“.348 winchester”

Between the .348 Winchester and .358 Winchester, which cartridge is the better all-around choice for the hunter? Contributor Philip Massaro examines the pros and cons of each.

Hornady has added the classic .348 Winchester to its popular LEVERevolution line, using the 200-grain FTX bullet. With its proprietary Flex-Tip meplat, the FTX bullet is perfectly safe to use in the tubular magazine of the Model 71—and many other lever guns—yet offers the downrange benefit of a spitzer bullet.

What is it about a lever-action rifle that still appeals to us all?

What Winchester sought to do in 1958 was to provide those hunters who pursued the great bears and larger cervids of North America with a perfect choice for their endeavors, as well as developing one the most logical choices for an African light rifle. The result? The .338 Win. Mag.

If you’re looking for something out of the norm, which can be housed in a handy rifle that hits hard, give the .338-06 a look. If you spend a bit of time with it, you’ll become a fan rather quickly.

Metric cartridges have traditionally struggled in America, but even in the 1950s, the engineers at Winchester saw the benefits of the 6.5mm bore diameter. The 1958 release of the .264 Winchester Magnum in the Model 70 Westerner rifle saw a flat-shooting, hard-hitting voluminous case, perfect for medium-sized game.

If you’re attracted to .45-caliber cartridges for dangerous-game hunting, the .458 Lott is a serious contender for the top of the heap.

The .240 Weatherby Magnum is the fastest 6mm on the commercial market, exceeding the muzzle velocity of the .243 Win. and 6mm Rem. by 300 fps. If you’re the hunter who likes obscure cartridges, the .240 Wby. Mag. is a great choice for deer, pronghorn and similar-sized game.

The .22 Hornet was the first commercial high-velocity centerfire cartridge designed for varmints, predators and small-game animals, driving a 45-grain bullet to just about 2650 fps. And with a wide selection of factory ammunition, your rifle will remain well-fed.