Quote from: Nomadic Pirate on July 09, 2020, 12:43:47 PMCost of ammo is relative too since today there's a huge availability of molds and you can cast your own.People always talk of casting as a low cost way to get ammo, but forget the "cost" of our time to do it (and of course the equipment to do it too). There is no way that I can come up with the time to cast what I want to shoot, and doing so would in fact quite literally cost me more than the cost of purchasing the ammo.Maybe when I retire I might give it a try, but certainly not until then . . . . so for now purchased pellets and slugs are the cheapest way to go, and the best .22s and .177s are MUCH cheaper than any .30 cal ammo.
Cost of ammo is relative too since today there's a huge availability of molds and you can cast your own.
This thread is/was about the versatility of a caliber... not having one gun, or casting, smelting, melting, etc. Hands down it has to be the .22, no matter how much the .30 or .45 or even .50 are talked up... they definitely are not as versatile in a practical sense.
Versatility :......... to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities.
Quote from: Nomadic Pirate on July 09, 2020, 02:23:13 PMVersatility :......... to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities.Are you implying that bigbores are easily adapted for backyard plinking, shooting pests in the barns and safely dispatching small varmints? The only thing small calibers can't do is to hunt bigger game, there are many shooting activities where bigbore is unfit.
I own .22 & .25 and probably use the .22's more. The .22's I have are really all that I need to get small to medium size game as far as hunting goes.
I'd have to say .35 But the real challenge would be #1 putting up with the trajectory of artillery (on small game) and #2 finding a gun to shoot it slow enough, and accurate enough at very slow speeds to not be overkill on small game. While also being capable of outputting enough power to take deer/boar
I don't care much for these kind of topics as they are controversial and stir the pot with peoples beliefs or feelings...the answer is so subjective. If you were to attempt to objectively answer this, you'd maybe say the most versatile should be whatever is middle ground, which allows the largest swing in energy variance to cover nearby calibers. If you were to answer this through the lens of which caliber is most practical in terms of cost and potential energy range it covers, then that answer shifts. If you were to answer this through the filter that omits cost/efficiency, you'll get another answer. If you have a minimum energy requirement that must be met to fit within this 'versatile' definition, well then that completely disqualifies many smaller calibers...you see where I am going? That said the obvious answer is .25 or .30 cal (joking)
I found the Hornady #3 a mixed bag in a .25.... They aren't very consistent for size, with some chambering easily and some you had to nearly hammer into the breech.... If they fit your gun properly, they will work fine and not damaged the bore because they are lead.... The rifling will grip them fine, and they will spin properly.... again, providing they are a decent fit....Bob
if you have a tight in led in the bore some of the round ball is hard to load but I had a 25cal LW barrel and had no issues with the Hornady shot fitting into the breech and they shot very good out to 30yds, I was shooting them into a 8x8 piece of fur pine and they penetrated about 3/4'' from a gun that shot 650fps
If the barrel is "chambered" for a cast bullet then there would likely be no loading issue.... If the chamber is shallow and the ball engages the rifling before reaching its seated position, you may have difficulty in loading.... My guess would be that in a B-28 that would be the case.... but you would have to try it to see.... Anyway, in answer to your original question, #3 buckshot is the proper size for a .25 cal....Bob
Quote from: Long_Gun_Dallas on July 09, 2020, 03:17:48 PMI'd have to say .35 But the real challenge would be #1 putting up with the trajectory of artillery (on small game) and #2 finding a gun to shoot it slow enough, and accurate enough at very slow speeds to not be overkill on small game. While also being capable of outputting enough power to take deer/boarSomewhere in between 300-350 fps live targets can react and jump off the path of the pellet. There's a video of rat shooting with 12 fpe .30 and rats were dodging the pellets.
You also have to figure in the 'smile' factor. At the end of the day, which one made you smile the most. What makes you smile and what makes me smile differs based on our different set of parameters.Most versatile for me? Probably a .20 because I'm a plinker and pester out to 45 - 50yds.YMMV
Quote from: avator on July 09, 2020, 05:48:32 PMYou also have to figure in the 'smile' factor. At the end of the day, which one made you smile the most. What makes you smile and what makes me smile differs based on our different set of parameters.Most versatile for me? Probably a .20 because I'm a plinker and pester out to 45 - 50yds.YMMVLol ...was waiting for the .20 cal ..... sadly range of pellets & no slugs limit the VERSATILITY .. tho a Great caliber in general.
Quote from: Luis Leon on July 09, 2020, 02:10:42 PMThis thread is/was about the versatility of a caliber... not having one gun, or casting, smelting, melting, etc. Hands down it has to be the .22, no matter how much the .30 or .45 or even .50 are talked up... they definitely are not as versatile in a practical sense.Absolutely, .45 and .50 aren't versatile, like .177 and .22 limited to one side of the spectrum..30 isn't versatile in a practical sense ?
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