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"Semi-obsolete" calibers

17K views 142 replies 55 participants last post by  pdkfishing 
#1 ·
If you shoot them, which ones are they, and why did you chose them?

On another board I guy tells about buying a Remington 600 Mohawk, and "besides, I didn't have a .222". Goes on to say how he'll have to explain to his wife about buying another "semi-obsolete caliber". I liked the phrase.

My first thought was "why the hell would anyone buy one?" This thought coming from someone who shoots 32 S&W Long, 32/20, 38 S&W, 38/40, 44 Russian, 44/40, 7x57, 30/40 Krag and 9.3x57.

Some of these I have because of the gun - old gun equates to old caliber. Others, though, I just decided I liked the idea of them. None of my 44/40s are more than 30 years old. The caliber was obsolete even then. But I liked the idea of it.
 
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#5 ·
I was looking for a 7-08 for a grandson to use some years back. I fell into a deal on a 7x57 ; Ruger M77 tang safety with a Leupold VX2 3 to 9 by 40mm for $300. It is an accurate rifle and does anything the 7-08 will do at any range. 139 grain Hornady interbonds are 1 of its favorites to shoot.
 
#6 ·
I have one, It's a win. model 94 in .307. I thought it going to be a hot cal. back in 1990 when I got it. A handy lever action gun with near .308 performance. But I was wrong, it was pretty much obsolete in a couple of years. Lucky I reload for it. It is so obsolete I don't think anyone on this forum has one.
 
#8 ·
The closest semi obsolete calibers I have are the 30-40 and the 303 Brit. The Krag has been handed down and the Enfield is a No1 MkIII that I gave a $50 for about 20 years ago. I jst enjoy them and it's funny when someone young or new to firearms asks about them and gets that puzzled look when you tell them. I don't really know if these can be called semi obsolete, Remington still makes the 30-40 cartridge and Hornady makes the 303.
 
#9 ·
I've noticed at a certain store they had an end display with 3 different brands of 32 auto at less than $20 a box.Can anyone tell me if one of those old H&R pistols that shoot .32 S&W longs or .32 S&W can also shoot this ammo.I have seen many of these pistols for sale new and unfired in the box cheap for sale and I'm tempted to bid on one.
This post has me me thinking about an obsolete caliber.
 
#12 ·
As a reloader, as long as I can find or re-make brass another cartridge, it all depends on the gun. If it's a gun that I really want, regardless of the caliber, and I can make ammo, it's worth it to me.

Some of the guns I have now are "one of a kind", sorta. I have a 7.62x54r with a .315" groove dia. barrel, and a Lee Enfield with a .318" barrel. I still manage to shoot 'em though...
 
#13 ·
I have been shooting the 6.5x55 for along time now, I guess it is semi-obsolete, or it was when I started, now the have bunch of new calibers that try to duplicate it.
45/70? It was when I got my first one, now lots of folks shooting it.
300 Savage? A lot of people might think this is obsolete, but it kills deer just as well now as when it came out in 1920 or so.
22 Hornet? Another oldie, but I can load it from 22 short levels up to near 223, and while 22 lr has been hard to find for a while I have been able to shoot it as much as I want.
30.06? 108 years old and still does a good job on just about anything.
 
#17 ·
The only really 'obsolete' caliber that I have is the oft mentioned 7.65 French Long. Had to make cases from .32 S&W Long - a tedious process - because nobody makes ammo for it commercially. I enjoy the pistol because it was my first 'high power' semi auto pistol, and I really do like the caliber itself. The loaded round is a tad longer than a 9mm Luger, and far out performs the .32 ACP. Besides, the MAS 1935A is a well designed and quality made pistol.
 
#18 ·
I have a Remington Model 14 pump that is .32 Remington. I *just* started reloading so I haven't loaded any of this caliber yet - and probably won't for a while. It was my grandfather's deer rifle. The only reason it gets shot (and right now I have about 20 rounds of ammo that is probably 60-70 years old) is because 1) I occasionally shoot it as a quasi tribute to him and my Dad or 2) my son wants to shoot it. My son absolutely loves it.

I didn't get into reloading because of this caliber, but now that I've got all the gear that would be yet another fun reason to reload.

OR
 
#19 ·
I have a Winchester model 90 that shoots .22wrf. I've been scouring the net for years looking for ammo. If anyone knows where I can get some please let me know.
 
#24 ·
Any of you looked around for .44 special ammo, or components?
 
#25 ·
Gotta admit, Carver, that converting .44 Mag to .44 Special is one thing I do, but don't like doing. I have seen .44 Special cases from time-to-time, and they are not all that pricey. Starline might be a good bet if you're still looking for it. Far as components, I shoot mostly cast lead from for the .44 Special and the .44 Mag. I cast both the 245 grain RN and the SWC Kieth by Lyman. I size both to .429, and use Unique powder.
 
#26 ·
Same thing here. This is one of those rounds that was really hard to find before the ammo shortage started. Now, you just don't find them in the stores. I haven't had to convert any .44 mag to .44 spcl., as I have hundreds of rounds of brass, but if I see any, I grab it!
 
#27 ·
Semi-obsolete is the best way to phrase it, there is more production ammo than ever on the market now. When I was a kid you could not find .22 winchester, 7.7 jap? Forget it, garand loads that were not military....no way.
I got into military rifles because the guns were cheap, just like the Mosin rifles today; but, stuff like 7.5 Swiss was only available by Norma at great cost and it was hard to find.
I must admit that the 722 in .300 H&H was a good price (-$300.00 with Griffin&Howe mount) and that is a rather obsolete round these days but it still has new factory production ammo available. Fun and accurate, I do not find recoil as bad as the .300 short mags and accuracy is better.
 
#30 ·
I have two pistols in .41 Long Colt. The first I bought when I was stationed at Fort Hood in the early 70's. You couldn't find a Double action in 45 for love or money. This was just after Winchester had produced a run of about 1 Million rounds. The old gal is still serviceable and I've got about 6 boxes of factory fresh
 
#32 ·
I think it would be a combination of sales and gun availability.

If I wanted, for example, to buy a gun chambered in 35 Remington, I'm pretty much limited to the Marlin 336. Don't think anyone else currently makes one. And an ammo run is only made once or twice a year. Once it's sold out, it's gone until next year. That would be, I guess, semi-obsolete.

If I wanted a gun chambered in 30 Remington, I'm SOL. I don't think they've made any since the war. I don't think they make the ammo any more, either. Buy it from Old West Scrounger, or places like that.

Maybe the different availability of ammo styles has something to do with it.

38 Special, for example. You can get that with bullet weights from 110 to 200 grain, with jacketed or lead bullets, in hollow point, wad cutter, semi wadcutter and round-nose bullet shapes. With powder charges from wussy to full power to +P. Loaded by dozens of ammo makers. Viable cartridge.

38 S&W, on t'other hand, comes only one way. 145 grain RN lead. Remington or Winchester. They do still make it, but only the one load. Non-viable cartridge. Semi-obsolete.
 
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#33 ·
I found a box of .38 S&W a few years ago, and bought it. Haven't seen any since, and might not for a long time! I can reload for it though. I do remember when it was always available.
 
#34 ·
I have a few less than "popular" calibers in my safe too. How about a box of .56-50 Spencer rounds? Haven't seen any at the local shop in, well, forever! Then there's my favorite deer rifle round, the .375 Winchester, last box of factory ammo I saw for that was over $65. The .41 magnum is by far my favorite handgun, and lever gun, round. And then there's the .25-20, the .32-20, and the .30 Mauser. I am glad I discovered reloading a long time ago!
 
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