Underrated Calibers | TheaterFire

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DeliciousFrosting402@reddit

257 Roberts seems to have faded but I remember someone who swore by it.

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No-Wrangler3702@reddit

5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum.

at one point there were a lot of cartridges that were a step above the 22LR in power. 22 extra-long, .25 Stevens, 22 Remington special, etc

Most went extinct. 22 WMR teetered at the edge of extinction, but made a comeback in the 1990s-2000s, and that lead to the 17 HMR.

Well back in the 1960s Remington introduced a competitor, the 5mm mag rimfire. It was superior to the 22 mag, but never got as popular. I

It's the round that should have made a resurgence in the 1990s.

Like the 17 HMR, the 5mm RRM was a necked down 22 WMR case with a higher pressure max (24k psi for 22 WMR, 26k psi 17 HMR, and 33K psi 5mm RRM)

At .204 caliber it splits the size difference between 22 and 17. It's standard 38 grain bullet had slightly more energy(360 ft/lbs) than the 22 WMR 40 grain (310 ft/lbs ) and with more velocity plus superior ballistic coefficient was flatter shooting. 30 was the other common weight, very comparable to the 17 HMR 20 grain, but a 25 grain version would have more velocity, energy, and BC than the 17 grain 17 HMR

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Grand_Cookie@reddit

16 gauge

7.62x25

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DayHot2168@reddit

I've got an old bolt action Mossberg 16ga and that shit hurts about as bad as shooting slugs through my pump action 12ga Mossberg.

I can't say I am a huge fan.

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Cliffinati@reddit

7.62 Tok is a ton of fun to shoot. Its insanely high velocity for a pistol

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Francois_the_Droll@reddit

Does that translate to the shooting experience though?

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Cliffinati@reddit

Yeah it's very snappy, especially since the Tok is literally just a Soviet compact 1911

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DayHot2168@reddit

1903 pocket hammer. Not 1911. The Tok shares nothing in common with the 1911, but at least looks visually similar to the 1903 pocket hammer.

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jaxxson99@reddit

I had a tt-33 for shits and giggles, recoil impulse felt similar to a lcp in 380. Real snappy and unpleasant to shoot, not painful but it was never something I reached for on a range day. Granted it was more of a problem with the pistol design than the round itself. Sold the gun and I don’t miss it at all.

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-E-Cross@reddit

The pressure variance is wide enough to land a 747 in too

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alkatori@reddit

I'll give my 3 favorite comblock calibers a nod.

7.62x25
9x18 Makarov
7.62x39

x39 is pretty popular but I'd like to see more support still.

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A_Queer_Owl@reddit

.38 Super Comp is what the FBI should've developed and adopted in the 90s, not .40S&W.

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raz-0@reddit

9x23

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A_Queer_Owl@reddit

yes, those are the dimensions of .38 super.

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raz-0@reddit

No 9x23 is its own cartridge and while similar in size they are different. Also 9x23 runs at 55k psi instead of 36.5k. It’s extra zippy. About an extra 100fps vs .38 super +p. Loading 124gr.

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rabiddonky2020@reddit

I love 38 super. The RIA 1911 is sweet in 38 super

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SmoothSlavperator@reddit

Real shooters know that 16ga is not underrated. Unless you hunt upland, you're not aware.

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Leafy0@reddit

7.62 tokarev also comes to mind for me, why has no one loaded it with AK bullet and made basically 300blk that can load through a pistol grip. I guess you could also say it would be to 5.7 as 300blk is to 556.

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ShadowDancer_88@reddit

I wish my M57 sights were anywhere close to POI. They're ridiculously low.

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TeddyRooseveltGaming@reddit

If you get a chance try out a CZ-52! Same caliber and they’re really good in my experience

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JPLEMARABOUT@reddit

7,62 Tokarev is always the caliber that come to my Mind When I got this asked lol.

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robinson217@reddit

I bought a 16 gauge side by side at a pawn shop and its my very favorite for clays. I just wish the ammo were cheaper. Its got more punch than 20 gauge but less recoil than 12 gauge. Perfect sweet spot. Damn shame its not more popular.

