was so popular for so many years.

Dr. Strangelove · August 12, 2011, 12:41 AM

Not odd, maybe, certainly rare to see, in this (GA) part of the world anyway - 8mm Remington Magnum.

My brother bought a 700 chambered for it, we load for it, it's a fun gun. We can load 150gr light loads all the way up to 220gr loads that look and feel like a battleship broadside.

It's a very versatile round, shame it never really made it...

flintshooter · August 12, 2011, 10:47 AM

.348 Winchester

Macantic · August 12, 2011, 12:04 PM

My Wife....she was a 22short when i met her,now she's a 44 special.

CherokeeT · August 12, 2011, 10:08 PM

32-20

farmerboy · August 13, 2011, 12:08 AM

The old faithful 30-30. So much history. I love reloading for and shooting this gun

darkgael · August 13, 2011, 03:27 AM

These two. Both Martini actions:

577-450 and the .310 Cadet.

Pete

August 10, 2011, 07:51 AM	#1
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	Odd cartridges you fell in love with... can you list a couple odd cartridges you load & or shoot & why you like them??? I'll start... 22 Hornet ( fast twist )... I got the idea a long time ago, thinking about the 30 carbine, using a faster twist barrel & a heavier bullet... the semi auto carbine action was'nt as conductive to changing, so I thought the Hornet might be a good starting point... I started with a Taurus Raging Hornet I already had, that had a monster 10" full underlug barrel & was so muzzle heavy with the tiny bore, that I didn't shoot it much, even though I liked the Hornet cartridge, I started by removing the barrel, & fitting a 6" Dan Wesson barrel shroud to the big bull... next I chose a chunk of 1 in 9" twist 223 barrel & threaded it to the gun... I started with 40 grain bullets in factory loadings, just to make sure the gun would shoot factory cartridges well... it did, & I moved up in weight as far as 68 grain bullets all with good results... as good as the 6" barrel was shooting, I just had to do the same 1 in 9" twist barrel on a Ruger 77-22 Hornet, & that rifle shoots great as well... I've settled on a 40 grain, 55 grain & 68 grain loading that shoots well in both guns, loading out as far as the rotary mag will accept... 10 mm Magnum... this started with my Automag 4, & 1000 Starline cases... since I hate crawling around on the ground chasing "any" brass ( & especially custom brass like these ) the Contender barrel seemed a natural... & several years later I picked up a S&W 610 ( shoots 40 S&W & 10 mm with moon clips ) & now 10 mm Magnum as well... this 6" barrel stainless revolver has turned out to be one of my favorite double actions 50-70 Gov. while maybe not that odd... more like obsolite... I've really grown to love the big bore stuff... I shoot a ton of 45-70... but if I could convert all my 45-70's to 50-70 I probably would... my only gun chambered in that cartridge right now is a custom Martini single shot... but I'm wanting a Contender barrel ( though I'll have to watch load levels ) & or another rifle in the worst way... I have several others, as I load over 60 different cartridges, but at the risk of boring you guys, I'll stop there & wait to hear what some of your favorite oddballs are... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

August 10, 2011, 03:57 PM	#5
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	22 Savage High Power- because I bought a pristine Savage 1899 takedown so chambered. 22 Newton- because I can. 7X57- because I love the ballistics and low recoil. Kills the beasties dead dead dead and just goes POP. I have been thinking about a 7mm BR for pretty much the same reasons for a couple of decades now, but not seriously enough to actually do it. Very economical on powder and performs as well as a 270. 8X57- because there is no reason to burn 5% more powder out of a 30-06 to get the same performance. And because I just have a thing about metric cartridges. I also used to reload: 6.5-06 32-20 8mm Rem Mag 8X56R 9X57 375 H&H 11mm Mauser/11X60R __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

August 10, 2011, 05:56 PM	#7
RaySendero Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2010 Location: US South Posts: 857	Odd cartridges you fell in love with... For me it's the 9,3x62 Mauser!!!

August 10, 2011, 09:53 PM	#8
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,388	.25-20 .32-20 .32-40 .300 Savage 6.5x50 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.

August 10, 2011, 10:57 PM	#10
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	7.7x58 Arisaka and .375 Winchester. The cartridges that convinced me to start reloading! __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

August 10, 2011, 08:34 AM	#2
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	7mm BR, almost every load I have used is under 1 moa and more than half are one hole. 458 socom, with a suppressor and 400+ grain bullet it's silly how much hogs hate it.

August 10, 2011, 03:55 PM	#4
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,894	45x3-1/4" Sharps. Took me forever to figure out what it liked to eat, but it now shoots under MOA using aperature/iron sights w/ a pure lead/600gr paper-patched Ballard over 90gr Fg/10gr 4759. A modern 45-70 will put it to shame, of course. But the Sharps draws a crowd when it goes off.

August 10, 2011, 05:14 PM	#6
oneoldsap Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2009 Location: I live in the foot of the Green Mountains of Vermont Posts: 1,602	.358 Win.

