Unless you keep a watchful eye on or participate in long-range shooting, you likely missed the introduction of the Hornady .300 PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge) in 2018. Hornady designed the 300 PRC to be the ideal 30-caliber magnum for long-range precision rifle competition. And when we say "long-range" we are talking 1,500 yards at a minimum. In the past, if you wanted to shoot that far, you needed to employ the use of the heavy-hitting 338 Lapua Magnum and all its shoulder bruising recoil that it imparts on its victims…err…shooters. The 338 Lapua Mag was designed to punch through military-grade body armor at 1,000 yards and currently holds the #3 and #10 positions on the ten longest sniper rifle shots in history. Both rifle cartridges were designed for ELR (Extra Long Range) shooting, but which one is going to be the best option for you? The one thing that the 300 PRC has going for it is the incredibly reduced recoil over the 338 Lapua. Furthermore the 300 PRC was developed to be the ideal 30 caliber cartridge while the 338 Lapua was built to be a bridge caliber between the 300 Win Mag and 50 BMG. Both rounds accomplish their goal, but ammo availability is a huge issue. Currently, 300 PRC is only available from Hornady and through handloading, which makes the 338 Lapua easier to find even if it's more expensive. Neither of the rounds are cheap to shoot and are typically only seen at the 1000 yard line or further and are not for afternoon plinking or the causal shooter.

The 45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) and 44 Magnum are two powerful handgun rounds that are rarely compared. Although the bullet that each cartridge fires is separated by only a few hundredths of an inch, the terminal ballistics of the 45 ACP and 44 Mag are considerably different from one another. This leads some new (and experienced) shooters to question if they need a higher pressure 44 Magnum revolver for self-defense or if the 45 ACP has enough stopping power to do the job. Most self-defense situations do not require the power that the 44 Mag provides. The potential for over penetration is simply too high as well as the potential liability issues as well. Furthermore, the recoil of the 44 Magnum makes it less appealing for concealed carry, and this is where the 45 ACP shines. However, the power the 44 Mag offers is excellent for big game hunting for animals like hogs and whitetail. The 45 ACP simply does not have enough kinetic energy to take these animals humanely where the 44 does. There's no denying that the 45 ACP and 44 Remington Magnum are amazing rounds when employed in the areas that they excel at.

When it comes to hunting big game, it's hard to ignore the 270 Winchester and 30-06 Springfield. Both cartridges see extensive use during rifle hunting season and are the bane of North American whitetail, mule deer, feral hogs, antelope, and elk. There's no denying that the 270 Win and the 30-06 are great cartridges that offer a wide range of bullet weights, allowing shooters to tailor their hunting rifle to take on varmints up to black bears. And although each cartridge has its own merits, hunting forums across the Internet are ablaze with heated debate over which one is the best choice for their next bolt-action rifle. The 30-06 has long been regarded as the most versatile hunting round on the planet as it has taken big game in North America as well as across Europe and Africa. However, the 270 Win offers excellent penetration and trajectory with less recoil. For most hunters the 30-06 is enough and should be your choice if you want to consistently hunt big game like elk and moose. However if you only want to hunt deer, the 270 Winchester might be a better choice as it has less free recoil and many find it easier to shoot. For ammo availability, the 30-06 is best as it is one of the most popular hunting cartridges on the market and served the US Military for almost 60 years as our main battle cartridge. As the winner of two World Wars, the 30-06 has a long military lineage that many shooters enjoy. Handloading for the 30-06 is also extremely common and there are tons of bullets and powders to choose from. However, with the switch of the US Army to the 277 Fury cartridge, is this the age of the 0.277" diameter bullet? This could definitely help bullet availability for .277 caliber which has been lacking for quite some time. In the end, it's your choice but Dave and Chris favor the 30-06 for its ammo availability and ability to hunt larger game.