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DayHot2168@reddit

I picked up a Ruger 5.7 recently and it's loads of fun to shoot.

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sqlbullet@reddit

9x23 or hot 38 super. I run super comp brass and load up to 45k PSI. I can meet/beat 357 Sig ballistics and keep 9mm mag capacities. Seems like it would be the best in a modern 2011.

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DogsAreMyFavPeople@reddit

A lot of USPSA open guns are 38 super 2011s. The combo fucks hard but the guns are always finicky as hell and I think the pressures are part of the problem.

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tacotacoburrito04@reddit

.357 lever guns shooting subsonic rounds suppressed are the most fun to shoot and ill die on this hill.

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Fun-Platypus3675@reddit

What is the difference between a 38 special and a 357 subsonic?

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Fun-Platypus3675@reddit

327 magnum. 357 performance with 38 special recoil.

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12B88M@reddit

People often crap on 6.5 Creedmoor as a hunting round, but it's actually a REALLY good round. Not just for hunting, but also for the range.

However, I believe the cartridges that deserve more attention are the short rounds like 6.5 Grendel and 6 ARC.

Used in the proper situation, they make excellent hunting rounds and target rounds. Low recoil, high BC and less powder used to prevent burning out barrels.

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movebacktoyourstate@reddit

It's funny because 6.5 CM is the #1 selling chambering for hunting rifles. People act like it's totally useless, but they keep buying them.

I saw some guy on either here or guns the other day say he shot a hog in the head with a 6.5 Creedmoor and it ran off and came back days later still eating the feed. They have a term for what happened - it's called he fucking missed.

6.5 Grendel should be way more popular than it is. Shot two hogs with mine two weeks ago with devastating performance. I can't wait to get the new 90 grain CX bullets from Hornady to test in the Grendel.

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12B88M@reddit

I hear what you're saying.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is often referred to the 6.5 Needs More, but it's more powerful than the 243 Win and a 143gr bullet is just as powerful as a 308Win shooting a 150gr bullet and at 200 yards has more power because of the higher BC. The 6.5 still has 1,500 ft-lbs of energy at 500 yards and the 308 Win hits that mark at 325 yards.

I have yet to go hunting with my Grendel, but it's on my list of things to get done.

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movebacktoyourstate@reddit

Yep!

Granted, being a Creedmoor owner, I make as much fun of it as anyone else. I'm also a .30-06 owner and make fun of it. And everything else I own. It's fun to poke fun, but you have to be able to poke fun at yourself too, or you're just sad. Pardon me while I go shoot my full size 9mm that I had to put a compensator on because the recoil is sNaPpY. (I just wanted it. It looks better lol)

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Uptight_Internet_Man@reddit

6.5 Creed gets shit on just because it got trendy and the 30-06 guys were mad. It's popular for a reason, it performs really well.

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-E-Cross@reddit

6.5-06 would really make em mad

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12B88M@reddit

There is a 6.5-06 round.

6.5-06 A-Square

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Grand_Cookie@reddit

You mean .25-06??

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-E-Cross@reddit

Yeah, but if you call it 6.5 and use metric it makes them ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ

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DroughtLock@reddit

6 ARC is fantastic. Everyone I've exposed it to has gone and bought one for themselves. I have a 6.5 Grendal upper I switch out to for deer season so I can use heavier bullets. But if I had to pick, 6 ARC takes the cake.

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Mikofthewat@reddit

6mm Lee Navy

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mjhv1@reddit

Get rid of all the modern 6.5 calibers let's go back to 6.5x55 and call it a day

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max1mx@reddit

.357 Sig never got the popularity it should have. It would be great for a PCC.

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TheBullpupGuy@reddit

I disagree with PCC, but it is a perfect concrete jungle self defense handgun caliber. 357 Mag is the perfect PCC round

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max1mx@reddit

.357 mag? Completely preposterous!

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movebacktoyourstate@reddit

For some reason, bottleneck handgun rounds just don't get popular. Even with 5.7's recent popularity, it's still a niche cartridge.

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mijoelgato@reddit

🎯 apex self defense caliber. Not even close.

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CreativeCthulhu@reddit

.41 Magnum. Was just such a ridiculously fun round. I still love mine.

