Montana Rifle Co, Shoot2Hunt, and Rokslide Rifle

[DJL2]

Low volume production doesn't usually go well with niche cartridges unless the cartridge in question is particularly tailored to the application... and sometimes not even then.

A 7mm-08 chambering wouldn't make much sense unless that moves a LOT more volume than I imagine... and last I checked, 7mm SAW was a wildcat.

 

[RockAndSage]

Low volume production doesn't usually go well with niche cartridges unless the cartridge in question is particularly tailored to the application... and sometimes not even then.

A 7mm-08 chambering wouldn't make much sense unless that moves a LOT more volume than I imagine... and last I checked, 7mm SAW was a wildcat.

I'd be getting mine in .22 Creed, and not to detract from your overall point, but...pedantic internet: I'm fairly certain overall volume of 7mm-08 ammo production absolutely crushes .22cm, and 6cm still. Probably will for another decade or so.

 

[atmat]

I'd be getting mine in .22 Creed, and not to detract from your overall point, but...pedantic internet: I'm fairly certain overall volume of 7mm-08 ammo production absolutely crushes .22cm, and 6cm still. Probably will for another decade or so.

I doubt 7-08 passes 6cm at this point, but certainly does the 22cm.

 

[Formidilosus]

No love for the 708 or 7 SAW?

I wondered that as well, an 8ish twist 7-08 or 7 SAW would peak my interest. Such a versatile cartridge class. As I understand these will be pre-fit capable though too, so maybe just a matter of getting another barrel someday.

Haha. For the two people in a decade that will buy one? Fast twist 7-08’s with 180’s is an excellent combo, but it is a rapidly fading cartridge that is extremely unlikely to regain popularity.

The cartridges planned are-

22cm
6cm
6.5cm
6.5PRC
7PRC
308
300WM
300PRC

 

[omicron1792]

Haha. For the two people in a decade that will buy one? Fast twist 7-08’s with 180’s is an excellent combo, but it is a rapidly fading cartridge that is extremely unlikely to regain popularity.

The cartridges planned are-

22cm
6cm
6.5cm
6.5PRC
7PRC
308
300WM
300PRC

Is spring 2025 a realistic expectation?

 

[Formidilosus]

Is spring 2025 a realistic expectation?

I can’t speak with any assurity - and no one should be about anything timeline related; but that is the goal. They should have setup at the Western Hunt Expo announcing it “officially” I believe. I think then they will start taking orders- maybe.
I do believe that unless something goes really bad, the first batch of orders will be shooting their rifles by/or during spring bear season.

 

[RockAndSage]

Haha. For the two people in a decade that will buy one? Fast twist 7-08’s with 180’s is an excellent combo, but it is a rapidly fading cartridge that is extremely unlikely to regain popularity.

The cartridges planned are-

22cm
6cm
6.5cm
6.5PRC
7PRC
308
300WM
300PRC

That's a great lineup of cartridges.

In case anyone's wondering about cartridges sales or rifle chamberings, I just pulled this from the Backfire website, and the methodology seems reasonable:

Most Common Bolt-Action Rifle Chamberings​

This method of determining what’s most popular is to look at current inventory of rifles at several different rifle retailers. Keep in mind this list (1) excludes rimfire cartridges, and (2) may show a very popular cartridge like 7mm PRC lower on this list because retailers can’t keep it in stock. Data updated as of November 8, 2023.

1. 6.5 Creedmoor (13.49% of all rifles)
2. 308 Winchester (11.57% of all rifles)
3. 300 Winchester Magnum (7.01% of all rifles)
4. 6.5 PRC (5.7% of all rifles)
5. 243 Winchester (4.3% of all rifles)
6. 7mm Rem Mag (4.3% of all rifles)
7. 30-06 Springfield (3.5% of all rifles)
8. 270 Winchester (3.2% of all rifles)
9. 223 Remington (3.1% of all bolt-action rifles)
10. 7mm-08 Remington (Under 3% of all rifles)
11. 300 PRC (Under 3% of all rifles)
12. 22-250 Remington (Under 3% of all rifles)
13. 7mm PRC (This one is undoubtedly SELLING very fast, so inventory is low)
14. 6mm Creedmoor (Under 2% of all rifles)
15. 6.8 Western (Under 2% of all rifles)
16. 300 WSM (Under 2% of all rifles)
17. 300 Weatherby Magnum (Under 2% of all rifles)
18. 338 Lapua (Under 1% of all rifles)
19. 280 Ackley Improved (Under 1% of all rifles)
20. 25-06 Remington (Under 1% of all rifles)

As you can see from this list, some of the newer designs aren’t ranked as high, because some legacy manufacturers haven’t updated their options to include newer chamberings like 300PRC.

Most Popular Hunting Cartridges in Custom Rifles​

This list is a bit more anecdotal, but I spoke with more than 15 custom rifle makers and asked them what their customers are choosing most right now. Generally, custom rifle makers have customers who are willing to spend more for the latest-and-greatest, and they also generally load their own ammunition, so they are less concerned about ammo availability.

1. 7mm PRC
2. 6.5 PRC
3. 6.5 Creedmoor
4. 300 PRC
5. 300 Win Mag
6. 280 Ackley Improved
7. 7mm Rem Mag
8. 6 Creedmoor
9. 300 WSM
10. 6.8 Western

Rifle Cartridge Popularity Ranked By Ammo Sales​

Here are the most popular rifle cartridges as ranked by online ammo sales. This data is from 2022, so it’s a little dated.

1. 22LR
2. 223 Remington
3. 6.5 Creedmoor
4. 300 Blackout
5. 450 Bushmaster
6. 308 Winchester
7. 30-06 Springfield
8. 300 Win Mag
9. 6.5 PRC
10. 7mm Rem Mag
11. 22-250
12. 7mm-08