Dec 19, 2018 | Christensen Arms

Perhaps our greatest year yet—2018 brought untold triumphs and new milestones both for Christensen Arms and those who choose to carry our guns. We released new products, celebrated once-in-a-lifetime hunts (ours and yours), and built a long list of great firearms along the way. These are not simply things we achieved by ourselves, but a culmination of the efforts of our employees, our friends, and Christensen Arms owners. Now, we look back on the most popular chamberings that dominated the year. Here’s the breakdown of everything we built in 2018:

Few will be surprised that 6.5 Creedmoor (6.5 CRDMR) leads the list for bolt-action rifles. This highly versatile do-anything cartridge has a well-deserved reputation for long-range accuracy on the range and a broad array of hunting applications. The 6.5 Creedmoor is a lightweight short-action round that produces less recoil than other popular chamberings. Shooters can generally expect a relatively long barrel life and common availability of ammunition. For hunting, 6.5 Creedmoor is suitable for most game smaller than elk or moose.

Generations of Americans have favored the .300 Winchester Magnum (300 WIN MAG) as an all-around hunting and target shooting cartridge. It certainly isn’t a new long-action chambering, but has earned its keep with serious long-range performance that delivers hard hitting shots without the recoil of larger rounds. If you’re only going to ever hunt with one rifle this might be the caliber for you. This cartridge is powerful enough to hunt nearly any animal found in North America, but it is particularly popular for elk, moose, and bighorn sheep.

The 7mm Remington Magnum (7MM REM MAG) is a tried and true round that has stood the test of time. Similar in size to the .300 Winchester Magnum, this long-action chambering is capable of achieving slightly longer distances with less recoil. Barrel life will generally also be comparable to .300 Winchester Magnum. Hunters will find the 7mm Remington Magnum suitable for deer, sheep, elk, and some larger game.

Another traditional cartridge, the .308 Winchester (308 WIN) has achieved notable recognition as a highly versatile short-action chambering. A firearm chambered in .308 Winchester will not consistently achieve the same long-range performance as 6.5 Creedmoor, but will likely experience a longer barrel life. As one of the most popular hunting cartridges of all time, ammunition is widely available for this chambering. A larger round, the .308 Winchester is well suited for most medium to large sized game including elk and moose.

28 Nosler (28 NOSLER) is the newest chambering to make our bolt-action rifle list. A powerful long range cartridge, the round has become a favorite among hunters in the few short years since its introduction. While the long-action round delivers fast and flat performance the velocity can lead to a shorter barrel life than other popular chamberings. Availability of ammunition for this chambering may also be a concern for some shooters. Well suited for bigger game, 28 Nosler is ideal for deer, elk, moose, and more.

For those who favor versatility .223 Wylde (223 WYLDE) allows a Modern Sporting Rifle to safely shoot either .223 Remington or 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition. The chambering is a top choice for everything from competition shooters to varmint hunters. Ammunition is widely available and responsible users can expect an ample barrel life. Very comfortable on the range, .223 Wylde is also ideal for small predators and small game.

Universally popular, 6.5 Creedmoor (6.5 CRDMR) and .308 Winchester (308 WIN) also dominated our Modern Sporting Rifle category.

The debate between 9x19mm Parabellum (9MM) and .45 ACP (45 ACP) is certainly not a new one. Both chamberings are well suited for a 1911 platform—and available in all of our pistol offerings. Those who choose 9mm likely do so because it’s fast and light, leading to lesser recoil and extra magazine capacity. Ammunition also tends to be cheaper and more plentiful in contrast. Less popular with Christensen Arms owners this year, 45 ACP is a larger and heavier caliber prefered by those who seek additional stopping power and are willing to tolerate the recoil.

If your chambering didn’t make the list don’t fret—whether you choose to follow the crowd or opt for something less conventional you’re still shooting a Christensen Arms firearm.

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