Classic and Current: Ten Cartridges Every Serious Shooter Should Know

Classic and Current: Ten Cartridges Every Serious Shooter Should Know
American small-game and varmint shooting draws on a cartridge heritage that stretches back to 1930. Some of those cartridges — the 22 Hornet, the 222 Remington — remain in production a century later despite newer options. Others — the 17 WSM, the 22-250 — represent more recent engineering that has become the modern standard. Understanding both the classic and current sides of the catalog is foundational to competent ammunition selection.
Modern Rimfire Magnum
The winchester super magnum 17, introduced in 2013, represents the highest-velocity production rimfire available. Built on a necked-down .27-caliber industrial nail-gun case, the 17 WSM achieves centerfire-class velocity from a rimfire ignition system — an engineering achievement that no competing rimfire has matched in the intervening years.
20 Gauge: The Modern Alternative
Use of 20 ga buck in No. 3 or No. 2 configurations for close-range predator and deer work is a relatively recent development, enabled by modern pattern-controlled wad technology that tightens buckshot patterns significantly over legacy loads. A 3-inch 20 gauge 18-pellet No. 3 buck at 1,200 fps delivers meaningful terminal effect at 25 to 30 yards.
Spring turkey applications for the 20 gauge have grown through the adoption of heavyweight-lead and TSS payloads. A premium turkey shot shells offering in TSS No. 7 or 9 delivers pattern density that historical 20 gauge lead loads could not approach, fundamentally changing what is possible from a 20 gauge platform in the turkey woods.
For general sport and practice use, volume shooting shells in target-grade 7/8 oz or 1 oz loads cover sporting clays, trap, skeet, and general range practice at pricing that supports sustained weekend shooting.
The Classic Centerfire .22
The 22 hornet, introduced in 1930, is the senior centerfire .22 still in regular production. Developed at the Springfield Armory, the cartridge was designed as a small, low-pressure round that could be chambered in rimfire-class actions. Its 2,800 to 3,100 fps velocity with 35- to 45-grain bullets covers varmint applications out to 200 yards at noise levels roughly half those of 22-250 or 223.
The Workhorse Rimfire Magnum
The wmr 22 — the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, introduced in 1959 — remains the highest-volume rimfire magnum in production. Platform support spans every major rimfire manufacturer, and ammunition availability is broader than any competing magnum rimfire. The cartridge occupies a distinct niche between the 22 LR and centerfire .22s.
Modern Long-Range Varmint
The 22-250 Remington, standardized in 1965, occupies the long-range varmint niche. A single 22-250 round in 55-grain at 3,680 fps delivers trajectory and retained energy no slower .22 centerfire can match. The tradeoff is accelerated throat erosion, making the 22-250 a precision cartridge best suited to deliberate long-range work rather than high-volume sustained fire.
The Benchrest Original
The .222 Remington, introduced in 1950, is the direct predecessor to the .223 Remington. Though volume has declined, the 222 cal remains produced in 50- and 55-grain loads for traditionalists and a dedicated benchrest community that continues to value the get more info cartridge's accuracy reputation.
The Modern Standard
For volume shooters looking for 223 ammo for sale, the .223 Remington is the highest-volume centerfire cartridge in U.S. retail by a significant margin. Supply levels held through 2024 and into 2025, and per-round cost remains the lowest of any modern centerfire cartridge at volume.
The premium-hunting configuration of the 223 is represented by offerings like hornady 223 55gr sp — a 55-grain soft-point at 3,240 fps that delivers both match-grade accuracy from quality rifles and controlled expansion on varmint and predator game.