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Aubrey_Lancaster@reddit

Im not sure there are any truly “underrated” rounds after reading through this, just a bunch of boutique shadows of logistical giants that dominate for good reason. 7.62x25…. Seriously?

9mm and 10mm cover every base for handguns, .45 is lingering in popularity due to its fuddlore status

5.56 beats everything as a fighting rifle round due to M193s dominant ballistics, low recoil, and cost vs alternatives

I think .308 is still the top medium game round by popularity. is 300wm better at 1200 yards? Probably. Do the majority of hunters in the US kill deer beyond 200 yards? No lmao, Id wager the majority of 300wm owners havent even shot the rifle past 200

And .12s popularity is because its easier to hit clays/birds with lol

Other rounds might be able to do SOME niche things better but Logistically speaking these rounds dominate and their popularity follows.

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SledDogGuy@reddit

Maybe it's just because I live in Alaska, but I'd take a 30-06 over .308 for a medium-big game rifle for its ability to throw heavier bullets. I still say .45 punches bigger holes than a 9mm or a 10mm. And none have the punch that a .44 mag or even bigger has for big animals trying to take a bite outta ya.

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Aubrey_Lancaster@reddit

220gr .30-06 is badass but when I was hunting medium game (white tail and elk) with it, I always stuck to 165 anyway because it shoots SO much flatter and the velocity makes up the energy making the weight kind of a wash. That said I wouldnt say .30-06 is underrated, its just slowly falling out of favor vs .308 because thats a very niche (and frankly un necessary) application that most people will move to 300wm or 338 for anyway.

Also 10mm pushes like double the energy .45 does, bullet hole being similar; the cavitation coming off that pistol is wicked. I stand by .45 being over rated, my Hi shoks for 9 and 45 advertise 345 ft/lb and 369 ft/lb respectively which is a joke considering I can fit twice as many 9s in a mag and have half the recoil lol.

And I think .44 gets the popularity it deserves, its just not the daily driver 9 is because its huge and kind of unwieldy in most of its platforms lol.

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SledDogGuy@reddit

Yeah I'm pretty much all 30 caliber rifles I tend to use between 165 and 180 grains for pretty much everything, and move up in caliber if more power is called for. Just saying, if it's an either or deal, I would take a 30-06 over a .308 for the heavier bullets. Especially if you limit the rifles to just bolt-action. That said, I like a good Ar-10 in .308, and would choose that over a bolt action 30-06 in most situations.

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libertariantheory@reddit

the model 10s trust me

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TheNefariousMrH@reddit

10ga

32acp

25acp (purely because I'm wondering if modern technology/metallurgy could make it into a viable defense round).

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sumguyontheinternet1@reddit

The problem with 32 and 25 is that they operate at such low pressures that even with a properly expanding projectile they just don’t have the speed and energy needed to penetrate deep enough to instantly make someone or something think “huh, this was a bad choice” without a light switch hit. I carried a 32 for years and it was always in the back of my mind. I wouldn’t stand in front of them, but I certainly appreciate larger calibers more. 380 is my bare minimum now that I’ve studied ballistics and self defense studies.

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BandedLutz@reddit

The problem with 32 and 25 is that they operate at such low pressures that even with a properly expanding projectile they just don’t have the speed and energy needed to penetrate deep enough

That's why you go with FMJ (and modern defensive rounds like Underwood Xtreme Defender).

Modern FMJ .32 ACP will achieve ~12 to 18 inches of penetration in ballistic gel (meeting the FBI's minimum standard for self-defense). Underwood Xtreme Defender consistently gets about 13-15 inches.

The benefits of .32 ACP over .380 are that it's much more pleasant to shoot from a tiny pocket pistol (meaning it's easier to train with, you can get quicker follow up shots, and better shot placement).

Shot placement and follow up shots will make a larger difference than the marginal difference in ballistics between .32 and .380.

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sumguyontheinternet1@reddit

I mean, double the energy on target is a pretty compelling argument. I’m in agreement with the logic on paper but when it’s held up to scientific scrutiny and data analysis, it falls apart.