The 9mm vs 40 Smith & Wesson (40 S&W) debate has been raging since the introduction of the 40 S&W in early 1990. Typically, the debate centers on which of the two pistol cartridges are superior for concealed carry. The law enforcement community has flip-flopped on this issue over recent years as the FBI is retiring their 40 S&W Glock 22 sidearms and returning to the 9mm Luger as their standard issue ammo for their field agents. Does this mean that you should forsake the 40 S&W and go all in on the 9mm? Is the 40 S&W even relevant in the discussion anymore about self-defense handgun calibers? Before you hit GunBroker and dump all of your 40 S&W gear, let's take an objective, non-biased look at the 40 Smith and Wesson and see how it stacks up against the most popular handgun round in the world, the 9mm Luger. There's no denying that the 40 S&W has more recoil than the 9mm, it's a higher pressure round and many shooters report it as feeling snappy. However, the kinetic energy the 40 provides is a stout upgrade from the lighter 9mm. However, 9mm hollow points have undergone a massive renaissance since the 1986 Miami Shootout and are probably one of the most thoroughly engineered bullet on the market. Most law enforcement agencies are making the switch back to 9mm and that brings up the question of, why? Some theorize that it's because it is easier for smaller framed shooters to handle, or that physical requirements have been lowered to be more "inclusive". Regardless of the reason, the 9mm is here to stay and it's up to you, the shooter, to decide which round is best for your concealed carry needs.

When it comes to long-range shooting, the 338 Lapua Magnum is the rifle cartridge that US military snipers reach for when they need to air it out past 1,000 yards. Currently holding the #3 and #10 positions on the ten longest sniper rifle shots in history, the 338 Lapua Mag is an extremely effective anti-personnel round that has an effective range just short of a mile. If there is one rifle cartridge that defined warfare and hunting in the 20th Century, it is unquestionably the 30-06 Springfield. The 30-06 was carried by US soldiers from World War I through Korea and saw limited use in Vietnam. After the 30-06 received its DD-214, it spent retirement in the woods as one of the most popular sporting cartridges in North America. The 338 Lapua Mag and 30-06 simply do not compare as they live in two different categories of shooting. The 338 Lapua outperforms the 30-06 in every ballistic category. However, I've heard some chatter among hunters that they're considering adding a 338 Lapua for extra-large or dangerous game hunts. So, let's compare the warhorse 30-06 to the 338 Lapua Magnum. Most hunters and shooters will opt for the 30-06, as ammo availability is high, it's less expensive, and perfect for big game hunting. The 338 Lapua is just more bullet than most hunters need. For extremely long range hunting shots, the 338 Lapua will deliver, but can you ethically take that shot? Most shooters lack the location for practice long range shooting and the added recoil and cost of the 338 isn't justifiable. Although we would never tell you that you don't "need" a particular caliber, most shooters will be better off with the tried-and-true 30-06 Springfield.

When it comes to selecting a semi-automatic rifle cartridge, the 5.56x45mm NATO and the 7.62x39mm are always front and center in the conversation. Both rifle rounds have been forged in the fires of battle in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan as well as a host of other conflicts across the globe. As a result, they are two of the most popular rifle cartridges on the planet. Virtually every military on Earth uses one of these two rifle rounds for their primary battle rifle. And there's a good reason for that! Their terminal ballistics and effectiveness in close quarters battle (CQB) are second to none. But which rifle cartridge is better suited for you and does it matter? Let's take a closer look at the caliber debate that defined world conflict since the Cold War. Although the 5.56 NATO has come under fire, so to speak, for its terminal ballistics. The round continues to persevere and remains one of the most popular centerfire cartridges in the United States. The 7.62x39 is well known for its barrier penetration as well as its sheer ruggedness in the AK platform. The 5.56 has a better long-range trajectory while the 7.62x39 has heavier bullets with more kinetic energy within 300 yards. In the end, the best round is the one you like the most or what you plan on doing with it. For long-range target shooting and varmint hunting, the 5.56 cannot be beaten. For a close-range battle cartridge with battle-proven reliability, the 7.63x39 is a solid choice.

Do you really need a 300 Win Mag? This is a question that a lot of hunters ask themselves when purchasing a new hunting rifle. The major group think is that 30-06 Springfield is more than enough in most hunting situations, so why take on the added recoil and ammo cost when a 30-06 can do the same job? And there's a lot of merit to that critique. The 30-06 is a proven hunting cartridge that has taken almost every big game animal in North America. Furthermore it has lower recoil compared to 300 Win Mag, though I doubt anyone would classify the 30-06 as low recoil. Furthermore, they fire the same 30-caliber bullets, so there isn't a whole lot of differentiation in bullets between these two rifle cartridges. What the 300 Win Mag offers is a flat trajectory and a longer effective range. Many shooters might not be able to take advantage of that longer range, but from a ballistic standpoint, the 300 Win Mag can retain its kinetic energy more efficiently than the 30-06 downrange. This can be important when hunting big game animals like moose or brown bear, when you need that kinetic energy to get the job done. Although most hunters will not need the added power and trajectory that the 300 Win Mag provides, we will never say that you must get one cartridge over the other. There's a definite "cool factor" when it comes to the 300 Win Mag. It's currently in use in the military as well as law enforcement and the Secret Service. And if that's something that trips your trigger, then there's no reason why you should forego getting it because "the 30-06 can do it too".

