Skip to main content

Top Ten Most Widely Used Hunting Cartridges (Part 3)

Top Ten Most Widely Used Hunting Cartridges (Part 3)
These cartridges represent some of the most widely used hunting cartridges in North America.
.308 Winchester

The .308 Winchester (NATO 7.62x51mm) is among the most proven and well know cartridges in the world today. The .308 followed a similar birth and life cycle as its parent case the .30-06. The .308 came into existence due to military demand for a shorter more efficient cartridge that could produce the same ballistics (or do the same work) as the .30-06. Interestingly, though the .308 was produced because of military demand, it was introduced to the public in 1955 as a hunting cartridge several years prior to NATO’s acceptance of the 7.62x51mm.

Loading data for the .308 Winchester includes bullet weights from 100 to 208 grains with velocities from 2,400 to 3,425 feet per second. This produces energy from 2,200 to 3,040 foot-pounds and a maximum of 73 foot-pounds per second momentum. Like the .30-06, the .308 is the parent case for several other cartridges like the .243 Win, .260 Rem, 7mm-08 Rem, .358 Win and many Wildcat cartridges.

.243 Winchester

The .243 Winchester is an extremely versatile small-bore cartridge. The .243 Winchester is based off of the .308 Winchester and was made available to the public around 1955. In our opinion, the .243 is one of those hunting cartridges whose true potential is just now being discovered. Its mild recoil, excellent trajectory and good velocity coupled with modern bullet structures give this cartridge the potential of taking animals from fox to elk.

The .243 can be loaded with bullets from 55 to 115 grains with velocities of 2,900 to 4,030 feet per second. This produces a range in energy from 1,800 to 2,190 foot-pounds and a maximum of 47.5 foot-pounds per second momentum. Because if its mild recoil, many refer to the .243 as a great women’s or youth rifle. However, many trophy animals have been taken by very competent and robust hunters using this cartridge.

.22-250 Remington

The .22-250 Remington is a superior varmint cartridge and is well known for its long range capabilities and, where legal, it is a strong favorite for deer hunting. The .22-250 was created by necking down the .250 Savage, creating a .22 caliber 250 case or a .22-250. Like the .243 Win, the full potential of the .22-250 is just starting to be realized with the new bullet structures, powders, bullet weights and firearm configurations just recently available to the hunting world. Many simply think of a .22-250 as a super fast cartridge that propels a 50- or 55-grain soft-point lead bullet.

The .22-250 can be loaded with bullet weights from 35 to 80 grains and achieve velocities from 3,000 to 4,350 feet per second. These loads deliver a range in energy from 1,400 to 1,810 foot-pounds with a maximum momentum of 36 foot-pounds per second. Bullet structures are available from nonexpanding solid brass bullets to bullets built to expand so rapidly their names are coined with TNT, Grenade and other such descriptions.

Continue reading the story >>

The Top Ten list is provided by the Cartridge Comparison Guide: http://www.cartridgecomparisonguide.com




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Gear

Dryshod Evalusion Hunt Boots Keep Whitetail Hunters on Top of Their Game

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Gear

Lew's Custom Pro Gen 3

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Other

Light up the Salt

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Fishing

Caring for the Catch

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Fishing

Snook on the Hook

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Guns

TriStar Cobra III Field Pump Super Compact .410

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Gear

Federal Premium Freight Train Copper Sabot Slug

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Fishing

Saltwater Setup

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Fishing

Jacks to the Max

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Gear

Beilue's Best from ICAST 2024: Baits & Tackle

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Gear

Beilue's Best from ICAST 2024: Rods

Finesse tactics continue to have impact on new bass gear. Of course, not everything in bass fishing is driven by finesse...
Gear

Beilue's Best from ICAST 2024: Reels

Game & Fish Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Game & Fish App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use