Most Overrated Caliber

It's a close race between the .270 Win and the 6.5 Creed

For hunting in the SE United States..................300WM

*ducking for cover*

only because it is overkill for this area and a vast majority of people shooting it have no business doing so, because they're not capable of shooting it accurately thanks to the severe flinch they've undoubtedly developed from shooting it.

For whitetail deer hunting?

Anything with the word "magnum" at the end.

But...dead is dead.

It is surprising what is needed for killing deer and hogs these days

Oh, and having a 4x scope, forget about it!

6.5 Creed. The 270 is in no way, shape, or form overrated. Jack O'Connor is rolling in his grave.

Folks just like the name Creedmoor and saying it. If it was the 6.5 Jones no one would give it any attention.

I don't know. They make a 6mm Creedmoor, and you never hear anything about it.

6.5 Creed seems to get a lot of positive play with the long range guys...even to the point that I believe it's being discussed as a replacement for the .308 for military use.

I have one, but I think nothing more of it than I do about half a dozen other calibers I own.

270 Winchester is gay.

6.5creedless

6.5 Creedmost

I dont think that the .270 is overrated at all. It is an absolute deer killer both close and far.

The 270 is widely popular and I can see why someone would think it's overrated. But it's still a great round.

An overrated round to me would be the .243 on the weak end and the 300 Winchester mag on the strong end. And of course the 30 30 with powermax ammo.

This was funny because I know the type your talking about and those same folks are the ones that think they need the 300wm,7 mag, etc to shoot the super long 200yd with. But to each his own I'll hunt with my guns and they can hunt with theirs.

In today's market I'm going with 6.5 Creed. Great Round. It has been the hottest thing on the block for several years. I loved 6.5x55 and .260 25 years ago. The magnitude of this resurgence in the form of a re-badged cartridge...... I haven't figured out.... it is just a .260.

It is a great round but in terms of being overrated I would say it takes the top spot. It won't do ANYTHING something that was already on the market would not do or do better for that matter.

Yes

I think the argument can be made that is it no necessary to shoot a deer with a magnum such as a .300 or 7 Mag in order to make a clean kill. I also believe there are many hunters that get one yet they can't handle the recoil and therefore are not good shots with their rifle. They develop a flinch as a result and shoot these rounds poorly.

However - in terms of the cartridges being Overrated.... They are definitively not. People use them because they believe they will anchor a deer where it is shot. In that regard these do the job very well.

I am not a .300WM guy but I have shot several deer with one. There is nothing overrated about an animal being DRT. Shoot one through the front shoulders and you WILL NOT have to worry about finding it.

Aint it tho!
I'm almost afraid to take the ol 223 on a squirrel hunt these days.

I tote a 45-70 for rabbits 🐰 jk jk

I know of a couple dump-truck loads of deer that wouldn't agree with that...

.270 WSM is the correct answer.

Me too.

Always gotta be a few that try to ice skate uphill

really !!!!!! most of them . but you'll find any body that loves "choice" as much as me . there are so many that there is choice for each critter and how you hunt it .

10-4

I don’t think the 6.5 creed is overrated I just hate that douchebags on the internet have ruined it. It’s a great cartridge (probably my favorite) but there are other cartridges that will do the same thing.

Jack O'Conner would disagree.

.223 and AR tactical bs.

I think "tactical" is definitely the most overused word in the guns & ammo world today.
But I wouldn't say that the 223 is overrated, it's actually a very impressive little spitfire.
I couldn't care less about an AR anything, and I don't even own one, but a 223 of some variation will always be in my bag of tricks.

It’s true. .270 Win is ghey.
I sold mine after I had a Core Lokt bounce off a 9-point’s neck.

Never had this happen back when I used a 270 but almost everything I shot with it ran forever and the entry and exit hole looked like I had shot it with an archery practice point which meant they didn't bleed very much.

