Of the cartridges I have direct experience with, I would also rate the 6.5x54 in the MS number 1. The 300 H&H and 375 H&H in Model 70s are also great. Another is the 404 Jeffery (talk about a slick design). I also have to mention a cartridge and rifle designed together for slick reliable function, the 348 winchester and the model 71.

You may notice a pattern here. Most of these cartridges have been criticized by modern gun "experts" as outdated and needing to be "improved". In the old days reliable functioning under adverse conditions was the primary design objective, not wringing out the last bit of velocity. Arguments about back thrust or case stretching don't really apply if one is not overloading the cartridge looking for more speed.