American Hunter, Top ten hunting cartridges

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Ron Spomer’s Top 10
1. 12-Gauge
I’ll grant JJ this one based on versatility, but I’d hate to be limited to hunting big game with a slug gun. Boring! Maximum recoil, minimum range, mediocre accuracy. If JJ thinks the .30-06 Gov’t. is too boring a jack-of-all-trades, the 12-gauge beats it. But it will get the jobs done!
2. .22 LR
For all the reasons JJ mentions plus it was a pioneer in cartridge development. It would be the last rifle they’d pry from my cold, dead fingers.
3. .223 Rem.
In the right hands it’ll handle most game from small to very big. Cheap, fast, accurate, accessible, fun and effective. It’s a small-caliber .30-06, but more affordable.
4. 7x57 Mauser
Does everything the .308 Win. does, has killed thousands of elephants and everything smaller and was historically earth-shaking. Coupled with the Mauser M98 rifle, this round changed centerfire rifle performance more than any other.
5. .375 H&H Mag.
Actually more versatile than the .30-06, and about the same trajectory and range, just more punch.

By Jeff Johnston, Senior Editor

	.308 Winchester The 308 Winchester is probably the most accurate and efficient round ever devised. Compared to the .300 Win. Mag. or even the .30-06, for example, the amount of powder it burns is disproportionately less than the surprising velocities it produces from such a short case. Although some hunters believe it is underpowered, the nifty .308 is only 100 fps behind the .30-06. This lessens recoil, and in turn, enhances the shooter’s ability to shoot it well. And because the military uses the “7.62 NATO” en masse, ammo can be had on the cheap. It has proven itself time and again in competition, in war and in the field.
	.22 Long Rifle If I could have two rifles only, one of them would be a .22 LR. It is America’s most popular cartridge, period, and for good reason. You can shoot all day for pennies, and for small game like squirrels, rabbits and vermin, there is nothing better. It’s quiet, fun and good practice.
	.30-06 Springfield Why is the Aught 6 not No. 1? It is so good at everything, that it is the best at nothing (except ruling retail sales and killing nazis.) If your buddy asks what caliber rifle he should buy, but he doesn’t have a specific idea of what it will be used for, follow the Golden Rule and answer “.30-06.” It’s versatile, adequate, accurate and available anywhere in the world. If you don’t have one by now you are weird, but there is hope.
	.375 H&H Magnum If Africa is your dream, buy a .375 H&H and learn how to shoot it. You will be rewarded by only having to lug one rifle overseas. For the 4,000 ft.-lbs. of energy it can deliver, its recoil is not too bad, and its trajectory is flat enough to hold a maximum point-blank range of 250 yards. It is smooth-feeding, and not loaded hot enough to bind actions, yet it has the power to penetrate and kill the world’s largest game, including African elephant.
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