Do gun manufacturers add calibers to a line of guns as market changes?

[hawkman71]

I'm looking at replacing my only rifle, a Ruger No 1 in 308. I'm no where near decided on the calibers I'd like. I hunt whitetails here in the East but looking to try for muleys and pronghorns soon. I'd also like to be able to do some long(ish)-distance shooting. 5-800 yds maybe?

I haven't decided what to get yet but I'm considering Browning X-bolt, Tikka T3x, and Bergara B-14 Wilderness Terrain. (The Savage Impulse has me curious, too).

Each of the three lines come in a variety of calibers with a good number of common chamberings. The X-bolt has the 6.8 Western, but not the others. I think the Bergara and some Xs come in 28 Nosler. I'm guessing asking is various models, the X-bolt has the most options.

Just curious if a company like Bergara might add a chamberings (such as 6.8 Western) to a current lineup.

 

[SEtoNWHunter]

The short answer is yes, companies add chamberings. 6.5 creed is the best recent example. It has taken off and everyone chambers it now.

Most initial offerings (like the 6.8 Western) are partnerships between ammo and rifle manufacturers. Rifle manufacturers who aren't in a partnership will usually wait several years to see if a specific cartridges remains popular. I think the 6.8 western is destined for niche status, at best.

There are many options to do what you want. Including cartridges that are over 100 years old. Especially, with current bullet technology (you could load a good 30-06 with decent bullets and kill deer/antelope at 500 yds all day).

If you reload, it really doesn't matter much if a chambering disappears from the market, assuming you invest in brass early, when it it available.

If you don't reload, my advice is do not buy a rifle chambered for a new cartridge. There are so many good ones that are established, there is almost nothing to gain, as a hunter. So much of new cartridge development is splitting hairs, and targeting a market of extreme specialists and guys that just like the "latest and the greatest".

 

[Fatcamp]

6.5CM=Unobtanium

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Bergara used to have several cartridge options. Nowadays those options are heavily restricted. I doubt they’ll add a 6.8 western anytime soon.

 

[chadcharb]

Hopefully the 6.8 will catch on a little and get chambered in more rifles. I think now is the time to jump on it if your going to though. I have my gun Smith putting one together for me right now so I've been buying brass and factory ammo (at be reasonable prices) to put up just in case it doesn't catch on

 

[SEtoNWHunter]

6.5CM=Unobtanium

Prices are ridiculous but it is definitely available

6.5mm Creedmoor Ammo

In-stock best prices for 6.5mm Creedmoor Ammo | Bulk 6.5mm Creedmoor Ammunition - AmmoSeek.com

ammoseek.com

 

[Fatcamp]

Prices are ridiculous but it is definitely available

6.5mm Creedmoor Ammo

In-stock best prices for 6.5mm Creedmoor Ammo | Bulk 6.5mm Creedmoor Ammunition - AmmoSeek.com

ammoseek.com

Oh, ya. It has always been available, as is everything. But I haven't been able to buy it on the shelf since March here.

 

[hawkman71]

I don't reload but might try that out with a friend's setup someday.

I shoot 308 at the moment. No real reason to switch other than watching too much YouTube and thinking I need something else!

If 308 is something that can handle elk and long-distance stuff, then I could stick right there. (I know it's fine for elk).

For deer I've always used Core-Lokd PSP 150 grain, but will need something different for longer distances.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Hopefully the 6.8 will catch on a little and get chambered in more rifles. I think now is the time to jump on it if your going to though. I have my gun Smith putting one together for me right now so I've been buying brass and factory ammo (at be reasonable prices) to put up just in case it doesn't catch on

Just curious, but what’s your draw to to the 6.8. I understand it’s basically a 270wsm with more freebore for heavies. Guess the twist is a bit faster but don’t know that. Just asking as the 270wsm doesn’t seem to have the popularity the 300wsm does.

 

[Tumbleweed]

Just curious, but what’s your draw to to the 6.8. I understand it’s basically a 270wsm with more freebore for heavies. Guess the twist is a bit faster but don’t know that. Just asking as the 270wsm doesn’t seem to have the popularity the 300wsm does.

I have a 6.8 in an Xbolt Western Hunter. The shoulder is shorter by about .080" compared to the .270wsm. This of course gives more room in the short mag box to allow heavy bullets to be seated optimally in the case. Using the 170 berger EOL bullet .030" off of the lands, I can fit in the short action detachable magazine. This length is 2.976" and the boat tail junction is at the neck/shoulder junction. Almost like the designers knew what they were doing. Of course SAAMI spec is an 8 twist barrel. You'd have to put together a custom .270wsm to accomplished this. So far, I love this little chambering


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[Fatcamp]

I don't reload but might try that out with a friend's setup someday.

I shoot 308 at the moment. No real reason to switch other than watching too much YouTube and thinking I need something else!

If 308 is something that can handle elk and long-distance stuff, then I could stick right there. (I know it's fine for elk).

For deer I've always used Core-Lokd PSP 150 grain, but will need something different for longer distances.

If I could go back I would have stayed with .308. No real reason to change other than recoil, and I'm able to better withstand that now.

 

[cnelk]

Btw - the 6.5 Creedmoor is 14 years old.

 

[JFK]

I don’t think they add calibers as the market changes so much as they add calibers to drive sales and entice people who already have guns to buy more. The truth is most (not all) of the innovation around new calibers is pretty trivial and to a point of diminishing returns.

Would be nice if they just offered existing calibers with a standard and fast barrel twist, but that doesn’t make gun writers excited or get people off the couch to the gun store as much as the latest, greatest new caliber.

 

[chadcharb]

Just curious, but what’s your draw to to the 6.8. I understand it’s basically a 270wsm with more freebore for heavies. Guess the twist is a bit faster but don’t know that. Just asking as the 270wsm doesn’t seem to have the popularity the 300wsm does.

Honestly it was brass and factory ammo availability. I hadn't really given the round to much thought until i started seeing the availability and prices of the ammo. It will (hopefully) do everything I need it to do and I could stock up on enough factory rounds and reloading components to last the life of the barrel without having to pay the crazy prices for other calibers.

 

[Fatcamp]

Btw - the 6.5 Creedmoor is 14 years old.

That's my point. Thousands of rifles sold and thousands more, tens of thousands, sitting on shelves, and no ammo available. Every time I go to Scheels someone is asking the ammo guy about it.

Newer calibers? Good luck. I have plenty, but I'm not normal for sure.

 

[hawkman71]

Please(

Just curious, but what’s your draw to to the 6.8. I understand it’s basically a 270wsm with more freebore for heavies. Guess the twist is a bit faster but don’t know that. Just asking as the 270wsm doesn’t seem to have the popularity the 300wsm does.

No substantial or valid reason. Once I watched a YouTube video about the cartridge, then my feed was filled with suggested vids about it. If Browning was putting it in their new xbolts, then...

I could stick with 308 but the world's my oyster if I'm going with a new gun.

If I could go back I would have stayed with .308. No real reason to change other than recoil, and I'm able to better withstand that now.

My buddy always wondered why I got a 308 bc of the kick. I said it wasn't that bad, really. I didn't notice. I wondered why he thought so because he was a big, strong guy. Borrowed a Savage 99 once, a featherweight, I believe. Kicked the absolute crap out of me. Overstated, but compared to my No 1, it really kicked.