Do you think calibre choices will dwindle in future

[riggee]

Seems it's hard to get a lot of shooting stuff these days. Doesn't show any signs changing in the near future either.

Brand X might make a rifle in a lot of calibres that you can split hairs on when arguing the difference. One might make

222
223
220 swift
22-250
243
257 rob
270
7mm
308
30-06
7mm mag
300 mag

And probably a few others. Depending on what the rifles for the bottom or top cartridge would change in size but you get the idea.

Question is... Do you think this might dwindle in time and a few calibres will fade away?

Maybe end up with the most common options only. 223, 243, 308, 300wm or something and do away with the rest?

Idle thoughts here but what do you think?

[Jack V]

History has shown that some do go away but new ones also pop up. I don't think manufacturers want to be all making exactly the same products it would make competition too fierce in a narrow product line.

Some that you have listed are already dead as far as commercial sales go , 257 Roberts and 220 Swift and 222 Remington fairly low sales now , although sometimes a certain cartridge is available in one country but not another . 7mm is a calibre diameter not an actual cartridge designation like 7mm Rem Mag.

Many people like to have something different , that's why we have all kinds of wild cats so I think for the foreseeable future we will have a fairly wide choice but you could be right one day .

If demand went down to a point where manufacturers had to tighten their belts to make a profit then slower selling options could well get the chop.

[bigfellascott]

Nope I don't reckon it will dwindle as such, change yes and manufacturers will always want to bring out the latest and greatest to keep the $$ wheels turning.

[Tiiger]

One or two here or there maybe.

It will never drop to 4-5 cartridges like you've suggested as worst case there though.

There will always be shooters who want their .270 instead of a .308.

7mm rem mag instead of 300wm etc.

[Herdsman]

As long as their are common diametre projectiles a lot of cartridges will be kept going.

e.g They'd never drop 30-06 while continuing to make .308 and 300WM.

7mm projectiles load 7mm-08 Rem, 7x57mm Mauser, .280 Remington, 7 mm Remington Magnum...

.22 pills load a dozen different cartridges and so on.

[Yelp]

Shelves might not be overflowing with factory ammo all the time for some of them but with the exception of a few there are already so many rifles chambered in those cartridges that there will be plenty of on going demand.

Supply is the problem the last few years. Not lack of buyers.

[Korkt]

Some drop off, some new ones stick and replace them.

Wasn't that long ago .17 HMR was a wildcat but that's not going anywhere.

[Utcherd]

People will always have a soft spot for things other than the main half dozen chambers.

Some like going different just for the sake of it.

It'll never be reduced to only 4-5 chamberings.

[tony m]

Maybe because I am in Canada, I would say the opposite. It is hard to find two hunters with the same chambering now.In my youth we would see,.270, 30/06,.303, 30/30 alot.Now , it is wild -.338 of all stripes, and bigger,.300's are considered light these days.Maybe because the USA is so close and they are the shootingist folks around. Cheers

[Elek]

300's are considered light these days

You guys trying to kill game there or make it explode

[tony m]

300's are considered light these days

You guys trying to kill game there or make it explode

Not me-I'm a.270 win guy..We have a good population of Grizzlies here and this is probably the reason

[<<Genesis93>>]

Tony, 270 for Grizzlies??? Here in Sambar land the 270win has for a long time been a standard Sambar Round, 30-06,303, 308 the norm.... nowaday its really considered a minimum entry to our biggest deer specie, by law the 0.270 calibre is even the recognised minimum...Although its recognised that smaller chambering are more than adequate;

I can't believe you would face a Grizzlie with one.... me? I would want to have nothing less than a 4inch high explosive tipped missile, launched from California... or at least a 338mag/UM.... in Alaska I recall the (foresrtry service?) recommended being 375H&H, that a good balance of medicine

thread back from the dead.....

[sandgroperbill]

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4882&start=75

[GLS_1956]

The market place will decide what stays and what goes. The 222Remington and the 222Remington Magnum have been pretty much replaced by the 223Remington. The 22/250 is the reigning 4000pfs champ. The 243 Win is popular but some still hold the 244/6mm Remington in high regard. Still a good number of 30 cal fans. But you don't see many boxes of 300H&H on the shelves.

[dhv]

Hmm, how long before "sporadic supply of ammunition" is considered a good reason on a PTA for something new?

[<<Genesis93>>]

The market place will decide what stays and what goes. The 222Remington and the 222Remington Magnum have been pretty much replaced by the 223Remington. The 22/250 is the reigning 4000pfs champ. The 243 Win is popular but some still hold the 244/6mm Remington in high regard. Still a good number of 30 cal fans. But you don't see many boxes of 300H&H on the shelves.