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BandedLutz@reddit

double the energy on target is a pretty compelling argument. I’m in agreement with the logic on paper but when it’s held up to scientific scrutiny and data analysis, it falls apart.

"Double the energy on target" is just looking at it on paper. I'm talking about actual testing.

https://i.imgur.com/ELmRrwP.jpeg

https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/32-acp-is-pretty-good-too/

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Mountain_Man_88@reddit

With the moderate market for crazy magnum calibers in pistols and rifles I'm honestly surprised that there's not more of a market for an 8 gauge shotgun. I know when they filmed the movieAppaloosa, which semi prominently features an 8 gauge shotgun, they had to mock one up because 8 gauge shotguns are so scarce.

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AlcatraZek@reddit

8 gauge is almost exclusively used for industrial applications, and my earnest wish would be for Kiln guns to break through into the recreational shooter market.

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-E-Cross@reddit

Kiln guns?

Like you just say fuck that carbon and start blasting?

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AlcatraZek@reddit

Yup, usually set on stands like cannons, used to blast slag off the walls of glass/iron furnaces from the outside, so they don't have to shut down.

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-E-Cross@reddit

looking at my forge with some crap on the walls

👀

BRB

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AlcatraZek@reddit

Just find some Zinc 12g slugs then zip-tie it to a saw horse and viola: Kiln Gun at home.

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SmoothSlavperator@reddit

10ga in its current iteration is kind of lame. It doesn't really do anything that a 3.5" 12ga doesn't do. At least not at the scarcity of guns and ammo, especially semi autos. Except for maybe the recoil being more mild. Its still heavy, but not brutal like 3.5" 12ga.

Now....I WOULD like to see the 10ga get the treatment they gave to the 12ga. Make it 4" and raise the pressure from 11500psi to 14000psi to give it a real leg up over the 12ga. Would probably have to be exclusively limited to gas semi autos.

RemArms, if they hired some competent engineers could do it. The Versamax(and V3 for that matter) is a great platform that really mitigates recoil. Probably because they just borrowed Benelli's tech lol. They could Resurrect the Versamax and rerelease it in 4" 10ga. They're kinda suckin' currently and anything they offer can be done by other companies at higher quality. This would give customers a reason to buy Remington.

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Tim_Riggins07@reddit

10 gauge is pretty pointless. Maybe it wasn’t when steel ammo was dogshit when it was first legally required and guys wanted to pass shoot big geese, but a 3.5” 12 gauge does that now. And really the only reason to shoot 3.5” is for snow geese.

Also, nobody is hauling a 10 gauge around to shoot pheasants and grouse.

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SmoothSlavperator@reddit

Turkey, at extended range. That's what we always used 10ga for but that's when ammo sucked. My uncle still has one of those bigassed bolt action Marlin Goose Guns. People don't realize how shitty shotgun ammo was until like the mid/late 90s. Even cheap Walmart 100pk lowbrass now performs better than high brass from the 80s. Half the offerings didn't even have shot cups, it was carboard/felt wad with some ziploc-esc plastic material to protect the bore.

I just want a 4" 10ga for shits and giggles. Practically speaking if you can't kill it with a 3" Fiocchi Golden Pheasant, run because you're dealing with the undead.

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-E-Cross@reddit

25 ACP is so fun to shoot. I want to make a ridiculous mini PCC with it for shits and giggles.

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Tim_Riggins07@reddit

In what way is a 10 gauge underrated? It has so few uses, and even less with the advent of 3.5” 12 gauge. I honestly can’t think of one thing a person would need a 10 gauge for they could do better with a 12 gauge.

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ShadowDancer_88@reddit

I have a .25 Colt Vest Pocket.

If someone shoots me with one, and I notice, I'll be very annoyed.

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SmoothSlavperator@reddit

There's that old Cooper's Corner report about the lady grabbing her 25 instead of her inhaler in the middle of the night and only clearing her sinuses lol

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323x57@reddit

At reasonable distances the 20 gauge will do everything you need. Very few situations that the 12 gauge will noticeably outperform the 20. 12 gauge is more than we need for most shooting and hunting situations.

