Rifle Calibers
The really big bucks that have gone into research and development over the years have almost always been government dollars, frequently for government projects, often defense or war related. The spin-off innovations of these research and development efforts usually trickle to the rest of the economy at their own pace. In the era following the American Civil War and during the age of Imperialism, the governments of the world poured (in today’s dollars) billions into the search for effective ammunition and rifles that would help conquer other nations and establish situations and colonies in other continents. The United States even got into it by defeating the Spanish and grabbing Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and other properties, making it a true colonial power.
Some technologies are improved upon over time and the advance of society, some are not. After decades of launching bullets around I’m not so sure that we’re doing things better today than they were doing 100 years ago. When the British sent well over a million boys and men to France to fight in the First World War, most of these guys were issued Lee Enfield rifles, a reliable, accurate bolt action .303 caliber that would prove itself to be a great performer during that war and for a century to follow. When the United States shipped off hundreds of thousands of troops in 1917, those boys were issued 30.06 Springfield rifles, bolt action, reliable, accurate and very well suited to their task. Both governments had experimented with many other calibers and ballistic combinations. The research and development machines were churning out all kinds of ideas and concepts. While later military budgets would emphasize artillery, tanks, vehicles, aircrafts, radar, and ballistic systems in their research and development budgets, 1895 to 1910 was the period when rifles and bullets were the kings of the pecking order for military research and development. Wars were still won by soldiers with rifles that shot bullets and supported a bayonet, not long distance targeting systems and drones.
Every year the sportsman is introduced to the latest new caliber in bullet innovation. Now don’t get me wrong, some are significant, but most are just marketing tricks to get us to buy new rifles or bullets that probably aren’t as good as what we’ve got. I usually am told what to shoot by sponsors and what’s nice is that I get to try a lot of new equipment. What isn’t nice is that I get to try a lot of new equipment. “Wow, what are you saying, Bill?” What I’m simply saying is that many of the calibers are inferior to the old tried and true and before you get too infatuated with the “new girl” remember that dancing with the girl that brought ya is pretty good advice.
I believe that to this day the centenarians are the best calibers we have. My favorites are the British .303, the H&H .375 and the 30.06 Springfield. For North America, South America, New Zealand, Australia and Europe, the 30.06 or .303 are all you need. For Africa, with few or no exceptions, the .375 H&H is all you need. These were all developed in that Golden Era when governments were spending the research and development money, not budget strapped sporting goods manufacturers. I’ve been in remote places and needed ammunition, gone into Texas hardware stores where the newest merchandise seemed older than I was, but on the shelf were two calibers of bullets … the 30.06 and the .303. The same was true in Patagonia and the South Island of New Zealand. Maybe someday someone will come up with a drink that on a hot summer day is better than a cold glass of water, but I doubt it.
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