“8x57 mauser”

There have been many visionaries in the firearms industry—the John Brownings and the Peter Paul Mausers—but we firmly believe that if for nothing other than the .357 Mag. and .44 Mag., Elmer Keith deserves inclusion into that group. The .357 Magnum is a sound and useful design, one that will continue to be enjoyed by shooters and hunters alike for decades to come.

While there are many classic wheelgun calibers that date back to the late 19th century—the .44-40 and .45 Colt foremost among them—the relatively modern .44 Rem. Mag. has a well-deserved place among the most effective developments for a revolver, and will undoubtedly remain there for our lifetime and beyond.

The .41 Rem. Mag. suffers from the lost-middle-child syndrome; it lives in the shadow of the both the .357 and the .44 magnums. But it deserves far better than that. Here's why.

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.

While there are many cartridges that can handle medium-sized game, the .243 Winchester sits at the top of the heap for good reasons: it’s accurate, easy on the shoulder and delivers enough energy for the task at hand.

In spite of the numerous developments in handgun cartridge technology over the last century, it seems that the John Browning designed .45 ACP is as valid and as ever, and we'd bet that assessment will be valid in another 100 years.

Though the .223 Remington has stolen the limelight—military adopted cartridges tend to do that after all—we owe a debt of gratitude to Mike Walker and his development. Without the .222, there would be no .223.

Both offer similar power levels, are suitable for similar-sized game and make a perfect all-around rifle for nearly all hunting scenarios. What makes or breaks the deal in choosing one over the other? Contributor Philip Massaro investigates.