Are calibers above 308 and below 375 destined to wither away?

[fruitnut]

I've always been in awe of the big 338 rounds. They're potent long range hunting rounds. When I first read about long range hunting the 338 Edge shooting 300 gr Sierra bullets were all the rage. Now the Edge is hardly mentioned. New developments are mostly 308 caliber and below. With the advent of higher BC bullets and faster twist rifles, 284 and 308 calibers now do what the 338 Edge used to do. The new standard seems to be the 300 NM AI with 245 Berger or similar bullets. Even the big 284s with 195 Berger or 180 ELDM are potent long range rigs. The smaller calibers recoil less and are probably a bit easier to shoot well while giving up little ballistically.

For big, thick skinned, or dangerous game, 375 caliber and above are more appropriate that 338, 8mm, or 358. For extreme long range target shooting it's also 375 and up. Smaller calibers will never compete ballistically at extreme distance or up close at something dangerous.

Those tweener calibers are deadly and effective but unnecessary for 99% of shooting.

What development if any could turn this around?

 

[bluedog69]

Not if they come out with a 338 PRC.

 

[fruitnut]

But what would the 338 PRC do that the 300PRC won't? Nothing IMO. That's not a big enough case for 300 grain bullets. The heavy 308 bullets in general are higher BC than mid weight 338. So, you give up velocity, BC, or both by going to 338.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

Not if they come out with a 338 PRC.

I was just thinking that a 338 Creedmoor would certainly be an effective cartridge.

 

[Greatgrandad]

I don't think those 'tween calibers will wither away, for there are numerous people who like their choice of hunting caliber/cartridge. Personally, I like my 338's and have a fondness for the 35's for shorter range hunting and can load 357 pistol bullets in them in a pinch or for smaller game or plinking loads.

That said, I do own numerous calibers/cartridges for a wide variety of hunting and shooting situations.

 

[memtb]

I was just thinking that a 338 Creedmoor would certainly be an effective cartridge.

The name alone strikes fear into any animal on planet earth! memtb

 

[fruitnut]

I was just thinking that a 338 Creedmoor would certainly be an effective cartridge.

Go 358 Creedmoor. Then you could shoot deer in Iowa. Past that what does any 358 do that can't be done better with something else?

 

[memtb]

I've always been in awe of the big 338 rounds. They're potent long range hunting rounds. When I first read about long range hunting the 338 Edge shooting 300 gr Sierra bullets were all the rage. Now the Edge is hardly mentioned. New developments are mostly 308 caliber and below. With the advent of higher BC bullets and faster twist rifles, 284 and 308 calibers now do what the 338 Edge used to do. The new standard seems to be the 300 NM AI with 245 Berger or similar bullets. Even the big 284s with 195 Berger or 180 ELDM are potent long range rigs. The smaller calibers recoil less and are probably a bit easier to shoot well while giving up little ballistically.

For big, thick skinned, or dangerous game, 375 caliber and above are more appropriate that 338, 8mm, or 358. For extreme long range target shooting it's also 375 and up. Smaller calibers will never compete ballistically at extreme distance or up close at something dangerous.

Those tweener calibers are deadly and effective but unnecessary for 99% of shooting.

What development if any could turn this around?

That is a bit bewildering…..as everything below .308 dia is a varmint cartridge! You would think that those above .308 would have a much larger following! memtb

 

[fruitnut]

I don't think those 'tween calibers will wither away, for there are numerous people who like their choice of hunting caliber/cartridge. Personally, I like my 338's and have a fondness for the 35's for shorter range hunting and can load 357 pistol bullets in them in a pinch or for smaller game or plinking loads.

That said, I do own numerous calibers/cartridges for a wide variety of hunting and shooting situations.

They are withering away already.

 

[Greatgrandad]

They are withering away already.

Depends on your locale and hunting terrain. I still see a fair amount of oldies but goodies in various parts of the country. Not everything is an LR or ELR requirement. Heck, the old 30-30 obit has been written about countless times. Same for old lever guns that now see a huge resurgence.

 

[fruitnut]

Another way to look at it is what's hot and new. What I see are many hot new fast twist 22 and 25 calibers. Many new bullets and rifles 308 and below. What's hot and new in 8 mm, nothing I've seen. Same for 358. Not much in 338.

Shooters like what they've always shot. Most of us are old. But new shooters aren't looking for a 358 or 8 mm.

 

[Greatgrandad]

Another way to look at it is what's hot and new. What I see are many hot new fast twist 22 and 25 calibers. Many new bullets and rifles 308 and below. What's hot and new in 8 mm, nothing I've seen. Same for 358. Not much in 338.

Shooters like what they've always shot. Most of us are old. But new shooters aren't looking for a 358 or 8 mm.

Well, I have a lot of "hot and new" cartridges, rifles even handguns, but at the same time, I, and many others, still like many of the "old" calibers/cartridges that still work. Over the decades, I've seen my fair share of "new" and "latest-n-greatest" come and then die into obscurity while several "old" calibers keep hanging on, so I am a little cautious with premature obits being written. Heck, I remember when muzzle loaders were dead or at most a very small niche' group of 1800's nostalgia types, but then they came back. Same with a lot of lever guns and their calibers that have and are in resurgence.

Time will tell what remains and what fades, but these things tend to go in cycles. Like the old adage, "All things old are new again."

 

[memtb]

Another way to look at it is what's hot and new. What I see are many hot new fast twist 22 and 25 calibers. Many new bullets and rifles 308 and below. What's hot and new in 8 mm, nothing I've seen. Same for 358. Not much in 338.

It's difficult to improve upon perfection! The bases are very well covered (factory and custom) between .308 and .375!


I guess that those that shoot those calibers, see no need to "reinvent"the wheel…..just for the sake of "reinvent ing" the wheel.

Maybe we "old foggies" watched all the "new, flash in the pan" stuff come and go. Painting the car a different color doesn't make it a better automobile……simply a different color! memtb

 

[fruitnut]

This is the long range forum. For long range ballistics rule. The smaller calibers, 308 and below, are being upgraded ballistically with faster twists, higher BC bullets, and cartridges designed to maximize the ballistic performance. Same is true in 375 and above. Faster twists and higher BC bullets. The in between calibers can't compete. Well 338 could but who wants to shoot 350 to 400 grain 338 bullets in cases requiring oversized actions.? Not many when a 308 gets the same job done.