Here at Guns and Shooting Online we have favorite rifle cartridges, just like anyone else. Naturally, being exposed to a great many firearms, we on the Guns and Shooting Online staff personally own quite a number and variety of rifles in a lot of calibers. However, those that are listed below are rifle cartridges particularly favored by multiple staff members. So, here are some rifle cartridges that we collectively favor and recommend for specific purposes (with approprite bullets and loads, of course).

• Plinking, instruction and target shooting: .22 Long Rifle



• Small game (CXP1) cartridges: .22 Long Rifle, .17 HMR



• Varmint (CXP1) cartridges: .17 HMR, .223 Remington



• Small predator (CXP1) cartridges: .223 Remington, .243 Winchester



• Medium game (CXP2) cartridges: .243 Winchester, .257 Weatherby Magnum, 6.5x55 SE, 7x57 Mauser, .30-30 Winchester



• All-Around big game (CXP2 & CXP3) cartridges: .270 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield



• Cartridges for large game (CXP3): .338 Winchester Magnum, .350 Remington Magnum



• Big bore cartridges (CXP3 & CXP4): .45-70 Government, .458 Winchester Magnum

There you have it, the list of Guns and Shooting Online recommended rifle cartridges. Listed as you see them here it is obvious that your loyal servants are a savvy and knowledgable lot. There is not a single "over the top" or novelty cartridge favored by multiple staff persons for any purpose. Clearly we prefer efficient, well balanced calibers.

Of the cartridges on the list, .22 LR and .17 HMR rimfire rifles are owned by almost everyone on our staff. The most popular centerfire numbers are the 6.5x55, .270 Win. and .30-30, essentially tied in popularity and owned by most of the staff.

The list could have been a lot longer had we listed all of our individual favorites. There are lots of other good calibers, no doubt about that. However, the numbers listed above are cartridges to which we have returned time after time and year after year.