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leadbetterthangold@reddit

5.7 is a blast at the range 😀

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thedevilspelican@reddit

Yeah. It's catching on. But this was my vote. My Smith 5.7 feels like an extension of my hand. The recoil feels rhythmic. I love it.

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leadbetterthangold@reddit

Try an AR with a 5.7 upper. It is my favorite range toy.

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Openheartopenbar@reddit

.32 acp. It’s The One True Caliber

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BandedLutz@reddit

Agreed! I find that .32 ACP strikes a better balance for pocket pistols than .380 ACP (and is perfectly viable, especially with modern defensive ammo like Underwood Xtreme Defender). In exchange for marginally worse ballistics you get a cartridge that's much easier to shoot in a tiny pistol (meaning faster follow-up shots and easier/more pleasant to train with, meaning better shot placement).

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-E-Cross@reddit

And 25 ACP

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Bloodysamflint@reddit

People turn their nose up at .32, but I occasionally carry mine (with FMJ).

I figure if someone ran up to me with a handful of #2 pencils and a hammer, and started pounding them into my chest, I'd quit whatever I was doing that brought that shit on me.

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186282_4@reddit

/r/TheOneTrueCaliber

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TaperClapper@reddit

Our lord and savior John Moses Browning bestowed upon us the one true caliber…

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iNapkin66@reddit

9x20mmSR. Totally agree, thanks for bringing it up.

In all seriousness, its pretty crazy how he managed to design three different cartridges still very much in use 100 to 120 years later. I cant think of anybody else with 3 very relevant cartridges plus a handful of less relevant but not extinct cartridges.

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freakinunoriginal@reddit

7 and 8 mm Mauser aren't extinct, although I suppose they're no longer terribly relevant; 8mm held on into the Cold War, with Egypt and Yugoslavia (and also Chinese militias/reserves). 7.65x53 Mauser was also relevant up to WWII.

That's the closest second-place I can think of without opening up a book to sift through a list of cartridges.

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CrypticQuery@reddit

And by extension, 32 H&R magnum. It's the perfect round for airweight snub nosed revolvers, and usually allows for an extra round in the cylinder compared to 38 Special.

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BrassBondsBSG@reddit

.32 acp. It’s The One True Caliber

So powerful- "like a brick through a plate glass window"

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somethingclever1970@reddit

5.7x28

.30 Super Carry

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dormanGrube@reddit

338 winmag would be nice to see on shelves again.

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aggie113@reddit

I would say 338 Federal, but it did have a good fun recently. Maybe it'll be back again one day :)

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sirlost33@reddit

.327 mag. I thought it was a great round, but didn’t keep the gun ooo

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ampegfan@reddit

.32 Win Special

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Yettigetter@reddit

41 magnum or 38 Super..

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narwhals_narwhals@reddit

Had to scroll way too far down this list to find .41 Magnum. It's a perfect sweet spot between .357 and .44 magnums.

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-E-Cross@reddit

41 mag gang

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CleveEastWriters@reddit

30 super carry was supposed to be the next big thing but wasn't. Honestly wouldn't mind if it did catch on.

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Bourbon_Vantasner@reddit

They should have pushed the concept all the way down to 7mm, that would have put more distance between it and the 9mm. High pressure, high velocity, high capacity, low recoil, narrow frame size is a great market, they just didn't truly differentiate their product enough to justify a switch from 9mm.

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-E-Cross@reddit

Isn't it because of the infamous "super face" scenario that it didn't?

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DrunkenArmadillo@reddit

With the smaller base diameter and potential greater magazine capacity, I feel like you could neck it down to something like .25 and have a great little zippy general duty ranch round that could do well in pistol and carbine for general anti-varmint use.

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A_Queer_Owl@reddit

30SC's problem is a huge number of potential customers live places with magazine restrictions, so a caliber whose whole deal is fitting like 5 more rounds in a magazine doesn't really have a place in that sort of legal landscape.

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TheJango22@reddit

The fact it came out when ammo couldn't be found and exclusively in the s&w should had to have been the single dumbest marketing decision ive seen in a long time for something that's a great concept and I really wish would've caught on

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RR50@reddit

I was really excited for it

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CleveEastWriters@reddit

If 9mm and 380 get banned in some states, it would be the obvious work around.