August 10, 2011, 09:58 PM	#9
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	The .30 WCF or .30-30 be cause it's so available and has such a long history. The .22 K-Hornet but it's a very efficient round and just so unique... Tony

August 10, 2011, 11:06 PM	#11
Crankylove Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2008 Location: 8B ID Posts: 1,753	.22 Hornet-Does all the local varmits just as well as most of the larger .22 centerfires, but with less recoil and noise.........and is just plain fun to shoot. .358 Winchester-Decent range and energy for the areas I hunt (I like the heavier bullet, even if it is at lower velocities), and I specifically wanted a bigger bore Elk rifle without "Magum" in the name, or a belted case. I dont mind a bit of recoil, but I don't really enjoy it, and don't need something that will beat me to death just to prove how manly I am. 7.62x54R-Good all around cartridge. From rabbits up to Elk, it does it all. My Mosin Nagant looks like crap, but shoots POA=POI out to about 350 yards, and is pretty versatile when it comes to reloading. .32 S&W/.32 S&W Long-Really only got involved with these two after getting my SP101 in .327 Federal Mag. Great fun for target practice, and lots of options to reload.............and those little .32 S&W's are so dang cute. One of these days I would really like to get a Sharps in .45-90, and a 1895 Winchester in .405 Winchester or 7.62x54R. __________________ The answer to 1984 is 1776

August 10, 2011, 11:08 PM	#12
Ideal Tool Junior member Join Date: October 6, 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,080	Hello, I never before had come across a cartridge that gave me so much trouble tooling up for, but once all the bugs were worked out.. I really like it & it's FUN..The .236 (6mm) Winchester-Lee navy. .32 WCF .25-25 Stevens .40-50 Sharps B.N. .40-70 Sharps Straight .22 Hornet All the above ctgs. are loaded with cast lead-alloy bullets.

August 10, 2011, 11:20 PM	#13
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	25-20 in Remington M-25 pump action 44-90 Sharps Bottleneck - Remington Rolling Block 7.62X38 Rimmed for the Nagant pistol (not good for much but fun to reload and shoot) __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

August 11, 2011, 06:51 AM	#15
Maxem0815 Junior member Join Date: May 23, 2011 Posts: 216	43 Spanish 38/55 43 Egyptian 44/40 577-450 Martini 38/40 10.4 Vetelli 32/20 7.62 Nigant 351 Self Loader 50/70 Gvt 8mm Lebel 43 Baumont 44-55 Ballard Mace

August 11, 2011, 07:50 AM	#16
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	lots of neat cartridges out there... several of them I reload for as well right now my retired machinist buddy has talked me into a 6.5 Arisaka carbine he has... we're srill working out the details ( he has 2 die sets, one standard, & one he custom made to the chamber dimensions... appearently they are often quite big... maybe to make them more reliable in muddy conditions ??? but I'm inclined to go with his custom dies to keep from overworking the brass... speaking of which, I think I'll be getting a bunch of cases he made out of 35 remington cases ) one other that has really interested me, & I want to try to do is the 577 Snider... I have a set of loading dies... this same buddy had a carbine with some "other" wood on it, but I ended up selling it for him, as the chamber was bigger than my dies... looking to get a tighter chamber reamer & a couple barrels I was wanting to do a double rifle on a vintage strong side by side 12 gauge I have __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

August 11, 2011, 07:08 PM	#17
larry60 Member Join Date: February 3, 2011 Posts: 46	.358 Norma Magnum

August 11, 2011, 07:57 PM	#18
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	375 Winchester because it was a beautiful rifle with a cool name; Big Bore. Invested in dies and a lifetime supply of brass. Then I decided it made little sense to shoot a 98% gun with growing collector value, let alone modify it with aperture sights or a scope so my old eyes can see to sight it. Bummer. My one and only safe queen. 45-90 because someone rechambered a black powder rifle marked ".45-70". I'll get my .45-70 Sharps someday but this is fun, if frustrating. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

August 11, 2011, 08:12 PM	#19
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	44-40. I started reloading for it because of the history. It's a quirky cartridge to learn to reload but a piece of cake after you learn the ins and outs of it. It's a real pleasure to shoot and its easy to see why it was so popular for so many years.

August 12, 2011, 12:41 AM	#20
Dr. Strangelove Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2008 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 1,436	8mm Rem Mag Not odd, maybe, certainly rare to see, in this (GA) part of the world anyway - 8mm Remington Magnum. My brother bought a 700 chambered for it, we load for it, it's a fun gun. We can load 150gr light loads all the way up to 220gr loads that look and feel like a battleship broadside. It's a very versatile round, shame it never really made it... __________________ Just remember, when you pull the trigger, the bullets come out going very, very fast. So make sure to keep the weapon pointing away from you.

August 12, 2011, 10:47 AM	#21
flintshooter Member Join Date: April 1, 2011 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 46	.348 Winchester

August 12, 2011, 12:04 PM	#22
Macantic Member Join Date: June 18, 2011 Location: Raleigh,NC Posts: 30	My Wife....she was a 22short when i met her,now she's a 44 special. __________________ Served in the U.S.A.F. (jet engine mechanic) Kel-Tec P3AT Don't Leave Home Without It!

August 12, 2011, 10:08 PM	#23
CherokeeT Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2008 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 273	32-20 __________________ God Bless America US Army, NRA Endowment TSRA Life, SASS

August 13, 2011, 12:08 AM	#24
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	The old faithful 30-30. So much history. I love reloading for and shooting this gun

August 13, 2011, 03:27 AM	#25
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	oddballs These two. Both Martini actions: 577-450 and the .310 Cadet. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member