And it has been wildcatted three times. 6mm, .257 and .22

.308 Win Was probably called a fad in 1952. It was wildcatted five times. .243 Win, .260 Rem, 7mm-08, 338 Federal, .358 Win.

Good points.

What is the 6.5x257 called? Sounds interesting but kind of useless too

just moved here with my gun shop in the last 6 months and LOVE it but out all of these 308 shells are LEAST sold, followed by 30-06, then 270 & 6.5.. But the most popular shell I've sold in the last month is 25-06 by far here in Junction...

I don’t think it’s CDS. Creedmoor really became popular the last 5-7 years. The 308, 270 and 30-06 have been extremely popular for generations. I’m sure the Creemoor would be much higher in the poll in 20 years.

I also picked 270. That’s what I shot the first 30 years I hunted. I grew up hunting big country in west TX. 270was always the most common rifle followed by the 243 and 30/06. I guided from my mid teens to early 20’s, Terrell county in the 90’s. I only remember a few 308’s. I do remember a man making a hell of a shot with a 308 Norma Magnum. There were also a few 300 Win mags.

I’m a 7-08 fan these days. I’m seeing many new hunters with the 6.5CM. I’ve owned a lot of rifles but will probably never own a 308. It never looked that great on paper to me.

Here's a good read that ranks the most popular rifle calibers for 2022 in what is probably the most telling categories...

https://backfire.tv/popular-cartridges/

Growing up, all I remember hearing was 30-06 for long range and 30-30 for the woods. I personally shoot a 6.5CM and a .243. The .243 is an older Rem 700 BDL with the trigger replaced and I love the feel without a scope (although it is currently scoped) as it comes to the shoulder perfectly for me and the rounds available are more than capable of putting down any whitetail I may encounter. The CM has killed everything I've shot with it cleanly. All of that said, my .270 buddy swears by it, and another friend's young daughter can slay anything and everything with her 25-06. Interesting discussion.

IMO opinion 308 is almost the perfect balance of accuracy, recoil, energy on target, and availability. It’s my go to gun for deer, hog, coyote, night and day hunting. It’s even better when shooting it suppressed.

I also have a Browning A-bolt in .270 shooting Chad’s “magnum” loads basically just loaded a little hot. Those 130 bullets are like a laser beam and the damage it does internally is crazy.

I also have a Bergara in 6.5 creedmoor that is a great shooting gun. Killed a buck, some hogs and some does with it. All DRT.

I don’t own a 30-06 or 7-08 but I’m thinking about getting my son a rifle chambered in 7-08. 7-08 seems like a great option for a do it all type caliber.

But like I said I love the 308 but chose .270 bc I feel like I know a lot of people who shoot and love the .270.

The official rifle cartridge of Texas can be looked at in many different ways and presents too general a question. But if it is a historical question like was used for the basis for the Texas official state gun, 1847 Colt Walker, the answer to the official state rifle cartridge would probably be the 45/70 as used in rifles like Buffalo hunting rifles, Indian war rifles, Texas Buffalo soldiers, and Texas Rangers lever guns. Out of those first ever centerfire cartridges, it was probably the most issued and used by both military and civilian during our early history. And still a popular cartridge today.


Texas Ranger "Jim" Hawkins About 1875.

270 is for lemmings, same for a ole 30’06 but whatever people are like cattle just follow the one in front of ya and everything will be ok.

Well if that were the case, no one would be using the old favorites. That for sure is not why the ‘06 and .270 are still popular.

It’s got a lot more to do with using what you have as long as it works, and/or what is available. Availability is the name of the game and I think that’s why the 30/30 is missing from most of the shelves.

They want you to buy new rifles. They need to make money. Just like the rest of us.

What is your pick?

Now I’m not saying there’s not better cartridges. They come out with newer and better stuff all the time, faster with less wind drift, more range or more power. But it’s all relative. I think in 60 years our grandkids will talk about 6.5 creedmoor the same way the .270 is touted today. Which will be silly because the old .270 still kicks it’s [censored].

In the words of the General John McClain “that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard”.

Lemmings killed alot of game with both calibers.

The .270 is one of the finest cartridges ever invented and has downed game most people have never even heard of.


Pretty much the entire modern cartridge industry has been built around those two cartridges being cornerstones.

Lemmings today are created by marketing, availability, and social media. It is why a cartridge that was not much improved over the 100+ year old 6.5 swede is becoming what the swede should have been.

^This^

I voted 270 and gave my reasoning earlier in this post. Being a cult like follower of Jack OConnor back in the day also played a part.
But I do have respect for Hornady and the the place in history that the 6.5 Creedmoor is going to have. I would even go as far as saying that it’s introduction may be Hornady’s greatest achievement to date. They have been trying to duplicate that success with other rounds with varying success but none will top the impact of the 6.5 Creedmoor on the hunting and competitive shooting sports.

Average age of THF members is middle aged to olds. No wonder the .270 is leading.

If it were more teens to mid 30-somethings, the 6.5 Creedmoor would be leading. Ask this question 30 years from now, and I agree with your assessment. Hornady hit a grand slam with the cartridge and the support for good ammo they maintained is 50% of its' success. The other 50% is that it is a good design, and the damn thing works.

That's hard for a lot of people to wrap their head around.

Right

I shot a PRS match a few years ago, that is one of the most difficult in the country. Dude was running a Ruger Precison Rifle, and Hornady ammo. He kept up with everyone quite well.

And that was one of the main goals Hornady had. A guy could buy ammo and be competitive shooting precise and shooting distance. Previously that was reserved for Federal Gold Metal Match .308 Win. But the cartridge and the ammo will cause you quite a bit of grief beyond 500 yards. Much more wind sensitive than the 6.5 mm. Turns out the cartridge hunts well too.

500 yards and in, that oughta cover about 95% of all hunters?

The original question elicits a response that can only be a matter of opinion, and that's just about as far as the subject can go. "Your favorite cartridge or cartridges" fall into the same category. An opinion can be supported by facts but only so far as to justify your opinion...at the end of the day it is only an opinion. An opinion by any other name is still an opinion.

But, there are facts also.

Consider the .30 WCF. When that one hit the market there had been nothing like it available to just about anyone. It was head-and-shoulders revolutionary.

The .30-06 upped the ante when it appeared, and so did the .250 Savage. They were the laser beams of their day.

Kings come, and kings go.

It's fun to try and predict the future of rifle cartridges, but no one has a real crystal ball. Technological advances come along and kick the feet out from under the current "king" now and then. Is the 6.5 Creedmoor the pinnacle of rifle cartridge development? Maybe it is, and maybe forever---or maybe for a moment. If it's perfect for your purposes (which drags us right back into the realm of opinions), then by all means rock with it. Who knows what's around the corner?

There in no king.

But, that's just my opinion!