Deciding on the caliber of your self-defense or concealed carry handgun can be a challenging task if you haven't done your research. Although there are many options on the market like 10mm Auto and 357 SIG, the three most popular pistol calibers are 9mm Luger, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. It's not an insignificant choice, as anyone purchasing a handgun wants the best caliber for personal defense since this is what most pistols and revolvers are used for. Sadly, there is a lot of misinformation about the effectiveness of handgun ammo that might sway a new gun owner into a caliber that they end up hating. This is where we come in! Let's separate fact from fiction concerning stopping power for the Great Trifecta of self-defense handgun cartridges. Spoiler Alert: The ideal caliber is the one you shoot best. Therefore, when you are ready to drop your Benjamins on a new EDC handgun, whether it be a Glock 17, Springfield XD, Sig Sauer P226, or Colt 1911, you'll be confident that you have the best self-defense sidearm on your hip. The question comes down to magazine capacity vs stopping power. Stopping power is a bit of a dirty word on the podcast as it is something that is completely unquantifiable. However, the bullet diameter of a 45 is significantly larger than a 40 than a 9mm. That being said, the person who brings the most bullets to the fight often wins a prolonged engagement. The 9mm also has the added bonus of having light recoil, which is a lot easier for small framed shooters to handle. This is one reason why so many law enforcement agencies are switching back to the 9mm from the 40 S&W. Your choice of personal defense handgun cartridge lies deeply in what you prefer and your abilities as a shooter. Many CCW permit holders prefer 9mm for the mag capacity and lower recoil in a subcompact, but there are others who have no problem carrying a 1911 on their hip all day. It all just depends on what you like to carry and what you are comfortable EDC'ing all day long.

The wide-spread adoption of the metallic cartridge shortly after the close of the American Civil War signaled a massive step forward in firearms technology. Many iconic cartridges emerged during the period between 1865 and 1890, cartridges like the 45 Colt, the 38-40 WCF, and the 44-40 Win, just to name a few. However, two of the most iconic lever action rifle cartridges developed during this time were the 45-90 Winchester Center Fire (WCF) and 45-70 Government. The 45-70 has endured the test of time and is still in use today as a hunting round while the 45-90 has fallen into relative obscurity and is typically only seen in antique firearms or at Cowboy Action Shooting competitions. Although many of our caliber comparisons are too close to call, this is a rather simple one as the 45-70 is still in use while the 45 90 is obsolete. If you own an older 45-90 and want to shoot it, you have to reload as there are no ammo manufacturers who are currently making factory ammo for the cartridge. This alone drives away most shooters and custom reloading companies like Buffalo Bore make incredibly powerful loads for the 45-70 that far exceeds the potential the 45 90 offers. If you really want a 45 90 you can get one, just know the limitations before you drop your coin on an antique rifle.

If you like heavy recoil, powerful revolver loads, and a ton of muzzle blast, then the 357 Mag and 44 Remington Magnum are two revolver rounds that you'll love. Developed by the legendary Elmer Keith, these magnum loads are extremely powerful and capable of self-defense as well as big game hunting for the 44 Mag. In this video, Chris and Dave discuss the merits of each cartridge and bring to light some serious critiques of each cartridge. Although popularized by Dirty Harry, the 44 Magnum is not the most powerful handgun round in the world (any more at least). However, it is extremely powerful to the point of being too much to handle. The recoil of the round is massive and the potential for over penetration is very high. However, the 357 Magnum falls under the same concerns, as heavy self-defense loads have a tendency to over penetrate and potentially cause legal issues should you hit an innocent bystander. So do you need either of these rounds? Watch the video and find out which magnum revolver cartridge Chris and Dave like the best! #357magnum #44mag #dirtyharry