The latest new hunting round isn’t always the best choice. Here’s why

THE STANDBYS

The truth is, old standbys such as the .25-06 Rem. (above), .270 Win., 7mm Rem. Mag., 30-06 and.300 Win. Mag. can do virtually everything the Johnny-come-latelies can. Just take a hard look at the ballistic tables and you’ll see the performance differences are marginal. That considered, it’s difficult to say how long some of the newer cartridges will last. The 6.5 Creedmoor has certainly established itself, with most rifle and ammunition manufacturers supporting it. Perhaps some of the others will also stay with us, but only time will tell.

I understand the need for, and the value of, new hunting cartridges. There are definitely hunters who always demand something new and different—I mean, who wants to shoot the same old cartridge their father and grandfather used? Some people also like to be on the cutting edge of technology, and that’s a good thing; it’s one way to ensure manufacturers aren’t resting on their laurels, and are instead striving to improve their products.

So, I’m all for it—keep those new cartridge introductions coming. It’s good for the hunting industry. If you’re considering buying your next rifle chambered in one of the new offerings, however, just remember that even though something’s the latest, it’s not always the greatest.