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Delta-IX@reddit

That is why its the standard civilian caliber in Mexico . " Military" rounds (like 9mm) are prohibited for civilians following the law

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tcarlson65@reddit

Same with .223/5.56 in Europe. That is why the .222 is popular there.

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Strugglebutts@reddit

Glad they got that solved🙄

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SakanaToDoubutsu@reddit

I wouldn't be surprised if that's already a thing in markets like India or Indonesia where carry guns are limited to 32 calibre.

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Pox_Americana@reddit

I have one as my daily carry, and it’s great. Functions exactly as billed.

Ammo is out there, though not always cheap.

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Cliffinati@reddit

Ah yes .32 French Long Super

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Distinct_Chair3047@reddit

I really like 5.45, tbh.

Also, .20gauge is an excellent size. Pretty much a universal "caliber".

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vick818z@reddit (OP)

Yeah man I think my next gun purchase will be a 20gauge

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TheSmadgeBadge@reddit

32 ACP 22 Magnum

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WiseNecessary4387@reddit

How about 223 Wylde.

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Professional-Leave24@reddit

I always liked properly loaded .357 sig for a handgun. Plenty of power and necked down rounds chamber very reliably. Even with sub-compact steep ramps.

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MalPB2000@reddit

The .357 Sig isn’t what I would call underrated, meaning something that not a lot of people know about, it was just poor execution. The excellent performance didn’t outweigh the significant costs in decreased mag capacity and affordability.

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-E-Cross@reddit

And a lot of the comped guns were just awful to shoot. Looking at you Glock 32c

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notoriousbpg@reddit

16ga - the gentleman's shotgun

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13_ismyluckynumber@reddit

You beat me to it! I sure do like mine for turkey season. Definitely a gentlemanly scatter gun

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Busy-Reserve9677@reddit

13mm Gyrojet

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JWGR@reddit

In another timeline we are all using Bolters thousands of years early.

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PhrozenFenix@reddit

I can't express how much I want someone to make ammo for this thing. I would love to have more than 2 rounds. Hell, I'd sacrifice one round for someone to reverse engineer if it meant new ones could be made.

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Sneekibreeki47@reddit

Lol

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sumguyontheinternet1@reddit

I’ve recently purchased a G22 in 40sw. I have a new appreciation for the caliber. It’s not the snappy recoil monster people claim it to be in a full size. I like it better than 9mm from my g43, 26, and 19. The recoil impulse is actually very smooth to me.

TL;DR 40sw is underrated

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baw3000@reddit

It's popular to not like .40 S&W these days but it'll always hold a place in my heart. My first handgun was a Glock 27.

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sumguyontheinternet1@reddit

This is my first venture into 40 and I’m convinced that there was an inside attack on 40 to make it not a popular round. I love it besides the cost. I reload though, so outside of initial investment it’s the same cost as 9mm for me

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jdubs2430@reddit

I got a g23 in hopes to carry it, but quickly realized I’m much faster and more accurate with 9mm. Definitely need more practice with it but I’ll probably never carry it.

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sumguyontheinternet1@reddit

Feels the same as pissin hot +p in 9mm to me. As a reloader, all my 9mm is full power +p anyway because it costs about $0.01 more per round than standard pressure 9mm. That’s just MY perspective, YMMV

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redditguy135@reddit

That's what I like about 40 S&W, is it's versatility. It can be smooth or all the way up to hot and anywhere in between. 135, 150, 165 and 180 grain bullet weights.

TLDR: You can get all kinds of power levels from it in a wide range of bullet weights.

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DeepstateDinosaur@reddit

I'll second this, I used to be ashamed of my G22 but I've had it so long it's the handgun I shoot best with. I get a Hickok 45 sized endorphin rush when I out shoot a buddy with arguably much nicer gun in the more "manageable" 9mm with a Gen4 stock Glock

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SakanaToDoubutsu@reddit

I could see the 40 S&W making a bit of a comeback as it's becoming somewhat more common for companies to advertise their 10mm AUTOs are backwards compatible with the 40S&W. So you could end up with a situation like with 38 Special & 357 Magnum where you have a wide range of cartridge options.