Must be some tough ass deer where you hunt. The 20 or so deer ive shot with a 270 have been dead where they stood

Ford

Woo Hoo! I hadn't read this thread when I put down the .270 as the most UNDERATED.. Good to be a contrarian. My entry for overated would be the 7mm Rem Mag. In the mid to late '70s, it seemed like everybody who was shooting power lines or pastures had to have one, generally with a Bushnell or Weaver scope screwed to a '70s era Remington that was likely doing well to shoot 2 MOA, and hit within an inch of a .270 at 300. But they were shooting LONG RANGE, dontcha know. Good times.

Most overrated caliber to me is a 6.5 greedmore.

Lol I have missed few also, but when I did my part it worked 100% of the time. The only 2 rifles I had from age 12 to 25 were a BAR and a BDL both in 270. I killed many deer between the 2 over that span. In that time I think I shot every bullet on the market. Core Locts and Federal B-Tip were the go to and shot well in both rifles. Nowadays about all I reload are Accubond and TSX. Both of those are semi retired now and a rely on a 6.5.............SE to put meat on the table. I like the low recoil, and it just puts them down.

To each his own, I wouldnt hesitate for a second to carry either of those gay .270 into Elk country.
The most important factor in killing power is shot placement using the appropriate type bullet.

Oh and the most overrated, anything Creedmoor, Magnum, or Weatherby proprietary

It didn’t bounce off but it blew up. Base of neck. Went in about an inch. Blew a hole big as your hand. I dunno if it hit a twig or what. It was good I got down and went to it immediately. It got up. I shot it again and had to stab it with a knife. I was running late and only had the 4 bullets in the gun. I’d shot a doe twice before shooting the buck twice.

I agree. 7 Mag.

I lined 2 does up one time to see what the 130gr accubond were all about. #1 doe 130lbs through both shoulders #2 doe 100lbs double lungs and #3 doe 100lbs that I didn’t realize was standing behind #2 neck hit and bullet under skin opposite side. This was at about 75yards all three were DRT and oh by the way this was a .270win I don’t think it’s overrated.

That's tough luck, it would make my think twice also. I shot a buck a couple years ago in about the same spot with a .308, dont remember the bullet, it didnt pass through but he dropped.

Any caliber in the hand of a bad shot or inexperienced Hunter is overrated. There are some bad reviews of every caliber, but I bet 90% of that is on the shooter for either making a bad shot or trying to go beyond what the caliber was designed to do, or possibly they are using the wrong bullet. But I'll say 30/30.

Pick the cartridge/gun for your situation. I never hunted with the STW in a hardwood drain and I never hunted a large cutover with a 30-30.

I will nominate the 6.5 Creedmoor since the hoopla I've heard and then I checked out the ballistics. It has been a head scratcher hearing that it was similar to a 300 WM in performance. I've also heard it will run at 3200 fps.

No doubt it performs and performs very well on paper and deer, it's just not as magical as some claim.

The Creedmoor is an improvement over the .260 when seating the high BC bullets out long and not having OAL issues in magazines--especially when chasing the lands. Better velocity with the .260 but better factory ammunition options with the CM.

I think it's kinda funny the 6.5Creedmoor disapproval.
You've got an affordable accurate light recoiling cartridge with solid ballistics with tons of rifle options.
Hell, even Remington is chambering rifles in 6.5Creedmoor, to me that symbolizes they're giving up on the 260.

It would be interesting to compile date from the big hunting rifle manufactures and look at 6.5Creedmoor vs all other 308 based cartridges.
The sales numbers would be absolutely staggering I believe. I would guess it is curb stomping 260Rem, beating up 7MM08, neck and neck with 243 and gaining ground on 308.

I have a 260 and 6.5 creed. Both shoot lights out.

Y’all make me laugh with the “Creedmore” stuff. It reminds me of anything named “Rigby”

I dunno if anyone else has noticed but 7mm-08 ammo always costs a little more. That’s my experience anyway. If .243 and .308 is $21 a box, same brand of 7-08 is $28.

If you can find it 7mm08 stays sold out around tuscaloosa

And all that doesn't make sense to me....

30-06 is also for the gheys.

