“.300 remington ultra magnum”

If you like to hunt North America’s biggest game, take a long look at the 33 Nosler; it puts an exclamation point at the end of the sentence.

The Remington Ultra Magnum series likely represents the most speed we will see from commercial cartridges, but which offers the best performance for the hunter? Contributor Philip Massaro examines the pros and cons of each.

The .348 Winchester gives a good balance of striking energy and moderate recoil, and among the rimmed lever-gun cartridges, possesses impressive terminal ballistics.

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.

If you’re market for a rifle chambered in one of these short-action magnums, which is more readily available and dependable? Contributor Philip Massaro examines the pros and cons of each.

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.

If you want something a bit unique with a definite cool factor, give the .280 Ackley Improved a long look.

Grand old cartridges like the .30-06 Sprg. and the .270 Win. still kill game just as well as they ever have, but many of the new cartridges out-perform them, especially at extended ranges. Here are a few reasons why.