Modern Small Caliber Whitetail Cartridges Poll

[USAF Ret]

Which cartridge would you choose based on the following:

1) Better 300-400 yard whitetail hunting
2) Backing of the industry and consumer to maintain availability in firearms and ammo.

 

[SBR Sarge]

Any of those should fill the need quite well. As long as they have enough wallop…..!

 

[MCGHeel]

I'm definitely biased, but voting 6 ARC. Have 2 of them, one for the kids to shoot i liked so much, I built one for me too! No recoil, bullets that perform out to 500+ yards at my near sea level DA, spot impacts, and good terminal performance so far on whitetails (everything else I shoot is gonna die too, cause it has wallop . Gonna try out on axis deer in a couple weeks, will report back in the 6 ARC threads. What's not to like!

 

[USAF Ret]

Any of those should fill the need quite well. As long as they have enough wallop…..!

Well, the Grendel was the big thing a few years ago. Now only a few manufacturers and ammo companies provide rifles and ammo.

 

[Natebonebusta]

Well, the Grendel was the big thing a few years ago. Now only a few manufacturers and ammo companies provide rifles and ammo.

Love the Grendel, and if you are a reloader it’s a fun adventure to load for. I think hornady will keep it in their catalog of production ammo for decades to come.

 

[Oldffemt]

Grendel ftw. If you’re worried about future availability, my magic 8 ball says there’ll probably always be 243, 308, and 223 available. It said to check back later on the ones you listed.

 

[robtattoo]

No .223 option?
Does everything you need at half the cost.

If it's not a legal option, 6 ARC.

 

[CJ_BG]

223 is the real best choice

6 creed next because ammo availability

6 arc is actually better though, I just wonder about long term availability

 

[HairyScandinavian]

223 is the real best choice

6 creed next because ammo availability

6 arc is actually better though, I just wonder about long term availability

This

 

[Kyguy]

Considering how many rifle companies are chambering bolt action guns in the ARC calibers, I don't think they're going to go anywhere. Many of the small boutique ammo companies are also producing ARC ammo. Hornady, historically, doesn't abandon calibers that it's introduced, even when rifles are no longer being produced. The .308 Marlin and .338 Marlin come to mind.