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Brilliant-War-6156@reddit

.257 Roberts

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Arkansas_BusDriver@reddit

25-06

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Severe-Cow-8646@reddit

7mm Mauser. Used to be a fairly com m on cartridge. It's been replaced by the same thing that has replaced so many good cartridges, the movement toward all things military. The '08 cartridges have become the be all end all and that goes for the 556 as well. That cartridge killed goodies like the 25-20, 218 Bee, 219 Zipper. It has begun to replace the 30-30 in much of the south though that may be as much as platform issue. I dont have a favorite "what the hell is that" cartridge, but it is surprising to me the 22 Hornet is still with us while the 218 Bee is a has been.

Seen lots of talk here about the 7.62 Tokarev, fans if that should check out the 327 Federal.

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Lord_Dreadlow@reddit

.22 Magnum

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backwards_yoda@reddit

I really miss shooting 5.45x39.

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snuffy_bodacious@reddit

My EDC is a 9mm, but I would love to have more options with the .25 ACP, for situations where I can prioritize both lower weight and recoil. I have 22 LR, except rim fired cartridges aren't as reliable as I would prefer.

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MetapodCreates@reddit

20ga is an incredible cartridge to run. Less available than the most available cartidge ever, sure. But it can do pretty much everything a 12 can do with slightly less 'oomph'.

Great for hunting, home defense, you name it. A Remingtom pump 20 was the first firearm I ever bought on my own.

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RacerXrated@reddit

.32 cal revolver cartridges, from .32 S&W to .327 Federal Magnum

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BastiansWish@reddit

20 guage is great for turkey hunting. Its not over kill like 12 guage can be at closer ranges. And still a decent size slugs for larger game like deer.

.32 is a kinda cool round as well. But does get much attention because it's expensive and "underpowered".

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FLARESGAMING@reddit

As of today, .30-40 krag is still capable, especially with modern spitzers

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SmoothSlavperator@reddit

20ga is great for things that die easy. Like Cottontail. The guns and ammo are significantly lighter for less fatigue over the course of a day of hunting.,

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rextrem@reddit

9x23mm Winchester, it's close to 10mm power with less recoil and in a thinner package.
Could serve as an SMG or carbine round too.

I also like 6x45mm, to me it's an improvement over 5.56 in every way.

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DroughtLock@reddit

6 ARC needs to catch on faster. Awesome BCs, light recoil, standard ar15 platform, A lot of testing has been done on that cartridge. You can literally chop the barrel way down to like 12.5" and still be supersonic at 1000 yards. Also, 300 Savage is cool too.

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Thats_my_cornbread@reddit

6.5x55. Lapua brass and modern pressures make it really hum.

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cryptidhunter101@reddit

20 gauge is lighter, lower recoil, and tears up less meat with less over penetration risk. I love it for upland and dispatching pests. In terms of underrated I have to say the 7 SAUM failing was the biggest tragedy of modern firearms.

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Agent___24@reddit

I wish .357sig was more popular. It’s super fun to shoot

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RexMundi000@reddit

Make 38 super great again.

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JPLEMARABOUT@reddit

7.62x25TT, very fun to shoot, low recoil, huge noise and a dumb muzzle velocity for a revolver. 5,45x39 is also a good contender, allow good accuracy, good velocity, recoils Even less that a 223 + always make people curious at the range. 9,3x62 and 9,3x74R, amazing hunting cartridge I don’t hear much about.

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TreacleOk629@reddit

7mm 08

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JohnWa54@reddit

Love this round. Its everything a 243 win is with better bullet selection for bigger game. Taken plenty of black tail deer and 2 black bear. Milder recol that 7mm mag with comparable performance to 350 yards. My favorite all around round!! I do own 243 win and 7mm Mag....and 6Rem, 30-30, 300 win mag....6mmPPC for benchrest... 17 rem for the fast stuff.... 223, 22-250, 220 swift... damn, am I forgetting anything???? Ah, yes.... 264 win mag, 30-06, 221 fireball....

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SledDogGuy@reddit

For the lever gun folks. I have no idea why .348 Winchester isn't more popular. Hits a really nice sweet spot between 30-30 and 45-70. Relatively flat shooting, with less recoil than a 45-70. I'd say it's the most versatile lever action cartridge.