Dont worry, we frequently go into the dealer and find very little of other stuff..... last time I picked up the one box of 303.....

Most chamberings are continuously in production, but might be special order, adding to the extra cost....

Most concerning is the PRICE of ammo, the raw materials are at their lowest in 5 to 7 yrs....the dollar is back to where it was several yrs ago (around 70c/USD) yet prices didnt drop back down, they only went up up up with the 1:1 dollar.

[Spooner]

the raw materials are at their lowest in 5 to 7 yrs

You're referring to the lead smelters shutting down a while back?

[<<Genesis93>>]

the raw materials are at their lowest in 5 to 7 yrs

You're referring to the lead smelters shutting down a while back?

No, the global market spot prices,
lead 1.30 >> 0.75/lb,
copper 4.60 >> 2.40/lb

(also Al, Zinc, Tin) are at the lowest now....

All lead smelting was shut down in USA due to EPA licensing conditions, or something similar according to reports.... but most lead in the USA market is apparently recycled lead-acid batteries...

Yes, raw materials are a minor comonent in the price we pay, but when the copper price was rising, the rising street price of ammo was explained as due to the rising material costs.....

[bigfellascott]

They can always find an excuse to rob ya, just have a look at the fuel prices etc, there's always an excuse as to why it has to be that high.

[bigtone]

Hmm, how long before "sporadic supply of ammunition" is considered a good reason on a PTA for something new?

Qld Weapons Licensing would consider that as a reason to move that calibre to cat R.

Queenslanders wont have to worry about calibres larger than 30 cal soon anyway.

[tony m]

Tony, 270 for Grizzlies??? Here in Sambar land the 270win has for a long time been a standard Sambar Round, 30-06,303, 308 the norm.... nowaday its really considered a minimum entry to our biggest deer specie, by law the 0.270 calibre is even the recognised minimum...Although its recognised that smaller chambering are more than adequate;

I can't believe you would face a Grizzlie with one.... me? I would want to have nothing less than a 4inch high explosive tipped missile, launched from California... or at least a 338mag/UM.... in Alaska I recall the (foresrtry service?) recommended being 375H&H, that a good balance of medicine

thread back from the dead.....

We live with Grizzlies , whe their not denned up in the winter.They kill alot of our chickens, pigs etc during this time.It is not unusual to see them around the farm house.I would say more bears have been killed with a 30/30 than anything else.These bears are hard to hit , they are lightening quick and the quicker the rifle to the shoulder the better.The .270 win is a ideal elk /moose rifle providing we use a premium bullet.I am a mountain hunter-the rifle got to be light and maneuverable. If a guy was to pick a defensive Grizzly gun a 12ga is a better choice imo.You gotta hit the thing.

[Turkle]

Tony, 270 for Grizzlies???

Yeah doesn't sound like a lot of gun for one

[<<Genesis93>>]

Tony, 270 for Grizzlies??? Here in Sambar land the 270win has for a long time been a standard Sambar Round, 30-06,303, 308 the norm.... nowaday its really considered a minimum entry to our biggest deer specie, by law the 0.270 calibre is even the recognised minimum...Although its recognised that smaller chambering are more than adequate;

I can't believe you would face a Grizzlie with one.... me? I would want to have nothing less than a 4inch high explosive tipped missile, launched from California... or at least a 338mag/UM.... in Alaska I recall the (foresrtry service?) recommended being 375H&H, that a good balance of medicine

thread back from the dead.....

We live with Grizzlies , whe their not denned up in the winter.They kill alot of our chickens, pigs etc during this time.It is not unusual to see them around the farm house.I would say more bears have been killed with a 30/30 than anything else.These bears are hard to hit , they are lightening quick and the quicker the rifle to the shoulder the better.The .270 win is a ideal elk /moose rifle providing we use a premium bullet.I am a mountain hunter-the rifle got to be light and maneuverable. If a guy was to pick a defensive Grizzly gun a 12ga is a better choice imo.You gotta hit the thing.

More elephants have probably been taken with that old classic hunting round the 7.62x39 doesnt mean I'd use one for that particular job....

[Farmjer]

Some might dwindle, then people will want something different and revive them a little.

Round and round.

[happyhunter]

.

[Supporter]

One is that certain countries like france ban the use 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51

Because they're scary military cartridges I suppose

[happyhunter]

.

[Homer]

G'Day Fella's,

I have seen this thread but this is the first time I've looked at it!
This might be not what this thread was about but I believe there will most definitely be less calibre choices available in the future!
The plain and simple reason for this is, "our" politicians will probably Ban Licensed Firearms!

Double Doh!!
Homer

[Seik]

I have seen this thread but this is the first time I've looked at it!

You should try it more often.

Forums are for reading, not looking at