| The four discussed here were the 4 most used from | | | | years through WWII. Originally introduced with black |
| the dawn of smokeless powder through WWII. They | | | | powder and a 215 grain round nose smokeless |
| enjoyed widespread use and tens of millions of rifles | | | | propellant was introduced in 1892. A 174 grain spitzer |
| were made for them and used by many countries. All | | | | was introduced in 1910 giving it greatly extended |
| four of the cartridges have enjoyed some | | | | range. Velocity was rated at about 2400 feet per |
| commercial success especially the 30-06. With good | | | | second. It served as the military rifle of Great Britain |
| ammo they are useful hunting cartridges. | | | | until 1957 when it was replaced by the 7.62 X 51 |
| One of the first of them to be introduced was the 8 | | | | NATO round. As a sporting round it is still used in |
| X 57 Mauser. Originally brought out in 1888 it was | | | | many places including Australia and Canada. With the |
| first used in the Commission rifle using a 318 diameter | | | | proper ammo it is capable of taking most big game |
| bullet. It originally used a 226 grain round nose at | | | | at sensible ranges. |
| 2100 feet per second. In 1898 when the 98 Mauser | | | | In 1891 the Russians brought out the Mosen Nagant |
| came out it also employed this round. In 1905 the | | | | rifle in the 7.62 X 54 Rimmed. Like the rest it used a |
| diameter was increased to 323 and employed a 154 | | | | round nose bullet until 1909 when a 150 grain pointed |
| grain bullet at nearly 2900 feet per second. The 318 | | | | bullet was employed at a velocity of around 2700 |
| diameter load was known as the J load while the | | | | FPS. This round has the distinction of being the |
| newer spitzer was designated the S. Many countries | | | | longest lived military round in use as even today its |
| employed this round for the military including, China, | | | | used in the Dragnov sniper rifles and heavy machine |
| Poland and Czechoslovakia. Today it is used for | | | | guns. The Russian round is still used in some target |
| sporting purposes in many countries. Like the others | | | | matches in Scandinavia and elsewhere. The rifles are |
| it is a capable sporting and big game load. | | | | cheap and plentiful plus ammo is available. Like the |
| Developed in 1887 and introduced in 1888 the 303 | | | | 303 and 8 X 57 new commercial rifles aren't readily |
| British was also widely distributed and used for many | | | | available though you can get a custom job. |