What does it take for a caliber to survive?

[FARMTOFIELD]

I personally think you have to impimpress 1 of 2 crowds.

The long range/ target punchestnut

The high volume hunters/ varmint shooters

I see alot of calibers being chambered again such as 222. Do any of you think they can invent a caliber nowadays that won't have a following of some sort?

What calibers are available now that you think won't be in 10 years? The new 17 wsm is impressive and with hornady introducing ammo after the first of the year, I expect new rifles after the shot show.

Take for instance the 5mm rem, if it was introduced today. There's no doubt in my mind it would thrive.

 

[JimFromTN]

Calibers that won't survive - All of the ruger compact magnums, 325 wsm, and 375 RUM. I'd say 338 RUM as well but the custom long range rifle builders will probably keep them alive. Remington has already stopped making rifles chambered in them. The ruger 480 if its not already dead. I could also see the the 500 s&w disappear eventually. Why get a 500 when a 460 is so much more versatile?

 

[1 good shot]

it has to have mass appeal across the board
in other words the average joe has to have a use for it
and it has to be relatively cheap to shoot
the 17's only have a limited functionality that will never match the 22's and the same with ultra mags
the calibers that ride in gunrack of a back window of a pickup are the ones that will endure
don't get me wrong i like the 17's but not many of grew up shooting papaw's 17 it was his 22, his 12 gauge and his 30-30 or 30-06

 

[gunhuntr]

Popularity........ if it sells ammo manufactures will make.

 

[DaveB]

Remember the 7mm Express? That was actually the 280. As a market maker, it failed and was withdrawn from production.

How long you or anyone think Nosler will push the "26"? Every shot is 100 grains of powder.

The Weatherby calibers are popular but some of them are not and never have been big sellers.

The Triple Deuce has always been a big seller. Probably the cheapest to shoot hyper-accurate rifle ever made.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Dave do you think the 222 has anything over a 223 in today's accuracy and ammo?

I want a 17 hornet or a 22 hornet, I know the 22 hornet isn't going anywhere but for me the 17 has more appeal. But as t the same time I can buy a 223 and load it to 22 hornet specs

 

[KPH]

It amazes me some make it and some don't. The 22 hornet and 45-70 come to mind. Look how long they have been around and there are a lot out there that could replace them. Oh I do have one of each and like them.

 

[7mminatree]

I'm planning to do my part to keep .35's alive. Would like to build a 358 win on a nice short action.

 

[1 good shot]

I'm planning to do my part to keep .35's alive. Would like to build a 358 win on a nice short action.

i did that
i converted a 700 with a douglas barrel and never looked back
you won't regret it

 

[stylishblueticks]

I'm planning to do my part to keep .35's alive. Would like to build a 358 win on a nice short action.

i did that
i converted a 700 with a douglas barrel and never looked back
you won't regret it

I have a savage 110, I'm thinking about putting a 35 whelen barrel on.

 

[Tiny]

Personally Caliber,Niche an Timing, Throw in available loadings from the factories bullet choices an other companys picking the round up are other decideing factors and firearm choices is a bigen.

Lack of good choices here at the gate has been the biggest factor IMHO for a go no go.

Unless other companies pick up the 17wsm rim fire it wont last long, same for the 26 Nosler

 

[megalomaniac]

It has to fill a niche (or several)... and that niche has to have appeal from across the board.

Look at the 300 blackout... probably the most successful caliber introduced in the past 25 years... and it's popularity is still growing FAST.

Excellent round (IMO the best) for young children to deer hunt with.

Excellent energy close range out of AR platforms

Novelty factor with subsonics

Ammo manufactures get to sell a bunch of ammo when the AR scatters brass everywhere making it harder to recover the brass and reload

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Unless other companies pick up the 17wsm rim fire it wont last long, same for the 26 Nosler

I dunno about the 26 but I know hornady has picked up production of the 17 wsm ammo so I suspect after the shot show there will be some rifles introduced. At least I hope

 

[DaveB]

The Triple Deuce has been around forever. it is very economical. More accurate than the 223, 17, just about any caliber. You can de-sex a flea at 200 yards and not leave a scar. It has held records for accuracy.

It is a zero-recoil caliber that burns any number of powders with mind-blowing results. My BIL has shot numerous single hole 5-round ladders and he only shoots at 200 yards. Downside? None I know of except I don't know if it can play on the 600 and up ranges.