Why do you choose a particular cartridge?

[Pathfinder76]

I have a friend who says “cartridges are more alike than different” and I tend to subscribe to that reasoning. Yet tend to agonize over cartridge selection at times. I have regretted doing that more than once as it turned my focus from what really should have mattered. That is the rifle itself.

How do people here select a specific cartridge? Velocity? Power? Barrel life? Component availability? Platform availability? Dies you have on hand? Etc.

[elkhunter11]

It varies, for a big game rifle , velocity matters more than barrel life to me, for a target rifle , recoil and barrel life are considered more. If it comes down to two or three very similar cartridges, and I have dies and components for one, that will be a factor. I load all of my centerfire, so being able to buy factory loads at the local store is never a consideration. To start from scratch for a big game rifle, I would pick a bullet diameter and weight that interest me, and then look at cartridges that deliver the bullet at a velocity that I want, at ranges that I want. Then I look at component availability and go from there. For a go to big game rifle , I shoot customs, and most cartridges can be chambered in actions that I like. For an range rifle, the platform is important to me, as I shoot factory rifles for range practise.

[catnthehat]

For me, cartridge selection is not an exact science , except when it comes to rifles built for matches , Palma or Fclass for example .
The requirements of the particular match dictates the cartridge .

In a hunting rifle it comes down to several things with the cartridge it is chambered in , being not the least nor the most important .
A balance must be struck between the action ,cartridge , barrel length and sighting system , with the outcome being a rifle I can shoot comfortably .
I have never picked a cartridge for the fact that I thought it was the best, most powerful, accurate , etc ., because that cartridge would be a unicorn .
Cat

[pikergolf]

I own two centre fire rifles. I picked the .243 win. for coyotes, was dreaming of those 500 yd shots. Turns out most shots at coyotes are well under 100yds, so a .22 of some sort would have been a better choice. I am making a change to target bullets for it, hopefully that will cut down on damage.

My other CF is a .223 which I picked because I wanted a rifle for strictly targets. Our range only goes to 300 yds and it is cheap and fun to shoot, so I am happy with it.

So I guess you could say I put out the parameters and picked the best cartridge for the use. My parameters were off for the coyote gun.

[Scottmisfits]

Fr right now, my main consideration is recoil. Although my some is fairly stout, he's still 13. He manages recoil very well, has shot some moderate recol rifles, but going to the range or just out shooting, he just can't do it all day. I think even 20 rounds in a 308 is a good day for him. He owns a 243 but likes my Kimber in 308 for hunting.

2r3, 6.5 (I don't really care what variety), and 308 is what I have tended to lean towards. 30-06 has been there a couple of times. Next just may bea 223.

[cowmanbob]

For me it has more to do with rifle selection.

[58thecat]

I like wildcat and discontinued cartridges....because they are u inquest and not common but do just as well or better than over the counter cartridges.....like 6-284 or the mighty 30rem....

[220 Swift]

I shoot 30-06 because it’s common, easily available shells anywhere, easy to reload/buy supplies for , good power but not overpowered, small enough for antelope, Large enough for moose and elk.

The second one I purchased was 30-06 To match the first calibre I got from my dad when I was 16. I bought the second one being that I was 16 hours round-trip from home back in 2005.

[Don_Parsons]

Yuppers, find something that works for our needs and get at it.

The Firearm encyclopedia had 10.000 + cartridges to choose from,,, no shortage of picking 1 or more that suits the needs

👍

[Gade81]

My selection process is simple, has to be easy to shoot and has to shoot the mass amounts of ammo I have on hand. 308 and 223. Have had others in the past but not anymore


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[Dick284]

I read too much and I suffer from bad G.A.S.
That’s why I have bought, had built and sold too many rifles(yes this is a vice)
Currently my sweet hearts are a .280AI, 260Rem, and a 7x57
My 25’06 and .284Win are rather dusty right now, but I’m not selling this two beauties.
The .284 was an itch from way back, I was working retail sporting goods and a fellow came in with a Ruger Model 77 in .284Win, I sold him a scope and mounted it for him, and sold him some ammo, I was a bit curious as to this slightly obscure cartridge so I did some reading and researching, the fact you can get the velocities with 7mm bullets you can from a short action just turned my crank I guess, so I built one on a Rem 788 Left Hand and well I’m on my second barrel if that says anything....
The 25’06 was a wet dream about pounding coyotes on fence lines 440yds to 880 yds away, a left hand Sako AV in 30’06 fell into my possession and well it was a boring old 30’06 so I had an RKS gain twist 1 in 11.5” final twist tube fitted, those 85 gr Ballistic Tips sure did pile up the song dogs, a bit tough on pelts, but they died in a spectacular fashion none the less. Of course more reloading and experimenting found that 100 gr Partitions and later TSX’s were pretty damned good on deer, moose and elk as well, hell I even took a stud antelope with one of those 85’s too. But a peek with a borescope showed some fire cracking in the throat so that rifle is getting nursed along these days.( I really should get a spare RKS tube)
The rest is idle hands and too much reading, wanting, and lord knows some sort of affliction Freud would laugh at.

[CranePete]

I used to stand in front of my locker, gripped by indecision. No more. My cartridge selection, aided by more variety, is now based upon the what the tag is and where I’m likely to find it. Sniping for coyotes = 240 Weatherby, timber hunting for moose = 444 Marlin (thanks, Yvan), cut blocks for moose = 300 Weatherby. I guess I try to use what I feel is the right tool for the job.
CranePete

[Bushrat]

Guns can be an addiction for sure. Have bought, shot, then sold or traded about 70 new off the shelf rifles, 95% bolt actions in the last 15-20 years. Have no idea whats going to come home with me when I walk into a gun shop. Often it only takes a nice piece of walnut and the debit card magically appears. I have slowed down a bit in the last few years, mostly because our local shop closed and I don't get to the city to peruse the shops often, still have the odd weak moment though.

[1100winger]

I literally poured over ballistic tables be fore I bought my first rifle. Primarily an elk hunter back then, in the mountains, moderate distances. So the 300 WM was it. But I had a liking for historic too: 6.5 Swedish, 7x57, 45-70 and the unusual. So a few wildcats have come and gone. the collection is eclectic and now I hunt with a 280 and 45-70 lever. A few are just paper punchers. I have hunted with all of them - they have put down game. No right answer - I like them all.