That's a good list

I wasn't aware that most of these were "underrated"...

I don’t think the 7mm-08 is underrated at all, it’s very popular.

I will say the .257 Roberts is one of the most over rated cartridges. It’s the boutique coffee shop of the cartridge world, it’s cool for the sake of being cool. Talked about and revered, but very few people use them

Does it work? Well, yeah, but it’s nothing magical. The .25-06 is a better cartridge with very mild recoil.

I can just picture myself pulling out my new rifle at deer camp. When people inquire, I get to answer, ".257 Bob". I'll be wearing my skinny jeans and have my hair up in a man bun...

Or covered with a flannel beanie...


Let’s face facts, the .257 Roberts has a very limited selection of cartridges and it’s hard to find on store shelves.

It’s not fast, it’s not hard hitting , it’s pretty meh. Kinda like a slightly more husky .243.

It has a cult following, it’s a B-horror movies that became popular but no one has a good reason why

Not sure id under rated is the right terms for this list, perhaps Under Appreciated.

I have owned and hunted with 4 of the 5 on this list and agree all are very good cartridges. I prefer the 250 Savage and 257 Roberts to the 243 for mild mannered hunting cartridges at the ranges most hunters will shoot. With the Roberts I never shot at a deer or hog more than once and never needed another shot.

The 7mm-08 is immensely more popular than it as when I bought my first one in 1982. That was perhaps the best advice I was ever given on cartridge selection to get the 7mm-08 back then and had to drive 30 miles to the next town for ammo from where I bought the gun. They had one box in that town, but also had a set of RCBS dies for it so I left with a box of factory ammo, dies, bullets and powder for it.

338 Federal is a very good short range thumper, and it does thump them very good. Being over 30 cal it will never be as popular as the under 30 crowd. That is just the way of the shooting world.

It's all a matter of opinion anyway, not fact.

I'm an ardent fan of the 7mm-08 for sure.

I don't have any experience with the .338 Federal...but I bet it would make a dandy hog rifle.

I love my 7mm-08. I shot a .30-06 for years, and while there is nothing wrong with one of the most popular cartridges, I really wanted to do some experimenting and playing with handloading. Going to the range to shoot 50-60 rounds of .30-06 is not fun after a while. The 7mm-08 is perfect for deer and antelope, and makes a good cartridge for elk 300 yds and under. I'm a fan for life. I don't have experience with any of the other cartidges on the list, but I have been intrigued by the .250-3000 savage. I've read some good things about it.

Agree on the .257 Bob.

Interesting to see the 7mm-08 as "underrated" - I always assumed this was one of the more popular cartridges. Been thinking of getting one myself.

It’s not underrated. The author just didnt do his research. Hell, we have 3 7mm-08’s sitting in our safe.

The 7x57, .300 savage or .260 Remington would have been much better candidates than the 7mm-08.

Gotcha beat. Think we have 11 7mm-08's.

I don't own a 7mm-08, but the most repeated asskick I give myself to this day was passing on a Remington stainless Mountain Rifle from a collection in the classifieds here that I passed on. It was a very decent price and I happened to see it right after it posted.

I always thought 7mm-08 was about a perfect choice for a caliber in a deer rifle that could probably work fine for medium range elk too. I always liked 7mm as a caliber and wide range of bullet selection.

I can't get the link to work - can someone list what the cartridges are that are supposed to be underrated.

That doesn't mean that its common at all though just cause yall have 14 of them between the two of you lol. The next 1000 guys all shoot a 270 308 30-06 etc.

Days not over yet.....

I know a lot of guys who shoot 7mm-08’s. Matter of fact I know more guys who hunt with that round vs. a .30-06 now.

In any case, between me and fouz, we pretty much are the authority on anything related to shooting game animals from mice on up. I’m also well versed as a music critic. Conway Twitty sucks and Axel Rose is the greatest rock singer of all time.

There, I said it

I thought I was a 7mm08 looney.....4 here.

Its just a great caliber. I would go as far as today if I was building a 3 rifle battery to cover all north American non-dangerous game, I would go with the 7mm-08 as the middle weight.

I wouldn't hesitate to use the 7-08 and 140 AB's or TTSX on elk or African plains game either.

it will take out a Kudu without breaking a sweat, seen it first hand.

I personally prefer just a bit stouter of a round, but its suitable for the job

I have an original condition(un butchered) Swede. I have often sat hoping for a hog but none have showed. In Sweden, that's considered a moose gun.

The moose in Sweden are a lot smaller than a Yukon moose. So it’s not really an apples to apples comparison when people say “ oh they kill moose over there with 6.5’s”. Most moose that are killed ( 90-95% according to what I can find ) are less than 5 years old so a lot of immature moose make up the harvest.

They also hunt with dogs, so it makes tracking easier.


Again, the Swede is a fine game round but it’s not Thor’s Hammer.

If cartridges like the 6.5 Swede was all you needed Guys like Roy Westherby would have starved to death

Outdoor writer Steve Timm has killed several moose with a 7mm08 and 120 Ballistic tip.