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8 Best Long-Range Magnum Cartridges Ever Made

by Brad Fitzpatrick   |  January 5th, 2015

There are a whole lot of reasons why naysayers knock magnums, and some of their complaints are legitimate. Yes, magnums burn more powder than standard cartridges. Yes, they have increased recoil and muzzle blast. And, yes, they generally cost more to shoot. But for long shots on big game, magnums certainly have their place. Over the years there have been a number of quality rounds introduced that bear the magnum moniker.

In general, magnums refer to large, belted cartridges that are an increase in power above “standard” cartridges like the .270 and .30-06, though there are no strict rules regarding the name. Some cartridges, like the 7mm Shooting Times Westerner and the new .26 Nosler, certainly feature magnum-class speed and power without the name.

This list looks at eight great cartridges that bear the magnum title and have served dutifully from the plains of Africa to the peaks of the Himalayas. No matter the game, when you need a flat-shooting, hard-hitting cartridge these magnums get the job done.

Many of these cartridges were spawned during the “magnum craze” of the mid-20th century, but they date back as far as the 1940s, and one of them appeared on the scene as recently as 2002.

But these cartridges all share one thing in common—they are proven on big game at long ranges.