The myriad selection of rifle cartridges today has a metric ton of overlap, duplication, and some downright silly designs. Some of these designs boast wonderful claims, but not all of them measure up. In order to be overrated, you have to be rated at all, so let’s leave some of the more obscure designs off the menu.
As we've mentioned a few times before, 2016 marks the 150th Anniversary for the cumulative Winchester brands. As you might expect, commemorative product releases are coming—some have already dropped, like the 150th Anniversary Model 73 we saw at SHOT Show 2016. Next up on the list is Winchester Ammo's recently announced custom-built, collectible cartridge-firearm boards. There will be five in all.
It’s as big as the Grand Canyon, it’s right at home when chambered in a classic lever gun like the Winchester Model 1886, the Marlin Model 1895 or a classic Sharps falling block, and like America herself, it’s big enough to handle Alaska. Meet the "Most American" rifle cartridge: the .45-70 Government.
If a new rifle cartridge is not supported by one of the main ammunition manufacturers, it doesn’t seem to get much traction. This is unfortunate, specifically in the case of the .25-45 Sharps, because it provides an easy-to-obtain ballistic advantage over the two most popular AR-15 chamberings: the .223 Rem. and the .300 Blackout.
Cartridges that start with “.35” have never really caught on in America, but one stamped “Whelen” is enjoying a resurgence in popularity among hunters.