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Adventurous-Sir-7884@reddit

28 gauge

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Uptight_Internet_Man@reddit

28 ga is popular with the older groups who have been shooting so long their shoulders hurt from 12 O/U

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SakanaToDoubutsu@reddit

The 10-gauge as a fowler is a generally superior cartridge to the 12-gauge. Now there's no magic behind it, 1-1/2 ounces of shot has the same terminal performance regardless if it's flung out of a 0.729" diameter tube versus a 0.775" diameter tube, but the main advantage of the 10-gauge is that, well, it's a 10-gauge. What I mean by that is that 10-gauge guns are specialist guns, they don't need to be built to do "everything" like people try to do with 12s, so they can be built on a large frames to handle big charges of shot properly. My Gold-10 weighs 11-1/2 pounds, so even when slinging big 1-1/2 ounce charges of steel the gun has very little recoil and I get way more reliable 2nd & 3rd shot hits on ducks than I did shooting a 12.

Honorable mention goes to the 16-gauge for a similar reason, I have no use for a 12-gauge that weighs less than 7-1/2 pounds (really 7-7/8 pounds is ideal for the 12), but most modern 12s are in that 6-3/4 to 7-1/4 pound weight which is just way too light. If you want a \~7 pound gun, it really should be a 16 gauge built around 1 ounce charges of shot.

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Uptight_Internet_Man@reddit

I really wish 16 was more popular, I loved shooting it for dove season.

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ttkciar@reddit

6mm ARC, especially paired with 85gr Controlled Chaos.

.25-06 with 100gr softpoint. Outstanding terminal effect.

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One-Challenge4183@reddit

Mexican 9mm. 38 super.

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SayNoTo-Communism@reddit

32 acp especially if using underwood +p ammo

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Halestal@reddit

.30 carbine

The round hits hard with soft points, is high capacity and plenty accurate enough.

It never got the love it deserved.

It was never meant to compare against the 30-06. It was meant to be an improvement over giving a remf a 1911, which it was.

The proto-pdw that was ahead of its time and yet got dragged through the mud by boomer myths of poor lethality/accuracy.

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Pox_Americana@reddit

I get that the .32s were outdated, but I really like the .327 Federal Mag. I have a hammerless LCR, but really want one of the SP101s with hammer.

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myroll22@reddit

I love 20 ga. It is great for medium and small game. I have a nice O/U 12 but still shoot clays with my 20ga 870. I've had it for 20 years and it would be the last gun I got rid of

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vick818z@reddit (OP)

Might be my next shotgun dude. A 590

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ChrisLS8@reddit

6arc. Small frame AR, ar10 levels of distance and energy

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Rocko_Sock@reddit

300 WSM. I'll die on this hill. Clean kills up to 500 yards, and that stops due to user ability. Shoots cleaner and lighter than it's big brother. While almost every 30 caliber has more capability than the average hunter needs, it's also fun to shoot and reload.

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FabiusBill@reddit

22wmr/magnum. A pleasure to shoot with a nice bit of oomph compared to 22lr. Good for varmints or hunting, and a ton of fun when you have 30 rounds on deck in a magazine fed pistol.

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2bitgunREBORN@reddit

16 gauge, 327 Federal Magnum, 17 Winchester Super Magnum. 8mm Mauser in North America.

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Gr144@reddit

327 is a pretty impressive round.

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Cliffinati@reddit

8mm Mauser is a thunper

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2bitgunREBORN@reddit

Indeed. Love it

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MArkansas-254@reddit

30-30 and 350 Legend

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Inevitable-Sleep-907@reddit

.300 HAM'R is one I wished became more popular

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SteveHamlin1@reddit

20 gauge is very popular in hunting upland game birds and some clay shooting. It isn't necessarily lighter recoiling that 12ga - a good 20ga will have a scaled frame / ligher weight, (thus more felt recoil for the same load), and 1oz of lead at 1150fps doesn't care what size tube it's coming out of.

That being said, I'm looking to buy a <7lb scaled 20 gauge :)

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