“6.5x55”

As a hunting cartridge, the 6.5-284 Norma has been touted as one of the best for game animals up to the size of elk.

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.

Other than the feral hog, the whitetail deer covers more diverse types of terrain than any other game animal, leading hunters to have a wide variety of favorite cartridges. Additionally, whitetail hunters are perhaps the most fervent defenders and proponents of their chosen cartridges, which can range from the .22 Hornet to the .45-70 Government—not to mention the shotgun crowd. How do you even begin a "Top 5?"

While felt recoil levels are somewhat subjective, across a wide spectrum, there are several cartridges that have garnered a reputation for being "sweet shooting." Here’s a look at our top 10 choices.

Which of these cartridges represents the wisest choice for hunters, and why should you prefer one over the other? Contributor Philip Massaro examines the pros and cons of each.

Here are four of the many reasons to hate the 6.5 Creedmoor.

If the two cartridges deliver the same velocities and both will fit in a short-action magazine, which makes the most sense for the hunter choosing a 6.5mm rifle? Contributor Philip Massaro examines the pros and cons of each.

So, apparently some of you felt left out in the first installment of this piece, and the powers that be have allowed me to extend the party, so as to include you in the festivities. Still, there’s no way to cover them all, and if your favorite didn’t make the list I suggest you pick a new favorite. Kidding, kidding…

Delivering superb accuracy and ruggedness at an attractive price point, Mauser’s new M18 Savanna features a savanna-colored polymer stock with soft grip inlays on at the pistol grip and fore-end and a threaded barrel for the addition of a suppressor or muzzle brake.