To me the most overrated caliber is an individual thing . I have a buddy that praises the 270 but on the other hand dogs the 30/06 to the point it’s annoying. I believe various calibers are like different size wrenches, they all have their purpose. A 30/30 isn’t the best at shooting 500 yards and a 300 mag isn’t the best brush gun.

I can only assume it has to do with production volume. Even when you compare 6.5Creedmoor shooting an identical weight bullet and a powder charge that I assume is identical also.

I could be totally off but yes I've noticed it also.

My dog is named Rigby.

Shot a Rigby in .275 (7x57) weighed 7.25 lbs with scope and was delightful.

300 Blackout.

The 7.62x39's Weak, Younger Little Brother.

With the right load and accuracy even a .223 can get the job done. Ammo type is the key. Some are for yotes and some are for deer you got to know difference and be accurate shooting that ammo. Yes, some larger ones are more forgiving than smaller calibers, so why not lean to toward the one that gives you more of an edge to bring down your game in case your shot is a little off.

I do think the 7mm Rem mag is overrated ballisticly if you look at case size and powder capacity. Not saying it’s a bad round I’ve got a few myself but there are others that will do what it does better or same with less fuss.

Thats why you find what your rifle likes and stock up some when its on sale. Once or twice a year you can find it on sale $12-16 a box online. I found 7mm08 federal premiums a while back on sale for $9, yes nine dollars a box with free shipping.


As for over rated it would be the 6.5 Creedmoor. With all the hype you would think it does things no other caliber has ever done. Its a fine caliber with good balance of recoil and ballistics but for hunting purposes take it, a 260 and a 7mm08 and ya wouldnt know the difference.

Well,you need to be sharing these ammo sales

.17 hmr
I can get it done just as good with the .22 wmr.....

Sometimes imperialist supremacism is just wrong.

You coulda named him Dog, or spot.

Ammo cost for us handloaders is components. I get everyone wants to save a dollar or three but if a rifles likes something buy (or load) a case.

X12

I have to say .243 in my opinion. Reason I say that is the ballistics between it and .308 aren't that much.

x2
That's how I end up with most of my guns. I dream of the day I'll get to hunt some certain critter in some certain setting and get a gun for that specific purpose. Then I use it to go deer hunting in the same place I've hunted for years.

It's nice to dream.

Not that I have a much skin in the fight, but someone saying a certain caliber is gay does not sit well with me. Reminds me of the 9mm vs .45 debates everyone loves to have...but here's my take on it:

I would imagine if you were to ask somebody that has been in an actual combat situation (probably lots of folks on here, in fact: veterans, police officers, etc...or other people that have worked closely with people's brains, eyeballs and vital organs going splat), I doubt they would agree with you when you tell them that certain high powered projectiles are "gay" compared to others.

I think only closet homos (homophobics) use the word “gay”? There was a study somewhere on the topic a few years back.

Its an inside joke. Apparently, you're not inside so get over it.

Oh Hell........

I’ll try to come to terms that I haven’t been initiated into the Aldeer elitist society of secret circles. I guess I need to devote more time to analyzing members posts and conversations on a regular basis so I don’t look so socially inept. I will try to get over the fact that I have not been lucky enough to gain access into the “inside” level of aldeer, but I’m not making any promise

I mean, surely if there was an inside section of aldeer it would have been posted by skinny...like a sticky or something? I understand if you have one of the aldeer paying accounts but for those of us with the free access, we just aren’t always up to speed on the latest

If you're not first you're last.

You should pony up the 💰 for Skinny so you will understand the secret society stuff. Its like the illuminati, only better.

I like my 6.5 creedmoor i grew up shootin 30-06 in a BAR...an i thought that was the greatest most bestest gun they was an i woulda bare knucle boxed anybody that said otherwise...but i was wrong......i got a $350 6.5 that shoots unbelievably well...with cheap bullets...its a swavahjayy...an does real good..nothin special for me....i do want a 7mm-08 blr tho.

6.5 Creed is a good round but good lord, it's got to be the most over hyped, over marketed round on the planet. Sure, it's "efficient" and can handle the long bullets in a short action but it ain't faster than a pile of other 6.5s already out there.